FAI promoting the LoI

I look forward to seeing the newspaper adds so
any ideas what the aforementioned "empassioned catchphrases" are?

I cant rem, but they are something along the lines of "Night out with the Girls" and a pic of a few women screaming their heads off at a match. Kinda to make you think that there is more to life than going to the pub and a Fri/Sat nite can be spent having great fun with your mates watching the game you love.

Dont quote me on that coz only saw them briefly a few weeks ago so cant rem, but they are very professionally done.

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Originally Posted by incident

if there's an advert on the radio, then it needs to mention specific forthcoming games, ideally within the next week so that there's a vague chance that someone will remember..

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That's exactly what's been done with the radio ads.

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Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

That's exactly what's been done with the radio ads.

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And that IMO is the Problem. ok it's better than nothing but what is an add telling someone the time and date of a game going to do to convince them to go to it. sounds more like an info slot than an actual advertisement

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Originally Posted by Magicme

I cant rem, but they are something along the lines of "Night out with the Girls" and a pic of a few women screaming their heads off at a match.

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Dear God, that's awful

There's easier markets to target than women in fairness. Until all the grounds have proper jacks I wouldn't even bother :p

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Originally Posted by Magicme

something along the lines of "Night out with the Girls" and a pic of a few women screaming their heads off at a match. Kinda to make you think that there is more to life than going to the pub and a Fri/Sat nite can be spent having great fun with your mates watching the game you love.

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I Like the sound of that. Good stuff

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Originally Posted by Lim till i die

Dear God, that's awful

There's easier markets to target than women in fairness. Until all the grounds have proper jacks I wouldn't even bother :p

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Maybe it's as much to entice the lads out as it is the girls. I mean, some of the football supporters I know really could do with meeting some of the fairer sex! :p

That is the only one I could remember off the top of my head coz its the one that resonated with me most!

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Originally Posted by CharlesThompson

Maybe it's as much to entice the lads out as it is the girls. I mean, some of the football supporters I know really could do with meeting some of the fairer sex! :p

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A good Point well made Mr. Thompson :p

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Originally Posted by Block G Raptor

And that IMO is the Problem. ok it's better than nothing but what is an add telling someone the time and date of a game going to do to convince them to go to it. sounds more like an info slot than an actual advertisement

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There's more to the ads than just giving information about the games, but I can't remember exactly what is said.

What is the LOI competitors?

People attend Internationals & Croke Park as they are events. I don't think the LOI is in same market.

:confused:

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Originally Posted by pete

What is the LOI competitors?

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Hard to know

The "barstool" folk I suppose would be the main market to target

Having said that I know lots of people who would rather do anything than go to a LoI game.

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Originally Posted by Lim till i die

Dear God, that's awful

There's easier markets to target than women in fairness. Until all the grounds have proper jacks I wouldn't even bother :p

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You're right. Maybe the FAI shouldn't bother their hole doing anything until the facilities are there to make people come back. The problem isn't attracting people to games, it's encouraging them to come back. I rembember a time in this country when every cinema was a flea pit, now most towns have a least one multiplex and people go to them. There was an interesting newsfeed on here about Norway expecting average crowds to be 10000 this season because a lot of the clubs built new stadiums.

It begs the question: Which is more important in attracting crowds?
- Facilities
- Standard of football

As someone who travels to the uk to watch Liverpool play home or away most weekends, I presume I am one of the potential audience.

Before anyone starts a local club whinge, I was born in Liverpool and lived there for the first 16 years of my life and missed 2 home games over a 10 year period.

I have attended about 4 EL games throughout Dublin over the past 4 years and have a few points I would like to make.

- The first and most obvious thing that turned me off straight away was the state of the grounds. The last game I attended was Shelbourne v Bohemians at the end of last season. The toilets in the Bohemians section were nothing short of disgusting and I will not believe that they passed a H&S inspection for one second. There wasnt even a light in them.

- In all the grounds I visited (Tolka Park, Dalymount, St Pats ground), the level of facilities in the ground were pathetic. The food available was over-priced crap food.

- Outside the ground there was no one available to direct people where to go or absolutely no signs. The first EL game I attended was in Dalymount Park. We went up to the turnstile to pay in but we told we had to go elsewhere and purchase a ticket. We naturally asked the steward where we can purchase ticket and we told "down there". It was a good five minutes away and no where near where the steward pointed. I think many dads & lads went for that walk and ended up hoping into the car and going home.

- I could be wrong but there were no concessions available for kids. Things like a child can get in for €1 when they are present with an adult is a good idea. Many clubs do this throughout europe and it attracts new young supporters to the clubs.

I have more issues but will stop there.

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Originally Posted by pete

It begs the question: Which is more important in attracting crowds?
- Facilities
- Standard of football

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Both are a necessity for a properous league.

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Originally Posted by reder

As someone who travels to the uk to watch Liverpool play home or away most weekends, I presume I am one of the potential audience.

Before anyone starts a local club whinge, I was born in Liverpool and lived there for the first 16 years of my life and missed 2 home games over a 10 year period.

I have attended about 4 EL games throughout Dublin over the past 4 years and have a few points I would like to make.

- The first and most obvious thing that turned me off straight away was the state of the grounds. The last game I attended was Shelbourne v Bohemians at the end of last season. The toilets in the Bohemians section were nothing short of disgusting and I will not believe that they passed a H&S inspection for one second. There wasnt even a light in them.

- In all the grounds I visited (Tolka Park, Dalymount, St Pats ground), the level of facilities in the ground were pathetic. The food available was over-priced crap food.

- Outside the ground there was no one available to direct people where to go or absolutely no signs. The first EL game I attended was in Dalymount Park. We went up to the turnstile to pay in but we told we had to go elsewhere and purchase a ticket. We naturally asked the steward where we can purchase ticket and we told "down there". It was a good five minutes away and no where near where the steward pointed. I think many dads & lads went for that walk and ended up hoping into the car and going home.

- I could be wrong but there were no concessions available for kids. Things like a child can get in for €1 when they are present with an adult is a good idea. Many clubs do this throughout europe and it attracts new young supporters to the clubs.

I have more issues but will stop there.

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Good points there. All the Dublin grounds are a disgrace to the Celtic Tiger.

They say Tolka is supposed to be the best ground in the league:rolleyes:

And what about the "Stadium of ****e", what a waste of a natural amphitheatre.

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Originally Posted by Magicme

The launch of the league is a big deal this Friday and will be promoted nationally from there.

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At the home of Irish football don't forget!

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Originally Posted by reder

The first and most obvious thing that turned me off straight away was the state of the grounds. The last game I attended was Shelbourne v Bohemians at the end of last season. The toilets in the Bohemians section were nothing short of disgusting and I will not believe that they passed a H&S inspection for one second. There wasnt even a light in them.

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Agree with that.

No light, no running water, **** into a gutter on the floor. :mad:

Tolka is up there with United Park as one of the worst Premier grounds though!

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Originally Posted by BohsFans

Tolka is up there with United Park as one of the worst Premier grounds though!

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Eh, Connacht St would do Tolka proud in its decrepit state. But Reder is of course 100% correct.

KOH

I've made this analogy a million times before: if you go to a rubbish cinema and see a good film, will you come back? No. But if you visit a nice cinema and the film happens to be rubbish, will you return? Yes.

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Originally Posted by Billy Lord

I've made this analogy a million times before: if you go to a rubbish cinema and see a good film, will you come back? No. But if you visit a nice cinema and the film happens to be rubbish, will you return? Yes.

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but if you go to a rubbish cinema and the popcorn is top-notch you could well go back ;)

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Originally Posted by PAURO 7

Ha ha, so long as the Town fan in question isnt on the poster campaign. ;)

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haha. As long as he didn't say 'coolaboola' on the ad, I'll be happy:D.

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Originally Posted by galwayhoop

but if you go to a rubbish cinema and the popcorn is top-notch you could well go back ;)

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Maybe what the EL really needs is expensive-but-nice popcorn?:eek:

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Originally Posted by galwayhoop

but if you go to a rubbish cinema and the popcorn is top-notch you could well go back ;)

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So thats why we have had an increase in fans...its the Mondogs!

I agree with you Reder, there is a lot of work to be done. We get slagged off coz we dont have massive stands in our ground, but the facilities we do have are top notch so the small numbers that do attend are looked after. Reder, dont judge all the eL clubs by the state of the Dublin grounds, go to Athlone & their lovely new stadium, go to Cobh and enjoy their lovely clubhouse, but more important than any of that, come to Mons and experience some Magic!

billy lord's analogy falls down because people who see a rubbish film in any ciname are unlikely to go see another one by the same director and with most of the same cast...

Reder, your post is of a common enough type on this board, and I can see where you are coming from.
But Irish football grounds and their facilities and organization are 'pathetic' because support for the game here is pathetic. Facilities at British grounds may be top-notch now, but that certainly wasn't always the case, and it didn't stop people going to games.
You have valid links with Liverpool, so you are not typical. But you have to wonder if people aren't just looking for an excuse to take the BSkyB/Ryanair option.

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Originally Posted by Burnsie

billy lord's analogy falls down because people who see a rubbish film in any ciname are unlikely to go see another one by the same director and with most of the same cast...

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I still keep going :D

Hve to say cork is the best facility wise, tho the jax are cat I would say shels is a ****hole but not much worse than alot of others.

From what I understand Waterford got the top points rating in iag results on the stands only

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Originally Posted by pete

It begs the question: Which is more important in attracting crowds?
- Facilities
- Standard of football

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Originally Posted by Billy Lord

I've made this analogy a million times before: if you go to a rubbish cinema and see a good film, will you come back? No. But if you visit a nice cinema and the film happens to be rubbish, will you return? Yes.

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I don't know if it's that clear cut. Donnybrook's a dump, but it sells out for most of the rugby games. Public perception should be a third option in pete's post, and then all three form part of the mix.

The radio ads won't be airing until March 12.:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

The radio ads won't be airing until March 12.:rolleyes:

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Thats more like it.....bet the FAI picked the 3.30 am 'liveline' repeat slot. That insomniac market really needs to be penetrated.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I don't know if it's that clear cut. Donnybrook's a dump, but it sells out for most of the rugby games. Public perception should be a third option in pete's post, and then all three form part of the mix.

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But you can buy a pint at Donnybrook and the toilet facilities are good. Two things you can't say about the vast majority of our grounds.

KOH

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Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

But you can buy a pint at Donnybrook and the toilet facilities are good. Two things you can't say about the vast majority of our grounds.

KOH

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Whatever about having a pint, the toilets in Donnybrook are a trough underneath the main stand and a sink with running water. There's nothing special about them.

Add this to winter rugby and the fact that you have to pay big bucks to get a roof over your head and see that the facilities in Donnybrook aren't what draws the crowd. To emphasise the point, Donnybrook hasn't seen any upgrading in 20 years or so (bucket seats aside), yet the crowds have increades massivley.

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Originally Posted by Student Mullet

Whatever about having a pint, the toilets in Donnybrook are a trough underneath the main stand and a sink with running water. There's nothing special about them.

Add this to winter rugby and the fact that you have to pay big bucks to get a roof over your head and see that the facilities in Donnybrook aren't what draws the crowd. To emphasise the point, Donnybrook hasn't seen any upgrading in 20 years or so (bucket seats aside), yet the crowds have increades massivley.

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Never been in the main stand but take your general point. However when I go I like the fact that I can get a pint and that the jax in both clubhouses are fine. Watching the genius that is Contepomi close up for €15 helps too.

KOH

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Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

Watching the genius that is Contepomi close up for €15 helps too.

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You've the nail on the head there. Your 15 euro gets you a top quality product (probably the best 10 - 15 fielded by any province/club in the world) and that attracts the punters. That and the bit of hype the branch have managed to generate.

Also, supporters at the rugby are treated with genuine respect. When the branch got hold of some extra tickets for Croker they were raffled off to the season ticket holders and when the Leinster - Munster semi final sold out Lansdown, Leinster put tickets on sale by surprise at a low profile league game, to support the more loyal fans. If you compare this to all the dodgy dealings which surround soccer international tickets it's easy to see why professional rugby is thriving while the LoI is dieing on its feet.

I think blaming the league's bad reputation on the jacks in Tolka (or wherever) is a gross simplification of the problem.

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Originally Posted by BohDiddley

Facilities at British grounds may be top-notch now, but that certainly wasn't always the case, and it didn't stop people going to games.
You have valid links with Liverpool, so you are not typical. But you have to wonder if people aren't just looking for an excuse to take the BSkyB/Ryanair option.

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Its true that the facilities at British grounds have only improved since the start of the PL. However, football is the working mans game in Britain and much like the GAA in Ireland a certain percentage of the population will always support their national game no matter what. I dont follow GAA at all but as I flick through the tv you always see Sunday matches with a few thousand people ppl standing on a muddy hill in the p1ssing rain.

I actually cannot for the life of me fathom why so many irish people support british clubs. Some however are fanatical and have gained a very deep understanding of what the club is about and I genuinely respect them. Most are just glory hunters, well to do types. Irish clubs could do well to have these people as they have money to burn. I know a steward in the Kemlyn Road Stand (centenary stand) and he tells me he regularly talks to irish families who come over and spend £500 stg in the club shop. Thats more than my season ticket!!. There is a major campaign (Reclaim the kop, RTK) in progress in Liverpool at the moment trying to educate people in relation to the traditions of the club.

I dont know if you are aware but we are playing Barcelona at home in the CL next tues. 23 people in Ireland have contacted me looking for tickets. Thousands are travelling without tickets. They have even started to appear at away games.

These people are just good time Charlies. They forked out €1,000 + for a rugby ticket last weekend because it is "the thing" at the moment and it was some historical republican bullsh1t event. (no disrespect meant there. I am just saying they are there for the event and not the game.) Clean up the grounds, hit the schools in the local area with special offers and they will come. Also the polish (in particular) and new communities are fanatical about the game, why not try and target these people?

I remember some time ago that a friend of mine who follows the EL, told me that Aldo was rumoured to have applied for a managers job at one of the Dublin clubs. I can guarantee you 100% that if he (or someone with his popularity) got a managerial job tickets sales and attendances at that club would rocket. If that club they cleaned up their ground, they would have sell outs every week!!

Any opinions on this?

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Originally Posted by reder

These people are just good time Charlies. They forked out €1,000 + for a rugby ticket last weekend because it is "the thing" at the moment and it was some historical republican bullsh1t event.

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I believe they also known as event junkies - they will maybe attend 4-5 irish sports events a year & moan that don't have 100k all-seater stadiums to cater for them.

I agree with your comments on Dublin grounds. I have little if any improvements in any of these grounds in the last & years i lived in Dublin. Dalymount for all its derelict status once you can find the ticket hut has 1 comfortable stand whihc I am sure would make up well with similar leve in the UK.

I am sure dublin eL fans will criticise me again but their grounds are crap because they refuse to even consider ground shares. Cork City do not share with an eL club but rent from junior league but is effectively a ground share. In 3-4 months we may have 7000 all-seated covered stadium & decent facilities.

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Originally Posted by Student Mullet

I think blaming the league's bad reputation on the jacks in Tolka (or wherever) is a gross simplification of the problem.

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Don't get me wrong, I completely agree with you and I bow to no one in my admiration for the way Leinster go about their business - Rovers will be copying a number of their initiatives this season - but even Donnybrook offers a much better match day experience than any LOI ground.

For instance my girlfriend and her mates have no problem going to Donnybrook but wouldn't set foot on Dalymount, Richmond or Tolka - and she hasn't a clue who Contepomi is.

KOH

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Originally Posted by pete

I am sure dublin eL fans will criticise me again but their grounds are crap because they refuse to even consider ground shares. Cork City do not share with an eL club but rent from junior league but is effectively a ground share. In 3-4 months we may have 7000 all-seated covered stadium & decent facilities.

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Pete if we had agreed to the Shels ground share we'd be up the creek now. In a few years we'll have a 10,000 all seater covered stadium (though I'd support an area being reserved for terracing.) all to ourselves (though we'd be willing to rent out which is groundsharing in a way and in that respect we have groundshared with Rovers and CHF over the last couple of years!