Weren't there semi-finals back in the 70s and 80s only bringing in 15,000? They didn't have the internet back then though.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 12/08/2015 21:57:56    1769196

[I find this script funny it shows the attidude of people I was at an under 8ths match this evening I never enjoyed myself as much we have no intension of going anwhere even if we loose the all Ireland we will ponder think over the winter look forward to the Walsh cup in February move on we are not whingers moaners. Aa regarding our u21s its back to the drawing board there. I am reading some rubbish since last sunday from the attendance to the way they carry on .

johnwhite12 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 306 - 12/08/2015 22:01:50    1769203

Crikey why didn't they hold it in Co Bondi

johnwhite12 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 306 - 13/08/2015 08:51:12    1769210

Huge opportunity here for tourism; tickets should be pushed via all the tourist board outlets, at all the hotels. Apart from when Dubs are playing + All-Ireland Finals, Croke pk is rarely full. Go to Boston , you want to go to Fenway, to Barcelona, the Nou Camp. A visit to Croker to see our cultural jewel should be on every tourists agenda

befair (Down) - Posts: 237 - 13/08/2015 09:20:31    1769222

from a Yank who's going to attend the Galway vs. Tipp semi, I don't think 42K for an All-Ireland championship is bad at all, considering your population and other sporting events, and other leisure opportunities and the economy. I do hope that there's over 30K for Galway vs. Tipp, but won't be hurt if there's less, given the distance Galway fans (and Tipp fans for that matter) have to travel.

jarvistjj (Galway) - Posts: 10 - 13/08/2015 09:29:22    1769229

Crikey why didn't they hold it in Co Bondi
johnwhite12 (Kilkenny) - 13/08/2015 08:51:12

Now that is a good idea. lol.
Joking aside they'd probably get more than 40,000 if it was held in Sydney or Melbourne.. they'd properly market it for sure.

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 13/08/2015 10:22:03    1769267

jarvistjj
County: Galway
Posts: 8

1769229
from a Yank who's going to attend the Galway vs. Tipp semi, I don't think 42K for an All-Ireland championship is bad at all, considering your population and other sporting events, and other leisure opportunities and the economy. I do hope that there's over 30K for Galway vs. Tipp, but won't be hurt if there's less, given the distance Galway fans (and Tipp fans for that matter) have to travel.


there will be more than was at the first semi final for sure
as the upper cusack is open
expect around 50 thousand

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 13/08/2015 10:32:16    1769273

It is kind of laughable to be talking about paying players when we can only manage 42,000, which is not far off break even, at an All Ireland semifinal.

Reality check time folks.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 14/08/2015 09:47:20    1769878

First things first, Kilkenny are fat with AI medals and that takes a toll on the expenditure of following them, plus neither they or Waterford have a huge population that the likes of Limerick or Cork can mobilise to games.
Secondly, a lot of counties will still be running club fixtures that day and that'll take away from hurling fans in other counties from attending.
Thirdly, the GAA do a good enough job of getting discounted tickets out to clubs, IIRC €3 per child, up to 50 children with 6 adults admitted free with them and then €10 for more adults on top of that. Great scheme, but not widely published, probably via county boards etc, etc, but could be put out to the wider population to promote it as well.
Fourthly, there really isn't the disposable income at hand as there was a decade a go, so people cut out the non essential expense.
Fifthly, indeed, some of these clowns talking about professionalism are talking out the orifice furthest away from their brains.

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 14/08/2015 10:45:34    1769928

In 2014 the average attendance for the championship was 28,817. Given that statistic the final attendence was disappointing. Kilkenny don't bring a big following until the all Ireland final, which is disappointing considering their supporters don't have the expense of following a football team as well like for example Galway or Wexford

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 14/08/2015 21:59:40    1770474

I love hurling and i wasnt that bothered about seeing this game, as we all knew that Kilkenny would win. 42 000 isnt that bad an attendance considering. If the other counties dont get their act together soon and start putting it up to Kilkenny it may not be long before attendances and interest in the hurling start to drop even further.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 15/08/2015 14:58:36    1770631

Going off topic a small bit but the GAA to needs to start promoting hurling to have a more competitive competition. I don't watch the game any more as the results are a foregone conclusion. GAA need to spread the game in smaller counties like Carlow Wicklow where it would be easier to promote. Lack of competition in Leinster means these counties have better chance to win silverware in hurling . Over here Aussie rules are making big strides promoting the game in rugby league territory i.e NSW Queensland. Trouble with the GAA is its competing against itself . There isn't any incentive to promote hurling as they have the football as well.

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 15/08/2015 21:59:58    1770818

With a combined population of just under 210,000, a crowd of 42,000 means 1 out of every 5 people from Kilkenny and Waterford attended the game, which I think is a great turnout.
Or to put it another way, a similar turnout for a match between Dublin and Cork would require a stadium to fit about 350,000 people!

extranjero (Wexford) - Posts: 375 - 16/08/2015 08:59:38    1770824

crikey
County: Australia
Posts: 139

1770474 In 2014 the average attendance for the championship was 28,817. Given that statistic the final attendence was disappointing. Kilkenny don't bring a big following until the all Ireland final, which is disappointing considering their supporters don't have the expense of following a football team as well like for example Galway or Wexford

Crikey, If you're going to start quoting statistics you really need to think it through.

Let's start with the basics, populations of said counties: Kilkenny 95.000 Galway 251,000 Wexford 145,000. These figures are from the 2011 census.

So following Galway or Wexford is more expensive then following Kilkenny? Following them where?

How many times in the last 15 years have the Galway and Wexford supporters (both hurling & football) had the expense of following their teams to Croke Park? I haven't checked, but I'd bet that the Kilkenny hurling team has played more Championship matches at Croke Park then the Galway and Wexford - hurling & football teams combined.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2478 - 16/08/2015 09:42:29    1770832

The lowest attendance in football was the 2004 Leinster final between Westmeath and Laois, which drew 56,440 (not very populated counties) while before that the 2003 involving Laois v Kildare 61786.
2002 and 2001 finals drew 78,033 and 66,275

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 17/08/2015 09:44:11    1771188

MuckrossHead 30 million last year alone in gate receipts. Massive overall attendances throughout the country compared to lots of professional leagues. i dont agree or want players to be paid but it can be done

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 17/08/2015 09:49:58    1771195

The smallest Leinster Football Final attendence in the last 15 years i.e 2004 was still more than the largest attendence at a Leinster Hurling final in the same period.

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 17/08/2015 12:25:36    1771337

The 2004 Wexford v Offaly Leinster hurling final had a higher attendence than nearly all the finals involving Kilkenny. My point is Kilkenny supporters are holding off till the All Ireland series.
Look at the attendence for the 2008 Leinster final. Was there a bad weather or something that day?
2008 Kilkenny v Wexford Croke Park 18,855

2001 Kilkenny v Wexford Croke Park 41,146
2002 Kilkenny v Wexford Croke Park 37,567
2003 Kilkenny v Wexford Croke Park 50,000
2004 Wexford v Offaly Croke Park 46,820
2005 Kilkenny v Wexford Croke Park 35,010
2006 Kilkenny Wexford Croke Park 44,081
2007 Kilkenny Wexford Croke Park 34,872
2008 Kilkenny Wexford Croke Park 18,855

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 17/08/2015 21:45:03    1771730

Going off topic a small bit but the GAA to needs to start promoting hurling to have a more competitive competition. I don't watch the game any more as the results are a foregone conclusion. GAA need to spread the game in smaller counties like Carlow Wicklow where it would be easier to promote. Lack of competition in Leinster means these counties have better chance to win silverware in hurling . Over here Aussie rules are making big strides promoting the game in rugby league territory i.e NSW Queensland. Trouble with the GAA is its competing against itself . There isn't any incentive to promote hurling as they have the football as well.

This is a very interesting post, but I think the answer lies in the format of the championship. If each county had a chance of winning 'an' All-Ireland title each year, why not offer it to them. They have under the current structure but the Ring, Meagher & Rackard cups are hardly promoted anywhere near the level of the McCarthy Cup.

It would be great to see the GAA make All-Ireland Sunday into an all-Ireland weekend. On the Saturday before All-Ireland Sunday, play the Rackard, Ring & Meagher cup finals. Put them on TV so people get to see them. Make sure every county has a chance to get their day in the Sun, make it attractive for the team who wins the 4th tier to want to win the 3rd tier the year after. Have proper promotion & relegation, not something that can be veto'd at congress.

The English football league has had a 4 tier structure for league football for a huge amount of time. Teams have risen through the divisions through hard work. The same could happen in hurling if everyone is able to compete at a level they are comfortable at and build. Making all 4 tiers have the same format would be a help also.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 18/08/2015 08:31:36    1771759

Kilkenny fans have to hold out. Say you have a family with a few kids.....how much would a lenister final, all ireland semi and final cost?

Differnt if you are a smaller team and the chance comes less often

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 18/08/2015 08:32:16    1771760