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Steelers-Vikings Game in Ireland Received Massive Ratings
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- Steelers-Vikings Game in Ireland Received Massive Ratings
Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. -- Rob Hurson
The first-ever NFL regular season game in Ireland received massive ratings. According to NFL Media, the Steelers -Vikings game averaged 7.9 million viewers (TV+Digital), making it the second-most NFL Network watched game ever. Only the Dolphins-Chiefs game in Germany in 2023 had better ratings.
It was up +68% vs. NFL Network’s 2024 International Games average. The Vikings-Steelers averaged over 9 million viewers from 12:30 p.m. ET until end of game.
Attendance at Croke Park for the Steelers-Vikings game on Sunday was a whopping 74,512. To say the least, the atmosphere was electric for the first NFL regular season game in Ireland.
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“It’s awesome, to be honest with you, I don’t know if we’re going to be able to come back, but I hope we do. It was an incredible experience,” Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen said after the 24-21 win over Minnesota . “The people here are extremely nice. The fans came out and showed out. So I think it’s just everything you wanted from this trip right here. You got a win for the history of that, you couldn’t ask for more.”
Steelers outside linebacker Nick Herbig added, “It was awesome, just taking it all in. Like, we are really playing a game overseas. This was my first time being out of the country. Especially being where I’m from, a small island in Hawaii. It’s crazy the places football can take you.”
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is very confident that the NFL will return to Dublin.
“100%, yes,” the four-time NFL MVP said when asked if Dublin deserved more games in the future.
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“The whole experience was fantastic. Shout-out to the country and everybody who made this happen. Win or lose, I would have said the same thing. I just felt like the reception from the people here was outstanding.” Thank you for showing up today. We love you. We wish we could come back. Next year.”
Most of the crowd at Croke Park were Steelers fans. It was estimated that 80-90% of the fans were Steelers fans.
“We’ve got the best fans in the nation, obviously. It felt like a home game, per usual,” Steelers strong safety DeShon Elliott said. “They always travel with us. Man, ain’t much else to say. It was a great collection of fans that came to watch us play. It definitely helped us there at the end.
Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth was also impressed by the sea of black and gold in the crowd at Croke Park.
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“Steelers Nation travels great to every game and we’re extremely thankful for them. … Seeing the experience, the culture here, how much they loved American football out here, it was great to be a part of history and great to be a part of the Steelers’ first official win in Dublin,” Freiermuth said.
Rodgers had a blast in Dublin. He hopes the Steelers play in Ireland every year, or the NFL at least has a game there on a yearly basis.
“From the moment we landed, the security guys over at the Carton house were hilarious, and the Guinness was good in downtown Dublin. It’ll be a nice flight back with hopefully a yearly return by us or two other teams,” Rodgers said.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers-Vikings Game in Ireland Received Massive Ratings
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