Aer Lingus College Football Classic claims two top honours at Irish Sponsorship Awards 2025

Recognised for its scale, strategic ambition, and multi-channel execution, the Aer Lingus College Football Classic claimed two prestigious honours at the Irish Sponsorship Awards 2025 — Best Rights Holder and Best Sporting Event Sponsorship — establishing the property as one of Ireland's most impactful sponsorship platforms.

The dual recognition reflects the Classic's ability to operate across every dimension of modern sponsorship: from large-scale experiential programming to digital engagement and long-term brand alignment, the event continues to redefine what Irish-hosted international sports properties can achieve for sponsors and communities alike.

The Classic's win in the Best Rights Holder category underlines the property's year-on-year growth trajectory and its ability to deliver measurable value to partners across experiential, digital, and stakeholder touchpoints. 

"The property's year-on-year growth, #MuchMoreThanAGame initiative, and long-term brand alignment showcase a truly standout example of partnership activation," the judges noted.

The second Best Sporting Event Sponsorship award recognised the Classic's sponsorship activation strategy as a high-water mark in sports partnership execution.

“Activations like the 'Louder than a Jet Engine' in-stadium flyover and out-of-stadium engagements created authentic, memorable experiences for fans. This partnership demonstrates creativity, impact, and strong execution across all touchpoints, setting a high standard in sports sponsorship," the judges cited.

The Irish Sponsorship Awards, held annually since 2012, recognise and reward the brands, rightsholders, agencies, and media owners delivering world-class sponsorship programmes across Ireland. 

The 2025 ceremony took place on November 13th at the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, celebrating the best in Irish sponsorship innovation and excellence.

For past winners, category information, and the latest industry news, visit the official Irish Sponsorship Awards website and sign up to their newsletter for exclusive updates from Ireland's sponsorship community.