This Saturday, Florida State will commence its highly anticipated 2024 football season.
Historically, the Seminoles have launched their season in various locations, often at their home ground, Doak Campbell Stadium, during late August or early September. In recent years, they’ve played at neutral sites, such as their matchups against LSU. However, this year marks a slightly different beginning as Florida State travels abroad for its inaugural game.
After nearly nine months since clinching the ACC title and missing out on the College Football Playoff, the Seminoles will face Georgia Tech in Dublin, making it the first FBS college football game of the 2024 season.
While the merits of playing abroad are clear, especially for fans and players, questions arise regarding the choice of location, considering both schools are located just a 4.5-hour drive apart.
The game between Florida State and Georgia Tech will take place at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which seats 49,000 for American football games and is home to Ireland’s national rugby and soccer teams. This matchup will be the third college football game hosted at Aviva Stadium in as many years, following the Northwestern-Nebraska game in 2022 and the Notre Dame-Navy game in 2023.
The match is part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, an initiative by Ireland’s leading airline, first announced in June 2015. The inaugural game of the series occurred in 2016, when Georgia Tech defeated Boston College 17-14.
This event offers fans the chance to support their team while exploring a new country. For players and staff, it provides an enriching cultural experience. Florida State coach Mike Norvell expressed his excitement about the opportunity for the program, highlighting the travel and cultural immersion aspects of the trip.
From a broader perspective, the game serves as a significant promotional opportunity for Florida State. Athletic director Michael Alford emphasized the global brand of Florida State and the importance of showcasing the university on an international stage.
This marks Georgia Tech’s second visit to Ireland, having previously competed in the 2016 Aer Lingus Classic, which attracted over 12,000 fans.
The game is scheduled for Saturday, August 24, kicking off at noon ET.
Dublin and specifically Aviva Stadium have recently become prominent venues for college football season openers, with Saturday’s game marking the sixth played in Dublin since 2012. Several more matchups are slated for the coming years, including games involving Iowa State, Kansas State, Pitt, and Wisconsin. Interestingly, college football games in Ireland aren’t a new phenomenon, with three contests held between 1988 and 1996, starting with Boston College’s victory over Army in 1988.