Latest news with #HenryHodgson
Irish Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Tickets for Pittsburgh Steelers v Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park to go on sale next month
Tickets for the NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park this September will go on sale on Tuesday, June 17th. On Tuesday, the Vikings were confirmed as the Steelers' opponents for the first regular season game to be played in Ireland, which will take place on Sunday, September 28th. The staging of the game at Croke Park was first announced in February with the Steelers named as the designated home team. Pricing details have not yet been released, but general manager of NFL UK & Ireland Henry Hodgson confirmed earlier this week that tickets will follow the same pricing as the London games. READ MORE In order to purchase tickets, fans will need to create a ticket account on the NFL website . The game in Dublin will be the second of seven fixtures to be played outside the US as part of the upcoming season, the first (Los Angeles Chargers v Kansas City Chiefs) being held in São Paulo, Brazil on September 5th. After Dublin, three games will take place in London – two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium followed by one at Wembley Stadium – before games in Berlin and Madrid. Tickets for the Tottenham games (Cleveland Browns v Minnesota Vikings, October 5th; New York Jets v Denver Broncos, October 12th) will go on sale on May 29th, with tickets for the Wembley game (Jacksonville Jaguars v Los Angeles Rams, October 19th) being released the following day.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How is the European NFL schedule decided?
There are "tonne of different factors" that go into the planning of the NFL schedule in Europe, said the NFL UK head Henry Hodgson. There are 32 teams in the National Football League, split into two conferences. Each team plays 17 games across 18 weeks of the regular season. The teams use a total of 30 stadiums in the US, but they can sometimes be unavailable because of concerts and other events. When planning for NFL games in Europe, the regular uses of the stadiums have to be considered too. "You've got soccer teams who will factor into it," Hodgson told BBC Sport. "So you're looking at Fifa windows when there are games being played internationally." There is also the task of ensuring broadcast partners in the US get a fair share of games, as well as factoring in the levels of interests for different teams. There are partnerships with stadiums in the UK, specifically the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium. The NFL has a deal with Tottenham, until 2029, to use the stadium's bespoke American football pitch for games. Hodgson said: "We work with them on an annual basis to make sure that we're tied in with them on when those games can take place." The Jacksonville Jaguars, meanwhile, hold a relationship with Wembley Stadium for match events. "We work with those two stadiums and then other stadiums around Europe on a regular basis," Hodgson added. Matches for the 2025 season will also be held at Croke Park in Dublin, Berlin's Olympic Stadium and Madrid's Bernabeu as well as the Corinthians Arena in Brazil. Sunday, 28 September - Minnesota Vikings v Pittsburgh Steelers (Dublin) Sunday, 5 October - Minnesota Vikings v Cleveland Browns (Tottenham, London) Sunday, 12 October - Denver Broncos v New York Jets (Tottenham, London) Sunday, 19 October - Los Angeles Rams v Jacksonville Jaguars (Wembley, London) Sunday, 9 November - Atlanta Falcons v Indianapolis Colts (Berlin) Sunday, 16 November - Washington Commanders v Miami Dolphins (Madrid) This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions. We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do. The team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and pundits. We will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting events. Our coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio. Match of the Day - your questions answered How do the NBA play-offs work? How do athletes manage sleep?
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
How is the European NFL schedule decided?
There are "tonne of different factors" that go into the planning of the NFL schedule in Europe, said the NFL UK head Henry are 32 teams in the National Football League, split into two conferences. Each team plays 17 games across 18 weeks of the regular teams use a total of 30 stadiums in the US, but they can sometimes be unavailable because of concerts and other planning for NFL games in Europe, the regular uses of the stadiums have to be considered too."You've got soccer teams who will factor into it," Hodgson told BBC Sport. "So you're looking at Fifa windows when there are games being played internationally."There is also the task of ensuring broadcast partners in the US get a fair share of games, as well as factoring in the levels of interests for different are partnerships with stadiums in the UK, specifically the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley NFL has a deal with Tottenham, until 2029, to use the stadium's bespoke American football pitch for said: "We work with them on an annual basis to make sure that we're tied in with them on when those games can take place."The Jacksonville Jaguars, meanwhile, hold a relationship with Wembley Stadium for match events."We work with those two stadiums and then other stadiums around Europe on a regular basis," Hodgson for the 2025 season will also be held at Croke Park in Dublin, Berlin's Olympic Stadium and Madrid's Bernabeu as well as the Corinthians Arena in Brazil. When are the European matches? Sunday, 28 September - Minnesota Vikings v Pittsburgh Steelers (Dublin)Sunday, 5 October - Minnesota Vikings v Cleveland Browns (Tottenham, London)Sunday, 12 October - Denver Broncos v New York Jets (Tottenham, London)Sunday, 19 October - Los Angeles Rams v Jacksonville Jaguars (Wembley, London)Sunday, 9 November - Atlanta Falcons v Indianapolis Colts (Berlin)Sunday, 16 November - Washington Commanders v Miami Dolphins (Madrid)This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. What is Ask Me Anything? Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio. More questions answered... Match of the Day - your questions answeredHow do the NBA play-offs work?How do athletes manage sleep?
Irish Examiner
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Croke Park capacity to be cut but historic NFL game big in every sense
Croke Park's capacity will be limited to somewhere in the region of 76,000 for September's historic NFL fixture, with the Hill 16 terrace due to be converted into seating for the regular-season meeting of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings. The stadium's nominal capacity stretches past 82,000 but the conversion of The Hill, allied to issues around sightlines for NFL games where the sidelines are so crowded, will reduce that number significantly for a September 28th game that is already in hot demand. Organisers have already noted a larger interest in tickets from US-based fans compared to other foreign games. The breakdown is coming in roughly as one-third American, one-third Irish and the remainder from Europe. Pricing will mirror that for 'International Series' games held in London where the cheapest tickets have come in at close to €100, but with the cost rising markedly from there. And London has hosted games since 2007, this is a first for Ireland. The NFL Network will broadcast the Dublin game although discussions are ongoing with Irish broadcasters with a view to showing the contest live in the domestic market. Again, this has happened with London games. Another issue fans will be keen to know about is alcohol. The GAA does not permit the consumption of alcohol in spectator areas at Croke Park. That rule held last year when Leinster and Northampton Saints played there in the Champions Cup. However, Henry Hodgson, general manager of the NFL's UK and Irish office, revealed that talks are happening and that the feedback has been 'positive'. There are also plans being drawn up for fan zones and other 'activations'. Tailgating in Ballybough: who'd have thought it? The question is: why Ireland? This is by far the smallest international market that the NFL will have graced with its presence. The other six international games in the 2025 season, for example, will be played in Sao Paulo, London (3), Berlin and Madrid. 'There are a few factors,' said Hodgson at the Dublin Castle announcement, 'First of all, in terms of population, it is smaller than other markets we could go into, but in terms of passion for NFL fans, we saw that and heard that. 'The next two biggest factors are the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Rooney family [who own the franchise] and their connection to Ireland and wanting to bring the game back in terms of their heritage. 'And then the tremendous support we have had from the government, the city here in Dublin and from Croke Park and the GAA. What we have seen is that globally, this is something Ireland is renowned for, and we saw that clearly.' That 'support' amounts to almost €10m of money from the State and city coffers, which will pay for everything from a licence fee, security, transport and other associated costs to do with the venue. This stuff doesn't come cheap. 'It is the process we use in all the cities we go into around the world, but it is important to underscore that it is not the only investment,' said Hodgson. 'Teams are making a significant investment to bring the game here. 'The NFL is making a significant investment, so it is part of the process, but what we can see in terms of the cities we go into, what that investment looks like, in terms of economic impact, direct and indirect, the social impact etc…' Well, this sort of stuff is unquantifiable, really, but it doesn't stop people declaring numbers with NFL games in other markets offering estimates of economic worth from €85m in Munich's case to €120-130m for the London games. A figure of up to €180m was calculated by Grant Thornton in 2023 when the Emerald Isle Classic college game between Notre Dame and Navy happened at the Aviva Stadium where the attendance is capped at just over 51,000. So who knows? Hodgson played a straight bat when asked if this would be a one-off or something we might see here every couple of years but competition for these games is stiff. The Steelers have the same marketing rights in Mexico where they have a huge fan base, for instance. The Estadio Azteca there is currently undergoing reconstruction work for the 2026 FIFA World Cup so that makes all sorts of sense for Steeler Nation to go there. For now, it's all eyes on Dublin and a mouth-watering match-up. No team has won more Super Bowls than Pittsburgh's six and their already significant Irish fan base is currently on tenterhooks to see whether Aaron Rodgers, one of the greatest ever and most high-profile quarterbacks, will suit up for them in the 2025 season. The Vikings went 14-3 under coach Kevin O'Connell last time around before also falling short in the playoffs, but they will have first-round draft pick JJ McCarthy fit this time and hooking up with Justin Jefferson, one of the league's best wide receivers and biggest stars. This will be big, in every sense.
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
NFL chief defends €10m government spend on Vikings vs Steelers and says Ireland to gain ‘direct and indirect' benefits
GRIDIRON supremo Henry Hodgson insists Ireland will earn much more than the €10m the State is spending to bring the NFL to Dublin. The this country . Advertisement 1 Pictured at Dublin Castle marking the announcement of the 2025 international schedule is Henry Hodgson, General Manager NFL UK and Ireland Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile As part of the partnership between the NFL and the Government, taxpayers' cash will be used to fund the fixture. But Hodgson, who is the NFL's general manager for Ireland and the UK , said the glamour match will generate millions more for the local economy. He said: 'It is the process we use in all the cities we go into around the world, but it is important to underscore that that is not the only investment. 'Teams are making a significant investment to bring the game here, the NFL is making a significant investment. Advertisement Read More on NFL 'It is part of the process but what we can see in terms of the cities we go into, what that investment looks like, in terms of economic impact, direct and indirect, and the social impact.' When asked how much other economies had benefited from hosting the NFL, he replied: 'It differs from city to city, depending on size of stadium etc, but we have seen ranges from Munich — €85 million, to €120-€130 million in London .' Brazil on September 5. The Vikings will follow up their game against the Steelers in Dublin with a trip to London to face the Cleveland Browns at the Advertisement Most read in NFL Video London will also host the Madrid . Emotional Fox NFL Sunday star Michael Strahan says goodbye as his hit show ends books at the Dublin also hosts Aviva Stadium. Advertisement And Hodgson said he believed Ireland had potential as a growing market for the NFL. He said: 'In terms of population, it is smaller than other markets we could go into, but in terms of passion for NFL fans, we saw that and heard that. 'The next two biggest factors are the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Rooney family and their connection to Ireland and wanting to bring the game back in terms of their heritage. 'And then the tremendous support we have had from the Government, the city here in Dublin and from Croke Park and the GAA . Advertisement 'What we have seen is that globally, this is something Ireland is renowned for, and we saw that clearly.' Hodgson confirmed that GAA HQ will not be at full capacity for the game — with the attendance being in the region of 76,000 people — while an unconfirmed number of seats will be added to Hill 16. Ticket prices will also be confirmed at a later date, but are expected to be in the region of what it costs for fans to attend games in London. The game will be televised via NFL Game Pass for markets outside the US. Advertisement But Hodgson confirmed talks were now underway with Irish broadcasters as well.
