Not sure if Croker is a sellout for Sunday, I expect there should be some tickets available. Tomorrows games won't be a sellout. More great games between now and the Hurling and Football finals will have some spare tickets too. There's a few tourists knocking round looking for things to do and see. What better way to spend their time and a few quid than heading to our great games when the back door has closed, the intensity is great and the craic is mighty, sure they might not want to go, but if we encourage them they might give it a go. And they'll love it !

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7345 - 31/07/2015 11:59:39    1761623

ah sure the tourists will be there. Those west brits love a good bandwagon ;)

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 31/07/2015 12:09:23    1761628

There won't be 50K there Sunday.

SeppBlatter (Dublin) - Posts: 187 - 31/07/2015 12:35:41    1761648

I posted here a couple of years ago that the GAA could/should target the UK as a market for our games. As many Irish people emigrated to the UK in yesteryear, appealing to the UK population with a tagline like 'who was your father's team? Who was your mother's team? Be part of our team' or something like that might help attract people to our games. Now that those games are on SKY, why not use the growing awareness of the games to attract match go-ers?

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 31/07/2015 14:05:58    1761696

The GAA don't seem too bothered about attracting tourists to our games. For the month of August it seems strange that they wouldn't try to fill a few more empty seats by showing foreign visitors with a few quid in their pockets. They might have no connection to Ireland but absolutely love seeing live hurling and football and the matchday craic. Might spend some money in the local pubs, shops, restaurants and maybe even sign up to GAAGO. I can be sure after next Saturday's games that someone will ask me about my jersey and ask why were the games not publicised to visitors more. Not just good for GAA, good for local business getting an extra few quid in their pockets.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7345 - 31/07/2015 15:33:21    1761737

The GAA does try to attract Tourists. I blame the largely Middle Class Irish media like the Indo and Times. Who are fairly anti GAA but very very pro Rugby and to a lesser degree PL soccer.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2519 - 31/07/2015 15:38:15    1761743

Load of Aussies I know went to Ireland for Paddys Day, told them go the All Ireland Club finals, (Brigids v Ballymun) they had a great time, impressed with Croker, atmosphere and they loved the hurling.
I have gone on a few trips abroad to watch soccer, just to experience the atmosphere, have had little or no interest in the games themselves.

Rosineri1 (UK) - Posts: 2099 - 31/07/2015 15:43:13    1761745

theres been plenty of tourists at the games in croker all year
over the last two years I have seen more attending than ever before

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 31/07/2015 16:30:43    1761773

I still think more can be done. go to any American city and by good if the local team is playing (be it hockey, Football, Baseball, Basketball etc)you will know about it. I am note sure the same can be said for here.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11231 - 31/07/2015 16:44:21    1761780

It can't be said about the GAA Yew Tree. How much money has GAA marketing invested in marketing in our airports or created an interest amongst foreign visitors to our shores? A few might go after hearing word of mouth from locals about games but they could create a bit more interest and fill what will be wasted empty seats. I remember a taxi driver telling me that there was little or no tourism in Dublin before the 70s, don't know if that's true, but surely years ago people shook their heads at the notion that tourists would visit our capital. They didn't realise how much they had to offer. I was watching a great documentary about Glasnevin Cemetry last night. Since it was restored and revamped with a new museum it is now the third biggest tourist attraction in the country. I know some tourist visit Croke Park fir the tour and the history. I think more could also be impressed by a live game.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7345 - 31/07/2015 18:20:01    1761814

croke park is advertised at the airport
the ethihad walkway has been a great success in doing so
one area that would increase it should be a stop at croke park on the hop on hop off bus

Top 10 Fee-Charging Attractions 2013

1) Guinness Storehouse, Dublin: 1,157,090

2) Dublin Zoo: 1,026,611

3) Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, Co. Clare: 960,134

4) National Aquatic Centre, Dublin: 858,031

5) Book of Kells, Dublin: 588, 723

6) Tayto Park, Co. Meath: 435,000

7) St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin: 410.000

8) Fota Wildlife Park, Cork: 365,396

9) Blarney Castle, Cork: 365,000

10) Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin: 326,207

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 31/07/2015 19:07:56    1761828

Top 10 Free Attractions 2013

1) National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin: 641,572

2) National Botanic Gardens, Dublin: 550,000

3) Farmleigh, Dublin: 435,476

4) National Museum, Archaeology, Dublin: 404,230

5) Newbridge Silverware, Kildare: 350,000

6) Science Gallery, Dublin: 339,264

7) National Museum, Natural History, Dublin: 284,323

8) National Library of Ireland, Dublin: 260,323

9) National Museum, Collins Barracks, Dublin: 251,226

10) Chester Beatty Library: 250,659

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 31/07/2015 19:08:47    1761831

Live games Hill 16, live games. The Croke Park museum and Etihad walk are well and good but they'd never beat a game of football and not even come close to hurling. We should be encouraging more to go and see the live games. As the back doors are closed now there are more intense games in August, better for spectators and we have plenty of empty seats to fill.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7345 - 31/07/2015 20:35:08    1761859

Looking at tv this summer I cannot help but feel that it is a bit much to be expecting tourists & Sky devotees in Britain to be falling over themselves at our games when we can't be bothered to go ourselves.

The number of half deserted grounds for championship games especially the terraces behind the goals is a terrible indictment of us as a GAA following country.

I was in England on work a couple of years ago & was takes to a Div 1 game (third tier) between Wolves & Brentford on a cold Tuesday night. There were 17,000 at the game with an admission fee of around £25.00.

Somewhere along the line the GAA is failing to connect with vast swathes of Irish people.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 31/07/2015 21:00:55    1761866

Spend half of my working week trying to get foreign lads from work coming to the games! Work in an IT company so place is full of Europeans! Got people to leinster semis and final this year and they loved it! They can't understand how the fans are mixed before, during and after! Makes me proud of the GAA!

Also brought 2 Americans to the drawn KK v Tipp final last year and they were lost for words!

Tourist shops in dublin promote GAA tickets! GAA shpuld do a partnership with the bus tours or Guinness for tickets and tour during match weekends!

AthCliath87 (Dublin) - Posts: 345 - 31/07/2015 21:08:14    1761868

I did spot a good few tourists at the galway v kilkenny game in croker a few weeks ago. It definitely should be advertised more Americans are always wanting to know about our culture....they'd absolutely love it especially hurling. Places like killarney and galway etc which are major tourist areas in the summer as well, should also promote it.

galwayfball (Galway) - Posts: 1678 - 31/07/2015 21:23:24    1761875

Think theres a huge oportunity for the gaa to sell premium packages for the likes of tomorrow evening. Prem league do it al the time putting together flights accom & tickets. Surely its worth a punt for some tour operator as a stag wknd etc

2ndcumin (Donegal) - Posts: 22 - 31/07/2015 21:28:09    1761876

Ah now, stop. The quasi-mystical experience would be wasted on them there Galls

plike (Kerry) - Posts: 569 - 01/08/2015 08:52:30    1761899

As a descendant of Irish parents I try attend as many Donegal games as I can
Playing games in stadiums with limited transport links is difficult for the travelling support

Whats the point of attracting the tourists to the games when they cants get tickets to finals
Have some tickets available for the overseas support

Been to 3 Donegal games this season Was trying to get flights for todays game but would you pay £380 for a flight?

Kirkintilloch (Donegal) - Posts: 43 - 01/08/2015 10:50:55    1761924

Are Kerry fans classed as tourists, they wont travel tomorrow as they have already beaten Kildare in their heads.

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 01/08/2015 11:46:50    1761943