Teams and fans have touched down in Dublin for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic!

Aer Lingus will mark this year’s event with a brand-new TV commercial that will air to an audience of millions in the US.

College Football fever has officially landed in Dublin as thousands of fans, players, band members and cheer teams have begun arriving for the 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic. This year’s showdown will showcase one of college football’s most fierce rivalries – ‘Farmageddon’ – as Kansas State University’s ‘Wildcats’ takes on Iowa State University’s ‘Cyclones’ at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday, 23rd August.

Adding to the buzz, Aer Lingus will debut a brand-new commercial during the ESPN broadcast of the game – bringing some Irish ‘craic’ to millions of viewers across North America. The ad sees mascots Willie the Wildcat and Cy the Cardinal swap the gridiron for a lively Irish pub session. In a humorous nod to Irish hospitality, the beloved team mascots attempt to join a trad band. The commercial celebrates the warmth, wit, and culture that sets Ireland apart, whilst highlighting Aer Lingus’ role as a proud supporter of the College Football.

As title sponsor, Aer Lingus is proud to help bring this landmark sporting and cultural exchange to life. With over 22,000 fans expected to travel from the US, and many more from across Europe, the event once again showcases Dublin as the European home of College Football. For fans still hoping to bag tickets to this year’s game, there are a limited number of tickets available on ticketmaster.ie/collegefootball

The logistics behind the Aer Lingus College Football Classic are nothing short of extraordinary. To deliver this transatlantic sporting spectacle, Aer Lingus operated special charter flights to Ireland, transporting players, coaches, cheerleaders and band members to Ireland. In addition to the charters, hundreds more supporters and friends are travelling on Aer Lingus’ scheduled transatlantic services from cities across the U.S.

Aer Lingus also transported 947 pieces of baggage to Dublin, including 278 pieces of sports gear and 136 band instruments — 84 from Kansas State and 52 from Iowa State. On top of that, 16 tonnes of cargo (about 8 tonnes per team) made the journey from both colleges to Ireland via Aer Lingus’ scheduled cargo services.

Much more than just a game, the Aer Lingus College Football Classic is a major boost for Ireland’s economy. The 2025 game alone is projected to generate over €130 million for the local Irish economy, according to Grant Thornton, who compile an annual Post Game Economic Impact Report. This brings the total economic contribution of the first four games in the series to €512 million — a significant and growing return on this unique sporting and tourism investment.

Dublin will be transformed into a festival of American football this weekend, with pep rallies, tailgates, live broadcasts, and immersive cultural experiences blending the best of Irish and American traditions. A full schedule of events as well as updates and key timings can be found on the Official Game Week App.

Following last year’s record-breaking audience of 5 million viewers, ESPN will once again broadcast the game live across the U.S.

Speaking about the 2025 game, Susanne Carberry, Chief Customer Officer at Aer Lingus, says: “Aer Lingus is proud to fly the ‘Wildcats’ and the ‘Cyclones’ to Ireland for the 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic. We take great pleasure in ensuring that the teams, and their many supporters, experience a warm Irish welcome as they cross the Atlantic to Dublin, where they’ll share the magic of College Football with thousands of supporters at the Aviva Stadium. This event is a powerful showcase of Ireland’s famous hospitality, reaching a vast audience across our key North American market. Through Aer Lingus’ new ESPN TV ad, we hope audiences in the US and beyond will enjoy a glimpse of Ireland’s unique craic (fun), culture and charm.”

The Aer Lingus College Football Classic is a celebration of sport, travel, and transatlantic connection — offering something for every member of the family. To learn more about the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, visit Aer Lingus College Football Classic | Dublin, Ireland

See Aer Lingus new commercial here: The 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic Has Arrived 🏈☘️ | Aer Lingus