18/06/2015 13:28:38 GaryMc82
Season ticket it the way to go, however not everybody can afford to front that money up front.
I don't think buying one season ticket is a problem, but buying for few family members can be a big ask for a single Income family with a tight mortgage and everything else Irish people are expected to fork out for. That is one of many financial scenario's that people can struggle with, that may stop them from buying a Season ticket. Many people are not Interested in Club membership, which can be for a variety of reasons.
The All Ireland final is a special time for Counties, I know all too well as neighbours Tyrone and Donegal have flown plenty of colour along the roads over the past 12 years. The All Ireland draws the Interest of people within the County, who ordinarily are not GAA fans, club members or season tickets holders.
I think tickets for final's should be more accessible to the competing counties, and less geared towards corporate Income.
Is 35,000 tickets for each competing county really a bad Idea? Gary which of the above categories should have tickets taken from them to give official allocations to counties of 35000?

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 18/06/2015 15:42:22    1739138

My experience would be that if you want an All Ireland ticket badly enough you'll get one.

Allocating 35,000 tickets per county would be just plain wrong when some so called "top" counties struggle to get 5,000 to go to a league game.

As far as I'm concerned the clubs & volunteers up & down the country have more right to them & if they can make a few quid by auctioning/raffling them then good luck to them.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 18/06/2015 17:27:34    1739194

17/06/2015 21:57:59 GaryMc82
I like Longford, they are among the very few who hold us in really high regard. They hold their recent qualifier win up like a Provincial or All Ireland Winners medal, and are dam proud of their good run against Derry.
Your a bit too parochial, the All Ireland Final ticket distribution needs to be addressed.
All too often in September every year, we hear of the massive ticket problems. With the main stadium nearly paid for, should we not finally be able to think about GAA fans ahead of the Corporations or TV?
One of the earlier posts on this thread lists some of the groups that got tickets for the 2011, Is it any wonder All Ireland final's sometimes lack atmosphere.
Fans of the competing Counties should be priority, then spread the ticket love after that is sorted. But that isnt how things work in majority of sports. There will always be ticket problems in September even if counties get 35000 tickets. Gary if counties are to get more tickets exactly where should the tickets come from. Which groups would you take tickets from?
18/06/2015 10:14:51 TheMaster
It is a joke of a system, which in my view actually enables abuse. All it does is direct tickets to people with little vested interest in the game, and away from the ones who want to see it. They are then sold on for a large profit by these people, to the ones who wanted to see it in the first place. What is the point? The tickets should simply be split 50-50 between the two counties, with a few thousand put aside for sponsorship and tv/radio. Why are teachers getting tickets as opposed to any other profession? Surely a decent ticket allocation to the clubs would take care of any people who might be involved with coaching of children? What annoys me is when I know of a genuine fan who has had to spend weeks clawing and scraping for a ticket, maybe never getting one, and then you are sat beside one of these guys from neither county who declares 'oh I go every year', who display a noticeable lack of knowledge of the teams involved before they scoot off before the end to beat the traffic. It is the only sport in the world where the climax of the year is taken away from the fans.
yewtree, while I accept the season ticket point, the fact is there are over 80,000 seats - you shouldn't need to be a season ticket holder to get a ticket. How would you change things? 50-50 will never happen as there will always be tickets going to constituent parts of the GAA. Where does it state teachers get tickets? Schools get an allocation but that doesn't simply mean teachers.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 18/06/2015 21:49:04    1739284

I know its difficult for some people to find money for season tickets for a numbers of family members but I will give you an example of season tickets, it cost me 85 euro for Croke Park season ticket but I had free entry to all league games that cost 15 euro each game if you pay at gate, if you reach semi final and final that's probably 20 or 30 euro each time, then its a free ticket for 1st game in provincial champ so for 85 euro ticket it would have cost me around 170 euro without season ticket, I can't agree with clubs receiving tickets for public sale the genuine fans that go to every game by buying match tickets through their club are being used for a numbers game, give tickets to club officers and players but there has to be a system either the season ticket system or else have a championship ticket system which costs more than a season ticket but give you a chance to earn an AlllIreland final ticket but at the end of the day season ticket members should have 1st distribution then this champ ticket members are 2nd on the list then the clubs. Ticket numbers should be around 30000 for each county 5000 divided between minor counties, the rest divided between GAA clubs nationally and sponsors, the rest can stay at home. I know of somebody that had a cooperate ticket for the final and he was the only person watching the game everybody else was at the bar talking and laughing, had no interest in the game, what a waste of tickets

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 19/06/2015 08:46:48    1739303

ormondbannerman
County: Clare
Posts: 9748

1739284
17/06/2015 21:57:59 GaryMc82
But that isnt how things work in majority of sports. There will always be ticket problems in September even if counties get 35000 tickets. Gary if counties are to get more tickets exactly where should the tickets come from. Which groups would you take tickets from?

A more Important question is, Who deserves All Ireland final tickets more than the fans of the Competing Counties?
- Croke Park residents? Why should they be getting any tickets at all, and do the actual residents get those tickets or the landlords?
- GAA officials, Schools, RTE or SKy etc? I'm not against designating tickets to different groups and organisations, but in moderation.

Should every Club in Ireland be getting tickets for the All Ireland final? I don't think so, and I think there is still enough money being spread around all the Clubs in Ireland without them raffling off All Ireland tickets.

If I ask "How much money is enough for the year to satisfy the GAA needs?", Nobody could give me an answer. That's because there is no answer or long-term financial goal, and that means a never-ending quest for money.

People who support the current All Ireland ticket regime, seem to think the GAA owe some people a living. Time to wake up and start giving back to the people who give the most funding to the GAA..........Yes the fans.

NOTE TO ormondbannerman, space your sentences out a bit, Its torture to read. Break it up a little

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 19/06/2015 12:20:32    1739431

ormondbannerman
How would you change things?

Im pretty sure I explained how I would change them...


50-50 will never happen as there will always be tickets going to constituent parts of the GAA.

Why?
I said set a few thousand aside, as in no more than 5,000. After that, it should go to the counties involved and nobody else.


Where does it state teachers get tickets? Schools get an allocation but that doesn't simply mean teachers.

So who gets to decide what happens to them? The children? If schools within the counties involved got them, fair enough. They could raffle them or something, but every school? Again, why?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 19/06/2015 12:46:23    1739438

Take a look at the breakdown of any big sports final, Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup Final, World Cup Final, etc. and you will see a similar case to the All Ireland with the competing teams getting less tickets than the semi. It won't change so no point giving out about it.

Last years semi v Dublin and the 2012 semi v Cork were 2 of my most enjoyable days at Croke Park. Both near capacity and filled with the supporters from both counties. Great atmosphere and the finals just didn't have that same buzz!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 19/06/2015 12:57:07    1739443

School tickets go to Cumann na mBunscol who run the primary schools games across the country. They do a fantastic job in ensuring that the vast majority of children get a chance to play football/hurling in school. That's something that other sports do not have and are very envious of the GAA having.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13718 - 19/06/2015 13:08:44    1739448

ormondbannerman
GaryMc82 But that isnt how things work in majority of sports. There will always be ticket problems in September even if counties get 35000 tickets. Gary if counties are to get more tickets exactly where should the tickets come from. Which groups would you take tickets from?
19/06/2015 12:20:32 GaryMc82
A more Important question is, Who deserves All Ireland final tickets more than the fans of the Competing Counties?
- Croke Park residents? Why should they be getting any tickets at all, and do the actual residents get those tickets or the landlords?
- GAA officials, Schools, RTE or SKy etc? I'm not against designating tickets to different groups and organisations, but in moderation.
Should every Club in Ireland be getting tickets for the All Ireland final? I don't think so, and I think there is still enough money being spread around all the Clubs in Ireland without them raffling off All Ireland tickets.
If I ask "How much money is enough for the year to satisfy the GAA needs?", Nobody could give me an answer. That's because there is no answer or long-term financial goal, and that means a never-ending quest for money.
People who support the current All Ireland ticket regime, seem to think the GAA owe some people a living. Time to wake up and start giving back to the people who give the most funding to the GAA..........Yes the fans.
NOTE TO ormondbannerman, space your sentences out a bit, Its torture to read. Break it up a little Croke Park residents get some tickets for what they have to put up with all through the summer and other parts of the year and it was part of redevelopment and agreements with resident associations...
GAA officials, media get tickets in moderation. The GAA and the club is the base of the association. The tickets aren't jut raffled off.
The tickets for the finals go to the fans.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 19/06/2015 13:26:44    1739455

ormondbannerman
How would you change things?
50-50 will never happen as there will always be tickets going to constituent parts of the GAA.
Where does it state teachers get tickets? Schools get an allocation but that doesn't simply mean teachers.
19/06/2015 12:46:23 TheMaster
Im pretty sure I explained how I would change them...
Why?
I said set a few thousand aside, as in no more than 5,000. After that, it should go to the counties involved and nobody else.
So who gets to decide what happens to them? The children? If schools within the counties involved got them, fair enough. They could raffle them or something, but every school? Again, why?
50/50 wont happen as the constituent parts of the whole association all deserve tickets for their work during the year at the most significant days of the associations year.
Schools tickets could go to teachers, pupils, coaches of school teams. Not simply teachers.
Its not so simple to say set a few thousand aside.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 19/06/2015 13:31:54    1739459

19/06/2015 08:46:48 riverboys
Ticket numbers should be around 30000 for each county 5000 divided between minor counties, the rest divided between GAA clubs nationally and sponsors, the rest can stay at home. I know of somebody that had a cooperate ticket for the final and he was the only person watching the game everybody else was at the bar talking and laughing, had no interest in the game, what a waste of tickets It isn't that simple to say each county has to get 30000 each. Should people have to pass a test to attend a game?

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 19/06/2015 13:37:42    1739462

Each competing county should get 35,000 tickets each? Are you for real?! How come all these 35,000 supporters dont go to everygame and not just the final?

Tbh the GAA is in a no win situation regarding this, however, I feel they cant do much more than they the way it is currently done!!Although for people who go to all their county matches and their team reaches the all ireland - they should not struggle to get a ticket for the final!

Im from Galway and Ive only missed 1 final since 1996. Luckily most years at least the galway minors are involved but I would go to alot of non galway matches anyway. why? because I love the game and the same reason alot of neutrals go to the final because its a fantastic day out with a great atmosphere!!!

There are a lot of people from weaker counties who love the game and in some cases there county would never reach an all ireland final. They would go to alot of matches during the year including ones their county isnt even involved in! why should they not be allowed a ticket just because some bandwagoner decides they want to go just because their county is in the final!!

jkiamasnake (Galway) - Posts: 81 - 19/06/2015 14:03:29    1739479

To be honest I dont think the system is too bad at all. I have been to many all Irelands and I have yet to meet someone who genuinely wanted to get into the game and didnt get a ticket. if you are genuine and an active member of your club, and you make it known to others, you will come across a ticket. Many people who claim they are real supporters and who couldnt get a ticket, in truth arent really. People who generally deserve a ticket do get sorted. Many who give out about not being able to get tickets are not members of clubs. Im not saying that their isn't some unfortunate cases where people dont get in, Im saying that in the end most people who deserve to get in to the final do get a ticket

I also cant understand why the corporate section gets such a bad reputation. The Corporate Sector put their money into the stadium when it was a pipe dream, they pay for their loaction in the ground and fully deserve to get in there on the big day. And in fact, I know most of the corporate boxes on All ireland Final day are mainly populated with peole from the participating counties. I would bet of the 10K in that level, 7 would be from the counties.

Also, I dont think there has been many semi finals played that have had a better atmosphere then the final. Only the Dubs can sell out Croke Park and that is not a given anymore. If 40,000 turned up to a semi then that would be a big big crowd. Corke Park looks and feels dead with that crowd in it.

Defullback10 (Kerry) - Posts: 13 - 19/06/2015 14:18:13    1739493

ormondbannerman
County: Clare
Posts: 9753

1739455 Break it up a little

Croke Park residents get some tickets for what they have to put up with all through the summer and other parts of the year and it was part of redevelopment and agreements with resident associations...

If you choose to live near Croke Park, any half brained person would expect to see GAA games on for a few weeks every year. Croke Park has been there for a very long time, probably before any of the current residents resided there. The Garth Brooks concert showed us that the residents group get concessions for all major concerts, of which there is 3 allowed per year. Why they should get tickets for All Ireland final's is beyond me, especially when the landlords rather than the actual residents seem to get the concessions.

On the basis of equal rights, are residents living around every Intercounty ground in the Country treated the same as the "Croke Park residents"? I doubt it, more like the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

GAA officials, media get tickets in moderation. The GAA and the club is the base of the association. The tickets aren't jut raffled off.
The tickets for the finals go to the fans.

Your missing letters and possibly words here, but clearly The GAA IS THE ASSOCIATION, not just the base of the association.

Tickets are raffled off by some clubs, and by companies who sponsor the GAA. We have comments here roughly saying how "Officials should be able to make a few quid from the tickets considering all the hard work and effort they put in". In that case, they GAA should just give officials around the Country the €85 or whatever the ticket value is, as a thank you.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 19/06/2015 15:03:36    1739517

Defullback10
County: Kerry
Posts: 12

1739493
To be honest I dont think the system is too bad at all. I have been to many all Irelands and I have yet to meet someone who genuinely wanted to get into the game and didnt get a ticket. if you are genuine and an active member of your club, and you make it known to others, you will come across a ticket. Many people who claim they are real supporters and who couldnt get a ticket, in truth arent really. People who generally deserve a ticket do get sorted. Many who give out about not being able to get tickets are not members of clubs. Im not saying that their isn't some unfortunate cases where people dont get in, Im saying that in the end most people who deserve to get in to the final do get a ticket

I know of real fans who couldn't get tickets to Donegal's 2012 All Ireland final, one of their sisters works with me.

Five fella's aged around 16/17 who were attending every McKenna Cup, League Home games and all Championship games. Turns out they were Junior members of their Club, and each club only got allocations based on their senior members!. These lads were devasted, and despite a huge effort in Derry, Tyrone and Donegal, tickets could not be raised. I believe two of them subsequently left their club after this, as apparently the Club Chairman managed to get tickets for his own family/kids who were not regular attendee's.

We currently have scenario's where people can buy tickets from SuperValue for all games, except the All Ireland final. You get to choose your seat or terrace, and club members have remarked that people walking in off the street can better seats in Croker than they get through the clubs. Yet these fans get punished at final time, as they are not club members or season ticket holders. Yet they are no less fans of the County team, who buy the merchandise and tickets in support of their county team.

I just think that alongside the Club Members and Season ticket holders, additional tickets should be available to those who fall outside this category.

I've had people outside Stadium's offering free entry if you scan in one of maybe 20 or 30 Season tickets they have in their hand ( A kerry woman, and A Mayo fan ). Likewise there are huge numbers of Club members who don't attend County games unless its a final or really high profile. So defining what makes a real supporter is difficult, especially when talking about fans who follow the County team.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 19/06/2015 15:26:00    1739534

Does anyone know who an overseas club would need to contact regarding the allocation of the 2 tickets per club? My club in France are planning on participating in the All Ireland Junior Sevens the day before the Final this year and having the possibility of 2 players getting to attend the final would go a long way towards attracting players to make the financial investment in heading to the tournament. The club is 100% French-run so the committee had no idea the club were even allowed access to tickets. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

AJ6000 (Mayo) - Posts: 32 - 26/06/2015 14:41:41    1743128

AJ6000
County: Mayo
Posts: 10

1743128
Does anyone know who an overseas club would need to contact regarding the allocation of the 2 tickets per club? My club in France are planning on participating in the All Ireland Junior Sevens the day before the Final this year and having the possibility of 2 players getting to attend the final would go a long way towards attracting players to make the financial investment in heading to the tournament. The club is 100% French-run so the committee had no idea the club were even allowed access to tickets. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Alan,

Given that you're in the European region, your ticket (should your club get one- it's not a given, especially given the growth in the number of clubs on the continent) would be distributed by the European County Board, so you'd be best off contacting them. Before you do, you may want to have someone check that your club is fully paid-up to the ECB, as they tend to be a little bit strict on things like that. Chances are that this stuff won't be organized until the finalists are known, so around late August/early September.

From experience, I would hazard a guess that you're unlikely to get two- this has only happened once in the history of our club, which is one of the more established in the region, and this was probably only down to the fact that we had hosted the European Championships the same year, which was a major undertaking for us. The tickets are usually collected on the morning of the match in Dublin, so I'd imagine it wouldn't be too difficult for you to obtain one. Also, don't forget that you have to pay market value for your tickets several weeks in advance (no freebies!).

The same applies for hurling tickets (our club was offered them one year, even though we don't hurl).

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 26/06/2015 15:31:54    1743159