National Forum

Attendances 2023

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11,867 at the Connacht final. Has there been a lower attendance at a Connacht final in the modern era? I'm guessing it's potentially one of the lowest ever. Certainly in the last 30 or 40 years. Mid noughties there would frequently be 30,000 plus at a Connacht final.

12,499 at a munster final with the reigning All-Ireland champions is also very poor. When was the last time a Munster football final had a decent attendance?

centrefield99 (Galway) - Posts: 136 - 08/05/2023 12:42:38    2476700

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Replying To drumalee11:  "I don't think anyone disagrees that the 2 provincials should have been on GAA go instead of Cork Tipp.

However, Hammerings arguably more of a issue in hurling due to the closed shop nature of the top tier and no hope for smaller counties."
I agree. Hammerings in hurling have been going on for years but clouded by a few close high scoring games annually. Hammerings are never good to see in either code. And for the record the Connacht final would have had a much bigger attendance if it was between any of Galway, Ros or Mayo. A policy decision was taken some years ago that all provincial finals would be free to air. They obviously are not going to change this mid season I guess just because the pairing may be lopsided. The bigger issue in football of course is the value of the provincials going forward.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1973 - 08/05/2023 13:26:28    2476717

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The structure of the All Ireland Championship may be a factor in the poor attendances. Provincial Championships now have very little relevance to the All Ireland series whereas in the old Championship structure you had to perform on every given day or your season was over.

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1673 - 08/05/2023 13:33:48    2476724

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Replying To kiloughter:  "I agree. Hammerings in hurling have been going on for years but clouded by a few close high scoring games annually. Hammerings are never good to see in either code. And for the record the Connacht final would have had a much bigger attendance if it was between any of Galway, Ros or Mayo. A policy decision was taken some years ago that all provincial finals would be free to air. They obviously are not going to change this mid season I guess just because the pairing may be lopsided. The bigger issue in football of course is the value of the provincials going forward."
Until Sligo and Leitrim improve or London and NY then the Connacht championship needs to be seeded. Everyone knew that the semifinal between Galway and Roscommon was going to produce the Connacht champion. Now Sligo go into the group stage where they will more than likely get hammered in 2 if not all 3 games. Would it not benefit them more playing in the lower tier.

cluichethar (Mayo) - Posts: 471 - 08/05/2023 14:02:33    2476739

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Replying To centrefield99:  "11,867 at the Connacht final. Has there been a lower attendance at a Connacht final in the modern era? I'm guessing it's potentially one of the lowest ever. Certainly in the last 30 or 40 years. Mid noughties there would frequently be 30,000 plus at a Connacht final.

12,499 at a munster final with the reigning All-Ireland champions is also very poor. When was the last time a Munster football final had a decent attendance?"
Sligo v Galway set for Castlebar was never going to attract much more than 12k and the Connacht GAA most certainly didn't help matters by charging 35€ for tickets.

Played each other in the semi final 2018 the attendance in Salthill was 8,171 and 2019 in Markievicz Park before an attendance of 5,365

Cork v Kerry in 2019 had 19k at it, again Clare v Kerry wouldn't be a big draw and should have given Clare home advantage there.

Yondu (UK) - Posts: 845 - 08/05/2023 15:43:11    2476781

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Replying To cluichethar:  "Until Sligo and Leitrim improve or London and NY then the Connacht championship needs to be seeded. Everyone knew that the semifinal between Galway and Roscommon was going to produce the Connacht champion. Now Sligo go into the group stage where they will more than likely get hammered in 2 if not all 3 games. Would it not benefit them more playing in the lower tier."
Lets face it, Leitrim should be more competitive than they are. Small population no doubt but they are a football mad county.

With more clubs than Fermanagh who constantly punch above their weight.

drumalee11 (USA) - Posts: 329 - 08/05/2023 17:29:24    2476831

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Agree the new football format has impacted the provincials and number of drubbings across the 4 provinces does not help either. Munster hurling is the GAA jewel in the crown in terms of revenue at this time of the year until the Football Qtr finals start and that is showing by bums on seats. Once the Qtr finals start you will see big crowds at the football. Average Ulster attendances have been down this year some small crowds to date except for Armagh V Down.. The football round robins 3 teams progressing out 4 wont have a championship feel about it and will lead to a number of drubbings as well for a few teams.

dingle82 (Down) - Posts: 231 - 09/05/2023 10:31:39    2476944

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Charging €15 into Tailteann cup games mean by plenty of games now with just a few hundred people and no atmoshpere,just what a new competition needs!! so G.A.A only have themselves to blame when interest is minimal.


Unlikely people will go to all 3 games given travel involved, wouldnt have been rocket science to do a package offer, all 3 tailteann cup games for €25/€30, be more than enough and try let it prosper.
Be better to have 1,000 people paying a tenner than 500 paying €15 but some dont see the bigger picture.


Guessing All Ireland group games be priced at €20/€25, again people wont commit to all these games at such cost, especially as none of them are even knockout fixtures!!!

macca999 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1142 - 09/05/2023 12:58:30    2477011

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Would be a nice full house somewhere this week if they played both sligo v kildare games in the same ground on the same day, thank god we have a good product or the gaa would be ******

DCFCGAA (Derry) - Posts: 65 - 09/05/2023 13:27:53    2477023

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14,320 at Waterford v Clare

MartinEgan (UK) - Posts: 84 - 13/05/2023 22:22:52    2478190

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Terrible attendance in Breffni park yesterday.. I'd say less than 1000 by the start of the Cavan/Laois game.. people are finally seeing that County football is no longer watchable…. Football is dying on its feet

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3029 - 14/05/2023 08:02:09    2478214

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Replying To drumalee11:  "Lets face it, Leitrim should be more competitive than they are. Small population no doubt but they are a football mad county.

With more clubs than Fermanagh who constantly punch above their weight."
If you think Leitrim should be more competitive you should apply for the manager's job next time it's vacant. Their neighbours Longford who would probably beat Leitrim 2 times out of every 3 are not very competitive either at the moment.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1953 - 14/05/2023 08:02:37    2478215

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Replying To MartinEgan:  "14,320 at Waterford v Clare"
Not a bad crowd when you consider it was a round robin at a neutral venue with Waterford were on the verge of elimination.

Tipp v Limerick and Limerick v Cork should bring huge crowds over the coming weeks.

dahayeser (Cork) - Posts: 353 - 15/05/2023 10:41:36    2478605

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Replying To macca999:  "Charging €15 into Tailteann cup games mean by plenty of games now with just a few hundred people and no atmoshpere,just what a new competition needs!! so G.A.A only have themselves to blame when interest is minimal.


Unlikely people will go to all 3 games given travel involved, wouldnt have been rocket science to do a package offer, all 3 tailteann cup games for €25/€30, be more than enough and try let it prosper.
Be better to have 1,000 people paying a tenner than 500 paying €15 but some dont see the bigger picture.


Guessing All Ireland group games be priced at €20/€25, again people wont commit to all these games at such cost, especially as none of them are even knockout fixtures!!!"
€25 I see for general admission for All Ireland Group stages, be interesting to see attendances at these games, particularly round three when the likes of ourselves and other counties may have nothing to play for.

Sligoman1234 (Sligo) - Posts: 428 - 15/05/2023 10:49:26    2478610

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "Terrible attendance in Breffni park yesterday.. I'd say less than 1000 by the start of the Cavan/Laois game.. people are finally seeing that County football is no longer watchable…. Football is dying on its feet"
Terrible attendance in Breffni park yesterday.. I'd say less than 1000 by the start of the Cavan/Laois game.. people are finally seeing that County football is no longer watchable…. Football is dying on its feet

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1326 - 14/05/2023 08:02:09

I have seen bigger crowds in there 1st round club championship games.

RHF (Cavan) - Posts: 878 - 15/05/2023 10:56:08    2478614

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Replying To macca999:  "Charging €15 into Tailteann cup games mean by plenty of games now with just a few hundred people and no atmoshpere,just what a new competition needs!! so G.A.A only have themselves to blame when interest is minimal.


Unlikely people will go to all 3 games given travel involved, wouldnt have been rocket science to do a package offer, all 3 tailteann cup games for €25/€30, be more than enough and try let it prosper.
Be better to have 1,000 people paying a tenner than 500 paying €15 but some dont see the bigger picture.


Guessing All Ireland group games be priced at €20/€25, again people wont commit to all these games at such cost, especially as none of them are even knockout fixtures!!!"
Too many games, the novelty of inter county games is gone in both codes. Summers used to based around games, Ulster Football final, Munster Hurling final, there's so many games now unless you are a fervent follower of a specific county it's hard to know who's playing?

dolfos (Longford) - Posts: 124 - 15/05/2023 11:01:46    2478618

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Were there 10,000 at the 8 TC games?
Will the 8 neutral round games get 5,000?
C'mon GAA make the neutral round €5 adults and free to kids, students and OAPs!

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1960 - 15/05/2023 11:43:13    2478647

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Replying To macca999:  "Charging €15 into Tailteann cup games mean by plenty of games now with just a few hundred people and no atmoshpere,just what a new competition needs!! so G.A.A only have themselves to blame when interest is minimal.


Unlikely people will go to all 3 games given travel involved, wouldnt have been rocket science to do a package offer, all 3 tailteann cup games for €25/€30, be more than enough and try let it prosper.
Be better to have 1,000 people paying a tenner than 500 paying €15 but some dont see the bigger picture.


Guessing All Ireland group games be priced at €20/€25, again people wont commit to all these games at such cost, especially as none of them are even knockout fixtures!!!"
My good what a tightfisted attitude given what the GAA gives back to so many including clubs, fans and entertainment. Is there any other amateur sport in the country that boast the same? You and your cohort objectors need to open your eyes and pockets and appreciate what a wonderful sport we have.

WestRules (Galway) - Posts: 271 - 15/05/2023 12:10:27    2478654

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There was 40,000 at Dublin v Louth & 30,000 at Derry V Armagh.

Be very Interesting to see the attendances for Tailtean cup , Be the quarter finals before be any 5K crowd youd think. Many of these county football teams bar Meath,Cavan,Down havent attracted big crowds ever as they were always towards the bottom divisions.

OpenStand (Limerick) - Posts: 718 - 15/05/2023 12:37:13    2478657

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The Examiner had an item last week that said the 5 games in the Munster football championship this year drew a COMBINED attendance of 28,178.

Average of 5,635.

Greenfield (Meath) - Posts: 523 - 15/05/2023 14:29:39    2478699

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