Traditionally, the college teams who played the Classic were chosen from those of Irish or Catholic background. True to the tradition, in 1996 Notre Dame and the United States Naval Academy gave the international venue another shot and organized the newly named Shamrock Classic to take place in Dublin, but this time at Croke Park. While Notre Dame set a record for the longest winning streak over an annual collegiate opponent during the 1996 Shamrock Classic, the event drew a smaller crowd than the Emerald Isle Classic in 1988 and 1989. With more than 40,000 in attendance, the Shamrock Classic drew over 10,000 Americans to the event. Shops stayed open late, restaurants were packed, and hotels were booked solid weeks in advance of the game. The Fighting Irish took the game at 54-27.
Hoping to break all previous attendance records Notre Dame and Navy will meet again in the same spot the original game took place in 1988. Renamed and remodeled, the Lansdowne Road location is now known as the Aviva Stadium and is proudly hosting the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on August 26, 2023 as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the Navy Midshipmen.
Who will return home with a victory?