Attendances 2024

[Jamesie]

It's a disappointing turnout regardless of how bad the weather is.

Can foresee a sellout on Friday between Treaty bringing big away numbers and an increase in home fans. Only issue is very few will be able to actually watch the game.

There was absolute deluge of hail before KO aside from the one during. I can understand people turning back if that was the case

[nigel-harps1954]

Weekend attendances:

Premier Division:

St Pat's v Bohemians - 5,013
Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers - 4,755
Sligo Rovers v Derry City - 4,317
Dundalk v Galway United - 3,122
Drogheda United v Waterford - 2,059

TOTAL: 19,266

First Division:

Finn Harps v Cork City - 2,010
Kerry v Bray Wanderers - 520
UCD v Treaty United - 377
Cobh Ramblers v Athlone Town - 367

TOTAL: 3,274

Total Weekend: 22,540

Total Overall: 57,056

Average Premier: 4,313
Average First: 1,548

Overall Average: 3,003

[EatYerGreens]

Finn Harps v Cork City - 2,010

Great Harps crowd there. Personally I think a 12-team PD (as we had until recent years when the league struggled to attract new entrants) with both Harps and Cork added to the top tier would be the dream scenario re attendances,

[EatYerGreens]

About 350 at TC for Cobh's, home/away game. Maybe 10/12 Athlone fans, while there was over 100 that travelled up from Cobh Town by bus. While it was a great comeback for the 3-3 result the weather was poor and the heavy rain was terrible.
If this game was in St. Colmans there would have been at least 1,000 in attendance.

I've obviously missed something, but why was the game at TC?

[joey B]

I've obviously missed something, but why was the game at TC?

Laying a new artificial surface…

[Buckett]

St Colmans changing to astro, work still going on

[Martinho II]

St Colmans changing to astro, work still going on

Saw something online by them last night that they will be movin back to St Colmans ahead of schedule as work progressed quicker than expected

[LTFC]

3011 in Galway, 2914 in Derry, 691 in Kerry, 3238 in Cork, 1527 Finn Harps.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

3087 in the showgrounds

[CorribsideSteve]

3011 in Galway, 2914 in Derry, 691 in Kerry, 3238 in Cork, 1527 Finn Harps.

It was unimaginably cold today in Galway, one of the coldest days I can remember in years. EDP is an ice box in the summer let alone March. That's a great crowd.

[Shearer]

3011 in Galway, 2914 in Derry, 691 in Kerry, 3238 in Cork, 1527 Finn Harps.

Kerry attendance since changed to 720.

[nigel-harps1954]

Injury hit weekend for the attendances:

Premier Division:

Sligo Rovers v Shelbourne - 3,087
Derry City v St Pat's - 3,014
Galway United v Waterford - 3,011

First Division:

Cork City v UCD - 3,238
Finn Harps v Athlone Town - 1,527
Kerry v Treaty United - 720

TOTAL: 14,597

[oriel]

Good crowds in almost all of these games. With full respect to UCD that can be a hard sell to increase numbers, only as it was our opening game last season we got 3,100 v them.

Nigel, any reason apart from obvious LOI surge across the country (not sure we have seen it) but also not sure your crowds were this healthy at the start of last season, and finally respect again (using a lot), would imagine not too many ATFC fans travelled North, or maybe they did.

On us, I would seriously doubt we will get close to opening game v Galway of 3,200 or so v Sligo on Mon night, I`d be thinking over 2,500 would be good.

[nigel-harps1954]

There were about 10-15 Athlone fans in the away section. Not sure if any made their way over to the main stand, but on a bitter cold night, good to see 1500 home fans or thereabouts.

[oriel]

Great to see, always a huge FH core support.

I only been to Finn Park once, and it was almost like hitting the jackpot stuff, possibly 2016, in middle of Kenny era and mid summer, we won 6-0, possibly 7 even, but a great trip.

Very friendly folk around town, and had a great night in Jacksons Hotel.

[pineapple stu]

With full respect to UCD that can be a hard sell to increase numbers

Speaking of UCD increasing numbers, the FAI app now gives our game against Treaty as 430, not 377 as originally stated.

[oriel]

One for the archives, just look at this attendance in Dalymount for what most are saying in a 1967 game, between Bohs and Dundalk.

https://x.com/DundalkFC/status/1763158931688300599?s=20

[oriel]

One for the archives.

Just look at the crowd at Dalymount in this 2 min or so clip, from what a lot are saying is a 1966 or 67 game between Bohs and Dundalk.


https://x.com/DundalkFC/status/1763158931688300599?s=20

[LTFC]

Good crowds in almost all of these games. With full respect to UCD that can be a hard sell to increase numbers, only as it was our opening game last season we got 3,100 v them.

Nigel, any reason apart from obvious LOI surge across the country (not sure we have seen it) but also not sure your crowds were this healthy at the start of last season, and finally respect again (using a lot), would imagine not too many ATFC fans travelled North, or maybe they did.

On us, I would seriously doubt we will get close to opening game v Galway of 3,200 or so v Sligo on Mon night, I`d be thinking over 2,500 would be good.

Looking at those old games and situations means old attendance records will never be threatened. But what we are seeing now does need a bit of looking at to understand why it is happening, whether it can be sustained, spread or grown. While I think work done by Rovers, Bohs, Pats in the last number of years in the community has been part of that, the Shels situation is differeent, and they managed to grow crowd in their second season back up, and looks like they will sustain that.
Did a comparison before with non League in England, but Shamrock Rovers 6k average last season would be 13th in League 2.

[oriel]

The 60's was an amazing time for attendances in LOI, I had a manager once in a bank in Dublin, Rovers fan, told me busses used to be queued up Stephens Green to go to Milltown in 60's.

Dundalk highest domestic crowd was 12k v Rovers in Shield Final 1967, first year of the new oriel park, the current main stand was into final stages and photos out there of workers sitting on the reams. Cue 10 years or so later, the 1976 league winners played in front of 5,000 v PSV in a 1-1 draw v 3 of the Dutch 1974 WC finalist squad, the tide was turning. 1972-1975 = Full Colour TV, enter the dragon, MOTD and the Big Match.

It kind of suited us growing up, mainly early 80's, winter season, the big match on UTV at 1.15, play football on the streets, then head to oriel park, 3.30 kick offs as one of only 3 grounds that had lights, late dinner, but older members will recall the wonderful MTUSA with Fab Vinny, 2-6 on Sundays, 83 - 85 ??? that had to have a huge impact on LOI crowds?

Sunday LOI v now, seems lightyears away.