Get ready to incorporate some green and orange into the two-tone blue.
The Tennessee Titans have been awarded NFL international marketing rights in Ireland, meaning the Titans will be able to build communities, fan events, brand awareness and commercial opportunities across the Atlantic Ocean.
The NFL debuted its “Global Markets Program” in 2022, giving licensing rights to teams in 21 countries, but the Titans had not been included in the group before now. The Titans will join Green Bay, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and the New York Jets among teams with marketing rights in Ireland.
“Both Nashville and Ireland are deeply rooted in music, storytelling, and community pride,” Titans president Burke Nihill says. “This partnership allows us to authentically connect with Irish fans while promoting the shared values and cultural bonds between our regions. We see this as a tremendous opportunity to grow our fan base, foster new relationships, and promote the best of Music City abroad.”
Flights connecting Nashville to Dublin, launched in April, another notch for the connection.
“Nashville and Ireland have long shared a strong musical bond, and that connection is set to grow even deeper as the Tennessee Titans engage directly with Irish fans,” said Deana Ivey, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “With the launch of a new direct flight and the expansion of the Titans fan base, our two cultures are more linked than ever. We look forward to sharing even more of our Southern hospitality and unmistakable magic of Music City.”
Prior to this partnership, the Titans were one of just three NFL teams without international marketing rights, the others being Buffalo and Cincinnati. By contrast, there are teams like the Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, L.A. Rams, Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks that have five or more active partnerships.
The NFL will play its first game in Dublin in 2025, pitting the Minnesota Vikings against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 28 at Croke Park. The Titans last played overseas in 2023 in London and will not play internationally in 2025.
“League-wide club participation in the program underlines the strategic priority both the NFL and its teams share, to invest in global growth,” says Peter O’Reilly, the NFL executive who oversees international development. “We continue to see strong momentum worldwide and look forward to bringing fans internationally closer to our game, together.”
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.