FAI Cup 2013

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

You'll be able to move to a better seat in the premium section. It'll be empty.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Around half of it had been sold on the Ticketmaster site.

Edit: 311 I mean, I would have assumed the rest would be cordoned off.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Aye what he said.

Or if you're really bored, go round to Blocks 302-303 and there's a picture of yours truly up on the wall. Right in the middle of a rake of fans celebrating a certain goal in a certain game 4 years ago...

[nigel-harps1954]

Any word on ticket sales for the match? There isn't an awful lot available on ticketba$tard, but I'd assume that's only what they actually made available in the first place. Will the crowd even top 15,000?

[White Horse]

Any word on ticket sales for the match? There isn't an awful lot available on ticketba$tard, but I'd assume that's only what they actually made available in the first place. Will the crowd even top 15,000?

I was in Drogheda over the weekend and they've done a great job putting up flags and bunting. Nice buzz about the game in the town.

Most of the people I spoke to said they were planning on going to game, and they wouldn't be Hunky Dorys Park regulars.

Hopefully, the attendance will be a lot better than 15,000. The Aviva needs a lot more than that to look decent.

[Bray Head]

Yeah, as a neutral, never been in that tier myself. Other choices are 511 left of centre in the highest tier, and then I think 112 in the North-west corner near the pitch. Still plenty of seats for sale if anyone else is thinking about it.

Are they selling the very top tier. Does not make sense if only 15,000 are expected. I've a season ticket for upper tier and had to apply to get a different ticket in lower section last year as Top tier was closed.

[Louth4sam]

Are they selling the very top tier. Does not make sense if only 15,000 are expected. I've a season ticket for upper tier and had to apply to get a different ticket in lower section last year as Top tier was closed.

I have been in the top tier (behind goals) for last two finals.

[fionnsci]

I'd pay the extra tenner to go premium as a neutral, did it for Rovers-Sligo a few years back. Get a great taste for the atmosphere from both ends, you can pretty much pick your seat wherever and the seats themselves are nicer. The aforementioned issue of the pint is also greatly important.

[Straightstory]

I'd pay the extra tenner to go premium as a neutral, did it for Rovers-Sligo a few years back. Get a great taste for the atmosphere from both ends, you can pretty much pick your seat wherever and the seats themselves are nicer. The aforementioned issue of the pint is also greatly important.
Agree - it's well worth it.

[toffeejay]

Going by the last two Sligo finals they sold around 12,000 - 13,000. Drogheda as a town rather than the club should be able to bring at least 6,000.

Anything under 20,000 would be disappointing.
But I reckon it might be around 15,000

[Jofspring]

Around half of it had been sold on the Ticketmaster site.

Edit: 311 I mean, I would have assumed the rest would be cordoned off.

Buy on the day. Thats what I did. It's open seating on the premium tier and you certainly won't be fighting for a seat.

[Dodge]

Every year people who won't be going to the game worry about the crowd. Pointless

[oriel]

Maybe so, but I hope the figure that I heard this am is wrong, that Drogs have only sold 1,700 tickets so far.

[nigel-harps1954]

Every year people who won't be going to the game worry about the crowd. Pointless

In all fairness, it's only just too great to see a big crowd out for Irish footballs showpiece event. To get a better crowd than the last Irish World Cup Qualifier would have to be a realistic aim. It can only be a good thing for football here.

[Dodge]

In all fairness, it's only just too great to see a big crowd out for Irish footballs showpiece event. To get a better crowd than the last Irish World Cup Qualifier would have to be a realistic aim. It can only be a good thing for football here.

That's fine. But I don't see why anyone not involved would see any crowd as disappointing. If they're not willing to go, then they can't be *that* disappointed that others feel the same way

[avvenalaf]

Going to be ****ing on Sunday so hard to see too many neutrals turning out for a game that's on telly.

[nigel-harps1954]

Going to be ****ing on Sunday so hard

Something about that statement really jumped out at me..

[fionnsci]

That's fine. But I don't see why anyone not involved would see any crowd as disappointing. If they're not willing to go, then they can't be *that* disappointed that others feel the same way

Because it's the showpiece domestic game of the year. Live on television in the national stadium. I'm rooting for a big crowd for the message it could send about Irish soccer and for the better atmosphere it can create; bandwagoners are more likely to stick around if they're shown a fun time.

[mr.untitled]

Hey.
If any of you live in, or know someone living in New England and want to watch the match in a pub, The Banshee in Dorchester, Boston will be showing it at 10.30 am on Sunday.
Thanks

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

We have 5,800 tickets sold so far

[MiniMourinho]

If Sligo bring 12000, there will be 17000 Max.

[redarmyfaction]

The club have sold slightly under 6K say another five hundred to a thousand via ticket master for those who live in surrounding counties, in Dublin or other foreign parts add those who buy between now and Sunday and those who pay on the day and we will have 9 to 11K depending on the weather.
So if the 1700 figure is true for Drogs then 15 K looks like the conservative estimated attendance. 9K from us, 3k drogs and 3k non aligned.

[KianD]

There were bog-all tickets in Premium available yesterday when I was sorting out mine. 10k in that level, doubt they're selling tickets in only two blocks on two sides of the stadium as an initial offering; however I suspect a good number of them are "reserved" by FAI ST holders but not going to be used.

Definitely re-echo the idea of going Premium if going as a neutral, have done it the last two years.

[ger121]

Bought 5 tickets in Block 525. From the looks of it, they're opening up blocks in upper tier bit by bit

[adamd164]

There were bog-all tickets in Premium available yesterday when I was sorting out mine. 10k in that level, doubt they're selling tickets in only two blocks on two sides of the stadium as an initial offering; however I suspect a good number of them are "reserved" by FAI ST holders but not going to be used.

Definitely re-echo the idea of going Premium if going as a neutral, have done it the last two years.
How do you buy the premium tickets? (If there are any left...)

Edit: it's just the second tier, right?

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Yeah. Middle tier.

[markc1184]

Whats the difference between the lower level seating and the premium?

[SeanDrog]

I was talking to the chap in the drog shop this morning and just over 3500 drogs tickets sold through them so far - no idea how many ticket master might have sold (presume not a lot for drogs as commission free to just buy them in drogheda)

He did say they had a rush on tickets last night and think today will be the same.

[White Horse]

I was talking to the chap in the drog shop this morning and just over 3500 drogs tickets sold through them so far - no idea how many ticket master might have sold (presume not a lot for drogs as commission free to just buy them in drogheda)

He did say they had a rush on tickets last night and think today will be the same.

Where have the other 10,500 went who were there is 2005? Did ye not bring 14,000 to that final?

That is huge reduction. Drogheda is a much bigger town now too.

[SeanDrog]

Where have the other 10,500 went who were there is 2005? Did ye not bring 14,000 to that final?

That is huge reduction. Drogheda is a much bigger town now too.

Very true. I have been having the same conversation with others this week. Something is broken in united at the moment and it's hard to pin point what it is . (12000 last final).

A few possible things (me just trying to understand it)
1. Recession has hit drogheda hard and 15e entry few (average 45e month) is a lot to many and they've lost the habit of going to utd park
2. The life time banning of some ultras saw an entire cohort lost ( as friends of the banned guys also stopped going)
3. The cook mystery has put some off
4. The promotion for the final in the town isn't as big as the last final (doesn't explain league poor attendances )
5. The video of that lmfm dj shows the cut if some that do hang out of the club and it puts some people off getting involved
6. 2005 final was first fai cup final since 1976 and we've been in a good few since (league cup and setanta) and novelty gone for the day trippers.

Whatever it is, there is no doubt crowds are down and personally I feel it's a number of reasons rather than just one reason. Whatever it is , it's disappointing 😥

[SeanDrog]

But club is solid financially and is in a final 👍 but does need to look at what went wrong with its supporter base this season so we can learn and sort it out for next season

[Duffman]

Whatever it is, there is no doubt crowds are down and personally I feel it's a number of reasons rather than just one reason. Whatever it is , it's disappointing ��

You'll not give a crap come tomorrow when you're getting ready for a cup final, have a great day! Jealous as hell here :-(

[SeanDrog]

You'll not give a crap come tomorrow when you're getting ready for a cup final, have a great day! Jealous as hell here :-(

Cheers duffman

[White Horse]

Very true. I have been having the same conversation with others this week. Something is broken in united at the moment and it's hard to pin point what it is . (12000 last final).

A few possible things (me just trying to understand it)
1. Recession has hit drogheda hard and 15e entry few (average 45e month) is a lot to many and they've lost the habit of going to utd park
2. The life time banning of some ultras saw an entire cohort lost ( as friends of the banned guys also stopped going)
3. The cook mystery has put some off
4. The promotion for the final in the town isn't as big as the last final (doesn't explain league poor attendances )
5. The video of that lmfm dj shows the cut if some that do hang out of the club and it puts some people off getting involved
6. 2005 final was first fai cup final since 1976 and we've been in a good few since (league cup and setanta) and novelty gone for the day trippers.

Whatever it is, there is no doubt crowds are down and personally I feel it's a number of reasons rather than just one reason. Whatever it is , it's disappointing ��

2005 was probably an unusually high attendance as it was the first final for the club. All the reasons you mentioned would have a negative effect on this year's attendance. I was in Drogheda yesterday and I was struck by how few businesses or homes had flags up. There is a disconnect between the town and the club that needs to be addressed. However, that is for another day.

As Duffman said, enjoy the day. They don't come around too often. 2002 seems a long time ago for us. No final is like a FAI cup final.

[oriel]

You'll not give a crap come tomorrow when you're getting ready for a cup final, have a great day! Jealous as hell here :-(

Yes, pretty much echo that, always thought it was very disappointing for the die hard drogs that so many of the locals have deserted the club in the last few years.

But look, still a nice day out to look forward to, enjoy...........................well you know!

[KianD]

Whats the difference between the lower level seating and the premium?

Foods a tiny bit better, far shorter bog queues. You can drink in view of the pitch, basically. Seats are padded when you go beyond the glass (where you can't drink) in to the actual stadium too. That's about it really.

[CuanaD]

Foods a tiny bit better, far shorter bog queues. You can drink in view of the pitch, basically. Seats are padded when you go beyond the glass (where you can't drink) in to the actual stadium too. That's about it really.
You can drink in view of the pitch, basically.
In the warm, indoors, with multiple TVs (on silent) in case your view of the pitch is obstructed at all.

(cheers for the ticket Kian - I've got the beer money!)

:ball:

[Straightstory]

Where have the other 10,500 went who were there is 2005? Did ye not bring 14,000 to that final?

That is huge reduction. Drogheda is a much bigger town now too.
Well, 3,500 tickets sold as of this morning. That's just one outlet in the town, and doesn't include Ticketmaster (I've just bought five tickets from them), or the late 'rush on tickets' predicted. I'd predict 5,000 or 6,000 from Drogheda, a lot down from 2005, but probably more than they brought to the Cup Final against Bohs in 1976! (Attendance at that was 10,400).
The wildly fluctuating attendances at Cup Finals: one of the great mysteries of Irish football...

[White Horse]

Well, 3,500 tickets sold as of this morning. That's just one outlet in the town, and doesn't include Ticketmaster (I've just bought five tickets from them), or the late 'rush on tickets' predicted. I'd predict 5,000 or 6,000 from Drogheda, a lot down from 2005, but probably more than they brought to the Cup Final against Bohs in 1976! (Attendance at that was 10,400).
The wildly fluctuating attendances at Cup Finals: one of the great mysteries of Irish football...

And if you win, 15,000 will claim to have been there ;)

[Ezeikial]

Thinking about the special cup final atmosphere in the pre-match build up and in the stadium itself, I'm feeling really envious of the supporters of both teams today - and wish all Drogheda and Sligo fans a great day out.

[Higgo]

Does anybody know if today's game is available on the RTÉ player in the UK?

[redarmyfaction]

Berkeley is jammed not a single drog.so far

[DannyInvincible]

Does anybody know if today's game is available on the RTÉ player in the UK?

It's live here and available to watch outside of Ireland: http://www.rte.ie/sport/player/#!/live/41/

Peter Collins has oddly described Joey N'do as a "breath of fresh air" for Irish football despite N'do's presence in the Irish game for a good decade.

[Nesta99]

Drogheda having a super game! Stays like this will be well deserved. Mick Cooke has raised his stock again.

[Nesta99]

Opps, spoke too soon1 Did i put the hex on? :eek:

[Yossarian]

Ha. The irony of Drogheda suffering because of a dubious refereeing decision is hilarious!

[Lim till i die]

Absolute clown of a ref.

To send Prendergast off then. :bulgy:

Big blow to Athlone Towns morale heading into the new season.



Sligo scored that EXACT same goal (with the whistle blown mind) against Limerick in the showgrounds.

[White Horse]

It was worth watching the cup final for that lovely bit of skill from Joey N'Do.

Outrageous quick thinking.

[Nesta99]

Ouch!!! Touch of Karma maybe - defo no whistle blown

[Trainee]

Looks like the ref has cost Drogs the cup, they deserved extra time at least.