Would the LOI benefit from a 'magic' weekend?

[Hairy Bowsie]

Again Maribor, i totally agree. Spot on.

[peadar1987]

Obviously we were working off different definitions of the word "event". Maybe "occasion" would be a better work for what I was talking about.

The EPL may have the marketing machine behind them, they may have the classy clubs, they may have the best players and all the money, but there's one thing they don't have, and that's something Irish fans can genuinely get worked up about. You only have to look at the GAA county championship to look at how much these regional and national rivalries actually mean to people.

If the LOI can tap into that with good marketing, we'd have a situation where people in the community view each match as more than just a football match, and care far more about the result than one between two teams whose home cities they couldn't even point out on a map.

[MariborKev]

You only have to look at the GAA county championship to look at how much these regional and national rivalries actually mean to people.

If the LOI can tap into that with good marketing, we'd have a situation where people in the community view each match as more than just a football match, and care far more about the result than one between two teams whose home cities they couldn't even point out on a map.

Which is exactly that, a championship.

Ask Irish sports fans to sustain their interest(ie actually getting up and going to the game) for an entire season and you'll see where your argument falls down.

[peadar1987]

It's never been tried before though. you put up a post saying we need proper marketing, then when I agree with you you say it will never work. I'm just suggesting an angle that could be used to market the league.

[dcfcsteve]

but there's one thing they don't have, and that's something Irish fans can genuinely get worked up about. You only have to look at the GAA county championship to look at how much these regional and national rivalries actually mean to people.

You need only be stuck in the company of one of the many boring Premiersh!t fawning arses when 'their' team is playing its local derby to be left in doubt as to how much vicarious passion and bile Irish people can generate over two dreary English towns/neighbourhoods they've invariably never been to or couldn't even locate on a map.

There's nothing funnier that an Irish Plunderland fan talking about how much they hated the Geordies. Who needs Balldehob Blueshirts versus Killinaskilly Kilashnikovs when you've got that sort of 'passion' available via your tellybox.

[peadar1987]

You need only be stuck in the company of one of the many boring Premiersh!t fawning arses when 'their' team is playing its local derby to be left in doubt as to how much vicarious passion and bile Irish people can generate over two dreary English towns/neighbourhoods they've invariably never been to or couldn't even locate on a map.

There's nothing funnier that an Irish Plunderland fan talking about how much they hated the Geordies. Who needs Balldehob Blueshirts versus Killinaskilly Kilashnikovs when you've got that sort of 'passion' available via your tellybox.

It would make me laugh if it wasn't so damn depressing. Sometimes I feel like becoming a Real Madrid "supporter", and telling them all that "we" have won the European Cup more times than they have.

But I think my point still stands. My dad is from Stoke, and I can get equally worked up for a Stoke match against West Brazil Albion, and a Bray match against Drogheda. Just because people are getting worked up about Ipswich games (I can guarantee you about 5% of the Keano brigade know where Ipswich is) doesn't mean they can't follow their local team as well.