AmCham Ireland Announces Strategic Partnership with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic

AmCham Ireland has today announced a new partnership with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, becoming an Official Strategic Partner of one of Ireland's most significant platforms for strengthening business, education and cultural ties between Ireland and the United States. 

The partnership reflects a shared belief that international sporting events can also serve as catalysts for economic diplomacy, business collaboration and investment promotion. Through the partnership, AmCham will contribute to the wider programme of business engagement surrounding the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, providing new opportunities for members to connect with business leaders, policymakers, universities and industry stakeholders from both sides of the Atlantic. 

For 65 years, AmCham Ireland has worked to strengthen the economic relationship between Ireland and the United States. Representing more than 400 member companies, the organisation champions Ireland's competitiveness and one of the world's strongest bilateral investment relationships, with US companies employing more than 245,000 people in Ireland and Irish companies investing approximately $390 billion in the United States, making Ireland the fifth largest source of FDI into the US. 

The partnership will also create new opportunities to support Irish companies as they deepen their presence in the United States, fostering stronger commercial relationships and helping businesses on both sides of the Atlantic identify new opportunities for growth and collaboration. 

While renowned for bringing elite NCAA Division I college football to Dublin each year, the Aer Lingus College Football Classic has evolved into much more than a sporting event. Through its Much More Than A Game programme, it has become a significant platform for business, academic and governmental engagement between Ireland and the United States. 

Across the first four games of the current series since 2022 , Grant Thorntons independent economic report has reported the series has generated an estimated €514 million in economic impact for Ireland, with 108,000 US fans travelling for these four games , while reaching millions of TV viewers in the United States, underlining its growing importance as a driver of tourism, international business engagement and investment. 

As Ireland continues its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the partnership also reflects the importance of maintaining strong transatlantic relationships and reinforcing Ireland's position as a trusted gateway for US companies investing in Europe. 

Paul Sweetman, CEO of AmCham Ireland, said: “Strengthening the economic relationship between Ireland and the United States is at the heart of everything AmCham does. The Aer Lingus College Football Classic has become a powerful platform for bringing together business, government, academia and communities from both sides of the Atlantic, creating opportunities that extend far beyond the game itself. 

“We are delighted to become an Official Partner of an initiative that shares our commitment to strengthening transatlantic relationships, showcasing Ireland internationally and supporting collaboration, investment and innovation between our two countries. Events like this also help reinforce Ireland’s reputation as an open, internationally connected and competitive location for investment.” 

Tara Keane, Director of Partnerships at AmCham Ireland, said: "This partnership will create meaningful opportunities for our members to build relationships with senior business leaders, policymakers, universities and visiting US organisations during one of the most significant weeks in the transatlantic calendar. It provides a unique platform to strengthen existing connections, develop new partnerships and showcase the expertise of our membership. 

"We look forward to working with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic team to continue expanding the business engagement programme and creating opportunities for collaboration that deliver long-term value for our members and the wider Ireland-US relationship." 

Brendan Meehan, Director of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic said: "We are delighted to welcome AmCham Ireland as an Official Strategic Partner of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Since its inception, the Classic has grown into far more than a sporting event. It has become a platform for strengthening business, educational and cultural ties between Ireland and the United States, and AmCham's long-standing commitment to advancing the transatlantic relationship makes it a natural partner as we continue to build on that success." 

The 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic will take place on 29 August at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, when Texas Christian University (TCU) will face the University of North Carolina (UNC). Alongside the game, the event will once again deliver a week-long programme of business, education, cultural and community initiatives, bringing together leaders from across Ireland and the United States. 

The partnership reinforces AmCham Ireland's commitment to strengthening one of the world's most successful economic relationships through policy leadership, member engagement and international advocacy, while supporting Ireland's continued attractiveness as a destination for investment and innovation. 

Tickets for the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic are available now at ticketmaster.ie/collegefootball. Check out Collegefootballireland.ie and @collegefootballireland social pages for more information and updates.