Attendances 2023

[JC_GUFC]

In the Premier Division some clubs have ‘tiered’ pricing so for the “Cat A” games it may be €20 then something like €17 for others.
Some clubs give a reduction for tickets bought online. This obviously guarantees pre-sales and takes out the factor of weather on if someone decides to go or not (in Galway where it rains a LOT this is pretty big!)

I think the FAI Cup Final was just €15 last year, so really it’s as cheap as a League match.

[Shinkicker]

Bohs tickets are 15 in the des kelly and 20 in the Jodi, season tickets are 250€ and full membership( ie part ownership with voting rights) is 365 pa.

The recent home game v Rovers was 19 euro for the Dk, I bought 2

[Shinkicker]

I think FAI Cup finals do pick up a lot of neutrals - be that other LOI fans (I go most years as an example) but also I know several people who don't have an LOI club and go to the final every year. It doesn't explain the boost to numbers in the last few years of course but I think that's becoming a bit of a snowball down a hill now too - people go, have a great day with a genuine athmosphere and are more inclined to repeat the experience.
While I do agree with most of what you say, you must remember. The stadiums of most LOI clubs have small capacity, restricted capacity or a combination of both so many supporters can't get tickets to games. I know of Bohs supporters who just can't get tickets week in week out. My son tried about 6 or 7 times last season and never got one, albeit they were derby games. So for many who support clubs the Cup final is seen as an opportunity to show support and avail of the atmosphere. I'm not saying for one minute Bohs would attract 12-15 thousand every week at Dalymount but I do believe they would be in the 8-10 thousand bracket if the facility was there. As for the IL clubs they are not in the same position as they can't get anywhere near the capacity at their league games. So the chances of filling Windsor for the final are very slim. If they went to summer football it would improve crowd number as most junior and intermediate games kick off at 2pm on Saturdays so anyone who plays can't go to support their local or favourite team.

[EalingGreen]

As for the IL clubs they are not in the same position as they can't get anywhere near the capacity at their league games.There are some IL clubs who do suffer from capacity constraints for certain games, for away fans at least (maximum numbers, all-ticket in advance, restricted concessions etc), though I take your point generally.


So the chances of filling Windsor for the final are very slim.Maybe not filling it, but I do believe that with proper promotion by the IFA and sensible ticket prices, they could normally achieve well into five figures, for the bigger clubs at least. (Remember, they managed it for the last two League Cup finals, staged at WP in March, it being a lesser event.)


If they went to summer football it would improve crowd number as most junior and intermediate games kick off at 2pm on Saturdays so anyone who plays can't go to support their local or favourite team.Except that moving to summer football would create an insurmountable barrier to ambitious clubs playing winter football at Junior and Intermediate level who want eventually to move up to Senior football eg Ballinamallard, Warrenpoint, Annagh, Loughgall. And would also stymie relegation from Senior football for the likes of Distillery, Newry or Bangor, effectively meaning they might never rise back up again. While even with a summer season, there still remains a clash with the winter season during Feb/Mar/Apr/May and Sep/Oct. Plus we would lose the big Boxing Day and NYD derbies, often the best attended games each season.

Now granted the clash with Junior football probably does hurt crowds at Senior, even Intermediate level, but clever scheduling of league games by some clubs on Friday evenings or Sundays might mitigate this to some extent, also for the IC Final. Though I don't expect to see Sunday morning leagues at Junior level in NI as they have in GB - at least not any time soon!

[sadloserkid]

While I do agree with most of what you say, you must remember. The stadiums of most LOI clubs have small capacity, restricted capacity or a combination of both so many supporters can't get tickets to games.

Sure but that's a VERY new development for any club and still a rare or unheard of happening for the majority of clubs.

[pineapple stu]

1673 at the Bowl

It seems that's about capacity even though we had higher crowds last season. Don't know why that is

[2 Year Contract]

4,011 at Pats Drogheda, another home sellout, around 200 Drogheda fans down

[SPXcyan]

2,071 at the RSC.

[Nesta99]

Definitely think this is a factor. I've gone to a few Irish Cup finals but as you say going to Windsor isn't particularly special for me because that's also where I go for Linfield games,




Not overstated at all! Ireland is an incredible nation of bandwagon jumpers. GAA fans are probably the most loyal in the country but for inter-county games there are only a handful of away trips a year. All-Ireland semi-finals never sell out but for finals tickets can be like hen's teeth!





There definitely does seem to be a thing that NIFL are promoting the League Cup much better than the IFA promote the cup final. On Social Media in the fortnight up to the League Cup final I was seeing ads every day. Very little for the Cup Final.


A couple of other points... Probably the FAI have been lucky enough with recent finalists, quite often the top teams in the league (so support has been big during the season) and quite a few Dublin clubs, Bohs, Pat's, Shels and Rovers have all been at recent cup finals.

I think if you ended up with a Dundalk v Galway United final this year, for example, the crowd may only just go beyond 15k.

Finally the cheap tickets really seem to have worked out well. I think it's still only a tenner (maybe it was 15 last year) to go to it. I usually go to the Premium tickets and you see fans of all teams and loads of players there. It's kind of a real celebration of the end of the season really. To be fair to the FAI they have done a great job on that (and that goes back to the 'old' leadership).

May just be an example but an odd one imo JC, looking at the attendance of Cork v Dundalk finals, Cork fans notoriosly poor at leaving the confines of Cork, then coompare with St Pats v Derry. Surely the novelty factor of GUFC in a cup final would pique interest too. Im not precious on figures with Dundalk involvement just that there is tangible evidence on why projections can be higher than 15k. It should also be noted that novelty didnt wear off with Dundalk in the annual showpiece so many years running with attendances increasing each year.

[kksaints]

May just be an example but an odd one imo JC, looking at the attendance of Cork v Dundalk finals, Cork fans notoriosly poor at leaving the confines of Cork, then coompare with St Pats v Derry. Surely the novelty factor of GUFC in a cup final would pique interest too. Im not precious on figures with Dundalk involvement just that there is tangible evidence on why projections can be higher than 15k. It should also be noted that novelty didnt wear off with Dundalk in the annual showpiece so many years running with attendances increasing each year.

I'd have said Galway and most of the city or large town clubs would be capable of getting a bandwagon if they got to the final and that a Dundalk v Galway final would bring more than 15k. The only teams I'd question the ability to generate fans for the final would be UCD, Cobh (small town which isn't the only club in the county so wouldn't generate that county pride style bandwagon) and Athlone (seems to be a disconnect between fans and club although they did get a decent crowd for the Women's Final last year so it's possible they could generate more interest than I'd think).

[Jd2793]

May just be an example but an odd one imo JC, looking at the attendance of Cork v Dundalk finals, Cork fans notoriosly poor at leaving the confines of Cork, then coompare with St Pats v Derry. Surely the novelty factor of GUFC in a cup final would pique interest too. Im not precious on figures with Dundalk involvement just that there is tangible evidence on why projections can be higher than 15k. It should also be noted that novelty didnt wear off with Dundalk in the annual showpiece so many years running with attendances increasing each year.


for league games mostly yes. for a cup semi/final absolutely not.

[Nesta99]

for league games mostly yes. for a cup semi/final absolutely not.

Self professed issues with a Sunday final, school night, reluctance at leaving Cork, and train scheduling problems post match all leading to average at best travelling support from Cork at cup finals for the 2nd most populated urban centre in the country. Dont sweat it, it is what it is!

[Shearer]

452 at Longford vs Treaty

[JC_GUFC]

May just be an example but an odd one imo JC, looking at the attendance of Cork v Dundalk finals, Cork fans notoriosly poor at leaving the confines of Cork, then coompare with St Pats v Derry. Surely the novelty factor of GUFC in a cup final would pique interest too. Im not precious on figures with Dundalk involvement just that there is tangible evidence on why projections can be higher than 15k. It should also be noted that novelty didnt wear off with Dundalk in the annual showpiece so many years running with attendances increasing each year.

Well I used United for obvious reasons and then I was looking at realistic potential cup final opponents from outside Dublin. Like Cobh v Galway United would obviously attract a smaller crowd but there's no chance of that happening. To be fair we brought about 1,500 to last season's playoff loss in Waterford so year maybe I'm underestimating our ability to get 10k fans for the day, so probably 15k would be on the low side.

[sulywaterfordfc]

Well I used United for obvious reasons and then I was looking at realistic potential cup final opponents from outside Dublin. Like Cobh v Galway United would obviously attract a smaller crowd but there's no chance of that happening. To be fair we brought about 1,500 to last season's playoff loss in Waterford so year maybe I'm underestimating our ability to get 10k fans for the day, so probably 15k would be on the low side.

The play off against Waterford was down in Limerick, which is about an hour to hour and a quarter. Surely for a club of Galway’s side that’s the expected numbers for such a big game?

[Philosophizer]

Record Monday night attendance tonight in Tallaght announced over the tannoy. I didn’t catch the exact number but I was was six thousand, 2 hundred and something.

[2 Year Contract]

Record Monday night attendance tonight in Tallaght announced over the tannoy. I didn’t catch the exact number but I was was six thousand, 2 hundred and something.

6,212 was the attendance, 1,200 Pats fans

[sbgawa]

Pats fans were excelent to be fair.
We deserved the win overall unlike the win against the legendary sligo team of 2023

[Philosophizer]

6,212 was the attendance, 1,200 Pats fans
Outstanding support for a Mon night.

[placid casual]

Pats always sell out their allocation, irrespective of their position in the table, in stark contrast to some other Dublin clubs.

[Philosophizer]

Pats always sell out their allocation, irrespective of their position in the table, in stark contrast to some other Dublin clubs.
They are the closest club to Tallaght after all.

[kksaints]

Pats always sell out their allocation, irrespective of their position in the table, in stark contrast to some other Dublin clubs.

Damn UCD.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Pats fans were excelent to be fair.
We deserved the win overall unlike the win against the legendary sligo team of 2023

I assume you’ll have us on the pitch at half time in 2048

[sbgawa]

10 year anniversary is a must

[nigel-harps1954]

Latest figures from the week past:

Bohemians v Derry City - 4,293
St Pats v Drogheda - 4,011
Sligo Rovers v Shelbourne - 2,431
Dundalk v Cork City - 2,389
UCD v Shamrock Rovers - 1,673

Waterford v Cobh Ramblers - 2,071
Galway United v Wexford - 1,704
Athlone Town v Kerry - 886
Longford Town v Treaty United - 452

Bray v Harps - No attendance given on LOI Connect. Around 750 estimate taken.

TOTAL: 20,660


Monday Premier games:

Shamrock Rovers v St Pat's - 6,212
Derry City v Dundalk - 3,295

TOTAL: 9,507

[nigel-harps1954]

We've already surpassed the total attendance figures from 2016 and 2014 seasons.

Awaiting official figures from Bray v Waterford (28th Apr), Bray v Harps (12th May)

PREMIER DIVISION

Bohs - 4,257 (3,209 {2022};2,878{19}; 2,148; 2,006; 1,627; 1,724; 1,395; 1,597; 1,496; 1,488)
Cork - 4,455 (3,517 FD; 2,505; 4,245; 4,559; 2,533; 3,263; 3,777; 1,965; 2,786; 2,128 FD)
Derry - 3,530 (3,184; 2,049; 2,297; 1,517; 1,563; 1,124; 1,106; 1,446; 1,460; 2,135)
Drogheda - 1,978 (1,941; 721 FD; ; 377 FD; 850; 583 FD; 813; 1,064; 817; 977; 811)
Dundalk - 2,901 (2,689; 2,775; 2,738; 2,674; 2,738; 3,158; 2,534; 1,997; 949; 1,355)
Pat's - 4,382 (3,489; 1,919; 1,621; 1,504; 1,088; 1,321; 1,386; 1,687; 1,474; 1,346)
Rovers - 6,220 (5,379; 3,384; 2,749; 2,809; 2,041; 2,890; 2,269; 2,763; 3,127; 3,779)
Shels - 3,120 (2,913; 1,071 FD; 654 FD; 496 FD; 554 FD; 596 FD; 713 FD; 1,114; 1,187; 781 FD)
Sligo - 2,947 (2,166; 1,995; 1,853; 1,717; 1,750; 1,750; 1,959; 2,342; 3,007; 2,103)
UCD - 881 (953; 739; 365 FD; 236 FD; 297 FD; 216 FD; 397; 487; 506; 558; 610)

FIRST DIVISION

Athlone - 829 (307; 382; 130; 154; 156; 314; 653 PD; 754; 271; 200)
Bray - 751 (482; 773; 643 PD; 966 PD; 957 PD; 769 PD; 718 PD; 891 PD; 965 PD; 1,121 PD)
Cobh - 1,242 (872; 268; 236; 358; 403; 366; 223; 439; 2008 - 1,122 PD; 681)
Galway - 2,423 (2,081; 780; 746; 1,376 PD; 1,169 PD; 1,290 PD; 975)
Harps - 1,498 (1,293 PD; 1,154 PD; 708; 1,202 PD; 1,216 PD; 784; 449; 479; 429; 433; 644)
Kerry - 1,094 (No previous)
Longford - 707 (500; 610; 449; 342; 488 PD; 803 PD; 567; 379; 365; 315)
Treaty - 736 (695)
Waterford - 2,197 (1,705; 1,496 PD; 2,329 PD; 1,550; 314; 460; 470; 478; 453; 466)
Wexford - 809 (445; 235; 181; 338; 585 PD; 553; 331; 227; 302; 216)

PREMIER AVERAGE: 3,463 (2,687; 2,185; 2,170; 1,902; 1,476; 1,681; 1,502; 1,566; 1,630; 1,547)
FIRST DIVISION AVERAGE: 1,250 (1,193; 586; 413; 477; 476; 486; 495; 391; 372; 578)

OVERALL AVERAGE: 2,417 (2,051; 1,500; 1,249; 1,387; 1,117; 1,249; 1,160; 1,140; 1,125; 1,110)


OVERALL PREMIER ATTENDANCE: 266,668 (486,365; 393,238; 316,515; 376,627; 292,204; 332,805; 297,334)
OVERALL FIRST ATTENDANCE: 86,247 (178,000; 79,115; 55,756; 53,461; 52,807; 54,474; 55,408)

OVERALL COMBINED ATTENDANCE: 352,915 (664,365; 472,353; 372,271; 430,088; 345,011; 387,279; 352,742)

[culloty82]

910 at Mounthawk Park, which is up 50 from the Longford attendance figure.

[joey B]

1125 in Finn Park,attendance still decent despite the performances on the pitch….

[Shearer]

1,003 at the Markets Field.

[nigel-harps1954]

Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda United - 5,157
Shelbourne v St Pat's - 3,946
Derry City v UCD - 3,350
Cork City v Sligo Rovers - 3,051
Dundalk v Bohemians - 2,473

Finn Harps v Waterford - 1,125
Treaty United v Galway United - 1,003
Kerry v Bray Wanderers - 910
Cobh Ramblers v Athlone Town - 709
Wexford v Longford Town - 434


TOTAL - 22,158

[Shearer]

Treaty United v Finn Harps - 630
Kerry FC v Wexford FC - 759

Numbers from FAI Connect, they may change between now and tomorrow as estimates are put in on occasion.

[outspoken]

Big drop off at Kerry in recent weeks.

[nigel-harps1954]

If they can still sustain a 700-800 average considering the season they've had, in the ground they're in, I'd say they're doing alright.

[nigel-harps1954]

Bohemians v Shelbourne - 4,381
Cork City v Shamrock Rovers - 4,240
St Pat's v Dundalk - 4,089
Sligo Rovers v Derry City - 2,831
Drogheda United v UCD - 1,629

Galway United v Athlone Town - 1,705
Kerryv Wexford - 759
Longford Town v Waterford - 707
Treaty United v Finn Harps - 630

Bray Wanderers v Cobh Ramblers - No figure (600 estimated)

TOTAL - 21,571

[nigel-harps1954]

Awaiting official figures from Bray v Waterford (28th Apr), Bray v Harps (12th May), Bray v Cobh (26th May)

PREMIER DIVISION

Bohs - 4,272 (3,209 {2022};2,878{19}; 2,148; 2,006; 1,627; 1,724; 1,395; 1,597; 1,496; 1,488)
Cork - 4,275 (3,517 FD; 2,505; 4,245; 4,559; 2,533; 3,263; 3,777; 1,965; 2,786; 2,128 FD)
Derry - 3,510 (3,184; 2,049; 2,297; 1,517; 1,563; 1,124; 1,106; 1,446; 1,460; 2,135)
Drogheda - 1,934 (1,941; 721 FD; ; 377 FD; 850; 583 FD; 813; 1,064; 817; 977; 811)
Dundalk - 2,853 (2,689; 2,775; 2,738; 2,674; 2,738; 3,158; 2,534; 1,997; 949; 1,355)
Pat's - 4,350 (3,489; 1,919; 1,621; 1,504; 1,088; 1,321; 1,386; 1,687; 1,474; 1,346)
Rovers - 6,102 (5,379; 3,384; 2,749; 2,809; 2,041; 2,890; 2,269; 2,763; 3,127; 3,779)
Shels - 3,212 (2,913; 1,071 FD; 654 FD; 496 FD; 554 FD; 596 FD; 713 FD; 1,114; 1,187; 781 FD)
Sligo - 2,934 (2,166; 1,995; 1,853; 1,717; 1,750; 1,750; 1,959; 2,342; 3,007; 2,103)
UCD - 881 (953; 739; 365 FD; 236 FD; 297 FD; 216 FD; 397; 487; 506; 558; 610)

FIRST DIVISION

Athlone - 837 (307; 382; 130; 154; 156; 314; 653 PD; 754; 271; 200)
Bray - 732 (482; 773; 643 PD; 966 PD; 957 PD; 769 PD; 718 PD; 891 PD; 965 PD; 1,121 PD)
Cobh - 1,176 (872; 268; 236; 358; 403; 366; 223; 439; 2008 - 1,122 PD; 681)
Galway - 2,333 (2,081; 780; 746; 1,376 PD; 1,169 PD; 1,290 PD; 975)
Harps - 1,451 (1,293 PD; 1,154 PD; 708; 1,202 PD; 1,216 PD; 784; 449; 479; 429; 433; 644)
Kerry - 1,029 (No previous)
Longford - 707 (500; 610; 449; 342; 488 PD; 803 PD; 567; 379; 365; 315)
Treaty - 756 (695)
Waterford - 2,197 (1,705; 1,496 PD; 2,329 PD; 1,550; 314; 460; 470; 478; 453; 466)
Wexford - 763 (445; 235; 181; 338; 585 PD; 553; 331; 227; 302; 216)

PREMIER AVERAGE: 3,469 (2,687; 2,185; 2,170; 1,902; 1,476; 1,681; 1,502; 1,566; 1,630; 1,547)
FIRST DIVISION AVERAGE: 1,196 (1,193; 586; 413; 477; 476; 486; 495; 391; 372; 578)

OVERALL AVERAGE: 2,390 (2,051; 1,500; 1,249; 1,387; 1,117; 1,249; 1,160; 1,140; 1,125; 1,110)


OVERALL PREMIER ATTENDANCE: 301,815 (486,365; 393,238; 316,515; 376,627; 292,204; 332,805; 297,334)
OVERALL FIRST ATTENDANCE: 95,715 (178,000; 79,115; 55,756; 53,461; 52,807; 54,474; 55,408)

OVERALL COMBINED ATTENDANCE: 397,530 (664,365; 472,353; 372,271; 430,088; 345,011; 387,279; 352,742)

[JC_GUFC]

Bohemians v Shelbourne - 4,381
Cork City v Shamrock Rovers - 4,240
St Pat's v Dundalk - 4,089
Sligo Rovers v Derry City - 2,831
Drogheda United v UCD - 1,629

Kerry v Wexford - 759
Longford Town v Waterford - 707
Treaty United v Finn Harps - 630

Bray Wanderers v Cobh Ramblers - No figure (600 estimated)
Galway United v Athlone Town - No figure (1,800 estimated)

TOTAL - 21,666

Galway United v Athlone Town - 1,705

[Shearer]

1,819 at the RSC

[pineapple stu]

1129 at the Bowl

[joey B]

1084 at Finn Park

[outspoken]

952 in Athlone, where did they all come from!

[nr637]

3,891 just announced at Turners Cross for Cork City v Bohs, with around 3/400 travelling Bohs fans, great turnout well done to all there!

[joey B]

802 at Cobh/Longford
675 at Kerry/Waterford

[holidaysong]

1,762 in Oriel Park to see Pat Hoban equal our club goal scoring record.

[Shearer]

732 at Athlone.

[2 Year Contract]

4,005 in Inchicore tonight, another home sell out. Around 150-200 down from Derry

[cláirseach]

Considering the form of some of those teams, there have been excellent crowds reported at First Division matches on the past two pages.

[EatYerGreens]

Considering the form of some of those teams, there have been excellent crowds reported at First Division matches on the past two pages.

Harps in particular. Terrible results all season yet still getting 4-figure attendances at home in the second tier is impressive. Hard to know if it's hope or stubborness that's driving those crowds to turn out for what must be difficult viewing.

[Terry]

1609 Galway-v-Harps

[SPXcyan]

1,784 at the RSC v Bray.

[joey B]

616 at Wexford/Galway