IT MAY be another sign of the times but the GAA’s decision to reduce ticket prices for this weekend’s Allianz National Football League finals is as much to do with enticing supporters to Croke Park as it is sympathising with their recession-hit pockets.
Stand tickets for Sunday’s double bill at Croke Park – featuring Kerry against Derry in Division One, and preceded by Monaghan against Cork in Division Two – are priced at €25, which is €5 less than last year’s equivalent. The GAA have also introduced special group passes for the occasion.
This is being billed as a sort of a “thank you” gesture to supporters who have attended league games this season, but with league final attendances decreasing in recent years, there was always going to be some concession this year.
In fact assurances of special ticket packages and a major marketing campaign was what convinced the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) to fix both for Croke Park in the first place – although it remains to be seen if these ties can attract the sort of crowd associated with the opening of GAA headquarters.
They will also mark the occasion of the first trophy presentations of new GAA president Christy Cooney, and he was eager to ensure the crowd level on the day was worthy of the competition. “Our 2009 football leagues peak this weekend with no fewer than four finals,” said Cooney, “and the Division One and Two games offer followers of the counties involved and all football supporters a chance to come to Croke Park for early-season action.
“As a gesture of gratitude to the supporters who have made this year’s competitions a success, we have reduced adult ticket prices for Sunday’s game and are also offering excellent value group passes for Croke Park.
“Cork and Monaghan will come to the capital with real hopes of claiming one of the first national intercounty titles of the 2009 season.”
The group passes are aimed at clubs and schools looking to give their young players a chance to witness a major final in Croke Park. These are priced at just €3 per juvenile and one adult goes free for every 10 juveniles. All such groups will be seated together in the lower Cusack Stand.
The minimum number for a group pass is 10 juveniles (16 years or under), and application forms for group passes are available if you mail tickets@gaa.ie and need to be made in advance. Payment can be made over the phone by credit card or laser card or by cheque (payable to GAA). The regular tickets, priced at €25 for adults and €5 for children, are available from participating county boards, www.gaa.ie, over the phone on 01 865867 and from Ticketmaster.
The Division Three and Four finals are being played the day before, at Pearse Park, Longford – featuring Down against Tipperary from Division Three, and Antrim against Sligo from Division Four.
Efforts by Antrim and Down to have this venue reconsidered weren’t successful.
Down manager Ross Carr described the decision to play these games as a double-header in Longford on a Saturday evening as “scandalous” and that he have preferred a triple bill at Croke Park, even if that meant an early start. Antrim claimed that Longford was far more convenient for Sligo than it was for them.
But there was some controversy when last year’s Division One final, also between Kerry and Derry, was fixed for Parnell Park (with the Division Three final between Wexford and Fermanagh) although it was justified when only 9,732 showed up.
Two years ago the Division One final between Donegal and Mayo was fixed for Croke Park, and drew a respectable crowd of 29,433. In 2005, the Division One final between Armagh and Wexford, plus the Division Two final between Monaghan and Meath, drew a healthy 46,445.
The last time Kerry played a league final in Croke Park was 2004, when they beat Galway in front of a crowd of 28,072. Derry’s last league final in Croke Park was in 2000, when they drew with then All-Ireland champions Meath, in front of 25,743.
The GAA confirmed yesterday Portlaoise would be the venue for the Cadbury All-Ireland Under-21 football final, between Down and Cork, which is set for the Bank Holiday Monday, May 4th.
There was also confirmation the NHL Division Three A final between Meath and Kildare will be played at Breffni Park on May 2nd, also with the Division Four final between Monaghan and Sligo – while the Division Three B final between London and Roscommon has been switched to Páirc Tailteann, Navan.
