League of Ireland in Europe 2015

**Yossarian** · 18/01/2015, 8:38 AM

Originally Posted by citybone

120,000 in travel expenses depending on who they get and how big of a squad they bring etc.

There is an element of regionalisation to the Europa League draw which means for the first round they are highly unlikely to draw a team that will involve travel expenses of that nature.

**Acornvilla** · 18/01/2015, 2:58 PM

Sure we have direct flights to Iceland now anyway, all of our European logistical nightmares are over.

**citybone** · 18/01/2015, 4:22 PM

Pats had a lot of travel a few years ago but the first round trip to Iceland is easier now but a trip to Faroe's would be more difficult. IF they got into the second round they could get Kazakhstan or something like that.

**El-Pietro** · 18/01/2015, 4:36 PM

They could draw Aktobe in the first round potentially. Central Kazakh side

**seand** · 19/01/2015, 9:23 AM

Worst case scenario, which is unlikely, of a Kazakh opponent, surely you can manage tranport for a grand a head? Leave plenty of change from the prize money

**Dodge** · 19/01/2015, 9:35 AM

Originally Posted by seand

Worst case scenario, which is unlikely, of a Kazakh opponent, surely you can manage tranport for a grand a head? Leave plenty of change from the prize money

Pats flights to Russia were about €1,500. Visas, hotels and transfers all added to that. Worst case scenario would cost about €60k IMO so clubs would still benefit financially from being in Europe

**Charlie Darwin** · 19/01/2015, 5:31 PM

Student flights are always cheaper though.

**gufcfan** · 19/01/2015, 6:40 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Student flights are always cheaper though.

Ryanair rep: Good afternoon sir. Do you have a student card?

Customer: Yes, why?

Ryanair: Ok sir, that will incur a €30 student travel levy.

**seand** · 20/01/2015, 8:33 AM

Ryanair to Kazakhstan anyone? The mind boggles.

Congratulations to Ryanair for infiltrating both the transfer rumours and European football threads. Michael O'Leary would be proud.

**PartySaint** · 31/03/2015, 11:44 AM

A fairly significant jump in prize money this year. From RTE:

SSE Airtricity League sides competing in Europe are set for a greater financial reward after a new prize money agreement was announced by the European Clubs Association and UEFA today.Clubs have agreed to distribute revenue from the Champions League and Europa League more evenly from next season.
The Europa League prize money will increase by 65%.
The announcement comes amid concerns that the gulf between Europe's richest clubs and the rest is widening, with the result that both domestic leagues and the Champions League itself are becoming increasingly repetitive and predictable.
St Patrick’s Athletic secured €375,000 in prize money last year following their Champions League campaign which ended against Legia Warsaw. This year, Dundalk will now secure a minimum of €550,000.
The participants in qualifying rounds of the Europa League received a minimum of €120,000. Dundalk, Derry City and Sligo Rovers banked €250,000 after progressing to the second round of the qualifying last year.
Entrants this year will receive a minimum of €200,000 and €410,000 if they reach the second round. The third round would yield a total of €630,000.
"ECA and UEFA have together developed a revolutionary distribution mechanism for the Champions League and Europa League, aimed at sharing the competitions' revenue growth more evenly among European clubs," ECA and UEFA said in a joint statement.
"A record funding pot of €2.24 billion (per season) will be divided with a new focus on solidarity," they added following an ECA meeting in Stockholm.
"A greater proportion of funds than ever before will go to UEFA Europa League participants, to participants in the qualifying rounds and to clubs in medium/smaller championships.
"The concept means more funding for all, because the new percentage-based system ensures that every stakeholder will benefit proportionally from the competitions' continued growth."
Dundalk are set to represent the Republic of Ireland in the 2015/2016 Champions League qualifying rounds.
Cork City, St Patrick's Athletic, Shamrock Rovers will enter Europa League qualifying. UCD could also feature through the fair play entry.

**White Horse** · 31/03/2015, 11:56 AM

Great for the clubs involved.

It creates a huge competive advantage for the teams that have qualified for Europe.

**seand** · 31/03/2015, 11:58 AM

Huge money. The difference between finishing third and fourth (or fourth and fifth) is now a minimum 200k. Dunno if it encourages sustainability.... if you're in the mix in July you'd be crazy not to go spending an extra 10-20k on wages chasing Europe!

**PartySaint** · 31/03/2015, 12:00 PM

Over 1 million in prize money alone for getting through 2 rounds. Huge money for a LOI club

**Djm1901** · 31/03/2015, 1:41 PM

The FAI could use this as an opportunity to re weight the domestic prize money, lessening the money they give to the top 4 and instead using it to make the first division cheaper and more accessible.

**El-Pietro** · 31/03/2015, 1:55 PM

Originally Posted by Djm1901

The FAI could use this as an opportunity to re weight the domestic prize money, lessening the money they give to the top 4 and instead using it to make the first division cheaper and more accessible.

"Prize Money" is a laughable term regarding the LOI. You can't call it that if it costs the clubs more as a group then they get back. Where does the sponsorship money go?

**orielabu** · 31/03/2015, 2:17 PM

According to the UEFA Statement:

"Furthermore, the distribution to national associations and/or leagues will no longer be exclusively based on their market value, but 60% of the available amounts will be distributed in equal shares amongst all national associations and/or leagues and only 40% will follow the market value. This will ensure a fairer distribution of solidarity amounts to European clubs."

This surely means a big hike in the FAI cut. Surely some of this should be put into the League prize fund, and preferably loaded away from the top clubs.
BTW, where will the LOI Fair Play League be found. Someone post a link?

**Charlie Darwin** · 31/03/2015, 2:29 PM

Mad to think people (not Rovers fans) were predicting we'd dominate the league after the €1m-ish boost from qualifying for the Europa. Now that's the minimum guaranteed total pot.