FAI promoting the LoI

[Billy Lord]

I've made this analogy a million times before: if you go to a rubbish cinema and see a good film, will you come back? No. But if you visit a nice cinema and the film happens to be rubbish, will you return? Yes.

[galwayhoop]

I've made this analogy a million times before: if you go to a rubbish cinema and see a good film, will you come back? No. But if you visit a nice cinema and the film happens to be rubbish, will you return? Yes.

but if you go to a rubbish cinema and the popcorn is top-notch you could well go back

[sligoman]

Ha ha, so long as the Town fan in question isnt on the poster campaign.

haha. As long as he didn't say 'coolaboola' on the ad, I'll be happy.

[Billy Lord]

but if you go to a rubbish cinema and the popcorn is top-notch you could well go back

Maybe what the EL really needs is expensive-but-nice popcorn?

[Magicme]

but if you go to a rubbish cinema and the popcorn is top-notch you could well go back

So thats why we have had an increase in fans...its the Mondogs!

I agree with you Reder, there is a lot of work to be done. We get slagged off coz we dont have massive stands in our ground, but the facilities we do have are top notch so the small numbers that do attend are looked after. Reder, dont judge all the eL clubs by the state of the Dublin grounds, go to Athlone & their lovely new stadium, go to Cobh and enjoy their lovely clubhouse, but more important than any of that, come to Mons and experience some Magic!

[Burnsie]

billy lord's analogy falls down because people who see a rubbish film in any ciname are unlikely to go see another one by the same director and with most of the same cast...

[BohDiddley]

Reder, your post is of a common enough type on this board, and I can see where you are coming from.
But Irish football grounds and their facilities and organization are 'pathetic' because support for the game here is pathetic. Facilities at British grounds may be top-notch now, but that certainly wasn't always the case, and it didn't stop people going to games.
You have valid links with Liverpool, so you are not typical. But you have to wonder if people aren't just looking for an excuse to take the BSkyB/Ryanair option.

[RonnieB]

billy lord's analogy falls down because people who see a rubbish film in any ciname are unlikely to go see another one by the same director and with most of the same cast...

I still keep going

[Tis-smeee]

Hve to say cork is the best facility wise, tho the jax are cat I would say shels is a ****hole but not much worse than alot of others.

From what I understand Waterford got the top points rating in iag results on the stands only

[pineapple stu]

It begs the question: Which is more important in attracting crowds?
- Facilities
- Standard of football

I've made this analogy a million times before: if you go to a rubbish cinema and see a good film, will you come back? No. But if you visit a nice cinema and the film happens to be rubbish, will you return? Yes.

I don't know if it's that clear cut. Donnybrook's a dump, but it sells out for most of the rugby games. Public perception should be a third option in pete's post, and then all three form part of the mix.

[DmanDmythDledge]

The radio ads won't be airing until March 12.

[Jamjar]

The radio ads won't be airing until March 12.

Thats more like it.....bet the FAI picked the 3.30 am 'liveline' repeat slot. That insomniac market really needs to be penetrated.

[WeAreRovers]

I don't know if it's that clear cut. Donnybrook's a dump, but it sells out for most of the rugby games. Public perception should be a third option in pete's post, and then all three form part of the mix.

But you can buy a pint at Donnybrook and the toilet facilities are good. Two things you can't say about the vast majority of our grounds.

KOH

[Student Mullet]

But you can buy a pint at Donnybrook and the toilet facilities are good. Two things you can't say about the vast majority of our grounds.

KOH

Whatever about having a pint, the toilets in Donnybrook are a trough underneath the main stand and a sink with running water. There's nothing special about them.

Add this to winter rugby and the fact that you have to pay big bucks to get a roof over your head and see that the facilities in Donnybrook aren't what draws the crowd. To emphasise the point, Donnybrook hasn't seen any upgrading in 20 years or so (bucket seats aside), yet the crowds have increades massivley.

[WeAreRovers]

Whatever about having a pint, the toilets in Donnybrook are a trough underneath the main stand and a sink with running water. There's nothing special about them.

Add this to winter rugby and the fact that you have to pay big bucks to get a roof over your head and see that the facilities in Donnybrook aren't what draws the crowd. To emphasise the point, Donnybrook hasn't seen any upgrading in 20 years or so (bucket seats aside), yet the crowds have increades massivley.

Never been in the main stand but take your general point. However when I go I like the fact that I can get a pint and that the jax in both clubhouses are fine. Watching the genius that is Contepomi close up for €15 helps too.

KOH

[Student Mullet]

Watching the genius that is Contepomi close up for €15 helps too.

You've the nail on the head there. Your 15 euro gets you a top quality product (probably the best 10 - 15 fielded by any province/club in the world) and that attracts the punters. That and the bit of hype the branch have managed to generate.

Also, supporters at the rugby are treated with genuine respect. When the branch got hold of some extra tickets for Croker they were raffled off to the season ticket holders and when the Leinster - Munster semi final sold out Lansdown, Leinster put tickets on sale by surprise at a low profile league game, to support the more loyal fans. If you compare this to all the dodgy dealings which surround soccer international tickets it's easy to see why professional rugby is thriving while the LoI is dieing on its feet.

I think blaming the league's bad reputation on the jacks in Tolka (or wherever) is a gross simplification of the problem.

[reder]

Facilities at British grounds may be top-notch now, but that certainly wasn't always the case, and it didn't stop people going to games.
You have valid links with Liverpool, so you are not typical. But you have to wonder if people aren't just looking for an excuse to take the BSkyB/Ryanair option.

Its true that the facilities at British grounds have only improved since the start of the PL. However, football is the working mans game in Britain and much like the GAA in Ireland a certain percentage of the population will always support their national game no matter what. I dont follow GAA at all but as I flick through the tv you always see Sunday matches with a few thousand people ppl standing on a muddy hill in the p1ssing rain.

I actually cannot for the life of me fathom why so many irish people support british clubs. Some however are fanatical and have gained a very deep understanding of what the club is about and I genuinely respect them. Most are just glory hunters, well to do types. Irish clubs could do well to have these people as they have money to burn. I know a steward in the Kemlyn Road Stand (centenary stand) and he tells me he regularly talks to irish families who come over and spend £500 stg in the club shop. Thats more than my season ticket!!. There is a major campaign (Reclaim the kop, RTK) in progress in Liverpool at the moment trying to educate people in relation to the traditions of the club.

I dont know if you are aware but we are playing Barcelona at home in the CL next tues. 23 people in Ireland have contacted me looking for tickets. Thousands are travelling without tickets. They have even started to appear at away games.

These people are just good time Charlies. They forked out €1,000 + for a rugby ticket last weekend because it is "the thing" at the moment and it was some historical republican bullsh1t event. (no disrespect meant there. I am just saying they are there for the event and not the game.) Clean up the grounds, hit the schools in the local area with special offers and they will come. Also the polish (in particular) and new communities are fanatical about the game, why not try and target these people?

I remember some time ago that a friend of mine who follows the EL, told me that Aldo was rumoured to have applied for a managers job at one of the Dublin clubs. I can guarantee you 100% that if he (or someone with his popularity) got a managerial job tickets sales and attendances at that club would rocket. If that club they cleaned up their ground, they would have sell outs every week!!

Any opinions on this?

[pete]

These people are just good time Charlies. They forked out €1,000 + for a rugby ticket last weekend because it is "the thing" at the moment and it was some historical republican bullsh1t event.

I believe they also known as event junkies - they will maybe attend 4-5 irish sports events a year & moan that don't have 100k all-seater stadiums to cater for them.

I agree with your comments on Dublin grounds. I have little if any improvements in any of these grounds in the last & years i lived in Dublin. Dalymount for all its derelict status once you can find the ticket hut has 1 comfortable stand whihc I am sure would make up well with similar leve in the UK.

I am sure dublin eL fans will criticise me again but their grounds are crap because they refuse to even consider ground shares. Cork City do not share with an eL club but rent from junior league but is effectively a ground share. In 3-4 months we may have 7000 all-seated covered stadium & decent facilities.

[WeAreRovers]

I think blaming the league's bad reputation on the jacks in Tolka (or wherever) is a gross simplification of the problem.

Don't get me wrong, I completely agree with you and I bow to no one in my admiration for the way Leinster go about their business - Rovers will be copying a number of their initiatives this season - but even Donnybrook offers a much better match day experience than any LOI ground.

For instance my girlfriend and her mates have no problem going to Donnybrook but wouldn't set foot on Dalymount, Richmond or Tolka - and she hasn't a clue who Contepomi is.

KOH

[BohsPartisan]

I am sure dublin eL fans will criticise me again but their grounds are crap because they refuse to even consider ground shares. Cork City do not share with an eL club but rent from junior league but is effectively a ground share. In 3-4 months we may have 7000 all-seated covered stadium & decent facilities.

Pete if we had agreed to the Shels ground share we'd be up the creek now. In a few years we'll have a 10,000 all seater covered stadium (though I'd support an area being reserved for terracing.) all to ourselves (though we'd be willing to rent out which is groundsharing in a way and in that respect we have groundshared with Rovers and CHF over the last couple of years!