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1,550 in Galway. A bit disappointing we didn’t hit 2k again given the start to the season but the weather was fairly wild so that would have kept numbers down a bit.
The core number in Galway now looks like it’s about 1,200 and then depending on the promotion and/or significance we’ll get anything up to 4,500.
I would say in Galway we could extend to about 700 away fans.Quote:
Originally Posted by nr637
Not sure how many tickets we gave Cork last year, maybe 400 or so?
2046 seats in Athlone Town Stadium from what I recall from what i remember since boycott started about 8 seasons ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by JC_GUFC
All of the weekends proceedings:
Galway v Longford - 1,550
Harps v Cobh - 1,214
Kerry v Athlone - 1,192
Bray v Wexford - 833
Not a whole lot changed on the overall perspective, but we've now crossed 150,000 attendance mark overall in six weeks.
If we want a bit of an idea how growth of the league, however, ten years ago, the average attendance in the First Division 2013 season was 391.
Curiously, only four attendances that season were above 1,000, each of them involving title winners Athlone Town, their last three games at home, and one away to Longford Town prior to that. Even they only averaged 754 that season, which currently would put them second last on the 2023 First Division attendance list, ironically only ahead of Athlone Town (692).
Only two Premier Division clubs averaged above 2,000 in 2013 (Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers). Only two clubs this season are currently averaging below 2,000 (Drogheda United [1973] and UCD [520]).
At the same point in each season:
60 games played (2013) - 76,906
59 games played (2023) - 151,091
Very impressive figures, both absolute and by percentage increase: +98% (approx)Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
I don't have any equivalents from the IL Championship (safe to say will be lower!), but curiously, if you compare the figures for the (12 team) IL Premiership, in season 2012/13 the average attendance was 828, while the current average to date is 1,594: an increase of +93%
DEMOGRAPHY IS DESTINY
Here's a thought about future attendance growth in the LOI.
The league is getting approx 25,000 people through the gates on an average weekend across the 2 divisions. In a country of 5 million people (i.e. 4.9m + 100k for Derry) that amounts to 0.5% of total population.
Ireland's population is expected to have grown by at least 1 million by 2040, and is currently on track to exceed that level (2021 census figures vs 2016). The State is also working to ensure that additional million aren't all in Dublin, with the National Development Plan seeking instead to have 75% of that growth beyond Greater Dublin - particularly in the 4 regional cities (Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford - all expected to grow by 50/55%+) and the Regional Growth Centres (Sligo, Letterkenny, Athlone - expected to grow by 40%+). Substantial growth is also expected in places like Drogheda and Dundalk.
Therefore - there will be a lot more people in Ireland by 2040, and most of that increase wil be located in regional towns and cities which all have an LOI club (except Letterkenny, though Finn Harps aren't far away).
So if the current 0.5% level of LOI support amongst the general population is continued amongst the 1million additional citizens by 2040, that alone will deliver an additional 5,000 through the gates for LOI games every weekend = a 20% uplift on where we are now. And given that the 1million increase will be concentrated in places which have an LOI club rather than those that don't, you could expect the increase to be even greater.
So even if nothing else happens or is done, population growth alone will deiver an ongoing boost to crowds at LOI games. I suspect that the population growth we've seen over the last decade (i.e. since the post-crash era of net-outward migration ended) has already helped to some extent re the bigger crowds we're seeing in the league now (though is obviously only part of the story).
In reality I expect the league will continue to grow in popularity, and the current 0.5% attendance rate will increase anyway. But the point is that the longer-term prospects for bigger crowds in the LOI are pretty good, simply because the places in which the majority of clubs are based are due to grow quite quickly.
Problem with all that is capacity. We'd have higher attendance figures across the league, and possibly up on 200,000 through the gates already were it not for capacity restrictions, given we've had probably the guts of 15-20 games across both divisions sold out this season.
If the league is to properly grow, the FAI along with all the clubs need to take a serious look at facilities and upgrades across the board.
Very true. If we're running at an attendance level every weekend of approx 0.5% of population with such restricted capacity, it makes you wonder how much higher it would be otherwise. No reason why we couldn't be around 30,000 or higher per week otherwise.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
For perspective, 0.5% of the population of England would be 280,000 people. So the LOI gets proportionately a hell of a lot more punters through its gates than club Rugby (both union and league combined) does in England.
We give 500. Think our capacity is about 4300 these days.Quote:
Originally Posted by nr637
Just a thought on the increasing attendances...
Does anyone know where they've come from and what age group etc they're from?
My guess is that there are more young people than before - I'd have always gone since my teens and early 20s but these days it seems like the vocal "ultras" groups have more members.
The other area, in Galway anyway, seems to be the creation of academies which has given far more people a connection with the club be it as a player, relative or friend of an academy member.
I'd agree that a lot more younger lads are going to games in groups and getting into the fan culture that you see more of in Europe with flares etc. People missed out on this during the Covid shutdown. There's probably some loss of interest with watching the Premier League on tv as well as people are fed up with the crazy money and ownership controversies with very few clubs actually English owned any more. There's been a boost in non league attendances in the Uk and the league in Northern Ireland as well.
Absolutely, the state of our stadiums is an embarrassment. Dalymount looks set to be sorted out soon enough but there's not much else on the cards for the time being
- Sligo Showgrounds new stand.Quote:
Originally Posted by SaintMel
- Finn Harps new Stadium.
- Brandywell stand completion.
Yeah its great to see them getting built (if they actually do). But theyre all pretty modest if you ask me, compared to some of the other stadiums the gaa are getting
4th stand in Tallaght will be completed by July.Quote:
Originally Posted by EatYerGreens
4069 at the Cross. Would estimate 70ish Drogs.
2,537 at the RSC.
1,138 official figure announced for Athlone v Galway. Good game, the Athlone goal was some move the length of the pitch, should win goal of the month. Good number there from Galway.
Surprised it was only 1,100, it seemed like moreQuote:
Originally Posted by wonder88
3,411 at Richmond Park
3761 in op last night of which prob 700 was shams fans.
Has this been announced? Couldnt find anything online about itQuote:
Originally Posted by EatYerGreens
Brilliant crowd in the circumstances, 2 goals from open play before yesterday, no win in 4, 9th in the table, UCD the opposition, only a handful of away fans and most relevant of all, bucketing down rain all night with the majority standing out uncoveredQuote:
Originally Posted by joey B
There's been talk about more redevelopment at the brandywell but I don't think anything's confirmed. I read an article a few years back suggesting that Derry gaa should sell Celtic Park and move their stadium into the country somewhere because of low attendances. It'd be great to see Celtic Park opened up to football again, if that happenedQuote:
Originally Posted by pateen
Thats interesting about Celtic Park who has played there in the past?Quote:
Originally Posted by SaintMel
It used to be a football ground many years ago. I don't think Derry City ever played there but Derry Celtic did, where I assume the name came from
955 the attendance for Cobh v Bray per FAI Connect. Our lowest of the three home games so far but there’s been plenty of years where that would have topped the season charts. The decline a small pity but City were at home at the same time and should be back over 1k for Waterford next week. Really is a great buzz around St Colman’s at the moment, hopefully it continues
Not sure how many Bohs supporters turned up tonight, but they made lots of noise, Pat on the back to all of youQuote:
Originally Posted by cobhlad
Very small crowd in Longford tonight, don't have a figure but looked dreadfully bad
The funding is there to complete it but it's getting held up because of the Casement park redevelopment money.Quote:
Originally Posted by pateen
Philip O' Doherty has agreed with the council that he'll pay for a new terraced stand behind the Brandywell road end of the ground ( to be ready for the start of next season).
Think it was only 500 allocated tickets to Shams.
Weekends attendances:
Cork v Drogheda - 4,069
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers - 3,761
Sligo Rovers v Bohs - 3,651
St Pats v UCD - 3,411
Shelbourne v Derry - 2,950
Waterford v Harps - 2,517
Athlone v Galway - 1,138
Cobh v Bray - 955
Wexford v Treaty - 563
Longford v Kerry - 416
TOTAL: 23,431
PREMIER DIVISION
Bohs - 4,191 (3,209 {2022};2,878{19}; 2,148; 2,006; 1,627; 1,724; 1,395; 1,597; 1,496; 1,488)
Cork - 5,123 (3,517 FD; 2,505; 4,245; 4,559; 2,533; 3,263; 3,777; 1,965; 2,786; 2,128 FD)
Derry - 3,355 (3,184; 2,049; 2,297; 1,517; 1,563; 1,124; 1,106; 1,446; 1,460; 2,135)
Drogheda - 1,973 (1,941; 721 FD; ; 377 FD; 850; 583 FD; 813; 1,064; 817; 977; 811)
Dundalk - 3,289 (2,689; 2,775; 2,738; 2,674; 2,738; 3,158; 2,534; 1,997; 949; 1,355)
Pat's - 4,533 (3,489; 1,919; 1,621; 1,504; 1,088; 1,321; 1,386; 1,687; 1,474; 1,346)
Rovers - 6,443 (5,379; 3,384; 2,749; 2,809; 2,041; 2,890; 2,269; 2,763; 3,127; 3,779)
Shels - 3,721 (2,913; 1,071 FD; 654 FD; 496 FD; 554 FD; 596 FD; 713 FD; 1,114; 1,187; 781 FD)
Sligo - 3,457 (2,166; 1,995; 1,853; 1,717; 1,750; 1,750; 1,959; 2,342; 3,007; 2,103)
UCD - 520 (953; 739; 365 FD; 236 FD; 297 FD; 216 FD; 397; 487; 506; 558; 610)
FIRST DIVISION
Athlone - 804 (307; 382; 130; 154; 156; 314; 653 PD; 754; 271; 200)
Bray - 955 (482; 773; 643 PD; 966 PD; 957 PD; 769 PD; 718 PD; 891 PD; 965 PD; 1,121 PD)
Cobh - 1,305 (872; 268; 236; 358; 403; 366; 223; 439; 2008 - 1,122 PD; 681)
Galway - 1,908 (2,081; 780; 746; 1,376 PD; 1,169 PD; 1,290 PD; 975)
Harps - 1,679 (1,293 PD; 1,154 PD; 708; 1,202 PD; 1,216 PD; 784; 449; 479; 429; 433; 644)
Kerry - 1,255 (No previous)
Longford - 845 (500; 610; 449; 342; 488 PD; 803 PD; 567; 379; 365; 315)
Treaty - 841 (695)
Waterford - 2,375 (1,705; 1,496 PD; 2,329 PD; 1,550; 314; 460; 470; 478; 453; 466)
Wexford - 957 (445; 235; 181; 338; 585 PD; 553; 331; 227; 302; 216)
PREMIER AVERAGE: 3,713 (2,687; 2,185; 2,170; 1,902; 1,476; 1,681; 1,502; 1,566; 1,630; 1,547)
FIRST DIVISION AVERAGE: 1,311 (1,193; 586; 413; 477; 476; 486; 495; 391; 372; 578)
OVERALL AVERAGE:2,529 (2,051; 1,500; 1,249; 1,387; 1,117; 1,249; 1,160; 1,140; 1,125; 1,110)
OVERALL PREMIER ATTENDANCE: 129,938 (486,365; 393,238; 316,515; 376,627; 292,204; 332,805; 297,334)
OVERALL FIRST ATTENDANCE: 44,584 (178,000; 79,115; 55,756; 53,461; 52,807; 54,474; 55,408)
OVERALL COMBINED ATTENDANCE: 174,522 (664,365; 472,353; 372,271; 430,088; 345,011; 387,279; 352,742)
Some of those first division numbers are outstanding.
3,751 was attendance in Showgrounds for Bohs from Rovers twitter and was announced on night not 3,651. Not sure if Bohs sold full allocation but looked over 400 away supporters.
Thanks as always for taking the time with this Nigel, its great work and enjoy seeing the figures / trends for all clubs.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Kerry's one looks like a scene from a cop show about a dodgy character !
Kerry - 1,255 (No previous)
Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
When was the last time Athlone got over 1k for a men's game? I noticed the Women's President's Cup attendance was higher than this game!
Sligo Twitter account tweeted 3,651Quote:
Originally Posted by red bellied
Bohs away allocation for Derry on Monday gone.
I heard them call out 3,6 also at the gameQuote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954