summerbreak 2004???

[André]

hi! I´m from Germany and I just want to now if there will be some kind of summerbreak during the new season 2004. I already know that the campaign goes from March 21st - November 21st.
Will Premier- or First Division matches take place during the EuroChampionship in Portugal?
Thx...

[Neil]

The fixtures aren't out until 7th February but most people think there will be a two week break during Euro04

[Roo69]

sure there is, cause Bohs have some trip away planed for that time.

[max power]

yeah lets take a two week break and plat 1/4 of the season in the last 4 weeks just as we did last year, do people ever learn.

[Macy]

Not forgetting allowing teams in Europe weeks off around their games.....

[max power]

well said, we are not in european champion ships, and a majority of games are on a friday so lets stop the league for two weeks so we can look at a cup we are not even in, cop on.

[liamon]

Realistically, the Euro Championships are a big deal and will command the attention of most footie fans in Ireland.
I guess the feeling is, this will result in lower interest in the domestic game at this time and lower gates. Probably makes sense to take a break at that time. I'd guess most summer leagues would do the same.

As long as the league attempts to learn from last season and spreads the games around a bit more evenly throughout the summer months, this short break shouldn't be a problem.

[Schumi]

I'm not sure that's true. If the games during the Euro Champs were properly promoted (yes I know!), people who were watching all the Euro games on TV might be more likely to want to go out and see some live football.

[brendy_éire]

Originally posted by max power
yeah lets take a two week break and plat 1/4 of the season in the last 4 weeks just as we did last year, do people ever learn.

But the league's starting a few weeks earlier this season.
A break of at least to weeks is essential. Never mind Euro 04, player will be looking to go on holidays with their families.

[tiktok]

Good point Schumi, it's a great opportunity to get people already engrossed in football to head out and watch some more.

I agree with Liamon, that once the league cops itself on compared to last year and makes the effort to organise games better a two week break shouldn't present a problem.

a run by any club in europe (even over a few weeks) could add to the problem though.

[paudie]

I don't think there should be a break.

As someone said the clubs should be able to work their games around the euro fixtures and how about the FAI putting some ads on TV promoting upcoming league games during tV coverage of the euro games.

[pete]

If Ireland were in the Euro Championships then maybe that would warrant a break.

Since we not in the competition i think the league is better suited by playing through the competition. Anyway should not the fans be consulted on this considering its done for our benefit.

English rugby played through the rugby world cup & dispite all their stars missing think got higher attendances.

I know the league suffers by comparison with international football but there no point to a summer season if having breaks in it every year.

[TommyT]

Originally posted by pete
I know the league suffers by comparison with international football but there no point to a summer season if having breaks in it every year.

Part of the proposals when they were first mooted was that we would have a break every year. Rugby's a bad example, most of the teams in the Zurich premiership could beat about the worst third of the teams in the world cup.. also those matches didn't directly clash cos the thing was on in the mornings. Break for the group stages and restart during the knockouts when we can avoid the games.

[bohs til i die]

I'm fairly certain that there wont be a break. It would be a ridiculous thing to do ....switch to summer football then have a mid season break in the summer.

Last year was a joke, nobody else stopped for the special olympics apart from the eircom league.

[Dr.Nightdub]

I thought the break last year was cos all the qualified refs in the country were needed for the Special Olympics?

[bohs til i die]

Surely the league's requirements would NOT have had too much of an impact on those of the Olympics.

It was ridiculous either way.