The countdown is on for the 2023 Aer Lingus College Football Classic (ALCFC) between Notre Dame and Navy Football. The much-anticipated game is set to attract over 40,000 international fans and is estimated to benefit the local economy to the tune of €147million. The game itself will kick off at 7.30 pm in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday, 26th August, marking the opening fixture, Week Zero of the 2023 College Football season. 

As title sponsor of the game, Aer Lingus will be transporting both teams, their delegations and equipment to Dublin this week on special charter flights ahead of the game. 

Although tickets for this year's 2023 ALCFC are fully sold out, fans can still get involved in the fun as there are plenty of other events taking place across the city. The Global Ireland Football Tournament 2023 (GIFT), a triple-header of games, are taking place in Energia Park on Friday, 25th August, headed by four top US high school squads from Florida, Tennessee, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

A series of events such as pep rallies, medical summits, business, sporting, networking and academic events are also planned around Dublin throughout the week. A full schedule of activities for the week, along with tickets for purchase to the high school football games (GIFT), are available through the official Game Week App. 

Dublin will be a hive of excitement this week as Dame Street will be renamed Notre Dame Street for the weekend. Dame Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between 8 pm on Friday, the 25th and 10 pm on Saturday, the 26th of August and will be the home of Notre Dame tailgating action on Game Day (Saturday). The ALCFC official merchandise store  is located at 2 Central Plaza, College Green and is open all of game week, including Sunday after the game. 

In preparation for the larger number of travelling fans, Dublin City Council, An Garda Síochána and the National Transport Authority, in collaboration with organisers, have put the necessary plans in place to ensure the event passes off smoothly and safely. ALCFC are encouraging fans attending the game to download the official app and check the website (www.collegefootballireland.com) for all important information before heading to the game. 

The Aer Lingus College Football Classic official app has an interactive map of Dublin City, recommendations for attractions, restaurants, and bars across Dublin and the rest of Ireland, transport and security information, along with key information about the Aviva Stadium, which will be hugely helpful for 40,000 international fans and others partaking in the fun. 

While the Aviva Stadium is within walking distance of the city centre, the National Transport Authority is supporting the ALCFC to ensure fans get to and from the Aviva Stadium safely and with ease. There will be enhanced DART, Dublin Bus and Taxi services pre and post-game from surrounding areas to Dublin City Centre. The RDS is the official game location for private car, bus and mini-bus parking.

The collegefootballireland.com website has all the key transport information for attendees. 

Commenting on the upcoming fixture, Padraic O'Kane, Director and Co-Founder of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, said: "We are very excited to welcome the Notre Dame and Navy fans to Dublin this week for what is set to be a great festival of football. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dublin City Council, An Garda Síochána, The National Transport Authority and all of our game Stakeholders who have been very supportive in ensuring we have the necessary resources and plans in place to deliver a positive experience for all. We're encouraging all attendees to download the official ALCFC app, which has all the key information for getting to and from the game."

Councillor Daithí de Róiste , Lord Mayor of Dublin, said: "Dublin has become the home away from home of U.S. College Football, and with the fantastic line-up of events taking place across the city this weekend, it is a great opportunity to showcase our capital and all it has to offer."

Lynne Embleton, CEO of Aer Lingus, said: " We play a unique and special role in making the Aer Lingus College Football Classic happen, not just as title sponsor but in flying the teams and the many thousands of U.S. visitors travelling to Ireland for the event. This year's game will see the largest single movement of U.S. citizens for a sporting event, which is a significant milestone and represents a huge opportunity to showcase Ireland as the great destination it is. We look forward to extending a warm Aer Lingus welcome to all those travelling to Ireland for the game." 

As per An Garda Síochána's usual advice provided around large attendance fixtures, they are advising those attending the event to be aware of their own personal safety and security. Further information on personal safety and advice is available at www.garda.ie/en/crime-prevention

You can view the full list of transport options and key information regarding personal safety by downloading the official Game Week app, available now on Apple and Android devices.