Comparison of LOI and BSP

**pineapple stu** · 25/11/2008, 12:21 PM

How good are these studies?

It's just that I've seen consultants' studies promise stuff before...

**MariborKev** · 25/11/2008, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

it's just that i've seen consultants' studies promise stuff before...

Great comeback

I'll dig out the relevant ones.....

**pete** · 25/11/2008, 1:17 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

How good are these studies?

It's just that I've seen consultants' studies promise stuff before...

True. Not all consultants reports can be as good as the Genesis Report.

**Candystripe** · 25/11/2008, 2:58 PM

The average wage in the premier league would probably be closer to €500.

It would only be a few clubs that players would have wages more than €1,000 a week.

As for what our games look like on TV, the Brandywell, the X , Sligo,Dalymount and Galway when they all have a good crowd in looks great for live games.The rest looks really bad and doesn't help promote the game to barstoolers.

Better grounds would help although can't see it happening.

**Bald Student** · 25/11/2008, 3:14 PM

Originally Posted by Maribor

The reality is that we need everybody in our grounds.

Benno, studies by the SRG group in Deloitte show that attendances can improve by up to 30% with the introduction of better facilities.

The thing is Kev, a 30% increase isn't huge. UCD's gate going from 400 to 500 or Derry's going from 2,000 to 2,500 would be an improvement but it's not an end in itself.
If you look at the 4 main provincial rugby grounds they were in no great state until very recently but they still got the crowds in and, aside from Croker, the GAA grounds are all one stand and 3 big, uncovered terraces.

I think the absence of alcohol is at least as big a factor as the state of the grounds but that the general cloud of doom that hangs over the league is the biggest factor of all.

**paul_oshea** · 25/11/2008, 3:47 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

yes, we want them (we being the league - I personally have given up on them)

If we had a ground breaking new marketing campaign that got people into the grounds for the first time ever, there's nothing to make a floating fan come back again. They might get lucky and get a cracker but more than likely they'll sit in uncomfortable seats, or stand on unsafe terracing and have to queue up at a van if they want chips and a coke. Remember that the people who go to LOI games at the moment don't care how ****ty the ground is, but we're a tiny minority, and we're not the people the league needs to attract.

My own personal opinion is that until alcohol is widely available at LOI grounds, we've no chance.

I'm not so sure its necessarily down to grounds facilities or lack of, i mean in comparison to GAA grounds around the country Dalymount, richmond, shelbourne, terryland,showgrounds(easily as good as its gaa counterpart), (only ones ive been) or turners cross(from the telly) are well up there apart from actual slabs of concrete around the pitch yet they still get huge crowds.

I do think that might be some people looking for a different reason as to why attendances are low or at least not as high as they could be/should be.

**pete** · 25/11/2008, 4:41 PM

A crap ground that has a big crowd (GAA Championship) will attract more people to games. A crap empty ground attracts only the diehards.

At the risk of appearing biased Turners Cross is the best run match day when include the full package of facilities of th grounds I have been to. Dalymount would get it but only has 1 side to the ground & horrible if away fans allocated the Connaught Street side. The Brandywell is good but let down by other side of the ground.

Rugby gets big crowds as facilities improving for Leinster & Munster plus they win most matches. Connacht appear to have poor facilities but only get capacity (it is small anyway) when big Irish teams in town.

**bennocelt** · 25/11/2008, 5:07 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

yes, we want them (we being the league - I personally have given up on them)

My own personal opinion is that until alcohol is widely available at LOI grounds, we've no chance.

yeah i understand the LOi does need these fans but as others have pointed out some Ga grounds are far worse and yet people pay to watch that muck
-

i def agree with your second point - the dog racing ground in my town does great business simply due to the late bar - most that go haven't a clue about dogs and stand for most of the whole gig chatting to friends (few seating arrangements there as well!!!), do the odd bet but all have a good time - its well known in the town for a good night out - so yeah would love if LOI grounds at something similar

**pete** · 25/11/2008, 8:22 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

yeah i understand the LOi does need these fans but as others have pointed out some Ga grounds are far worse and yet people pay to watch that muck.

There is no foreign bog ball so people will get their annual live fix by attending a few games in the summer. Bogball league attendances for smaller counties are as bad any LOI side.

**irishultra** · 08/12/2008, 2:09 AM

Originally Posted by pete

There is no foreign bog ball so people will get their annual live fix by attending a few games in the summer. Bogball league attendances for smaller counties are as bad any LOI side.

ur real great aren't ya??? clown. that isnt even funny and is ignorant.

**Raheen** · 08/12/2008, 9:25 AM

Originally Posted by pete

Rugby gets big crowds as facilities improving for Leinster & Munster plus they win most matches. Connacht appear to have poor facilities but only get capacity (it is small anyway) when big Irish teams in town.

Connacht facilities may be poor when compared to Leinster or Munster but compared to most LOI grounds they are top class. Lack of seating is the main problem but that's not so much a big deal, is it? There's proper toilet facilities, a car park, a bar, food and cover for most fans. A state-of-the art gym for the team as well as facilities for the dreaded corporate entertainment.

Despite **** poor perfromances, crazy match scheduling, live TV coverage and occasional clashes with GUFC, attendances have held up, circa 2400 last season. It pulls in the kids and merchandise sales are high.

Also, rugby games tend to be well promoted in all media especially locally.

The key difference between Magners League rugby and LOI is that you're guaranteed top-class players every week. Obviously in Connacht's case, they tend to be on the visiting side.

**Mad Moose** · 09/12/2008, 2:24 PM

Originally Posted by irishultra

loi has better players tho, or at least the better players in LOI are far superior to BSP.

Maybe the better players are better but I wouldn't go as far as far superior at all. I've seen quite a bit of Blue Square Premier and North and South football. Burton Albion for example are on the verge of league football and some of the players would not be out of place at a much higher level which is where the club with is new build Pirelli Stadium and decent squad is headed. Havant and Waterlooville whom I see quite a bit of are struggling in the Blue Square South but there are players there that would take the League of Ireland by storm. The standard of football is very very high. The quality of player is actually quite good.

I don't think you can compare the leagues in terms of level.It comes down to available population and while the numbers attending the Pirelli in Burton on Trent or Westleigh Park in Havant will never be particularly high the available captive support base is enormous even for clubs at that level. That transends itself to available money to develop a squad and facilities and so the standard is obviously much better.

There's no doubt the League of Ireland has improved in terms of standard of players particularly in playing summr football but the facilities are generally poor and attending numbers continue to dwindle. Until you get the numbers in its very hard for clubs to progress addressing facilities.

**holidaysong** · 09/12/2008, 2:41 PM

Does anyone have a link to average attendances for clubs in the BSP or even BSN or BSS?

**pineapple stu** · 09/12/2008, 2:52 PM

www.European-Football-Statistics.co.uk

**holidaysong** · 09/12/2008, 2:57 PM

Originally Posted by Harpsbear

Burton Albion for example are on the verge of league football and some of the players would not be out of place at a much higher level which is where the club with is new build Pirelli Stadium and decent squad is headed.

That's a very nice ground they have.

[Pictures here]

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

www.European-Football-Statistics.co.uk

Thanks!

**Sumac** · 09/12/2008, 3:30 PM

In Ireland the first sport for people attending live matches is GAA. In the UK it is football. People will row in behind their local club in England if they are doing well, people follow their county in Ireland if things are going well.

Football/soccer might have the highest participation in this country but people do not really follow it - They only follow the big four and Celtic on TV.
For example a guy at work here claims he has never seen a good soccer match live, but he has only ever gone to 4 or 5. A few Irish game and a few games across the water. The likes of him does not have enough knowledge to appreciate a decent game. There are plenty like him who think that the only real football is that which Sky sports tell you is good.