Barstool facepalm

[Macy]

I blame the GAA for creating the event junkie culture. I'm not (this time at least) trying to have a go at them over the attendances, just pointing out they are in the same boat of not getting crowds in all season long - they are as much victims of the event junkie culture as any sport in the country. I'm obviously not explaining it well, given the way posters are leaping to their defence (or maybe this is the problem, how dare I put football on a par with GAA?).

I am also aware of the problems at club level in Rugby in the past and present - however, at the top tier of the sport domestically they are the only code pulling in decent and consistent crowds all season long. I am not convinced this will last.

[BonnieShels]

I blame the GAA for creating the event junkie culture. I'm not (this time at least) trying to have a go at them over the attendances, just pointing out they are in the same boat of not getting crowds in all season long - they are as much victims of the event junkie culture as any sport in the country. I'm obviously not explaining it well, given the way posters are leaping to their defence (or maybe this is the problem, how dare I put football on a par with GAA?).

I am also aware of the problems at club level in Rugby in the past and present - however, at the top tier of the sport domestically they are the only code pulling in decent crowds season long. I am not convinced this will last.

People are "leaping" to their defence in the sense that maybe the criticism is slightly unjustified.

Even now I'm not sure what you are trying to say there. This is not a normal trait for a Macy post.

How can we blame the GAA for creating the event-junkie culture? That's preposterous. They have organised their season in such a fashion as it suits them (generally) to have it that way. That the All-Ireland is the biggest gig in the Irish sporting calendar and that the O'Byrne Cup, FBD League, McKenna Cup etc. are small fry isn't pertinent to Irish bandwagonism for soccer and events in general.

Essentially it all boils down to having something to strive for. If people believe in something more than something else then that's where the crowds will go, ie. Heineken Cup > Pro12 > Ulster Bank League/AIL. Same way EPL > LOI.

WE need to accept this reality and start using it to our advantage rather than complaining about it and have OUR league withering.

[Straightstory]

I think the 'Event Junkies' phenomenon is particularly Irish. A large proportion of the punters who go to All Ireland Finals, and major Ireland internationals at the Aviva in foorball and rugby are the same people: they just like a big day out. The weekly 'bread and butter' of supporting teams through thick and thin is not for them. In England it's not the same. Rugby and football fans are largely different breeds.
Also - Scotland, with roughly the same population should be the best comparison for us. They're streets ahead, attendance-wise and when it comes to facilities/stadia.
Interestingly, football teams in Dublin, a major European capital city (population 1,273,000) attract on average about the same attendances as a team like Accrington Stanley in England (population 35,000). Even if all the Dublin teams' average attendance figures are added together it's still pathetic. This is the worst place in Western Europe to be a football fan. (With the possible exception of Luxembourg and the Faroe Islands).

[BonnieShels]

I think the 'Event Junkies' phenomenon is particularly Irish. A large proportion of the punters who go to All Ireland Finals, and major Ireland internationals at the Aviva in foorball and rugby are the same people: they just like a big day out. The weekly 'bread and butter' of supporting teams through thick and thin is not for them. In England it's not the same. Rugby and football fans are largely different breeds.
Also - Scotland, with roughly the same population should be the best comparison for us. They're streets ahead, attendance-wise and when it comes to facilities/stadia.
Interestingly, football teams in Dublin, a major European capital city (population 1,273,000) attract on average about the same attendances as a team like Accrington Stanley in England (population 35,000). Even if all the Dublin teams' average attendance figures are added together it's still pathetic. This is the worst place in Western Europe to be a football fan. (With the possible exception of Luxembourg and the Faroe Islands).

Our event junkie nature is not in doubt, I am an LOI & GAA supporter; It's obvious. But my point to Macy is that it's not the creation of the GAA.

There's still a hardcore support out there for everything. The only thing is that in LOI terms in this country it's pi$$-poor. But it's there.

But like I said, we know what we are as a nation, so let's use it to our advantage rather than cribbing about the facts.
We might actually get somewhere then.

[gspain01]

Not sure re blaming the GAA for the event junkie culture but they are certainly best at capitalising on it.

[redarmyfaction]

Out of interest, how many people attend GAA league games, I have only been at one GAA match when I was brought as a child. I did live across the road from the Sligo GAA pitch in the 90s and crowds seemed to be in the very low hundreds.

[BonnieShels]

Out of interest, how many people attend GAA league games, I have only been at one GAA match when I was brought as a child. I did live across the road from the Sligo GAA pitch in the 90s and crowds seemed to be in the very low hundreds.

I go to all of them that I can. I have a season ticket so it is in my interests to do so.

[Lim till i die]

Out of interest, how many people attend GAA league games.

I'll probably go to three or four in each code, some of it is terrible to the point of bizarre mind.

Two years ago Limerick v Kilkenny in Division Four of the National Football League was probably the most surreal sporting event I ever attended.

One Hundred and Twenty Four people in the Gaelic Grounds under lights on a Saturday evening watched Limerick race into a 6 - 08 to 0 - 01 lead at half time.

During the half time break the Kilkenny team went into the dressing room as their manager hopped the wall and walked up into the stand to have a cup of tea and a chat with two of his buddies who'd made the trip.

Early in the second half Kilkenny got a twenty metre free. The half forward took the ball in his hands, took three steps forward, kicked it................. and failed to reach the goals. :bulgy:

[bullit]

I attend a lot of club and County GAA matches in Armagh and Louth.Cross Rangers are my parish team although not many have heard of them !

[nigel-harps1954]

Grew up attending almost every Donegal match, as well as a whole host of club matches. Lost interest in GAA in the past 4 or 5 years though. Last Donegal match I was at was the Cork All Ireland quarter final 4 years ago..I think.

[peadar1987]

I might have attended Wickla games if they didn't play in Aughrim, it's almost an hour's drive at the best of times, and public transport out that way is pretty non-existent. At the end of the day, I was too busy to fit in following Bray, playing two sports (one at a pretty high level, the other one really not!), trying to pass my course, and maintaining some semblance of a social life with a circle of friends who had zero interest in leaving the Pale.

[redarmyfaction]

^^^^^ buffs the lot of ye.

[NeverFeltBetter]

One Hundred and Twenty Four people in the Gaelic Grounds under lights on a Saturday evening watched Limerick race into a 6 - 08 to 0 - 01 lead at half time.



Kilkenny football is a pretty special case though, insofar as it gets to no support from its county board on the inter-county level. They're dire and will remain so for eternity.

I'm a very casual GAA fan, I'll generally attend as many Limerick county games, hurling and football but erring on the side of hurling, as I can in a year, but I don't go to any special trouble. The club set-up in my area is fairly poor in terms of quality, entertainment and infrastructure and never attracted me.

[Sean South]

I might have attended Wickla games if they didn't play in Aughrim, it's almost an hour's drive at the best of times, and public transport out that way is pretty non-existent. At the end of the day, I was too busy to fit in following Bray, playing two sports (one at a pretty high level, the other one really not!), trying to pass my course, and maintaining some semblance of a social life with a circle of friends who had zero interest in leaving the Pale.

Why do you feel the need to share such pointless information.

[nigel-harps1954]

Why do you feel the need to share such pointless information.

Why do you feel the need to comment on him sharing such pointless information? Isn't that what the internet is for?

[bullit]

Why do you feel the need to comment on him sharing such pointless information? Isn't that what the internet is for?
He must have got justice for paulie at last or dual accounts?

[peadar1987]

Why do you feel the need to share such pointless information.

Sorry for wasting 8 seconds of your internet time that could otherwise have been used to cure cancer and broker peace in the Middle East.

[SkStu]

Why do you feel the need to comment on him sharing such pointless information? Isn't that what the internet is for?

For all our sakes, we need to keep him the hell away from the "say anything whatever's on your mind" thread, whatever we do!!

[nigel-harps1954]

Deh turk arr thread..

[BonnieShels]

I'll probably go to three or four in each code, some of it is terrible to the point of bizarre mind.

Two years ago Limerick v Kilkenny in Division Four of the National Football League was probably the most surreal sporting event I ever attended.

One Hundred and Twenty Four people in the Gaelic Grounds under lights on a Saturday evening watched Limerick race into a 6 - 08 to 0 - 01 lead at half time.

During the half time break the Kilkenny team went into the dressing room as their manager hopped the wall and walked up into the stand to have a cup of tea and a chat with two of his buddies who'd made the trip.

Early in the second half Kilkenny got a twenty metre free. The half forward took the ball in his hands, took three steps forward, kicked it................. and failed to reach the goals. :bulgy:

Don't forget the famous result:

Leitrim 3-19 Kilkenny 0-00
National Football League, Division 4, February 2011

[Sean South]

Why do you feel the need to comment on him sharing such pointless information? Isn't that what the internet is for?
Because I find it annoying. I don't think that's what the Internet is for but a lot of idiots seem to think so and fill it with rubbish.

He must have got justice for paulie at last or dual accounts?
Good lad yourself.


Sorry for wasting 8 seconds of your internet time that could otherwise have been used to cure cancer and broker peace in the Middle East.
Nothing worse then someone who thinks they are funny but is actually very very boring, eh?

[gormacha]

Wow. You seem very cross.

[peadar1987]

Nothing worse then someone who thinks they are funny but is actually very very boring, eh?

Except people who don't rise to bait. I hate those lads.

[bullit]

Wow. You seem very cross.

Nailed to a cross more like.

Multi-quoting dosnt make ya clever and the Lims avater siht is old now.

[SkStu]

Because I find it annoying. I don't think that's what the Internet is for but a lot of idiots seem to think so and fill it with rubbish.

Good lad yourself.


Nothing worse then someone who thinks they are funny but is actually very very boring, eh?

http://redwing.hutman.net/%7Emreed/warriorshtm/lurker.htm

[nigel-harps1954]

Because I find it annoying. I don't think that's what the Internet is for but a lot of idiots seem to think so and fill it with rubbish.

So...what you're doing is brightening up the internet for us all?



Nothing worse then someone who thinks they are funny but is actually very very boring, eh?

Nothing worse than someone slating someone for trying to be humorous. You must be proud.

[Sean South]

Foot.ie golden moments.

[bullit]

Foot.ie golden moments.

Bazzinga is what you want to say. Sean South Golden Moment part iv

[TiocfaidhArmani]

I blame the GAA for creating the event junkie culture. I'm not (this time at least) trying to have a go at them over the attendances, just pointing out they are in the same boat of not getting crowds in all season long - they are as much victims of the event junkie culture as any sport in the country. I'm obviously not explaining it well, given the way posters are leaping to their defence (or maybe this is the problem, how dare I put football on a par with GAA?).

I am also aware of the problems at club level in Rugby in the past and present - however, at the top tier of the sport domestically they are the only code pulling in decent and consistent crowds all season long. I am not convinced this will last.

The GAA get 62% of the crowds from all sports that go through turnstiles to watch live sports. I don't think it's all about event junkies there. But go ahead do the usual soccer fan thing and blame everything on the GAA.....

[Spudulika]

I blame the GAA for creating the event junkie culture. I'm not (this time at least) trying to have a go at them over the attendances, just pointing out they are in the same boat of not getting crowds in all season long - they are as much victims of the event junkie culture as any sport in the country. I'm obviously not explaining it well, given the way posters are leaping to their defence (or maybe this is the problem, how dare I put football on a par with GAA?).

I am also aware of the problems at club level in Rugby in the past and present - however, at the top tier of the sport domestically they are the only code pulling in decent and consistent crowds all season long. I am not convinced this will last.

So is the GAA to blame for the event junkie culture in Russia? :-) Who has heard of (bothers their backside to watch) biathlon. In the last few years juiced up (no danger of legal retribution as a whole host of them have flunked dope tests, which are spotty at best) locals are competing well, especially the women. Now it's a total EPO sport, but people here watch it and are all pumped with success, yet over a decade ago, when Russian medical science was faltering, it was nowhere. Spartak play Kuban in front of 5,000 (half of them STH's) yet more than 50,00 pack in for a match with Barcelona......Henry Shefflin is not to blame!!! :-)

It'd compartmentalise LOI and football from the rest. Until the domestic game is restructured, standards (in promotion, organisation and preparation for games) improve to a consistent level across the board, it's a dying horse which never seems to end up in a tesco burger. It lies there, being written off but never quite doing the decent thing. We can blame other codes, the FAI, the LOI, the weather, but it's impossible to remedy it without a broad spectrum solution.

[nigel-harps1954]

It's the media. Plain and simple. I wouldn't blame the GAA.

[BonnieShels]

BBC covering the decline in local soccer support in Africa.


Is satellite TV killing African football?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21206500

You can just see the filthy greedy mitts of Croke Park all over this! The GAA have no shame!

[gormacha]

So is the GAA to blame for the event junkie culture in Russia? ...

...Henry Shefflin is not to blame!!!

Yes it is, and yes he is. That qunt Shefflin is always to blame. For everything.

[BonnieShels]

Yes it is, and yes he is. That qunt Shefflin is always to blame. For everything.

I refuse to take the opinion of a man from Waterford or Cork on any matters pertaining to the King. :P

[Eminence Grise]

BBC covering the decline in local soccer support in Africa.


Is satellite TV killing African football?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21206500

You can just see the filthy greedy mitts of Croke Park all over this! The GAA have no shame!


Thanks for putting up the link, Bonnie. I'd just finished reading it and came here to post it. The sidebar with Kabir Ahmed is like so many conversations I've had/heard. I suppose I should just give in, and enjoy watching Man Utd from within the cauldron of passion that is... a viewing centre.:rolleyes:

[Macy]

The GAA get 62% of the crowds from all sports that go through turnstiles to watch live sports. I don't think it's all about event junkies there. But go ahead do the usual soccer fan thing and blame everything on the GAA.....
You miss my point completely - they may get the biggest in absolute, but it doesn't mean they don't have the same problem. Circa 6,000 for the O'Bryne Cup Final - come September if Dublin or Kildare get to the All Ireland, we'll have the usual whinging about how "true fans" can't get tickets.

I do think they instilled the bandwagon/ big game culture on Irish sport, but if you think the organisation, support etc is so much better, why be so ultra defensive about its standing? Serious persecution complex.

[Comic Book Guy]

Don't know if this is relevant to the debate but I noticed at the start of the chelsea-wigan game on rte that there was a banner that read ' Dundalk blues'. The mind boggles.

[peadar1987]

Don't know if this is relevant to the debate but I noticed at the start of the chelsea-wigan game on rte that there was a banner that read ' Dundalk blues'. The mind boggles.

People who are so depressed about supporting Dundalk they run away to Stamford Bridge instead?

[wonder88]

I would say Chelsea are in the top 4 in terms of support in Ireland ? Teams who have lost support in recent years are Blackburn and Sunderland. Aston Villa, if they get relegated this season could well drop out of the top ten. It is clear that the Manchester Utd fans have turned their back on the Irish national team in big numbers recently, however a good few of these have gone over to supporting the rugby as well. As someone who likes GAA, I don't think anyone could blame that organisation for the poor state of domestic soccer. A survey of the teams supported by Irish soccer fans would be interesting; perhaps one of the universities could carry one out DCU maybe. I know Manchester Utd would come top, but where would Leeds come for example, how much fans have Aresenal lost since they stopped winning cups etc

[NeverFeltBetter]

I would say Chelsea are in the top 4 in terms of support in Ireland ? Teams who have lost support in recent years are Blackburn and Sunderland. Aston Villa, if they get relegated this season could well drop out of the top ten. It is clear that the Manchester Utd fans have turned their back on the Irish national team in big numbers recently, however a good few of these have gone over to supporting the rugby as well. As someone who likes GAA, I don't think anyone could blame that organisation for the poor state of domestic soccer. A survey of the teams supported by Irish soccer fans would be interesting; perhaps one of the universities could carry one out DCU maybe. I know Manchester Utd would come top, but where would Leeds come for example, how much fans have Aresenal lost since they stopped winning cups etc

Huh? How is that clear?

[wonder88]

Only Bertie goes anymore, Pat Kenny, Bill Cullen, Dave Fanning, Marian Finucane etc have all stayed away recently. Since there is no Man U player in the squad I suppose this is expected. If we could get Stephen Ireland back maybe some of the fans might return. I would still say Ireland has a solid base of supporters, approx 25-30k and when the Irish are living abroad they do get behind the nation team more (same is true with GAA). It is clear I think that most Manchester Utd fans who were not born in Lancaster or Cheshire support them because they win nearly all their games. This is not the case with Ireland in recent years so it is no surprise that these Irish fans do not go to Lansdowne anymore. Same is true about those who go to All-Ireland finals to support their county having not been to any other game that year. Last year people sitting beside me at the All-Ireland left 15 minutes before the end, despite it being very difficult to source tickets for it.

[peadar1987]

It's all about success at the end of the day. In 1997, I doubt there was such a thing as an Irish Man City fan. The closest it came was an ABU. The people who pretend otherwise are deluded. The Roy Keane fanboys who buy the shirt of whatever new managerial role he's offered are worse than deluded.

[pineapple stu]

It's all about success at the end of the day. In 1997, I doubt there was such a thing as an Irish Man City fan.
I actually knew one. Still know him; he's still a Man City fan. Remember watching the Division Two play-off final with him, I think.

[peadar1987]

I actually knew one. Still know him; he's still a Man City fan. Remember watching the Division Two play-off final with him, I think.

There are always exceptions. There's still no good reason for there to exist an Irish Stoke fan!

[PartySaint]

If we could get Stephen Ireland back maybe some of the fans might return

It would probably have the opposite affect if any.

[Charlie Darwin]

Only Bertie goes anymore, Pat Kenny, Bill Cullen, Dave Fanning, Marian Finucane etc have all stayed away recently.
And you reckon the average Irish punter is following the lead of his heroes, like Marian Finucane and Bertie Ahern? Dave Fanning is a UCD fan, for the record.

[pineapple stu]

Dave Fanning is a UCD fan, for the record.
True, though haven't seen him at a game for years. He used to pop in on Sunday afternoons after 2TV. When we moved to Fridays, that changed.

[peadar1987]

True, though haven't seen him at a game for years. He used to pop in on Sunday afternoons after 2TV. When we moved to Fridays, that changed.

Maybe he sits in one of the other stands

[bullit]

Don't know if this is relevant to the debate but I noticed at the start of the chelsea-wigan game on rte that there was a banner that read ' Dundalk blues'. The mind boggles.
it seems that flag is permanently in the ground (and for a long time too).Even on a 'tour visit' in an empty stadium @ Stamford Bridge, it is always there.Indeed,Chelsea themselves could be responsible for the banner but most likely a Chelsea fan from Dundalk who lived in London in the 70/80/90's.Or a mix of the two.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BBDmUqjCIAEzym4.jpg:large

[bluemovie]

There are always exceptions. There's still no good reason for there to exist an Irish Stoke fan!

At least two of Waterford United's staunchest supporters are big Stoke fans! Nothing to do with the current long throws and lump-kicking, they would both go back to the 70s/early 80s and both travel to a lot of Stoke games. Some of our other fans would be very regular EPL attendees. I don't mind that - it's the 'check the scores on Sunday' types who would never attend a live game and sneer at the League of Ireland that kill me. I admire any English fan who sticks with their local team even if they also like a big club, e.g. someone from Southport following Liverpool, but also going to their Conference games. That makes sense to me. The more football you see the better. Unfortunately, in Ireland, that tradition isn't as strong and it seems perfectly acceptable to be "a massive football fan" and never actually go to a game - all of which is legitimised by almost every aspect of our media.