Aer Lingus College Football Classic 2025 in Dublin: Everything you need to know

The Aer Lingus College Football Classic will take place at the Aviva Stadium this weekend with over 24,000 American fans expected to make the journey from the States to be in attendance. 

The clash between Iowa State Cyclones and the Kansas State Wildcats will mark the first of two American Football games in the Irish capital this year. Ireland's first ever NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings will take place on September 28 in Croke Park as the Irish interest in the sport continues to surge. 

The deep-rooted rivalry between Iowa State and Kansas State will continue on Saturday to kick off the college season in a clash known as 'Farmageddon'. It's being billed as the most competitive college game to take place outside of the US with both teams ranking in the top 25.  

The Aer Lingus classic will be the 11th instance of a College Football game taking place in Ireland. The stakes couldn't be higher with the winner expected to reach the 2025 College Football playoffs. it will be a historic affair in Dublin on Saturday as it's the first ever Big-12 conference match-up to be played on Irish soil. 

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The game is expected to generate over €130 million for the Irish economy which represents a massive boost for Ireland's tourism sector before the end of the peak summer travel season.

There will be a multitude of events on surrounding the game in order to provide an authentic American Football experience for attendees in what is sure to be a special weekend in Ireland's sporting calendar. 

Where and when is it on?

The Kansas State Wildcats will come up against the Iowa State Cyclones in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday August 23. The game is set to start at 5pm.

Are tickets still available?

There are a very limited number of tickets still available on Ticketmaster for Saturday's showdown which is expected to be close to capacity. Prices start from €65.95 for the remaining tickets for those interested in attending. 

Will it be shown live on television?

Unfortunately, the match will not be shown live for Irish audiences. The game will be broadcast to millions of homes across America on ESPN. Judging by the figures of previous years, over 4.5 million will be expected to tune in for the Dublin encounter across the States. 

Aer Lingus will also be debuting a new advertisement as part of the American coverage which will see the team mascots try their hand at traditional Irish music. 

What's happening before the game?

In order to offer the authentic match going experience, there will be a number of tailgates and pep rallies planned throughout Dublin in the lead up to the game. 

Merrion Square will be the location for the pep rallies for both teams whilst each University has been assigned pubs including The Dame Tavern and The Old Store House where they can bask in the atmosphere before the game. 

The famous band march from the RDS to the Aviva will be one of the highlights of the festivities. A spectator flyover from an Aer Lingus aircraft will also take to the skies above the Aviva Stadium before kick off. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 4:15 in order to enjoy the full pre-match spectacle. 

Each University will travel with over 125 members including their band and cheer teams who will be on hand to be an integral part of the celebratory atmosphere of the gameday. 

A full list of the scheduled activities can be found through the 'Aer Lingus Classic' app available on all mobile stores.

What's the weather forecast for game day?

Temperatures are expected to vary between 14 and 21 degrees on Saturday in Dublin. It will be mainly dry with a few isolated showers, there will be some sunny spells amongst a mostly cloudy day. Temperatures are expected to reach their highest in around kick off time which will be ideal for those in attendance. Winds are expected to reach up to 10km/h with a humidity of 72%.

How to get to the stadium? 

The Aviva Stadium is in walking distance from Dublin's city centre with the journey expected to take around 25 minutes. Alternatively there are several public transport options. 

The Dart train link will provide a service to Lansdowne Road Station which will bring fans right across from the Aviva Stadium. 

The Aviva Stadium can also be reached via bus with routes 4, 7 and 7a all providing services which should be running regularly throughout the weekend to accommodate the large crowds. 

There is also an official game day car and bus parking facility available at the RDS in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 which is less than a 15-minute walk from the Aviva Stadium.

What items are prohibited in the stadium? 

There will be a strict no bags policy in place for the game with hand bags no bigger than A4 being the only exception. Each bag will be permitted to being searched before entry is granted. 

Items such as glass, bottles, cans, flares, smoke cannisters, flagpoles and laser devices are all prohibited. 

How to buy things in the stadium?

The Aviva Stadium will be completely cashless for the game across all food and drink outlets. Bank cards, Apple, Google and Android pay will all be accepted as alternatives to cash for the event. This should ensure a smoother process and lack of long wait times throughout the stadium.