Notre Dame-Navy Returning To Ireland
Notre Dame played Navy at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland in 2012 and the two programs will return in 2020 for a game on Aug. 29, 2020.
"The University of Notre Dame, our football program, our alumni and fans had such a wonderful experience in 2012," said Notre Dame Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick. "The people of Ireland were incredibly welcoming and made our time on the Emerald Isle unforgettable. It wasn't long after our return from that trip that Navy initiated conversations with the hopes of bringing this matchup back to Dublin. Chet and his staff at Navy deserve a ton of credit for making this a reality.
"I'm so excited, not only for our student-athletes and those that will travel from the states, but for the people of Ireland and all of those that will make this another experience to cherish.”
Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk echoed Swarbrick's excitement as 2020 will mark the 94th meeting between Notre Dame and Navy.
"We are thrilled and excited to return to Aviva Stadium in Dublin for the 94th playing of the Navy-Notre Dame game," said Gladchuk. "In 2012, it was one of the greatest airlifts in all of sports with more than 35,000 people coming from the United States to witness the beauty of Ireland and the extravaganza that is Navy-Notre Dame and we expect just as many people to return in 2020. The support and enthusiasm for the game in Ireland is magnificent with the complete support from the Prime Minister and the Irish government agencies. We are looking forward to a great matchup in a country that knows no bounds for hospitality.”
Prime Minister of Ireland Leo Varadkar also was part of Thursday’s announcement and pleased to get both programs back in Ireland.
"College football is one of the greatest spectacles in world sport and to bring it back to Ireland for a five-year series is wonderful news for Irish tourism and for sports fans," said Varadkar. "Over 35,000 fans traveled to Ireland when Notre Dame and Navy last met in Dublin in 2012 and we will warmly welcome them and many others back for the Aer Lingus College Football Classics. Major games such as this one showcase Ireland as a location for international events and tournaments and put our world-leading hospitality and tourism sector front and center. I look forward to the first game of the series with the return of Notre Dame vs Navy in August 2020; I have no doubt it will be a hugely popular occasion."
2020 Notre Dame Football Schedule
8/29 Navy (Dublin, Ireland)
9/12 Arkansas
9/19 Western Michigan
9/26 @ Wake Forest
10/3 Wisconsin (Lambeau Field)
10/10 Stanford
10/17 @ Pittsburgh
10/31 Duke
11/7 Clemson
11/14 @ Georgia Tech
11/21 Louisville
11/28 @ USC