Away Travel Club

Ive already sent this idea to the Fai but have heard nothing back maybe its not manageable but thought its a good idea. An away travel club could be set up from the fai with points earned from those travelling on the away trips and thus those who earn enough points guaranteed tickets for the home games. This would in turn improve the atmosphere at lansdowne as you would have the real fans there rather than the corporate muppets out in force.

So many of my friends can only go to away games but cant get home game tickets. Something wrong there. Scotland operate this scheme and so do England and it seems to work very well from what ive heard.. Obviously we could take notes from how there scheme works but nothing back from fai surprise surprise so obviouly to much hassle for them :confused:

Maybe start a petition going that might work we could bombard them with it,

Something has to be done really.5 of the lads that travelled with me to paris and basel this year cant get tickets for the faroes game so somthing is wrong with that in itself... Hopefully if people get onto the fai with regards to this something might be done ..

Would that mean that you would prefer people who only go to all the home games they can get tickets for, but don't tend to go to away games (due to financial contraints) should be pushed down the waiting list?

To the best of my knowledge people on the waiting list for a year were offered tickets as part of the block booking scheme for this campaign.

The block booking scheme was also open in 1989, 1992 and from 1996-late 1998. It may have been open in 2000 I can't recall exactly.

For all its faults it is the fairest system I know and rewards fans who go to all games (sympathies with fans in the UK etc albeit)

We could sellout the French home game now 10 times over and yes there will be genuine fans locked out. However fans have had plenty of opportunities to get on the block booking list.

As for an away Travel club yes I think it is a great idea however we haven't had problems with away tickets outsid eof major finals and Basle 2003.

Deciding who gets tickets for home games on the basis of attendance at away games isn't a fair way of organising it IMO. I have been going to Landsdowne since 1979 when I went to my first match (Argentina, World Champions with the god Maradona in the team). Unfortunately for years I couldn't afford to travel much to see the team and when I finally started earning decent money I went and got married, got a mortgage and had kids. Over the years I've been to seven or eight away games (usually those that don't cost a fortune to get too, like Paris, England and Wales). Hats off to those that can afford to go to every game but for some it's just not possible.

I have been on the block booking list for eight years (I was working abroad from 1990 to 1993 so never got to hear of the BB offer others have talked about). FAI always seem to offer me tickets to friendlies and I have never refused to take them or go to the matches. I have a bunch of friends in the same situation and a few of them spend alot of time helping to run schoolboy teams and are as passionate about Irish soccer as anyone who travels regaularly to see Ireland play abroad. They don't deeserve to be discriminated against because they don't have the financial means to go to many away games.

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Originally Posted by gspain

To the best of my knowledge people on the waiting list for a year were offered tickets as part of the block booking scheme for this campaign.

The block booking scheme was also open in 1989, 1992 and from 1996-late 1998. It may have been open in 2000 I can't recall exactly.

For all its faults it is the fairest system I know and rewards fans who go to all games (sympathies with fans in the UK etc albeit)

We could sellout the French home game now 10 times over and yes there will be genuine fans locked out. However fans have had plenty of opportunities to get on the block booking list.

As for an away Travel club yes I think it is a great idea however we haven't had problems with away tickets outsid eof major finals and Basle 2003.

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I have been on the list since 1996 and have moved about twenty places since then. I have never been offered BB tickets. I regularly have to reconfirm every couple of years that I want to remain on the list.

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Originally Posted by Dotsy

I have been on the list since 1996 and have moved about twenty places since then. I have never been offered BB tickets. I regularly have to reconfirm every couple of years that I want to remain on the list.

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If you get letters from the F.A.I. offering you tickets for games then you are on the block booking list.

Once you keep buying them you will stay on the list. Once you stop you are off.

Reading your posts you appear to be receiving tickets from the F.a.i.,

The block bookings were open for Croatia in 98 - I know people who got on the list then - that game did not sellout if I recall or else did so at a push.

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Originally Posted by gspain

If you get letters from the F.A.I. offering you tickets for games then you are on the block booking list.

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Not true, I have been getting letters offering me tickets to the games, but have still been told that I am only on the waiting list and only get tickets to the competitive games when the away association does not take up its full allocation. I'm pretty certain there'll be no change of me getting a ticket to the French or Swiss games :mad: :o

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Originally Posted by gspain

To the best of my knowledge people on the waiting list for a year were offered tickets as part of the block booking scheme for this campaign.

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Only for Cyprus and Faroes games.

im not trying to discrimanate against fans who either cant afford through financial or work constraints to go to away games. I just find it unfair that people who go to regular away trips cant get tickets for the home games. Seems unfair to me..

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Originally Posted by gspain

If you get letters from the F.A.I. offering you tickets for games then you are on the block booking list.

Once you keep buying them you will stay on the list. Once you stop you are off.

Reading your posts you appear to be receiving tickets from the F.a.i.,

The block bookings were open for Croatia in 98 - I know people who got on the list then - that game did not sellout if I recall or else did so at a push.

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Sorry my post was probably not very clear. I am on the waiting list for the BB scheme (have been since either 96 or 97, can't remmember exactly). As I am only on the waiting list I have never got tickets for the competetive games from the FAI. Before most friendly matches they send me out a letter offering tickets for that match which as I say I always take. I have managed to get a ticket for the odd competetive home match thorugh various sources (tonight been one of them). Occasionally for the lest attractive games (Estonia, Andorra etc) tickets have become available on the FAI website. Needless to say I have also gone to all those matches.

I did get a ticket for the 2:0 Croatia match you mention but I am not sure where I got it. Cracking game by the way

My general point is that not everyone can afford to attend every away match but that doesn't make them any less a supporter than those who can.

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Originally Posted by Dotsy

I am on the waiting list for the BB scheme

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Did you get tickets for the Cyprus and Faroes games?

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Originally Posted by Schumi

Did you get tickets for the Cyprus and Faroes games?

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I didn't receive anything from the FAI about either of those games. I managed to get a ticket for tonight through some mates. I was well ****ed off about the Cyprus game. Some of my friiends were at it and said there were 40 or 50 empty seats around them in the upper East stand (obvioulsly not all BB's can be bothered to go to the less atrractive games).

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Originally Posted by Dotsy

I didn't receive anything from the FAI about either of those games.

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That's odd. I'm on the waiting list too and I got a letter from the FAI before the Bulgaria friendly offering me tickets for Bulgaria, Cyprus and Faroes in a similar deal to the Brazil, Czech and Romania games.

I have supported ireland all my life through thick and thin.I used to go to Dalymount when it was our national stadium.I remember seeing Don Givens score a hat trick against the russians there.In those days you caould pay at the gate.Ireland has come a long way since then and we are fournate to have a team that hopefully will get us to germany.I have 2 boys who are 17 and 12 and support ireland (we live in england).I was at Paris and would like to go to Dublin to see the games but have no chace.Isnt it about time we had a bigger stadium or the old farts in Croke Park let us use their ground.Look at Murrayfield in Scotland ..Hearts use that ground for their matches.I would like to start up a away supporters club who travel to matches but what chance woulkd i have of getting tickets...............

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Originally Posted by Schumi

That's odd. I'm on the waiting list too and I got a letter from the FAI before the Bulgaria friendly offering me tickets for Bulgaria, Cyprus and Faroes in a similar deal to the Brazil, Czech and Romania games.

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Given the absolute balls up they made of sending out the tickets for the French match it doesn't surpirse me that I didn't receive anything. Got the letter for the Brazil/Czech/Romania games form them alright. Received it two days after the deadline specified in the letter for relying to them. Ended up getting them through ticketmaster.

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Originally Posted by Dotsy

Given the absolute balls up they made of sending out the tickets for the French match it doesn't surpirse me that I didn't receive anything. Got the letter for the Brazil/Czech/Romania games form them alright. Received it two days after the deadline specified in the letter for relying to them. Ended up getting them through ticketmaster.

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Yeah, I got that letter for the Brazil trio of games, too late for the post, but just phoned them and they sorted it for me. Schumi, I think they only sent the letters for these three games to people you took up the Brazil allocation.

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Originally Posted by Dotsy

Got the letter for the Brazil/Czech/Romania games form them alright. Received it two days after the deadline specified in the letter for relying to them. Ended up getting them through ticketmaster.

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They probably bumped you off the list thinking that you weren't interested anymore so.

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Originally Posted by cullenswood

Yeah, I got that letter for the Brazil trio of games, too late for the post, but just phoned them and they sorted it for me. Schumi, I think they only sent the letters for these three games to people you took up the Brazil allocation.

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That's me buggered for future matches then. The FAI letter arrived after the tickets went on sale at ticketmaster so I already had them bought at that stage. I did get a letter a few weeks back for the 10 year scheme and it asked me to reconfirm that i wanted to stay on the BB waiting list, so here's hoping I haven't dirtied my bib too much.

Anyway lads, I'd better be off. Want to get to Bellamys for a few swifties before the match. Enjoy the game. Here's hoping the atmosphere is half as good as it was on Saturday (some hope).

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Originally Posted by captkeen

I have supported ireland all my life through thick and thin.I used to go to Dalymount when it was our national stadium.I remember seeing Don Givens score a hat trick against the russians there.In those days you caould pay at the gate.Ireland has come a long way since then and we are fournate to have a team that hopefully will get us to germany.I have 2 boys who are 17 and 12 and support ireland (we live in england).I was at Paris and would like to go to Dublin to see the games but have no chace.Isnt it about time we had a bigger stadium or the old farts in Croke Park let us use their ground.Look at Murrayfield in Scotland ..Hearts use that ground for their matches.I would like to start up a away supporters club who travel to matches but what chance woulkd i have of getting tickets...............

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I agree with what your saying, even ignoring ticket issues, because of living in England its often cheaper for me to go to away games than ones in Dublin. The only cheap airline to Dublin from London is Ryanair and they always seem to be expensive going to Dublin on or around match days.

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Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

I agree with what your saying, even ignoring ticket issues, because of living in England its often cheaper for me to go to away games than ones in Dublin. The only cheap airline to Dublin from London is Ryanair and they always seem to be expensive going to Dublin on or around match days.

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Just dropped my sister back to the airport - she paid 1p each way + tax Ryanair - Gatwick-Dublin - out yesterday afternoon back early am in time for work.

It is much cheaper this way though - her friend got 1 cent each way - out Dub Gat last week back yesterday afternoon.

BTW I appreciate Ryanair are expensive for weekend games but midweek are cheap.

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Originally Posted by zinedineontour

Something has to be done really.5 of the lads that travelled with me to paris and basel this year cant get tickets for the faroes game so somthing is wrong with that in itself... Hopefully if people get onto the fai with regards to this something might be done ..

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Tickets for Lansdowne for home games go to those who have been attending home games regularly for years. Why should going to two away games entitle anyone to tickets for home games? :confused:

excuse my stupidity maybe

on a waiting list for few years now - get offered tkts to most of home games now - always as part of a package though.

this new one was offered to me - bout 7,000eur - will paying this only give me the option of buying the tkts? i.e tkts not included?

do blockbookers have to pay some sort of a premium or once you're on the list is that it - you just have to keep buying?

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Originally Posted by oconghc2

excuse my stupidity maybe

on a waiting list for few years now - get offered tkts to most of home games now - always as part of a package though.

this new one was offered to me - bout 7,000eur - will paying this only give me the option of buying the tkts? i.e tkts not included?

do blockbookers have to pay some sort of a premium or once you're on the list is that it - you just have to keep buying?

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What exactly are you being offered for 7,000 euro?

just after reading back through the FAI mumbo jumbo, realise now!

1 tkt per match for 10 years (qualifiers & friendly) = EUR7,500 ..(imagine you had a kid! EUR15,000!!!)

take into consideration - 2006,2008,2012,2014 campaigns (say 5 home games)
=> 20 qualifiers,throw in say 15 friendlies, work out bout 200 erosh for tkt!!!!

they say theyll give tkts if match has to be played outside lansdowne during redevelopment!!! wonder will they pay for flights if it's over the sea!!!!

not too tempting at all i reckon!!! suppose the guarantee of tkts is the only thing!!!

one great quote in the broschure:
"...top quality seats in the East Stnd, right in the heart of the action (if available)...." (official quote that!)


p.s the block booking scheme is different isn't it????

Hi, yes it is , sounds like they are re launching ten year tickets to raise money for new stadium. I guess you will have to do the math and work out the individual cost per ticket per game taking inflation into account and balance this against what you would get investing the money or conversely what it would cost to borrow. It is however an opportunuty to get guaranteed tickets

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Originally Posted by oconghc2

p.s the block booking scheme is different isn't it????

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Block booking is just face value.

Onr advantage of 10 year tickets is guaranteed away tickets and major final tickets. If we do make it to Germany that'll be some guarantee. It is very expensive on a per game basis though.

you sure that tkts for finals included gary? says in booklet: "...including qualifying campaigns for 2006......and of course friendly matches as well..."


closing date gone anyway for this i think, wonder how many took it up? doubt i could afford it myself!!! if tkts for major finals were guaranteed prob wouldnt be so bad.

Got the same offer but its as you pointed out,its a complete ripoff and finacially unfeasible for me.Had to write back to confirm I wanted to remain on the waiting list though and when I received confirmation I was reinstated last on the list after having being on it for 2 years previous!! :mad:

i had to confirm i wanted to stay on the list too - never got a confirmation back though!! whats was the story with that Beavis - they send a letter back to you???

I got a reply by post last week.
If your worried just e-mail them for some confirmation.

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Originally Posted by oconghc2

you sure that tkts for finals included gary? says in booklet: "...including qualifying campaigns for 2006......and of course friendly matches as well..."


closing date gone anyway for this i think, wonder how many took it up? doubt i could afford it myself!!! if tkts for major finals were guaranteed prob wouldnt be so bad.

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Away tickets are not included however the last batch of 10 year tickets gave priority on away tickets (rarely a problem) and tickets for major finals if we qualify (this will be a big issue).

I don't know if it is still the case. Still too dear in my opinion and aimed at the corporate market.

I disagree with anyone who thinks that priority for home games should be given to those fans who have the luxury of travelling to away games. I'm still a student and don't have the funds to travel to all away games. By giving the people who travel privileges, the FAI would be doing exactly what they are doing with the corporate sector. i.e. giving preference to those with money to spend. While I don't agree with the amount of tickets that go to suits, I do feel the current block booking system is the fairest way of doing things. At least tickets go to the fans who attend all the games.

I have a similar problem, can travel to away games and get tickets but when it comes to home games i'm goosed. Had the 'honour' of a free corporate ticket for the west lower once and will never go on one again. The stand is full of uninterested business heads who are more concerned with closing a deal with the client they have accompanied rather than supporting the team. Would rather watch the games in the pub with real supporters than sitting with a load of monkeys on the West Lower. The mix is certainly not right at home games, but we shouldn't get too carried away with what happened in paris. That may never happen again. Even if the France game is moved to Croker (when hell freezes over), it won't match paris. People make a bigger effort when they've travelled. Look at the atmosphere at recent Dublin GAA games...flat and just waiting for the team to spring into action....there's a danger of a similar clientele filling those seats again for Kerrs boys

Whilst I agree with the main thrust of what you are saying some recognition should be given to those who travel to away games (we are not all loaded some just choose to sarcrifice other things), especially those who travel to home games from abroad for whom every game is effectively an away game. Your arguement that you dont have funds could be equally used by someone who could only afford one home game a season.

I find it interesting thet the FAI are offering ten year tickets when they really should be offering standard block booking to those next in line on the waiting list instead.

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Originally Posted by TheJamaicanP.M.

I disagree with anyone who thinks that priority for home games should be given to those fans who have the luxury of travelling to away games. I'm still a student and don't have the funds to travel to all away games. By giving the people who travel privileges, the FAI would be doing exactly what they are doing with the corporate sector. i.e. giving preference to those with money to spend. While I don't agree with the amount of tickets that go to suits, I do feel the current block booking system is the fairest way of doing things. At least tickets go to the fans who attend all the games.

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Originally Posted by Cowboy

Whilst I agree with the main thrust of what you are saying some recognition should be given to those who travel to away games (we are not all loaded some just choose to sarcrifice other things), especially those who travel to home games from abroad for whom every game is effectively an away game. Your arguement that you dont have funds could be equally used by someone who could only afford one home game a season.

I find it interesting thet the FAI are offering ten year tickets when they really should be offering standard block booking to those next in line on the waiting list instead.

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I got offered the 10 year deal too. Way to steep for my pocket. Agree with your suggestion that those on the block booking waiting list should be offered tickets if there are some available otherwise what's the point of being on the list. The only people who will be able to afford the 10 year scheme are the corporate sector while the rest of us are ignored again. :mad: