Georgia Tech, Boston College to Open 2016 Season in Ireland
First international game in Yellow Jackets history
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech and Boston College will open the 2016 football season in Dublin, Ireland, for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The game, which will be the official ACC opener for both schools, will be held Sept. 3, 2016, at Aviva Stadium, and is scheduled to be televised on ESPN2.
The official announcement was made Thursday in Dublin by Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke, and officials from Aer Lingus, Tourism Ireland and Boston College.
“It’s great to open the 2016 season in Ireland. This is a historic day for Georgia Tech Football as we will play our first-ever international football game,” Georgia Tech Athletic Director Mike Bobinski said. “This is an amazing opportunity to bring college football back to Ireland and to give our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans a truly global experience.
The 2016 game will mark the ninth college football game held in Ireland and the seventh featuring FBS schools. It will be the second college game played at Aviva Stadium.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY IN IRELAND
1988* Boston College 38, Army 24 Dublin, Ireland (Lansdowne Road)
1989* Pittsburgh 46, Rutgers 29 Dublin, Ireland (Lansdowne Road)
1991 Holy Cross 24, Fordham 19 Limerick, Ireland (Gaelic Grounds)
1992 Bowdoin 7, Tufts 6 Galway, Ireland (Pearse Stadium)
1996* Notre Dame 54, Navy 27 Dublin, Ireland (Croke Park)
2012 John Carroll 40, St. Norbert 3 Dublin, Ireland (Donnybrook Stadium)
2012* Notre Dame 50, Navy 10 Dublin, Ireland (Aviva Stadium)
2014* Penn State 26, UCF 24 Dublin, Ireland (Croke Park)
*FBS game
It will mark the first international game for the historic Yellow Jackets football program. It will be head coach Paul Johnson’s second football game in Ireland; he was Navy’s offensive coordinator when the Midshipmen played Notre Dame in 1996.
“I’m excited for our guys to have the opportunity to experience playing in Ireland,” head coach Paul Johnson said. “Our players really enjoyed it at Navy when we played in Dublin in 1996. It’ll be something they remember for the rest of their lives.”
Anthony Travel is providing official Georgia Tech travel options which include access to exclusive premium game tickets for the 2016 game. As the official travel partner for both the 2012 and 2014 Ireland games, Anthony Travel coordinated the movement of more than 15,000 travelers oversees. For more information on travel packages, visitGT2Ireland.com or call 877-260-0645. The game is being organized by Irish American Events Ltd which is a joint venture between Corporate.ie and Anthony Travel who have been involved in the recent college football games in Ireland.
“We are thrilled that Georgia Tech, a truly world class institute, will be bringing its Yellow Jackets football team to Dublin to open the 2016 season,” said Paul Gleeson, Consul General of Ireland in Atlanta. “We can promise the Georgia Tech fan base an outstanding experience in Ireland with our unique blend of beautiful scenery, rich culture, and famous hospitality.”
First international game in Yellow Jackets history
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech and Boston College will open the 2016 football season in Dublin, Ireland, for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The game, which will be the official ACC opener for both schools, will be held Sept. 3, 2016, at Aviva Stadium, and is scheduled to be televised on ESPN2.
The official announcement was made Thursday in Dublin by Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke, and officials from Aer Lingus, Tourism Ireland and Boston College.
“It’s great to open the 2016 season in Ireland. This is a historic day for Georgia Tech Football as we will play our first-ever international football game,” Georgia Tech Athletic Director Mike Bobinski said. “This is an amazing opportunity to bring college football back to Ireland and to give our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans a truly global experience.
The 2016 game will mark the ninth college football game held in Ireland and the seventh featuring FBS schools. It will be the second college game played at Aviva Stadium.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY IN IRELAND
1988* Boston College 38, Army 24 Dublin, Ireland (Lansdowne Road)
1989* Pittsburgh 46, Rutgers 29 Dublin, Ireland (Lansdowne Road)
1991 Holy Cross 24, Fordham 19 Limerick, Ireland (Gaelic Grounds)
1992 Bowdoin 7, Tufts 6 Galway, Ireland (Pearse Stadium)
1996* Notre Dame 54, Navy 27 Dublin, Ireland (Croke Park)
2012 John Carroll 40, St. Norbert 3 Dublin, Ireland (Donnybrook Stadium)
2012* Notre Dame 50, Navy 10 Dublin, Ireland (Aviva Stadium)
2014* Penn State 26, UCF 24 Dublin, Ireland (Croke Park)
*FBS game
It will mark the first international game for the historic Yellow Jackets football program. It will be head coach Paul Johnson’s second football game in Ireland; he was Navy’s offensive coordinator when the Midshipmen played Notre Dame in 1996.
“I’m excited for our guys to have the opportunity to experience playing in Ireland,” head coach Paul Johnson said. “Our players really enjoyed it at Navy when we played in Dublin in 1996. It’ll be something they remember for the rest of their lives.”
Anthony Travel is providing official Georgia Tech travel options which include access to exclusive premium game tickets for the 2016 game. As the official travel partner for both the 2012 and 2014 Ireland games, Anthony Travel coordinated the movement of more than 15,000 travelers oversees. For more information on travel packages, visitGT2Ireland.com or call 877-260-0645. The game is being organized by Irish American Events Ltd which is a joint venture between Corporate.ie and Anthony Travel who have been involved in the recent college football games in Ireland.
“We are thrilled that Georgia Tech, a truly world class institute, will be bringing its Yellow Jackets football team to Dublin to open the 2016 season,” said Paul Gleeson, Consul General of Ireland in Atlanta. “We can promise the Georgia Tech fan base an outstanding experience in Ireland with our unique blend of beautiful scenery, rich culture, and famous hospitality.”
