THE NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS WILL TAKE ON THE NEBRASKA HUSKERS IN THE AVIVA STADIUM ON AUGUST 27

  • Deal will see the Northwestern University team stay in the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road during game week 2022 
  • Other Dalata operated hotels, Clayton Hotels and Maldron Hotels will become official fan hotels. 
  • The Big Ten Conference fixture will open the 2022 College Football Season. 
  • 15,000 US fans and 5,000 European fans are expected to travel to Dublin.
  • Game is expected to generate €63million for the Irish Economy this year.
  • The game which kicks off at 17:30 local time will be broadcast by Fox which will see a live US TV audience of c.3.5 million viewers.
  • The game will provide a welcome boost for Ireland’s hospitality and tourism sectors.

Dalata Hotel Group Plc, operators of Maldron Hotels and Clayton Hotels have been confirmed as the official hotel partner of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic series.
The game, which takes place on August 27 in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, is expected to generate a massive €63million for the Irish economy.

Dublin’s Clayton Hotel Burlington Road will house the Northwestern University Football team and become one of the official Northwestern fan hotels located throughout the city. Other Dalata operated properties, including the Clayton and Maldron Hotels, will be promoted as official Northwestern and Nebraska fan hotels. Clayton Hotel Burlington Road will also welcome a team for the remainder of the series each year.
This is the first time that either Northwestern University or the University of Nebraska have ever travelled to play in Ireland, and both are thrilled to accept the invitation to open the 2022 College Football Season.
As both teams are part of the famed Big Ten Conference, over 15,000 U.S. and 5,000 European fans are expected to travel for the game that will prove a significant international, post-covid event for Ireland. The series principal stakeholders are Aer Lingus, Failte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Dublin City Council. 

Brendan Meehan Commercial Director of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, said: “We are delighted to partner with Dalata Hotel Group on this exciting proposition. We are excited about the opportunities this partnership offers us.  It is wonderful to have Dalata on board as another like-minded private partner to complement our existing private partners, including our title sponsor Aer Lingus.” 

Pat Fitzgerald, Head Football Coach with the Northwestern Wildcats, commented: “We are counting down the days until we travel to Ireland and kick off the 2022 college football season in Dublin as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Our staff has been hard at work behind-the-scenes to ensure a first-class experience for our student-athletes, and the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road is a key component. Situated in an amazing downtown location within walking distance of the Aviva Stadium, with ample meeting space and outstanding amenities, it will be a tremendous home-away-from-home for our team and Wildcats fans.”

In addition, Des McCann, Dalata Hotel Group Chief Operating Officer will join the Steering Committee of the game series. 

Mr Meehan commented: “Having Des’ experience and knowledge on the Steering Committee will help with our goal of establishing Dublin as the European home of US College Football and ensuring the first game of the College Football Season is played in Dublin forever more.”

Des McCann said: “It is a great opportunity for Dalata Hotel Group as the largest hotel group in Ireland to be the official hotel partner with such a great event. We are delighted to be showcasing our great Irish hospitality and strengthening our relationships with the U.S.”

The Aer Lingus College Football Classic game series is a successful and proactive public-private collaboration. The five-game series is estimated to be worth €413million to the Irish economy according to Grant Thornton and Fáilte Ireland and will prove a timely and welcome boost to the Irish hospitality and tourism industries over the next number of years. 

Whilst these games will greatly benefit Ireland, the “Much More Than A Game” initiative will also help to further showcase the strength of the Irish American bilateral relations. The games offer huge publicity potential, practical economic benefits, and a genuine expression of the close ties between Ireland and the U.S.  

-ENDS-

About the Aer Lingus College Football Classic
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic game series is a successful and proactive public private collaboration. The series is estimated to be worth €413m to the Irish economy as per Grant Thornton and Fáilte Ireland and will prove a timely and welcome boost to the Irish hospitality and tourism industries over the next number of years. Whilst these games will greatly benefit Ireland, the “Much More Than A Game” initiative in association with the series will also help to further showcase the strength of Irish American bilateral relations. The games offer huge publicity potential, practical economic benefits, and a genuine expression of the close ties between Ireland and the U.S. 

118,000 US visitors are projected to travel to Ireland over the course of the series with a further 25,000 from Europe. The second game of the series will see The Fighting Irish, Notre Dame bring a first ever home game to Ireland against Navy on 26th August 2023. Other exciting games will be announced in due course. collegefootballireland.com


About Dalata Hotel Group 
Dalata Hotel Group plc was founded in August 2007 and listed as a plc in March 2014. Dalata is Ireland’s largest hotel operator, with a growing presence in the UK and continental Europe. The Group's portfolio comprises 49 predominately four-star hotels with 10,663 rooms and a pipeline of over 1,500 rooms. The Group currently has 29 owned hotels, 17 leased hotels and three management contracts. Dalata successfully operate Ireland’s two largest hotel brands, the Clayton and the Maldron Hotels. For the year ended 31 December 2021, Dalata reported revenue of €192.0 million and a loss after tax of €6.3 million. Dalata is listed on the Main Market of Euronext Dublin (DHG) and the London Stock Exchange (DAL). For further information visit: dalatahotelgroup.com