Croke Park profits down

DIRECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT: GAA income rose only marginally last year despite the introduction of the All-Ireland hurling qualifiers. Revenue went up from €25,015,591 to €26,338,457 and the operating surplus was down €1.3 million.

The chief components of this drop in profits were administration costs and a fall in media income. Pension costs, which more than doubled from €354,670 to €718,062, were responsible for the former, whereas an accounting adjustment explained the latter.

With the turmoil in the equity markets the first was to be expected. In relation to the media income, financial officer Kathy Slattery explained that the association had been advised to draw up its accounts based on actual income rather than income due under contract.

It was denied this had been brought about by any defaulting on agreements or "anything sinister". In the section on commercial revenue, media coverage accounted for €3,605,484 in income, a fall from €4,484,135 in 2002.

It is believed that this shortfall arises from a rescheduling of overseas rights payments in order to compensate the rights holders Setanta Sport, whose exclusive deal has been infringed by the availability of RTÉ's live match coverage on the Sky Digital platform.

In relation to the debt on Croke Park, stadium director Peter McKenna estimated that the €70 million outstanding - before the proposed expenditure of €23 million on the Northern End - would take over a decade to clear.

"It will take around 12 years to retire the debt," he said, "but it's hard to predict. We will have the resale of the Cusack Stand premuim level and corporate facilities 10-year tickets in 2005."

McKenna also informed the media that on an average ticket sale of €20, it required a crowd of 32,930 for Croke Park to break even on a fixture.

Although last year was a difficult year for the stadium, as the pitch wasn't ready until late June, this year Croke Park faces similar strictures with the Special Olympics occupying the ground at a similar stage of the year. But this will be offset by the coming on stream of full facilities in the Hogan Stand, which will enable non-match day revenue to be earned.

In relation to any proposed concerts at the venue, McKenna said that the stadium would reserve judgment. "A sense of how the pitch responds will be seen after the Special Olympics."

Meanwhile, the GAA have confirmed that entry to the All-Ireland club finals in Croke Park on St Patrick's Day will be by ticket only. Tickets for the lower tier of the Hogan and Cusack Stands will be on sale today, tomorrow and Saturday from the ticket office at the rear of the Cusack Stand between 11.0 a.m. and 7.0 p.m.

Adult tickets are priced at €10, with tickets for students and OAPs priced at €5. Children under 16 will be admitted for free, but must have a valid ticket. Tickets will also be available from the usual outlets on Monday (the Credit Union on Fitzgibbon St and the launderette on Drumcondra Road opposite Quinn's Pub) from noon, but the GAA strongly advise patrons to attend early in order to avoid delays.

The hurling final is at 2.0 p.m. between Dunloy (Antrim) and Birr (Offaly), while the football final between Crossmolina (Mayo) and Nemo Rangers (Cork) will have a 3.40 p.m. throw in.