Crowds are down - but not by much

CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 ATTENDANCES:THE GAA has expressed satisfaction with championship attendances to date. Despite what has been a challenging year with the competing attraction of the Fifa World Cup in June and the inevitable impact of the economic depression, global figures (provincial championships, All-Ireland qualifiers and All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals) show an overall drop of just two per cent on the same stage last year.

There have been three more fixtures so far this season compared to 2009 but that (79 as against 76) makes little impact on even the average attendances.

Overall figures for 2010 to date are 959,367, compared to around 980,000 last year (an ambiguity caused by the Ulster hurling final and All-Ireland relegation fixtures, neither of which are part of the figures for this year’s senior championship).

The millionth spectator is expected to attend this year’s championship at Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final double bill featuring Kerry-Down and Tyrone-Dublin.

“We are pleased to be holding our own in what is a difficult year,” according to GAA communications manager Alan Milton.

“The World Cup didn’t have a major impact but we certainly lost attendances in Ulster where a couple of fixtures had to be scheduled for Saturday evening, to suit television requirements.”

There will be surprise at the relatively small decline in attendances given the amount of gloomy coverage surrounding the championships.

The poor crowd at the recent Munster hurling final replay has attracted considerable attention and appears to underline the fact that GAA supporters are intensely traditional in their preference for Sunday afternoon fixtures, which because of television demands aren’t always possible.

The Waterford-Cork match was also played on an evening beset by poor weather, also a factor in recent Saturdays in Croke Park.

Whereas the GAA press release cites the absence of Dublin from the Leinster football final as a depressive factor on overall attendances in the province, the requirement for the county to take the qualifier route for the first time in six years has actually paid off in overall crowd numbers.

Attendances at this year’s qualifiers are up by 13 per cent and Dublin, in fact, have been seen by greater numbers in their run to the All-Ireland quarter-finals than they were in reaching the last eight in 2009 when an aggregate attendance of 199,682 watched the team in Leinster. This season, despite a loss of confidence amongst supporters and obviously spread over five rather than three matches, Dublin have played before 205,584.

Nonetheless, in fixing the coming weekend’s All-Ireland football quarter-finals, the GAA weren’t tempted to give Dublin a day to themselves as was the case last year when the last-eight match against Kerry was played on the August bank holiday Monday.

That wouldn’t have been possible this year in any event as next Monday isn’t a public holiday in Northern Ireland.

The GAA’s finance department, which collated the comparative figures for attendances, will however be mindful that revenues are on target for a fourth consecutive annual fall unless crowds at the remaining fixtures can at least exceed half a million.

Last year’s championship aggregate of 1,491,207 was achieved with 505,077 going through the turnstiles for the All-Ireland football quarter-finals and the hurling and football semi-finals and finals. That figure was down on 2008’s 1,536,780 and 2007’s 1,763,091.

A number of special ticket packages have been made available for upcoming matches.

“The Combo Package” covers entry for the quarter-final and corresponding semi-final for €65 (adults) €10 (16 and under) (Section 308 or 708 for all matches).

“Football Feast” for the All-Ireland quarter-finals and semi-finals for €99 for adults and €20 for 16 and under (Section 308).

“The Dual Package” includes all the football and hurling quarter and semi-finals for just €150 for adults and €30 for 16s and under (Section 308 for all matches).