NFL: Minnesota Vikings v Pittsburgh Steelers
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Date: Sunday, 28 September Kick-off: 14:30 BST
Protection: Reside textual content commentary on the BBC Sport web site and app from 13:00
Pittsburgh Steelers legend Jerome Bettis affectionately remembers his first go to to Dublin in 1997.
He felt those that got here to Croke Park for a pre-season contest between his aspect and the Chicago Bears have been making an effort at "understanding and digesting" the largely unfamiliar recreation enjoying out in entrance of them.
Whereas, in fact, there have been a wholesome variety of American expatriates and native fanatics among the many 25,000 or so who filed into the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Affiliation (GAA) for a recreation marketed because the 'American Bowl', there was a prevailing sense of curiosity amongst many members of the gang.
Even the Corridor of Fame working again himself, who scored a landing within the 30-17 Steelers' victory, remembers extra a couple of week spent having fun with what he phrases Irish "hospitality" than something that occurred on the sphere of play.
Virtually three a long time on, because the NFL returns to Dublin for town's first ever regular-season recreation – that includes the Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday – it will likely be an entirely completely different proposition with a 75,000-sell-out crowd making certain the historic fixture is the most well liked ticket on the town this weekend.
"I think it's shown that the NFL has grown in the acceptance," Bettis advised BBC Sport NI.
"I think now the game has developed a lot more in Ireland, I expect to see Croke Park jamming.
"The power needs to be electrical, I'm excited for it."
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Bettis believes advances in technology and the advent of social media have helped to grow the game exponentially.
While those local supporters of the game in 1997 relied upon a highlights show of the previous week's games to keep up to date, now there is a slew of live contests and associated programming broadcast each week.
Social media, meanwhile, means that visiting stars like Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson feel closer than ever.
"I feel proper now, once you see how the expertise has modified, it has allowed for gamers to be in your lounge regularly," Bettis said.
"From TikTok and all these completely different mediums, now you're capable of establish with the gamers. You understand who the star quarterback is. You understand who the star extensive receiver is, and also you turn out to be a fan of him or their workforce.
"I think that's added to the excitement of the NFL game because now, it doesn't matter where you are."
'I feel that is going to be a recurring affair'
With the ancestors of the Rooney household who personal the Steelers having emigrated from Newry in County Down in the course of the 1840s, the aspect's go to in 1997 carried a particular significance for the organisation.
Certainly, the will to mark the return to the Rooney household's homeland with victory was believed to have contributed to the aspect's starters staying within the recreation for longer than customary in an effort to safe what would usually be thought of a facile victory.
If that ensured a bigger than anticipated pre-season workload for Bettis again then, his ambassadorial position for the Steelers at Sunday's recreation means he has had the possibility to see extra of the Emerald Isle this time round.
A spherical of golf on the Okay Membership, the venue for Rory McIlroy's Irish Open victory this month, has proved a selected spotlight with visits to Belfast and Newry additionally included within the itinerary.
The welcome bestowed upon the travelling contingent has left Bettis of the opinion that Dublin's first regular-season recreation is not going to be its final.
"Coming as a fan and spectator, you get a chance to experience the culture here in Ireland and the people. You get a chance to interact a lot more and it's just a wonderful place.
"The folks have been unbelievable to everybody, and I feel that is going to be a recurring affair.
"I think this is a commitment the NFL is going to make to the fans of Ireland and show how important it is."
As Dublin turns into the fourth European metropolis to host a regular-season recreation after London, Frankfurt and Munich – Berlin and Madrid will observe go well with in November – does Bettis imagine we may someday see a full-time franchise on this aspect of the Atlantic?
"I just think as the game continues to expand, I think that question will continue to be raised," he mentioned.
"And as long as that question is being raised, then I think the possibility really exists."
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