Interesting stat on Irish fans watching premiership games

[Murfinator]

This is complete BS. Football is by far and away the biggest sport. The article is about thousands of folks who travel abroad to watch football. It has NOTHING to do with GAA, rugby or horse racing.

Except it isn't and TV figures are generally stronger for Rugby, Hurling and GAA matches. Was interesting a few months ago that an under 20 rugby game got more viewers than the Premiership on RTE, it'd be naive to say that the decline of soccer popularity in the past 10 years hasn't benefited Rugby in a big way in this country. Both internationals play in the same stadium and one has problems filling it, the other does not. Leinster, a club side can fill the Aviva better than the Republic of Ireland can which is the harsh reality. Times have changed.

[Charlie Darwin]

Who said anything about TV?

[Dodge]

Except it isn't and TV figures are generally stronger for Rugby, Hurling and GAA matches. Was interesting a few months ago that an under 20 rugby game got more viewers than the Premiership on RTE, it'd be naive to say that the decline of soccer popularity in the past 10 years hasn't benefited Rugby in a big way in this country. Both internationals play in the same stadium and one has problems filling it, the other does not. Leinster, a club side can fill the Aviva better than the Republic of Ireland can which is the harsh reality. Times have changed.

The irish rugby team may well have more people willing to pay to see it than the Irish football team. The under 20 rugby game may well have had more TV viewers than highlights of English football.

None of that changes the fact that football in this country is by and away the most popular sport. You can call me any names you liek but I'm not getting sucked into this debate again.

The problem with Irish football isn't a lack of people interested in the sport

[dong]

Good shout about the cup games and I agree that we would stand to gain more in the short term than the Scots, though it could be argued that the Scottish league is in rapid decline, so it might be as welcome for them as for us.

A major obstacle would be how the league would be drawn up. I would envision a league like the Magnier's League in rugby. However, I could see that being a source of contention. It might need clubs to amalgamete or regional clubs to be formed i.e a Dublin North team and a Dublin South team or a Sligo/Galway (Connaught team). I think this would be very painful for fans of such clubs in many ways, but it might be the best thing in the long run for them to thrive and for football in this country to grow.

No. Just no.

[Seagull]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...325578421.html
200,000 people travelling spent €100 million supporting English premier League teams lsat year...

[tricky_colour]

That is absolutely crazy isn't it. If they were getting this money, it would mean that they could grow as a club, or at worst be able to stay off administration. Does the FAI get this money?

TV coverage is a double edged sword, on the one hand it gets publicity for the game but on the other hand fans may chose to watch
from the comfort and cheapness of home.
Certainly clubs at the very top level benefit from it but I am not sure about those outside that level.

[backstothewall]

TV coverage is a double edged sword, on the one hand it gets publicity for the game but on the other hand fans may chose to watch
from the comfort and cheapness of home.
Certainly clubs at the very top level benefit from it but I am not sure about those outside that level.

I've said all this before but here i go again...

To make TV coverage worthwhile it has to be good to create a favourable impression. To often it involves the victorious manager being interviewed on the pitch after the game, by a journalist struggling to hold onto a clipboard in the howling wind. No matter how good a game they've seen why on earth would someone watching from the comfort of their living room decide to go and see it live next week?

What rugby/gaa have done is put together an excellent product. Football hasn't managed it yet in my opinion.

[ArdeeBhoy]

This is complete BS. Football is by far and away the biggest sport. The article is about thousands of folks who travel abroad to watch football. It has NOTHING to do with GAA, rugby or horse racing.

Actually, you're wrong. Even if no-one went abroad, those 3 sports combined knock soccer into the long grass. Talking of which, you can add golf..
The fact that people participate in or pay to watch those diminishes the potential pool for soccer. It really is that simple.

[elroy]

Except it isn't and TV figures are generally stronger for Rugby, Hurling and GAA matches. Was interesting a few months ago that an under 20 rugby game got more viewers than the Premiership on RTE, it'd be naive to say that the decline of soccer popularity in the past 10 years hasn't benefited Rugby in a big way in this country. Both internationals play in the same stadium and one has problems filling it, the other does not. Leinster, a club side can fill the Aviva better than the Republic of Ireland can which is the harsh reality. Times have changed.

For some reason, you will find many Irish people will watch the EPL highlights on Sky or the Beeb over RTE. I would say its as high as one in every two people that watch the EPL highlights dont watch them on RTE.

Large scale interest in sports event depends on the product. Fact is the six nations is a very good product every second year (when England and France are in town). The years Scotland, Wales and Italy are in town, tickets are much more plentiful and the Italy game often doesnt sell out. Why?! The attraction/product is not as good.

The same happened in last years Autumn series and they are not likely to sell out this years series either.

Rugbys problem now is the power/draw of the provincial game is in danger of surpassing the national team. The product created by provinical rugby in a relatively short time is admirable and is based on success, but is not a model for football. Why? Well for one, rugby has never really had the problem of a massive league across the water taking significant Irish interest.

As for the Scotland/Irish league model, again many draw conclusions from rugby which for the above reason I dont think is accurate or comparable. Also, ask yourself the question, if you were Scottish is there really anything to gain from their end?? im not so sure.

[Dodge]

Actually, you're wrong. Even if no-one went abroad, those 3 sports combined knock soccer into the long grass. Talking of which, you can add golf..
The fact that people participate in or pay to watch those diminishes the potential pool for soccer. It really is that simple.

Latest figures 9admittedly 4 years old. but unlikely to cahnge too drastically);
http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/Res...rk_Figures.pdf

More people play football than gaelic sports and rugby combined.

Ireland v france is the highest watched sporting even of the last 15 years;
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/inter...7-ireland_rte/

I used to work in sports merchandise, football kits vastly outsell all other sports combined.

Every country in the world has competeing sports. The problem for Irish football isn't a lack of people interested in football.

[tetsujin1979]

Ireland v france is the highest watched sporting even of the last 15 years;
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/inter...7-ireland_rte/

Ireland - Croatia from the Euros only just behind it: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/euro-...ireland-clash/

[Charlie Darwin]

Ireland - Croatia from the Euros only just behind it: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/euro-...ireland-clash/

Well, interest waned quickly.

[geysir]

Latest figures 9admittedly 4 years old. but unlikely to cahnge too drastically);
http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/Res...rk_Figures.pdf
More people play football than gaelic sports and rugby combined.

The most probable trustworthy figures in that research are the club membership and attendance figures, research in those 2 areas show the GAA to be the supreme sport in Ireland.
But yeah there's enough interest in soccer in Ireland but not enough yet to add another 300 - 500 to each game on a regular basis.
I'd hazard a guess that one reason why for instance Norwegian/Swedish clubs have a much stronger base than Irish, is the clubs are multi sports, Handball Football, Ice Hockey etc. A person might not be active in a particular sport but still identifies with the club.

[Dodge]

The most probable trustworthy figures in that research are the club membership and attendance figures, research in those 2 areas show the GAA to be the supreme sport in Ireland

In term of attendance, thats never in dispute. But that's my point, there are millions of people interesting in football but they have no interest in Irish football (save for 6-8 internationals a year)

[ArdeeBhoy]

'Millions' is a bit strong...


Tens of thousands. Who wouldn't turn up as regularly, with more frequent matches. As they live away or abroad.

Comparisons with Leinster or Munster rugby is a better indicator?

[Dodge]

'Millions' is a bit strong...

Not really. 2 million people is the RTE figure.

Tens of thousands. Who wouldn't turn up as regularly, with more frequent matches. As they live away or abroad.

That ireland only. I'm tal;king abotu people interested in the sport. not attendances.

Comparisons with Leinster or Munster rugby is a better indicator?

Better indicator of what? More people attend those games.

But the point isn't about attendance, its about people interested in the sport who don't attend football games (of which there are millions)

[SkStu]

I used to work in sports merchandise...

Dodge on his way to work...

[ArdeeBhoy]

Lol. At his bizarre perceptions of people who watch on TV somehow all being 'sports fans'.

Perhaps half of the 'millions' are usually those who can't be bothered to change channels. Include some of my own nearest & dearest under that broad brush.

[geysir]

AB, do you not realize the difference between what Dodge wrote about tv viewers being "interested in football' and "sports fans"?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Yes, except it doesn't make sense.

As the description (& associated definition of both) are too vague!!

Something I would hope even a Pats fan might appreciate...