Attendances 2019

[sbgawa]

The season should be extended by 4 or 5 weeks.
That may mean additional costs for the clubs not on 52 week contracts but the higher gates from no midweek matches would close the gap to some degree and its crazy that the league season is so short.

I can understand why the FAI keep weekends exclusively for the cup as the sponsor probably doesn't want their sponsorship to be of an event that takes place midweek to which nobody go's.
Would Harps agree to a 4 week season extension to avoid all the midweek trips? I'm not picking on Harps btw just as they are the most recent example of the problem of crazy scheduling

[bohsmug]

This is something I often wonder about. I suspect for a lot of clubs it's something that the board and manager/coaches/players wouldn't necessarily agree on. Most managers would presumably prefer more time between games but can clubs stretch contracts for longer on the back of slightly higher attendances over a longer period of time?

[Mr A]

The vast majority of clubs end up with a load of blank weekends towards the end of the season any way. If we managed the time we had better, there would be no huge need to extend.

[blueblood]

The league fixtures around the time of the start of europe should have the teams who play in Europe scheduled to play each other, then let's say dundalk v shams and cork v Waterford being moved only effects 2 games instead of the 4 teams effecting 4 games and moving games should suit all involved theoretically anyway, is this solution too obvious or am I missing something?

[nigel-harps1954]

You'd get another two weekends in if they didn't cancel all league games for FAI Cup quarter and semi finals.

Ridiculous that no other games go ahead those weekends.

[Ezeikial]

Would Harps agree to a 4 week season extension to avoid all the midweek trips? I'm not picking on Harps btw just as they are the most recent example of the problem of crazy scheduling

I don't know about Harps, but the clubs generally have repeatedly rejected this on the basis of cost, according to Fran Gavin

For example a club with a €6,000 budget would obviously add €24,000 to their costs and would get the benefit of 2 home games being weekend instead of midweek. This would need in the region of 1,000 extra people to attend on the weekend slot over the current midweek fixtures. Naturally the number of extra punters required rise along with any budget. Clubs have this won't work

The answer lies elsewhere - such as some of the suggestions above on better use of the current calendar

[seand]

It doesn't necessarily have to cost more to play a little longer. If we're playing for 44 weeks instead of 40 everyone gets 10% less pay every week/month and gets the same amount per year or a small fraction more. The only real problem with that is it impinges on certain players' ability to claim the dole, but if we're going to factor that into our decision making process we might as well just jack it in now.

[marinobohs]

I think last year something like two thirds of League games were played half way through the season so a better spread and utilizing some of the suggestions above could lead to no Mondays (except replays or postponed games) without extending the season by 5 weeks.But that would require somebody in the FAIlure to actually care and put some thought into it.

[sbgawa]

We could move stuff around , play on FAI cup weekends etc etc but i honestly think that is just fiddling around without really solving the problem.
We need to extend the season by 4 weeks AND schedule things better to allow for postponements due to weather / Europe/ Internationals or whatever.

I have no idea what budget Harps have but if i was playing for harps and was told i was getting the same money (in total) for an extra 4 weeks of training / playing but i wouldn't have to play midweek matches and look for two half days from work in the same week i would be happy with that compromise. With better attendances you could probably pay for 2 weeks of the 4....

[Nesta99]

I think last year something like two thirds of League games were played half way through the season so a better spread and utilizing some of the suggestions above could lead to no Mondays (except replays or postponed games) without extending the season by 5 weeks.But that would require somebody in the FAIlure to actually care and put some thought into it.

While it cant be organised in advance, if two teams are out of the cup then allowing leagues go ahead on Cup weekend, where possible, could help with fixture congestion or reduce midweek games later in the sseasom.

[sullanefc]

Cork fans were far sounder when they were one of their 20 previous clubs!

Good one. *thumbs up*.

[mcgonigle]

Good one. *thumbs up*.

If only there was some sort of thanks button on this forum...

[Shearer]

420 at Limerick and Drogs, lol.

[ToberonaTornado]

2832 @ Oriel

[nigel-harps1954]

Don't think there were any more than 1,000 in Finn Park. Maybe less.

[David BOHie]

2940 in Dalyer officially. Home end sold out

[EatYerGreens]

Don't think there were any more than 1,000 in Finn Park. Maybe less.

Was surprised by how small the crowd was myself. Thought the visit of Cork would have been a lot busier.

[EatYerGreens]

Anyone know why we have a mid-season break in years where there are no big international tournaments - like 2019 ?

[Olander]

Healthy crowd of 1,216 at Terryland Park tonight.

A decent hit off the opening night, but still quiet good for First Division. That's two home losses though, we need to start getting a few results at home or our next attendance will drop to 800-900 or worse even.

TBF to Bray, they brought a decent away support, maybe 50ish.

[legendz]

420 at Limerick and Drogs, lol.Half the attendance of the previous game. Everyone pre match expected no goals due to the lack of any scoring threat.

16 in the away section.

[joey B]

1215 in Finn Park,felt less tbh and very disappointing really.

[redarmyfaction]

1215 in Finn Park,felt less tbh and very disappointing really.

Half the crowd of the previous week v a club that see themselves as a glamour outfit. It is tempting to call ye the most fickle support in the league but I would guess that the mean travel distance for the average Harps fan might be double that of any of the Leinster clubs. It would take half a dozen seasons of relative success to bed down a core of 1300/1500 per week for the next half dozen given the commitment required from yeer support.

[nigel-harps1954]

In fairness, the weather was brutal all week in Donegal. Many didn't see the game going ahead at all tonight. Flooding all across the county. I'm surprised we broke 1,000 at all.

[joey B]

Half the crowd of the previous week v a club that see themselves as a glamour outfit. It is tempting to call ye the most fickle support in the league but I would guess that the mean travel distance for the average Harps fan might be double that of any of the Leinster clubs. It would take half a dozen seasons of relative success to bed down a core of 1300/1500 per week for the next half dozen given the commitment required from yeer support.

There's plenty of reasons you could give for a drop off I suppose,the weather being paticularly brutal,Cork bringing bar UCD and probably Waterford the least away fans of the season,the fact it's the third Friday in a row that we've a home game and maybe the casual fan won't fork out 3 weeks in a row the worry of course is that if the results continue as they are it could fall even further.

[redarmyfaction]

There's plenty of reasons you could give for a drop off I suppose,the weather being paticularly brutal,Cork bringing bar UCD and probably Waterford the least away fans of the season,the fact it's the third Friday in a row that we've a home game and maybe the casual fan won't fork out 3 weeks in a row the worry of course is that if the results continue as they are it could fall even further.
It isn't only travel distances ye have been against ye there's a big differ from rolling out on the Luas or cruising down the motorway to a game than going clutch gear clutch, turn turn, turn, mirror to milimetre mirror with the oncoming for 20k in the driving sleet/snow/rain before u you hit the good road, a road the a of the country would call a dirt track. The asks are a lot different and when you think that larger urban centres like Ennis, Tralee, Carlow etc could not imagine putting a team in our league then the Harps support is pretty good.

[legendz]

It isn't only travel distances ye have been against ye there's a big differ from rolling out on the Luas or cruising down the motorway to a game than going clutch gear clutch, turn turn, turn, mirror to milimetre mirror with the oncoming for 20k in the driving sleet/snow/rain before u you hit the good road, a road the a of the country would call a dirt track. The asks are a lot different and when you think that larger urban centres like Ennis, Tralee, Carlow etc could not imagine putting a team in our league then the Harps support is pretty good.Tralee and Carlow did try to plot a course through the A Championship. I travelled from the environs of Ennis to the Markets Field last night. People will travel when they want to.

[Shearer]

2,103 at the Showgrounds.

[redarmyfaction]

Tralee and Carlow did try to plot a course through the A Championship. I travelled from the environs of Ennis to the Markets Field last night. People will travel when they want to.
Ennis to Limerick is Motorway, Donegal roads with black ice on them are a different prospect on a winter's night.

Decent crowd in the Showgs, nearly 20 from UCD which is a 600% increase on their normal average.

[Kingswood Rover]

That is an impressive attendance in Sligo last night given and the oppo, no disrespect and all that and the weather, roughly 13 k at games so this series of matches.

[Mr A]

The game had been in doubt earlier in the day and with another downpour an hour before kick off combined with a couple of poor displays and our poor facilities it was always going to hit the crowd badly.

They missed a cracker all the same.

[forza]

4,389 in Inchicore.

[pineapple stu]

Wow. Didn't think Inchicore held remotely close to that

[sbgawa]

Great crowds. The loi is cool you know

[Kingdom]

I’ve said to friends that I’d love to see the league getting 20k through the door per match series. Rovers have the biggest scope for improvement in numbers, and I think it’s a matter of time.

It’s a real pity that we simply don’t get enough buy-in from the govt for support for the infrastructure around the league such as sufficient public transport targeted towards match day league of Ireland supporters. I think if we were regularly pulling in 20k a week, it’s a good sign.

I know the Friday night time slot suits a lot of clubs for home games, but I can’t help feeling it’s a limiter.

[PartySaint]

Wow. Didn't think Inchicore held remotely close to that

Officially a sell out. We had more for the Newcastle friendly last year it was much closer to 5,000 but no need for segregation or an away allocation for that game.

3 Home games so far this season and our average attendance has been 3200, obviously that will drop but a great start.

[marinobohs]

Officially a sell out. We had more for the Newcastle friendly last year it was much closer to 5,000 but no need for segregation or an away allocation for that game.

3 Home games so far this season and our average attendance has been 3200, obviously that will drop but a great start.

Great to see crowds across the league up. Early days but there certainly seems to be a lot more interest in LOI this season (not sure why TBH), amazed the number of people who previously were disinterested who have commented on LOI in recent weeks.It definitely is more 'cool' :cool: for some reason.

Still a lot of work to be done, but great start to the season.

[sbgawa]

Pats Rovers last season after 5 or 6 games would have attracted far less as both sets of supporters wouldn't have had the same optimism about the league even at that early stage, both had potential ro go top of the league with a win.
Bohs v Derry would have been hugely lower as well, Bohs went in to the match top of the league.

A side benefit of the "potential" of the top two not being the same again is bringing more people out and the early season optimism is lasting longer.
Cork crowds are down which is hurting a bit.
If Rovers and or Pats/Bohs can keep winning a few matches the Dublin derbys will attract decent crowds.

Lots of reasons to be optimistic in general , hopefully those nice people in Dundalk will wait a few more matches before turning on the afterburners.
That Derry v Dundalk game next week has a big feel about it, if Derry can get a result other teams will take heart , if Dundalk steamroller them a la Waterford it will start to look ominous.

[Nesta99]

Great to see crowds across the league up. Early days but there certainly seems to be a lot more interest in LOI this season (not sure why TBH), amazed the number of people who previously were disinterested who have commented on LOI in recent weeks.It definitely is more ':cool:cool' for some reason.

Still a lot of work to be done, but great start to the season.

It is obviously all to do with the profile Dundalk has brought to the league and the media waxing lyrical about the way we play - sure even Dunphy gave us a shout out!

[Kingdom]

I can only speak for myself. On here I've always been an Ireland poster, but I've always been interested in the League of Ireland. Our school had a huge St Pats following. However in the last year, maybe two years, I would say that my priority is checking the League section first, followed by the Ireland section.

I would never have felt suitably qualified to talk about the ins and outs of domestic football before, and still don't now.

I don't think so much that it's cool to support the league suddenly, I think the underage structures are bringing the domestic league a lot more into focus, and the Dublin clubs are definitely stepping up their efforts at attracting fans.

Personally I just want football on this island to be the best it can be, from crowds, the facilities, standard of football. That will all impact on the senior team.

[Calcio Jack]

It is obviously all to do with the profile Dundalk has brought to the league and the media waxing lyrical about the way we play - sure even Dunphy gave us a shout out!

We all know the fact is the LOI needs a successful Rovers to thrive.... common factor over first 5 series of games is that Rovers were involved in the match that had the highest attendance and we’re top of the league QED

[Kingswood Rover]

We all know the fact is the LOI needs a successful Rovers to thrive.... common factor over first 5 series of games is that Rovers were involved in the match that had the highest attendance and we’re top of the league QED
Just when we were all getting along so well it goes tits up.;)

[marinobohs]

Just when we were all getting along so well it goes tits up.;)
Don’t worry his village will soon reclaim its idiot and we can get back to our early season excitement 😁
Bohs V Pats almost certain to sell out based on early sales.

[Nesta99]

We all know the fact is the LOI needs a successful Rovers to thrive.... common factor over first 5 series of games is that Rovers were involved in the match that had the highest attendance and we’re top of the league QED

I hope your comment was as firmly tongue in cheek as mine was!;) Though with some Cork fans such a comment would in all liklihood be deadly serious lol.

We need all clubs to be strong, solid home crowds, large travelling away support, with a competative league and teams playing a decent brand of football. The league will then thrive. European progression grows both credibility with the wider public and dare I say it among media circles. It seems to be the bar by which the league is judged irrespective of how things are domestically. Tbh its away crowds that both boost attendances above what home club attendances plateau at. There are a number of good eamples so far this season, the 4k+ at Inchicore v Rovers and the match in Tallaght v Dundalk. It is also a vocal away support that often gets a home crowd to be more vocal and generates the atmosphere that we want and need to attract the non hardcore support. That and a contentious refereeing decision or some fiesty action on the pitch.

It is a trend though that crowds generally start off well and then fall off, possibly as teams move out of contention as the league progresses but also during the summer months with holidays and the like. They then pick up again at the business end of the season for the top few teams or the visit of those teams to clubs lower down the table. Bohs, is an eample where crowds have been grown not purely based on the teams fortunes. As a probable controversial comment I think that Rovers and Cork fans are pretty fickle and see the biggest drop of in attendances if not competative. Sligo have probably the most impressive ability to attract consistantly good crowds no matter how they are doing. I've said before that Dundalk's hardcore support is up at 1800 now and and has grown from the 1st Division of about 1200-1500. Though not enough is being done imo to convert the floating fan to that hardcore type for the future if we are not league contenders. Derry have had a great boost with the work done on the Brandywell so there may be some truth in the 'build it and they will come'. Waterford are benefitting still from the novelty factor of top flight football. It also shows the importance of the likes of Harps getting things sorted in Stranrolar.
Even Bray in the 1st Division has broken the 1000 mark this season which they werent always doing with a side pushing for Europe. Disillusionment with owners can have a serious impact as we eperiences during the blip year at Dundalk in 2012 where crowds dropped in to the hundreds as the owner threatened all sorts of things like demolishing the YDC and selling the materials as scrap and fans knew that money was going out of the club that should have been personal expenses though in saying that with what that owner put in to the club I can understand why he would feel he should be getting something back and especially as other business interests were struggling (he was probably stung by the sudden surge in crowds and income 2013 and a bit of speculating accumulated albeit on a tight budget with a top manager worked rather than his cutting back to the bones). Rare that this strategy worked in LoI I know.

I really hope what is happening at Pats is maintained, from about 1200 or so at games the last few years to over 3000 not factoring in away support is a hell of a jump and is indicative of the feel good factor around the club with a new management team.

As an aside I am sad enough to have done a head count of the Waterford fans last Friday and there was 70-80 on the away terrace (I didnt bother with the stand as it was too hard to tell who were Waterford and who were home supporters as there wasnt the strict segregation you would get with other visiting clubs). My first thought when I saw the Waterford support was 100-150 so was surprised at the lower figure when counted and goes to show how hard it is to guesstimate crowds in general. We all have a tendancy to over estimate support. That said the official figure of 2800 in general people in the vicinity were questioning. There was undoubtedly 1000 in the stand and on the shed side, and there was definitely more than just 800 between the Town Terrace, standing in front of the stand and behind the goals. Addeding in what was probably about 100 Waterford fans between the stand and away terrace too. Highlights of the game hasnt changed my thinking on that. We definitely need substantial away support to boost our average gate. For that reason, and the reasons mentioned above, the visit of Rovers and Bohs in particular, Drogheda when in the same division and the recent key games with Cork are very welcome indeed. The level of visiting Derry support has dropped in recent years but hopefully there will be more that will travel this season. The TV footage picks up the support from the shed and then the cameras facing the stand also adds to the feeling of a well attended game. A big away support helps cover up the dreadful looking away section. With some terracing begind the town goal and getting rid of the grass bank would be a big improvement in the overall impression that can come across in tv footage.

Ideally, for Dundalk, a competative Shamrock Rovers, Bohs, Derry, Sligo, Drogheda, Pats and to a lesser extent Cork bar the business end of the season would suit Dundalk from an attendance point of view. Conversly Dundalk have a pretty healthy travelling support to most away games, there was a comment here by a Rovers fan that the recent game in Tallaght was the biggest away support seen - would that include Bohs even?

I dont think sttandances say a whole lot about an individual club, Shels when winning leagues has abysmal support, yet the quality of the product was good in a decent ground. It should never be a p1ssing match between supports on whose crowds are the best (or least worst), strong attendances should be lauded by all LoI fans and not something to give a kicking over. We all know where improved gates can happen and where the greatest potential for growth is, Rovers being top of the heap there with the facilities and local population. But, bar Bohs maybe, we could all be doing more, regardless of the FAIs indifference, and not be relying on winning silverware as the way to get people through the turnstiles only.

[CorribsideSteve]

Good post from Nesta. One should taper crowd expectations and expect a normal drop off, like every other season. He makes a good point about large away traveling support at a number of games so far. With regards Rovers, currently, one, if the not top of the attendance charts so farm have a yearly average of c.2800. Always thought that should be a higher figure, given their catchment and now stadium, but perhaps it's already growing attendance wise, especially with the new stand creating a bit of a buzz, we shall wait and see. With regards Shels, there were so many matches back in the day, either live, or news reports, or (shudder) Eircom League Weekly where I wondered "Is there even a 1,000 at this game?", and comparing that with Dundalk's televised matches and attendances, things have definitely got better, attendance-wise. Speaking of Dundalk, I watched a bit of the match last Friday on that awful trackchamp camera stream, so the sound was an issue, but I thought there was a lot more than 2832 there. In fact I thought it was 3,832 that was called out, but as I said, picture AND sound were terrible. Overall, happy to see relatively big attendances so far, but it's likely to drop off somewhat and return to normal before too long. If the title race is interesting (stays interesting) for the duration of the season, it might be the best year for crowds across the League in quite some time.

[sbgawa]

Bohs numbers were restricted in the past due to space in the West stand and the need for segregation. Given they will have the whole east stand they could bring up to 2500 fans for our game on Easter Tuesday..
Given their recent success over rovers curiosity 're new South stand I think a big support is likely.....if it wasn't a Tuesday I would be expecting 6k +

[dundalkfc10]

http://hoganstand.com/Forum/Details/106675?County=National&PageNumber=0&TopicID=106675

Looking at the GAA attendance thread over on Hoganstand, shows we are doing very well!

Some of the crowds are shocking (counties play 4 Home League Games a year) and Cork one of the biggest are not even getting 3,500 for home games in Hurling!

[marinobohs]

Bohs numbers were restricted in the past due to space in the West stand and the need for segregation. Given they will have the whole east stand they could bring up to 2500 fans for our game on Easter Tuesday..
Given their recent success over rovers curiosity 're new South stand I think a big support is likely.....if it wasn't a Tuesday I would be expecting 6k +

2,500 on a Tuesday ? Our fans work 😁 shams brought about 8/900 to Dalymount early season. You believe we should get 3 times that on a Tuesday to Tallaght ?

[Kingswood Rover]

2,500 on a Tuesday ? Our fans work  shams brought about 8/900 to Dalymount early season. You believe we should get 3 times that on a Tuesday to Tallaght ?

Not sure about that but Bohs could well break the away attendance for a LOI game that evening 1500 plus is possible. If we were going in the apposite direction to a ground of a similar standard we would bring a similar number, lots of Rovers fans wont go to Dalyer because of the away end and the poor view.

[dundalkfc10]

Not sure about that but Bohs could well break the away attendance for a LOI game that evening 1500 plus is possible. If we were going in the apposite direction to a ground of a similar standard we would bring a similar number, lots of Rovers fans wont go to Dalyer because of the away end and the poor view.

Do the same Rovers fans refuse to go to Oriel, Sligo (you can’t see down sideline if your beside the big fences they have up) Finn Park and Pats as view in Sheds poor?

[bohsmug]

http://hoganstand.com/Forum/Details/106675?County=National&PageNumber=0&TopicID=106675

Looking at the GAA attendance thread over on Hoganstand, shows we are doing very well!

Some of the crowds are shocking (counties play 4 Home League Games a year) and Cork one of the biggest are not even getting 3,500 for home games in Hurling!

Ah, I don't know. We're still a good bit off. The league isn't even the main competition in GAA. There's no direct equivalent in LOI but in terms of importance it's probably halfway between the League Cup and FAI Cup. It's spoken about as important for preparation for the championship. And we're miles off.

I'd use GAA attendances as an indicator that match going fans are out there. I go to both and see a lot of the same faces at Bohs and Dublin games. If LOI top division could match GAA top division it would be amazing. Even if that meant splitting Dublin GAA attendances across the Dublin LOI clubs.