Attendances 2018

**micls** · 17/04/2018, 9:05 PM

Anytime a game is outside the normal time, our attendances are likely to be a bit lower. Half hour does make the difference with traffic etc. We come from Limerick for games, the earlier start makes it tight. A lot of city fans are coming from further away.

That said, it should be an important enough game to have a close to sell out regardless. Will be interesting to see what kind of buzz there is around it.

**Pablo Escobar** · 17/04/2018, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

To be fair that's fantastic for a mid week game, and very limited away support I would guess?

Should be full house on Fri week, I don't buy the earlier kick off (7.15) fans struggling to get there after work, if you want to be there, you'll make it. Only that I have Waterford away booked as a stop over, Id have gone down for this, should be a cracker on tv and for those lucky enough to attend.

Actually, what is the capacity of TC these days, and when was the last time it was full, I'd imagine for the Dundalk match in early Oct last year? Not sure I recall it being filled for any EL game. What a luxury to have, being able to sell 6k plus tickets for a european game in your home ground.

It was full for our game against Waterford this season.

**samhaydenjr** · 18/04/2018, 3:54 AM

I can see the switch to ten teams being a boon to attendances at the Cross - with three Dublin teams, title rivals Dundalk, a resurgent Derry team that features a few of potential future internationals, and two Munster derby rivalries, one of which has just got a bit spicier. The only real non-glamour visits will be from Sligo and Bray and even then, if the title is on the line on the final day, then Bray will become a big attraction

**EatYerGreens** · 18/04/2018, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

I reckon we are looking at 2,300 tonight.
Close to a sell out for Dundalk so say 6,500
Limerick on a Saturday afternoon will be interesting - i'll take a stab at over 4,000 if the weather is any way decent so say 4,250.

It looks like, if we can maintain a title challenge - then a league average of over 5k looks possible. The rivalry with Waterford could mean that there could be over 6,000 at that game in June. League average last year was 4,565.

Mentioning 'Limerick' and 'stab' in the same sentence is just trolling...

**EatYerGreens** · 18/04/2018, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Suppose it's about time this was updated. Week 8...I think?

PREMIER DIVISION

Bohs - 2,131 (2,006; 1,627; 1,724; 1,395; 1,597; 1,496; 1,488; 1,835)
Bray - 728 (966; 957; 769; 718; 891; 965; 1,121; 952)
Cork - 4,898 (4,559; 2,533; 3,263; 3,777; 1,965; 2,786; 2,128 FD; 1,693 FD)
Derry - 2,740 (1,517; 1,563; 1,124; 1,106; 1,446; 1,460; 2,135; 1,965 FD)
Dundalk - 2,739 (2,674; 2,738; 3,158; 2,534; 1,997; 949; 1,355; 1,877)
Limerick - 1,281 (1,610; 1,131 FD; 1,206; 757; 1,649; 734 FD; 569 FD; 598 FD)
Pat's - 1,706 (1,504; 1,088; 1,321; 1,386; 1,687; 1,474; 1,346; 1,756)
Rovers - 3,325 (2,809; 2,041; 2,890; 2,269; 2,763; 3,127; 3,779; 3,794)
Sligo - 2,203 (1,717; 1,750; 1,750; 1,959; 2,342; 3,007; 2,103; 1,807)
Waterford - 2,668 (1,550 FD; 314 FD; 460 FD; 470 FD; 478 FD; 453 FD; 466 FD; 619 FD)

FIRST DIVISION

Athlone - 109 (154; 156; 314; 653 PD; 754; 271; 200; 354)
Cabinteely - 300 (346; 352; 610)
Cobh - 265 (358; 403; 366; 223; 439; 2008 - 1,122 PD; 681; 368)
Drogheda - 464 (850 PD; 583; 813 PD; 1,064 PD; 817 PD; 977 PD; 811 PD; 859 PD)
Galway - 957 (1,376 PD; 1,169 PD; 1,290 PD; 975)
Harps - 835 (1,202 PD; 1,216 PD; 784; 449; 479; 429; 433; 644)
Longford - 529 (342; 488 PD; 803 PD; 567; 379; 365; 315; 230)
Shels - 683 (496; 554; 596; 713; 1,114 PD; 1,187 PD; 781; 737)
UCD - 326 (236; 297; 216; 397 PD; 487 PD; 506 PD; 558 PD; 610 PD)
Wexford - 230 (338; 585 PD; 553; 331; 227; 302; 216; 343)

PREMIER AVERAGE: 2,387 (1,902; 1,476; 1,681; 1,502; 1,566; 1,630; 1,547; 1,512)
FIRST DIVISION AVERAGE: 461 (477; 476; 486; 495; 391; 372; 578; 682)

OVERALL AVERAGE: 1,479 (1,387; 1,117; 1,249; 1,160; 1,140; 1,125; 1,110; 1,095)

OVERALL PREMIER ATTENDANCE: 115,535 (376,627; 292,204; 332,805; 297,334)
OVERALL FIRST ATTENDANCE: 16,135 (53,461; 52,807; 54,474; 55,408)

OVERALL COMBINED ATTENDANCE: 131,670 (430,088; 345,011; 387,279; 352,742)

Bray are clearly the odd one out attendance-wise in the Premier Division - with an average attendance barely over half that of the next lowest club.

The sooner they go down and get replaced by the likes of Galway or Harps the better IMO.

**pineapple stu** · 18/04/2018, 12:55 PM

The better for who?

What impact would it have on attendances if Harps were there instead? Who'd think "Oh, Galway are playing Cork tonight, not Bray; I think I will pop down to the Showgrounds after all"?

**oldfan** · 18/04/2018, 2:32 PM

Have Galway moved their home games to Sligo😱

**sbgawa** · 18/04/2018, 3:11 PM

From a ground standards perspective Galway would be a welcome addition and they have a decent fan base.

**EatYerGreens** · 18/04/2018, 3:55 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

The better for who?

What impact would it have on attendances if Harps were there instead? Who'd think "Oh, Galway are playing Cork tonight, not Bray; I think I will pop down to the Showgrounds after all"?

Can't believe I'm having to spell this out tbh.

The stats clearly show that the norm in the LOI is for Premier Division clubs to be getting over 1,000 to their average game.

Bray are clearly the only club that are not up to that. And not just by a little - but by a lot. They may well be in the PD on results (let's not get into the financial doping they were engaged in in the first half of last season before the wheels started to come off), but they do not have Premier Division levels of support. They are therefore adding little to the division IMO.

I am therefore arguing that it would be better for the league and its clubs - indeed, for everyone except Bray - if they were in the division which reflected their relative support levels and were replaced at the top level with a club which could draw Premier Division levels of support in that league - such as Galway or Finn Harps. And I hope that that is the outcome which will be delivered on the field of play.

I appreciate that as a UCD supporter you will doubtless disagree with this.

**sbgawa** · 18/04/2018, 4:17 PM

TBF to UCD at least UCD bring something to the division in terms of educating and developing players as well as a good youth setup.
Clubs can bring something to the league even without huge support. t
Setting up in areas that have potential......Kerry, Mayo or developing new clubs.

**Lim till i die** · 18/04/2018, 4:32 PM

There's probably fifteen teams in the league who's attendances would be every bit as bad as Bray in the same circumstances.

No official attendance given at the Markets Field last night for the second game in a row. I feel this may become a trend.

**pineapple stu** · 18/04/2018, 5:11 PM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

Can't believe I'm having to spell this out tbh.

The stats clearly show that the norm in the LOI is for Premier Division clubs to be getting over 1,000 to their average game.

Bray are clearly the only club that are not up to that. And not just by a little - but by a lot. They may well be in the PD on results (let's not get into the financial doping they were engaged in in the first half of last season before the wheels started to come off), but they do not have Premier Division levels of support. They are therefore adding little to the division IMO.

I am therefore arguing that it would be better for the league and its clubs - indeed, for everyone except Bray - if they were in the division which reflected their relative support levels and were replaced at the top level with a club which could draw Premier Division levels of support in that league - such as Galway or Finn Harps. And I hope that that is the outcome which will be delivered on the field of play.

I appreciate that as a UCD supporter you will doubtless disagree with this.

None of that answers my question though. What would magically improve if Bray went down and Harps came up?

(This has nothing to do with being a UCD fan btw. This is logic for beginners)

**EatYerGreens** · 18/04/2018, 5:15 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

None of that answers my question though. What would magically improve if Bray went down and Harps came up?

(This has nothing to do with being a UCD fan btw. This is logic for beginners)

The average attendance in the PD would improve, by replacing Bray's sub-1,000 average in the PD with Harps above-1,000 average in the PD (as they've had whenever they've been up there). Ditto for Galway.

So the answer is attendances. Overall average attendances for the top division would improve. This is, after all, an attendances thread

**pineapple stu** · 18/04/2018, 5:25 PM

Average attendances might improve? Is that it?

Something that won't benefit 9 of the 10 clubs?

Should we not just reduce the league to Cork v Rovers if that's the shortsightedness of your thinking?

**EatYerGreens** · 18/04/2018, 7:19 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Average attendances might improve? Is that it?

Something that won't benefit 9 of the 10 clubs?

Should we not just reduce the league to Cork v Rovers if that's the shortsightedness of your thinking?

Higher attendances in our top division helps everyone - making the league look more popular, increasing exposure for sponsors, better atmosphere at games, looks better on TV, longer queues at toilets etc. And clubs which have more fans are broadly more likely to also take fans away as well - so it would arguably also have a direct financial benefit to other clubs in the PD. If you're struggling to draw a crowd at home, you're certainly not going to be bringing many away.

Plus - Galway or Harps would mean more derby fixtures each season, which in themselves tend to generate higher crowds. Despite having a few clubs on their doorstep, no-one treats Bray as a derby game. And despite having a decent number of away fans from Dublin clubs at their games, Bray's average attendances are still the weak link in the PD.

Let's all pretend that we don't care about having higher attendances in our league now

I'll turn it around and ask you to explain to me what Bray bring to the PD that the likes of Galway wouldn't (hilarious press statements aside) ?

**sbgawa** · 18/04/2018, 8:15 PM

I feel sorry for the bray fans with the clowns running the place ..can't really blame them for staying away. Even the way st Joseph's are allowed play as st joesephs bray in the under age leagues is a joke

**pineapple stu** · 18/04/2018, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

Higher attendances in our top division helps everyone - making the league look more popular, increasing exposure for sponsors, better atmosphere at games, looks better on TV, longer queues at toilets etc. And clubs which have more fans are broadly more likely to also take fans away as well - so it would arguably also have a direct financial benefit to other clubs in the PD. If you're struggling to draw a crowd at home, you're certainly not going to be bringing many away.

What sponsors?

Bray or Harps in the league won't make a difference to Cork v Dundalk. Or Cork v Bray/Harps when it comes to it. What difference 20 v 40 away fans?

Looks better on TV? When were Bray or Harps last on telly anyway? They get shown once a year tops, when they're fodder for Cork/Dundalk.

Longer queues at toilets?! I'll assume that's a **** take (if you'll pardon the pun)

Seriously - none of your points means anything at a league level.

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

I'll turn it around and ask you to explain to me what Bray bring to the PD that the likes of Galway wouldn't (hilarious press statements aside) ?

Nothing, of course. It doesn't really make a difference. That's my whole point. Galway are a basket case of a club with no training facilities dogged by infighting with local clubs; what do they bring to the league? (Exaggerated for effect, Galway fans!) Harps just kick the ****e out of players; what do they bring?

**Candystripe** · 19/04/2018, 2:16 AM

The Brandywell was officially opened yesterday,including the Derry city pitch, Greyhound track next door and the kids parks further over. The council representative said the Brandywell has now after five home games has had over 15,000 fans though the turnstiles!

They also said current capacity is 3,700.

I've missed five games at the Brandywell in 33 years, was hard to see or estimate the attendance because of the new stadium but apart from the Bohs game on Monday night I thought ther previous game's were well over 3,000.