ESPN College Gameday

Client: ESPN, Disney, Dublin City Council

College Green/Dame Street; Dublin, Ireland

In August 2023, Dublin became the stage for a global broadcast first. ESPN’s College GameDay, one of the most iconic sports shows on American television, had never aired outside the United States. That changed when Dublin beat out other international contenders to host its first-ever overseas edition. At the centre of delivery was Davis Events Agency.

Initially brought on to support a fan zone, Davis quickly took the lead. With extensive experience in complex, high-footfall events, the agency became the trusted bridge between Dublin and ESPN’s world-class production team. The project grew in scale and complexity at speed, with multiple city stakeholders, cultural partners, broadcasters, and emergency services requiring close alignment.

College Green was transformed into a full-scale broadcast site and live audience arena. Davis designed and delivered every aspect, including staging, cable routing, lighting, OB infrastructure, safety and crowd control. At the same time, the agency programmed a parallel cultural festival across the city. Live music, marching bands, sports demos and public performances created a festival atmosphere that gave the event its distinctly Irish identity.

The broadcast reached 1.6 million live viewers in the US, peaking at 2 million. It drove 150 million media impressions, a 25 percent rise in visitor numbers to the city and contributed €180 million to the local economy. Businesses in the area reported record footfall. ESPN themselves called it one of their most successful live shows to date.

This was more than a live production. It was a cultural moment for Dublin, a landmark for ESPN and a demonstration of Davis Events Agency’s ability to deliver on the world stage. It set a new precedent for international collaboration, cultural programming and broadcast-led event design.