Huge Crowds at GAA this weekend

**Jerry The Saint** · 23/01/2006, 5:19 PM

...and for the last few weekends to watch experimental county sides in the equivalent of the Leinster/Munster Senior Cups (In places like North Dublin and Ballybofey as well). Add this to the crowds for the main 3 provincial rugby sides (>10,000 every Heineken Cup game) and you can clearly see that there is a market for live sport at this time of the year, despite the horrible winter weather that supposedly puts Irish sports fans in hibernation, concerned only with the English Premiership, for one-third of the year.

Meanwhile, eircom League players will be twiddling their thumbs for the next 2 months or so counting down to a summer season which is expected to include a mid-summer break. Maybe it's just a personal bout of close-season boredom, but does anyone else feel that could put up with the Arctic conditions

, and give up some of these "balmy" evening games in June, if only there was a game next Friday night under lights...?

**ollie** · 23/01/2006, 5:25 PM

Originally Posted by Jerry The Saint

...and for the last few weekends to watch experimental county sides in the equivalent of the Leinster/Munster Senior Cups (In places like North Dublin and Ballybofey as well). Add this to the crowds for the main 3 provincial rugby sides (>10,000 every Heineken Cup game) and you can clearly see that there is a market for live sport at this time of the year, despite the horrible winter weather that supposedly puts Irish sports fans in hibernation, concerned only with the English Premiership, for one-third of the year.

Meanwhile, eircom League players will be twiddling their thumbs for the next 2 months or so counting down to a summer season which is expected to include a mid-summer break. Maybe it's just a personal bout of close-season boredom, but does anyone else feel that could put up with the Arctic conditions

, and give up some of these "balmy" evening games in June, if only there was a game next Friday night under lights...?

i can understand the sentiments but to answer your question..No.we are better off in most aspects to play "summer soccer" for the time being.
things can be a little boring at the time being....i even went to the Kerry vs UCC game FFS(only a few hundred there BTW) but its worth it when we have to put up with more pleasant days than unpleasant in the Spring/Summer/Autumn

**Patrick Dunne** · 23/01/2006, 5:36 PM

at some of the games. 11,000 at a meaningless McKenna Cup game between Tyrone and Donegal at Ballybofey. More than the aggregate home attendances of some First Division clubs for the entire season

**ollie** · 23/01/2006, 5:42 PM

Originally Posted by Patrick Dunne

at some of the games. 11,000 at a meaningless McKenna Cup game between Tyrone and Donegal at Ballybofey. More than the aggregate home attendances of some First Division clubs for the entire season

youd barely get that at some championship games

some going

**pete** · 23/01/2006, 7:01 PM

This has been debated to death already & vast majority of people support summer football. Attendances may not have increased but no proof that wouldn't have decreased in winter season. Quality of football has vasty improved in summer football - just watch some of the pitches lower UK clubs playing with barely a blade of grass to see what eL would be like.

**harpskid** · 23/01/2006, 7:14 PM

Aye Mac Cumhaill Park was buzzing yesterday alright.

Good to see and certainly makes you wonder about the soccer crowds.

**Maynard** · 23/01/2006, 8:59 PM

Was in Parnell Park on Sunday watching the Dubs, and there wasn't a seat in the house. Bumper crowd all round, bigger then most national League crowds. I think what it suggests is that if the eL could get it's blinking act together and market the league and the 22 clubs within it (or at least facilitate the clubs to help themselves) then you could start getting people interested in actually coming to see some Irish football. Summer soccer isn't the problem.

**A face** · 24/01/2006, 12:13 AM

It shouldn't even be an option that people think about .... imo, its a non-runner .... winter football is not viable !!

**dcfc_dee** · 24/01/2006, 8:35 AM

as it has been brought up in this forum before if you take winter football there is more of a chance you could be watching hoofball whereas if you play summer soccer the pitches are in a better condition therefore a better standard of football can be played

**BohDiddley** · 25/01/2006, 9:05 AM

GAA football gets wall-to-wall media coverage summer or winter.

**Strabane_Harp** · 25/01/2006, 7:52 PM

Casement Park this sunday should see a much larger crowd as Tyrone play Armagh, id imagine 12-14,000 will be there for wat is basically a friendly

**harpskid** · 26/01/2006, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by Strabane_Harp

id imagine 12-14,000 will be there for wat is basically a friendly

Tyrone - Armagh friendly.

No chance chief!

Plus, Mickey Harte wants to win everything these days

**mandrake** · 26/01/2006, 12:13 PM

rugby - munster one of the top 4 sides in europe...play 6 games a year in limerick...easy to follow

gealic - all sides have 100 plus years of tradition and the top 6 teams are top 6 no comparison with other countries teams play from 2 - 7 top games per season (all big occasions) in summer....tyrone/armagh still getting alot in winter easy to follow

soccer - teams are 35th in europe a lot of comparison to other leagues) so look sh1t).. play 17 times at home from winter to summer and winter again(not all big occasion)..to much like an effort for some people