Chicago and Soldier Field have a special place in the hearts of Irish rugby union fans.
As coached by Joe Schmidt, the Irish national team beat the New Zealand All Blacks here in 2016 (before some 62,000 people) for the first time in 111 years. Given that rugby union is considered the Kiwis’ national sport and that the international team had won 18 straight games before meeting their fate at the hands of the Irishmen, that 40-29 win was a signature day for the Emerald Isle and its stateside diaspora.
So the news this week that Ireland and New Zealand will return to Chicago on Nov. 1 made international headlines in Ireland and New Zealand. “This will be an epic rematch in one of the world’s great sporting cities,” the All Blacks head coach, Scott Robertson, told the New Zealand media.
Given the sad state of our local sports team, it’s good to be reminded that international reputation abides. It’s similarly helpful to be reminded that Soldier Field is a perfectly viable stadium with or without the Chicago Bears.
New Zealand Rugby’s chief executive Mark Robinson called Soldier Field “an iconic venue.” That is refreshing to hear, especially given how the Bears’ campaign for a new stadium has involved so much denigration of their current home.
Any tourism official will tell you that events such as the Ireland vs. New Zealand matchup are far more lucrative for a city’s economy than any regular domestic NFL game mostly attracting locals.
Many among the expected capacity crowd on Nov. 1 will be staying in downtown hotels that night (so watch out if you are planning anything that weekend) and a good portion of them will be here the whole weekend. Planeloads will even fly in from Ireland, which is good news for Aer Lingus and the Guinness brewpub in the West Loop.
Air New Zealand “paused” its non-stop flight from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport to Auckland a year ago, citing problems with the delivery of its Boeing 787s. Unfortunately, that pause has been extended. It can’t do any harm to remind Air New Zealand that it is still missing that crucial non-stop link from ORD to Australasia and rugby is a great way to do that.
The game will spark all kinds of international media coverage: it’s a fierce rivalry and Chicago will be the stage of a much-anticipated rematch.
We’ve written before about our chagrin that upcoming FIFA World Cup games will be in Kansas City rather than at Soldier Field, their rightful Midwest home. The city blew that chance to reassert its global sporting status. But there are other international soccer opportunities coming up and rugby, too, has future promise: the 2031 Rugby World Cup is set to take place in the U.S. and Major League Rugby (and our Chicago Hounds) also are seeing some growth.
Sure, the November event will be a one-off. But the huge match will take place astride Lake Michigan on what we hope will be a sunny, breezy fall afternoon, showcasing this city to two famously friendly nations where hordes of people will be watching on what will be Saturday night in Ireland and Sunday morning in New Zealand. Actually, make that three nations since in rugby union, the Irish national team represents both Ireland and Northern Ireland.
May the best team emerge the victor; Chicago and its vital tourism industry will be a winner either way.
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