Emerald Isle gets greener: Notre Dame-Navy game means millions for Dublin

The Navy may be “A global force for good,” but that global reach has its limits — especially when it comes to playing Notre Dame in Dublin.

Out of the nearly 50,000 fans expected to pack Aviva Stadium on Sept. 1, only 5,000 will be rooting for the Midshipmen, according to Independent.ie — Notre Dame sold 30,000 tickets, and IrishCentral.com reports ND fans scooped up the remainder through other channels. (UPDATE: Navy PR folks weigh in with official ticket tallies here — No. 5 on the list)

Both reports make it clear the game’s impact goes beyond ticket sales: $30 million in hospitality-industry revenue for Dublin, 15,000 more fans making the trip than expected, and enough hotel-room demand that travel agents are left searching for short-term apartment rentals. The game’s official travel partner says select packages are available, but don’t expect a game ticket to go with them; more than 5,000 fans are expected to make the trip despite lacking a ticket, according to Independent.ie.

Another good way to tell a game’s a big draw: A major newspaper writes a feature on the travel agents. Cheryl Hall writes in The Dallas Morning News that Irish tourism officials expect a $100 million total bump in revenue from the game and surrounding events.

Fans stuck stateside can catch the action at 9 a.m. Eastern (2 p.m. Dublin) on CBS. Plan the rest of your fall Saturdays here.