The Pittsburgh Steelers OTAs are in full swing with the team returning to Pittsburgh's southside in preparation for training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. With the players getting prepared for the season on the field, other members of the Steelers organization have headed across the Atlantic Ocean to celebrate the new marketing partnership between the franchise and Ireland.
Steelers.com
Daniel Rooney celebrating in Dublin, Ireland to celebrate the new marketing partnership between the Steelers and the country of Ireland.
The Steelers recently were granted marketing rights in the Republic of Ireland as well as Northern Ireland as part of the NFL's Global Markets Program. Being granted those rights is a big step in the right direction for the Steelers who are hoping to eventually play a regular season game in Dublin for the first time in not only franchise history, but league history.
However, this would not be the first game for the Steelers in Ireland, back in July of 1997 they played a preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Dublin's Croke Park. To this day, that is the only NFL game ever played in Ireland. Playing quarterback for the Steelers in that preseason game was Kordell Stewart who also traveled to Dublin with members of the Steelers front office to celebrate the new partnership.
Daniel Rooney, who is the Steelers' Director of Business Development & Strategy and the son of Steelers President Art Rooney II, had high words of praise when he talked about the connection between the Steelers, his family, and the country of Ireland.
"For the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ireland is a special place. It's part of us. It's part of our being. We're proud to say it's not only part of our past, but also our future," Daniel Rooney said.
When Steelers President Rooney II spoke on the new partnership with Ireland, he made it clear the Steelers would like to return to Dublin for another game in the coming years.
“Our aspirations long term are to play a game in Ireland. As we move through the process, we’ll be evaluating all options," Art Rooney II said via the Associated Press.
The Rooneys have strong ties to the Emerald Isle, as Dan Rooney Sr served as the United States ambassador to Ireland from the years 2009 through 2012. Throughout the years, the Rooneys spent time visiting Ireland and spent family vacations there. From once a homeland for the Rooney family, Ireland will likely become the international homeland for the Steelers in the coming years.
MATT KAVANAUGH
Former Steelers owner late Dan Rooney served as the United States ambassador to Ireland from 2009 to 2012.
The Steelers Agreement With The Republic Of Ireland Will Likely Result In Multiple Games For Years To Come
Since 2007, the NFL has installed the 'International Series' which has sent teams around the NFL all across the globe to promote the league and its product. The Steelers however have only made the international trip one time which came all the way back in 2013 when the Steelers fell to Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings. With the Steelers having one of the biggest fanbases in the NFL, it is a surprise that the Steelers have yet to play more international games.
I would expect the Steelers have been holding out on international games over the last decade due to them trying to solidify their presence in Ireland. The partnership that was created this week may mean the Steelers will play multiple games in Ireland over the next few seasons.
Could Acrisure Stadium Lose A Home Game?
It's been rumored for a few years now that the Steelers could soon lose a home game to host one overseas. That surely won't go over well with Steeler Nation or the city of Pittsburgh. Before it was Ireland, there were rumors the team would take a home game to Mexico where many Steelers fans reside. Now it seems even more likely that the Steelers will be the home team in Ireland. In February Steelers President Art Rooney II expressed his desire to be the home team in an international game.
"We'd like to play at home for sure, and are reluctant to give up a home game," Rooney said. "But the other side of the coin is, we're fortunate to have fans in other countries and would like to play in front of them once in a while. So, I expect in the near future, we'll be in another international game."
What are your thoughts? Is Dublin a destination you would visit to watch the black and gold in action? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below!
#SteelerNation
