Ireland will play host to a special American football tournament in August featuring top teams from the highly competitive high school and college scenes The €4.5 million Global Ireland Football Tournament (Gift) will enable Irish fans to see “high school American football at its very best”, said Patrick Steenberge at a press event in Dublin last week.
Gift 2012 on Friday 31 August will see three ‘double-headers’ take place in Parnell Park and Donnybrook Stadium in Dublin, as well as Pairc Tailteann in Navan, Co Meath – and all will be streamed live via internet pay-per-view for American football fans around the world to enjoy.
Steenberge a former professional quarterback, has promoted American football games and events in 20 countries across six continents under his Global Football brand.
He told the press conference about an event in Tanzania last year, where more than 10,000 people had the chance to watch a semi-professional American football match. Steenberge also spoke of the opportunity for Tanzanian youth to take part in top-class American football training supported by head coaches from American colleges.
One year later, conditions there are “totally different”, said Regis Scafe, head coach at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio.
Steenberge underlined the economic impact for Ireland by way of the many visitors who will travel to Dublin for the games, and emphasised that the showcase tournament is aimed at “providing the experience of a lifetime for the visiting players, coaches, families and friends”.
The 12 high school and college teams from the United States and Canada will bring along a further 2,300 visiting fans, according to Global Football.
The tournament will be accompanied by team practice at University College Dublin and Trinity College, as well as an American-style parade through Dublin city centre to mark the five-day ‘Feile Americana’ festival of Irish and American music, arts and cuisine.
