QuoteMaybe some marketing across the water is needed, football trip to Ireland for less than the ticket to a EPL game or even some lower levels....
Plus if you're at a game there anytime between November and February it's usually feckin' BalticOriginally Posted by outspoken
Nights like tonight make me super-grateful that we've now got a Summer league.
Maybe some marketing across the water is needed, football trip to Ireland for less than the ticket to a EPL game or even some lower levels....
I like the idea but the auld hotel prices might let us down a bit there Nesta.
Plus a lot of them would be like "Why would I want to go and watch that shiite?"
Though there is a sizeable group of Groundhoppers in Britain these days, and a targetted effort could probably be made to get more of them over to watch LOI games.
You spent too much time with barstoolers over Christmas. And yup there are other costs involved but while my suggestion was slightly tongue in cheek, between groundhoppers, stag trips, weekend trips, even day trippers, Its not totally mad to market the league outside of Ireland. A bit premature until grounds improve but there is less likely to be 'this is ****e' in football terms from people in England - few pints, live football with atmosphere and they'd be grand.
Agree with your general premise that the LOI could/should appeal to Groundhoppers and weekenders etc (esp Dublin clubs), but it probably overlooks one significant drawback, namely that such people have hundreds of other non-league alternatives in GB to give them their "fix" once they've exhausted the 92. (I say "GB", since we shouldn't overlook Scotland, with its long footballing tradition, Wales too).
And that's before we consider that much of the Continent is just as accessible from GB as ROI, with better weather and cheaper beer too!
As regards your stadium point, agree that that too is a drawback for many.
That said, just as Trainspotters get nostalgic for steam, with diesel or electric just not cutting it, for the extreme wing of the Groundhopper movement, it can somehow be more of an attraction if the ground they're visiting is, er, atmospheric (i.e. old and decrepit)!
One of the most famous examples is my very own The Oval, which now organises formal tours for visitors from all over Europe, who are determined to see it before it gets knocked down. Or falls down.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49811389
https://theblizzard.co.uk/the-oval/news/
And this guy, who is probably England's best-known Groundhopper, has a few videos on YouTube, eg:
Late Edit: the guy above has also done videos for LOI - Dublin and Derry etc - just search on YouTube.
Last edited by EalingGreen; 10/01/2025 at 3:21 PM.
Yeah the whole ‘football tourist’ thing already exists within the league. There’s constantly UK YouTubers at grounds here throughout the year and particularly in the summer when there’s no football to watch at home for them. Stags, tourists from all over Europe (generally Holland, Germany and Italy are the languages I’ve heard on the Camac). It’s been the case for a good few years now
Paaatrick's Agletic
On this specific point EG, I've always had a quiet grá for the Glens. The colours, the cockerel on the crest and, of course the Oval. And that they weren't the Blues either made it more acceptable to the inner monalogue I suppose.
That said, just as Trainspotters get nostalgic for steam, with diesel or electric just not cutting it, for the extreme wing of the Groundhopper movement, it can somehow be more of an attraction if the ground they're visiting is, er, atmospheric (i.e. old and decrepit)!
One of the most famous examples is my very own The Oval, which now organises formal tours for visitors from all over Europe, who are determined to see it before it gets knocked down. Or falls down.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49811389
https://theblizzard.co.uk/the-oval/news/
And this guy, who is probably England's best-known Groundhopper, has a few videos on YouTube, eg:
Late Edit: the guy above has also done videos for LOI - Dublin and Derry etc - just search on YouTube.
I ventured up to Belfast last year on a Sunday morning, unplanned. Wasn't the cleverest idea, coinciding with a Belfast marathon, but wanted to see the Oval. Walked out from Langdon Station and found access to the ground open and took a wander. It's as beautiful as you could hope for and I still cannot fathom (much like Dalyer) why investment wasn't made to make it a modern version of that old continental style football ground.
As I was walking away the club S&C officer enquired wtf I was doing and when I told him, he couldn't have been nicer and gave me the grand tour - a really really nice memory and photos to look back on in years to come.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Some influential influencers and suddenly Oriel Park is a must visit for its old 80's charm! I suppose Im just saying that its mad that it isnt a completely mad idea to market the league even if its a part of a package for a stag weekend, someone who dedicates time to helping to organise things for ground hoppers who then publicise their experience for nothing to some pretty big numbers of subscribers at times. Mad that it could be an easier job to market and attract people from abroad than in Ireland itself who moan about some longs balls or sloppy passing when they've had a ball in the crowd, experience the matchnight atmosphere with beers in club bars or with fans before and after games. If someone had the head for it and drive it wouldnt be totally bonkers to try. Im not sure we'd be saying that a few years ago either!!
I'm going to the Oval next Saturday for the first time, for their game against Larne. Really looking forward to ticking it off my list.
Shels Champions League away trip to the Oval almost 20 years ago was a cracking day out
The Leinster Senior League needs a strong Bohemians
I was in the Oval 20 years ago when we played the Glens in the Setanta Cup. One of my all time fav grounds. Havent being back since then but will go there in close season.
Gary Cronin is he the right man to manage Longford Town?
We’ve shifted 3,500 season and memberships combined, makes it almost impossible to get a day ticket in dalymount now.
Rovers at 4000 plus, Pats and Shels at record season ticket sales.
Agree with you, and Pats in that category too.
If you keep an eye on the ticket release dates you should ok for most of the games outside of the big ones...especially for Des Kelly stand
Ah I’m a member, homes are sorted but I’ve not been away for two years, bloody awful
What’s an away day Dermo? For the young lads these days…
Any word on how the non-Dublin clubs are doing so far re season ticket sales?
Drogheda have sold out their season tickets for 2025.
Derry have only offered renewals on STs, and even then, only those who didn't have to be moved due to the work being done. At a stab, I'd guess it's around the 2k mark.
The plan is to offer new STs as soon as the new stand is completed, which may just about be in time for the start of the season.
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