Record Attendance

[harps1954]

They might have better things to spend their €'s on in these financially depressed times, like football tkts at a minimum of 50 a shot. There aren't even any concessions are there?
Where are the fans of the future going to come from?

I go to most of the games, but The FAI's approach is a disgrace expecting everyone to buy tickets for every game. Especially when there are so many fans are based miles from the venue.

The FAI's approach is the same as a lot of other countries. Same as a lot of clubs. Think of the Block Booking Scheme as a Season Ticket. You could be a season ticket holder at a club, and still don't attend every game. If you're not a season ticket holder (doesn't really apply in the League of Ireland though), you see where you can pick up tickets for games you can/want to go to.

Where are the future fans going to come from? Well, the FAI are looking at it like this. They already have 33,000 tickets SOLD for every match in the New Lansdowne - the block bookers. They have a waiting list of something like 5,000 on it, covering up to another 25,000+ tickets. If the Advantage Club tickets don't sell, they will offload some/all of these tickets to those on the block-booking waiting list. I'll guarantee you this now, the FAI will have 50,000 tickets sold for EVERY match in the new stadium. Now, whether or not 50,000 actually attend is another thing.

I've nothing against the FAI's approach. I travel to ALL home games, even though I live/work in Donegal. Midweek games normally kick-off at 7.30/7.45pm. I'm time enough leaving Donegal at 2.00pm to make it in plenty of time for kick-off (meaning only a half-day off work) We know months in advance the dates of all matches (apart from the play-offs) so can plan well in advance for these games. And I'm back home after a match no later than 1.00am. Also, if I don't want to drive, I can get a bus from Letterkenny/Lifford/Donegal Town with Bus Eireann leaving any of those locations around 1.00pm. Bus Eireann now travel through the night and I can get a bus back from Bus Aras at 10.45pm - leaving me back in Lifford at around 2.00am.

I know it's not easy for everyone to attend every game. But as long as the FAI continue to sell our games, they will continue with the current policy. Remember, not ONE game at Croke Park has had less than 50,000 at it, so the FAI know that they are well capable of selling 50,000 for every game at Lansdowne. And with people HAVING to purchase tickets to keep their block-booking and/or remain on the block-booking waiting list, sales of 50,000 will continue.

One final thing (and I know this doesn't apply to everyone). But, IF the Italy game had been a midweek games, the demand for tickets would have been every bit as high as it is for the Saturday fixture. Some people pick and choose their games and then give out about the FAI's policy of looking after people who purchase tickets for EVERY game.

[NeilMcD]

The FAI's approach is the same as a lot of other countries. Same as a lot of clubs. Think of the Block Booking Scheme as a Season Ticket. You could be a season ticket holder at a club, and still don't attend every game. If you're not a season ticket holder (doesn't really apply in the League of Ireland though), you see where you can pick up tickets for games you can/want to go to.

Where are the future fans going to come from? Well, the FAI are looking at it like this. They already have 33,000 tickets SOLD for every match in the New Lansdowne - the block bookers. They have a waiting list of something like 5,000 on it, covering up to another 25,000+ tickets. If the Advantage Club tickets don't sell, they will offload some/all of these tickets to those on the block-booking waiting list. I'll guarantee you this now, the FAI will have 50,000 tickets sold for EVERY match in the new stadium. Now, whether or not 50,000 actually attend is another thing.

I've nothing against the FAI's approach. I travel to ALL home games, even though I live/work in Donegal. Midweek games normally kick-off at 7.30/7.45pm. I'm time enough leaving Donegal at 2.00pm to make it in plenty of time for kick-off (meaning only a half-day off work) We know months in advance the dates of all matches (apart from the play-offs) so can plan well in advance for these games. And I'm back home after a match no later than 1.00am. Also, if I don't want to drive, I can get a bus from Letterkenny/Lifford/Donegal Town with Bus Eireann leaving any of those locations around 1.00pm. Bus Eireann now travel through the night and I can get a bus back from Bus Aras at 10.45pm - leaving me back in Lifford at around 2.00am.

I know it's not easy for everyone to attend every game. But as long as the FAI continue to sell our games, they will continue with the current policy. Remember, not ONE game at Croke Park has had less than 50,000 at it, so the FAI know that they are well capable of selling 50,000 for every game at Lansdowne. And with people HAVING to purchase tickets to keep their block-booking and/or remain on the block-booking waiting list, sales of 50,000 will continue.

One final thing (and I know this doesn't apply to everyone). But, IF the Italy game had been a midweek games, the demand for tickets would have been every bit as high as it is for the Saturday fixture. Some people pick and choose their games and then give out about the FAI's policy of looking after people who purchase tickets for EVERY game.

Great post harps.

[Beavis]

They are 10 euro each.

They go to the schoolboy clubs and through league of ireland clubs.

Thar's a rip off ! I remember the good old days in the schoolboy stand in the South Terrace. Tickets were only £2 and you might even get off with a young one during the game !

[Arnold Layne]

Some people pick and choose their games and then give out about the FAI's policy of looking after people who purchase tickets for EVERY game.

Well said.

[ArdeeBhoy]

The FAI's approach is the same as a lot of other countries. Same as a lot of clubs.

I know it's not easy for everyone to attend every game. But as long as the FAI continue to sell our games, they will continue with the current policy. Remember, not ONE game at Croke Park has had less than 50,000 at it, so the FAI know that they are well capable of selling 50,000 for every game at Lansdowne. And with people HAVING to purchase tickets to keep their block-booking and/or remain on the block-booking waiting list, sales of 50,000 will continue.

One final thing (and I know this doesn't apply to everyone). But, IF the Italy game had been a midweek games, the demand for tickets would have been every bit as high as it is for the Saturday fixture. Some people pick and choose their games and then give out about the FAI's policy of looking after people who purchase tickets for EVERY game.

It's all very well now, but if the recession gets much worse and the inevitable fall-off in the teams fortunes when some misguided fool puts RMK or similar in charge when Trap leaves, plus the 'novelty effect' of the new Lansdowne wears off, I'll similarly guarantee by 2015, our crowds will be less than 50k, as there won't be that no.of tickets sold!

Appreciate re.the season ticket aspect, but in club football you get even more 'dead' games than international football. Ireland are at a relative peak right now, but if Stan was still in charge for instance, do you think we'd have got such good crowds if we weren't beating the minnows.
And say that with my fellow Louth connection! Sorry, Steve!

[Sligo Hornet]

It's all very well now, but if the recession gets much worse and the inevitable fall-off in the teams fortunes when some misguided fool puts RMK or similar in charge when Trap leaves, plus the 'novelty effect' of the new Lansdowne wears off, I'll similarly guarantee by 2015, our crowds will be less than 50k, as there won't be that no.of tickets sold!

Appreciate re.the season ticket aspect, but in club football you get even more 'dead' games than international football. Ireland are at a relative peak right now, but if Stan was still in charge for instance, do you think we'd have got such good crowds if we weren't beating the minnows.
And say that with my fellow Louth connection! Sorry, Steve!

That's some bold foresight!!.........any chance you could PM me the winning Lotto numbers for this weekend?........also, how did we get on in the World Cup in South Africa?......only, if it wasn't good for us, I might go on holiday with Mrs.Hornet next year instead.

[Arnold Layne]

I'll similarly guarantee by 2015, our crowds will be less than 50k

Scary stuff indeed