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Why is the Notre Dame-Navy football game taking place at MetLife Stadium in 2024?

Posted on by Vanessa
Why is the Notre Dame-Navy football game taking place at MetLife Stadium in 2024?

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The annual football game between Notre Dame and Navy returns to the Meadowlands.

The no. 11 Fighting Irish and No. 24 Midshipmen are scheduled to compete on Saturday at noon ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The matchup marks the eighth time the Meadowlands Complex has hosted Notre Dame-Navy and the first since 2010.

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The fact that it's the first time since 2019 that both teams are ranked in the top 25 adds even more stakes to a game that claims every season as its own. This year, No. 16 Notre Dame defeated the 21st-ranked Midshipmen 52-20. The last time Navy beat a ranked Notre Dame team was in 2009, when the Midshipmen defeated No. 21 Notre Dame 23-21 in South Bend. It happened three more times, in 1936, 1944 and 1957.

Navy is seeking its first 7-0 start to a season since 1978 and the fifth such start in program history. The Fighting Irish rebounded from a loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2 and likely need to win to have a shot at the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Here's why the Fighting Irish and Midshipmen will play at MetLife Stadium in 2024:

Why do Notre Dame and Navy play at MetLife Stadium?

On August 5, 2021, it was announced that Notre Dame and Navy would play the 2024 version of their annual matchup at MetLife Stadium. Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk and MetLife Stadium President and CEO Ron VanDeVeen made the announcement in a press release:

“We return to MetLife Stadium with great excitement and high expectations for a typical, hard-fought traditional matchup,” Gladchuk said. “The exciting atmosphere of the stadium, a sold-out venue and the pageantry of the best in college football always make this experience one of the best of the season. It's always a wonderful college football day when we visit New Jersey to play the Irish. Thank you to Ron VanDeVeen and his staff for this greatly appreciated invitation.”

Notre Dame generally plays its home games against Navy at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. However, due to the size of Navy's home stadium – Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland – Navy typically plays its “home” games against the Fighting Irish at a neutral site.

Navy's home stadium seats 34,000 spectators, while MetLife Stadium has a capacity of 82,500 spectators. The Fighting Irish defeated Navy 42-3 in the Aer Lingus College Football Series in Dublin last season. Notre Dame-Navy also played games in Baltimore; Jacksonville, Fla.; San Diego; Philadelphia; and Orlando, Florida, among others.

The 2024 game will be the second time since 2000 that the game will be played in East Rutherford. On October 16, 2004, the Irish defeated the Midshipmen 27-9 at the old Giants Stadium. On October 23, 2010, Navy defeated Notre Dame 35-17 at what was then called New Meadowlands Stadium.

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