Will the SFC Semi's sell out?

Neeson

There's a thread for the hurling. Do people think the football semis will sell out?

manutd

Neeson wrote: »

There's a thread for the hurling. Do people think the football semis will sell out?

the quater finals havn't been played yet.

Cork / Kildare vs Donegal / Kerry
So could be a Kerry Cork semi, Kildare Donegal, Kerry Donegal, Cork Kildare. All big games and the harder side of the draw.
Mayo / Down vs Dublin / Laois
The easier side of the draw for Dublin. But if Dublin win, the semi may not even sell-out.

Neeson

Would the quarter finals sell out?

Fr Tod Umptious

No

Dublin v Mayo would attarct the biggest crowd, maybe 70k

Cork v Kerry would not put 25K into it

Donegal v Cork may have 40K (mostly Donegal)

etc. etc.

Pierce_1991

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

No

Dublin v Mayo would attarct the biggest crowd, maybe 70k

Cork v Kerry would not put 25K into it

Donegal v Cork may have 40K (mostly Donegal)

etc. etc.

Cork v Kerry in the AI Semi would definitely have more than 25k.

GAAman

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

No

Dublin v Mayo would attarct the biggest crowd, maybe 70k

Cork v Kerry would not put 25K into it

Donegal v Cork may have 40K (mostly Donegal)

etc. etc.

Stick to nicking the golden clerics there tod, cos you are way off!

Fr Tod Umptious

Pierce_1991 wrote: »

Cork v Kerry in the AI Semi would definitely have more than 25k.

Well not by much

Theere was 35,137 there the last time they meet in a semi in 2008

Since 2008 attendance has dipped due to recession etc so I'd expect a lower figure that that, and both counties are not great travellers

Hammer Archer

If Dublin manage to beat Laois, then their semi final could possibly sell out. The other semi final won't sell out no matter who's in it.
Has there ever been an All Ireland semi final that didn't involve Dublin that has sold out Croke Park? I can't remember one anyway.

Neeson

So if people are thinking the semi's won't sell out then would it be doubtful that the quarters would either?

Would tickets be available on the day for the weekend games?

Fr Tod Umptious

Neeson wrote: »

So if people are thinking the semi's won't sell out then would it be doubtful that the quarters would either?

Would tickets be available on the day for the weekend games?

Sunday will certainly not get close to a sell out and I'm sure there will be lots of tickets from the vans/ticket office on the day.

Saturday may be a bit different, I made sure and got my ticket first thing this morning just in case the Dubs wake up and realise that supporting a team is for life not just for the really big days

Neeson

Sunday is a bigger day though. Arguably better matches. So there could be a great turnout.

Fr Tod Umptious

Neeson wrote: »

Sunday is a bigger day though. Arguably better matches. So there could be a great turnout.

Not likely

Cork and Kerry are poor travellers to non finals, that is a well established trend.
Plus it's a bank holiday, people have other plans.
Plus 3 of the 4 teams playing are from counties that have big tourists trades, people who work in that sector are unlikely to abandon businesses/get time off on a bank holiday Sunday to go to Dublin for a match.

Coillte_Bhoy

manutd wrote: »

the quater finals havn't been played yet.

Cork / Kildare vs Donegal / Kerry
So could be a Kerry Cork semi, Kildare Donegal, Kerry Donegal, Cork Kildare. All big games and the harder side of the draw.
Mayo / Down vs Dublin / Laois
The easier side of the draw for Dublin. But if Dublin win, the semi may not even sell-out.

Why do you say that?

aidan24326

Neeson wrote: »

Would tickets be available on the day for the weekend games?

Absolutely yes. Neither day will sell out. People forget that it takes 82,000 now to fill Croke Park and that's a massive crowd. Few sporting events anywhere draw those kind of numbers.

Saturdays attendance won't be huge because drawing Laois won't generate any great buzz around Dublin. Be a crowd somewhere in the low 50s I'd imagine. Sunday will be around 40K+.

Prop Joe

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Plus 3 of the 4 teams playing are from counties that have big tourists trades, people who work in that sector are unlikely to abandon businesses/get time off on a bank holiday Sunday to go to Dublin for a match.

True,The GAA seriously needs to start considering moving the QF's out of Croker,If Mayo v Down was played in Clones and even Kildare v Cork in Thurles would make for a better occasion..Plus if Cork and Kerry end up in then Semi,They should defo play it in thurles

Syferus

Tourist trades, like 'c'mon. That barely registers. Every county has work commitments to deal with and bank holidays are overall much easier for people to make trips up to Dublin.

I expect more than usual from Kerry, Donegal has the potential to be an end-of-era game for Kerry, and their minors are playing as well. I'd expect a few extra thousand Cork fans too, a tough match, a great bill and an early start allowing a comfortable return journey.

No way should the QFs be played anywhere but Croke Park.

Neeson

I'm thinking there'll be more out on Sunday than Saturday. Dublin have the population but there'll be plenty going to the big match on Sunday.

Fowler87

There was around 25k for both quarter final games last year for Kerry/Limerick and Mayo/Cork but Id expect around 35-40k on Saturday. Id expect around 20k odd attendance for the Mayo/Down game before the Dubs arrive

Coillte_Bhoy

Prop Joe wrote: »

True,The GAA seriously needs to start considering moving the QF's out of Croker,If Mayo v Down was played in Clones and even Kildare v Cork in Thurles would make for a better occasion..Plus if Cork and Kerry end up in then Semi,They should defo play it in thurles

Its far more convenient for Mayo fans to get to Croke Park than bloody Clones

Prop Joe

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Its far more convenient for Mayo fans to get to Croke Park than bloody Clones

Maybe Breffeni Park so,35K would surly accommodate the crowd

An Citeog

Prop Joe wrote: »

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Its far more convenient for Mayo fans to get to Croke Park than bloody Clones

Maybe Breffeni Park so,35K would surly accommodate the crowd

What about the people who bought 10 year premium seats and corporate boxes in Croke Park?

keane2097

An Citeog wrote: »

What about the people who bought 10 year premium seats and corporate boxes in Croke Park?

What about the people who didn't?

An Citeog

keane2097 wrote: »

An Citeog wrote: »

What about the people who bought 10 year premium seats and corporate boxes in Croke Park?

What about the people who didn't?

They can decide whether or not they want to buy a ticket in the run up to the game. They're not locked into a long term contract where there's a valid expectation to see 2 AI quarter final double headers and both semis in football, both semis in hurling and both finals ie. the most important championship games.

Prop Joe

An Citeog wrote: »

keane2097 wrote: »

An Citeog wrote: »

What about the people who bought 10 year premium seats and corporate boxes in Croke Park?

What about the people who didn't?

They can decide whether or not they want to buy a ticket in the run up to the game. They're not locked into a long term contract where there's a valid expectation to see 2 AI quarter final double headers and both semis in football, both semis in hurling and both finals ie. the most important championship games.

Yes,that is a problem for Croker to sort out,Maybe they could provide VIP treatment for those customers at the provincial venues...

iwasonbwh

Don't forget that Donegal Kildare drew 40000 alone last year, and there is big interest in Sunday here in Donegal

An Citeog

iwasonbwh wrote: »

Don't forget that Donegal Kildare drew 40000 alone last year, and there is big interest in Sunday here in Donegal

It was a double header with Tyrone Roscommon.

Syferus

A double header for Roscommon alone, to be exact. We must have brought ~10k and most stayed for the Donegal-Kildare game.

Fr Tod Umptious

It seems that the powers that be may have introduced the Croke Park for all QFs after the less than inspiring QF darw in 2001, the first year of the qualifiers.

That year you have Meath v Westmeath, Tryone v Derry, Galway v Roscommon, all re-matches of earlier games that summer, the expection being Dublin v Kerry.

They were played in neutral venues, so maybe they decided that to spice up the quarter finals you put them as double headers.

I reacall a great two days in 2002 where on the Sunday you had Armagh v Sligo (a draw), Kerry v Galway, then on Monday you had Mayo v Cork follwed by Dublin v Donegal

Good piece about the Qfs in today's Irish Times
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0731/1224321155942.html

Joekers

If Dublin make the semi final it will be close to a sell out regardless who they play. Always down through the years the interest in Dublin spikes for a semi final

John37

Not sure if I can post it here but I pre purchased on tickets.ie a cusack stand lower tier ticket seat for 306 section for the Sept 2th semi finals and only realised I will be out of the country that day so i would like to swap it for any of the other hurling or football semi finals or sell it at a loss if anyones interested. Just send me a pm

DDC1990

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Not likely

Cork and Kerry are poor travellers to non finals, that is a well established trend.
Plus it's a bank holiday, people have other plans.
Plus 3 of the 4 teams playing are from counties that have big tourists trades, people who work in that sector are unlikely to abandon businesses/get time off on a bank holiday Sunday to go to Dublin for a match.

Can you back up the fact that Kerry are bad travellers in the last few years, since we have won an All Ireland.

Admittedly Kerry had poor attendances during our run of 6 All Ireland Finals in a row, due to financial difficulties.

Munster Semi-Final - €20
Munster Final - €30
Last Round of the Qualifiers - €20
Quarter Final - €30
Semi final - €40
Final €80 (€70 plus €10 "holiday fee" down in Kerry)

=€220 x 6 Years in a Row = €1320 per person Not including Travel costs from Kerry.

€70 for a return Train Ticket from Tralee to Dublin. At least 4 games outside of Kerry, sometimes all games outside Kerry.

By the way, thats just for the 6 years we made it to the final in a row.

Since 1996, Kerry have failed to play a game in Croke Park only once (1999). 16 years. Thats a shítload of Money.

So apologies if Kerry can't get 40 Thousand to every single game in Croke Park and be considered "Good Travellers".

Kerry brought 3-5,000 to Mullingar. Had 30,000 in Fitzgerald Stadium. 3,000 in Limerick, which is remarkable for a County that "doesn't travel well". Also look at the crowds that Travelled to Longford, That packed out Tralee and that made the Trek to Tullamore in 2009, the last time Kerry did the extended Qulaifiers route.

Kerry fans travel as well as any of the top counties, but beacuse fans took a few Quarter Finals off, during the glory years, due to financial difficulties Kerry fans will always be told, they don't travel well.

Fr Tod Umptious

DDC1990 wrote: »

Can you back up the fact that Kerry are bad travellers in the last few years, since we have won an All Ireland.

Admittedly Kerry had poor attendances during our run of 6 All Ireland Finals in a row, due to financial difficulties.

Munster Semi-Final - €20
Munster Final - €30
Last Round of the Qualifiers - €20
Quarter Final - €30
Semi final - €40
Final €80 (€70 plus €10 "holiday fee" down in Kerry)

=€220 x 6 Years in a Row = €1320 per person Not including Travel costs from Kerry.

€70 for a return Train Ticket from Tralee to Dublin. At least 4 games outside of Kerry, sometimes all games outside Kerry.

By the way, thats just for the 6 years we made it to the final in a row.

Since 1996, Kerry have failed to play a game in Croke Park only once (1999). 16 years. Thats a shítload of Money.

So apologies if Kerry can't get 40 Thousand to every single game in Croke Park and be considered "Good Travellers".

Kerry brought 3-5,000 to Mullingar. Had 30,000 in Fitzgerald Stadium. 3,000 in Limerick, which is remarkable for a County that "doesn't travel well". Also look at the crowds that Travelled to Longford, That packed out Tralee and that made the Trek to Tullamore in 2009, the last time Kerry did the extended Qulaifiers route.

Kerry fans travel as well as any of the top counties, but beacuse fans took a few Quarter Finals off, during the glory years, due to financial difficulties Kerry fans will always be told, they don't travel well.

Wow that figure for the Tryone game has really crept up , 30k now up from an official 24K+

Prop Joe

Syferus wrote: »

Tourist trades, like 'c'mon. That barely registers. Every county has work commitments to deal with and bank holidays are overall much easier for people to make trips up to Dublin.

I expect more than usual from Kerry, Donegal has the potential to be an end-of-era game for Kerry, and their minors are playing as well. I'd expect a few extra thousand Cork fans too, a tough match, a great bill and an early start allowing a comfortable return journey.

No way should the QFs be played anywhere but Croke Park.

C'mon it's probably the biggest industry in Kerry,Cork and Donegal

DDC1990

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Wow that figure for the Tryone game has really crept up , 30k now up from an official 24K+

U16's left in Free = 30,000 at least.

24,000 paid in/bought a ticket.

I know Killarney, and trust me there was at least 30,000.

It holds 43,000, 9,000 of which are seated. Stand was full. Terrace from endline to endline were wedged. Some fans behind the goals at the Killarney end.

Kids on the wire on the terrace side, all the way down the field.

There was 30,000 there. Take away, 2,000 for Tyrone fans. So 28,000 Kerry Fans.

jack presley

If Dublin win on Saturday that semi will definitely sell out. There will be 25,000 yanks in Dublin that weekend for the game in Landsdowne the day before and I'm sure some of them will be interested in seeing our weird game.

Could be why tickets were on sale for the semis a few weeks ago when no one knew who would be playing in them. I don't remember that happening before

Fr Tod Umptious

DDC1990 wrote: »

U16's left in Free = 30,000 at least.

24,000 paid in/bought a ticket.

I know Killarney, and trust me there was at least 30,000.

It holds 43,000, 9,000 of which are seated. Stand was full. Terrace from endline to endline were wedged. Some fans behind the goals at the Killarney end.

Kids on the wire on the terrace side, all the way down the field.

There was 30,000 there. Take away, 2,000 for Tyrone fans. So 28,000 Kerry Fans.

Well if you look a at a set of semi-finals that do include a stand alone Cork v Kerry game and do not include Dublin in the other semi then it's quiet clear that Cork and Kerry do not travel in numbers

2008
Cork v Kerry - 35,137
Tyrone v Wexford - 65,252

los cules

there is a big myth out there about kerry support , ive been to most kerry championship games for over 40 years and belive me they have great support every time to team really needs it ..this year the fans have been excellent and on next sunday they will be out in force again . when you take into account the distance , cost, regularity ,and predictibility of lots of there games i would rate kerry at the top of best fans in the country.

Stoner

los cules wrote: »

i would rate kerry at the top of best fans in the country.

most people rate their county as the best, or the top of the best.

I'd didn't go to the Dublin Cork league game this year due to the predictability of the atmosphere, result etc, it can be a factor alright, more so when you predict you are going to loose though.

Always_Running

Stoner wrote: »

most people rate their county as the best, or the top of the best.

Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home.

keane2097

This thing about Kerry supporters is some joke. Per mile travelled we'd annihilate any other set of fans. Easy bring half the county with you when you get to an All Ireland final once a generation.

Sunnyisland

Always_Running wrote: »

Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home.

What you trying to tell me :(;)

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

keane2097 wrote: »

This thing about Kerry supporters is some joke. Per mile travelled we'd annihilate any other set of fans. Easy bring half the county with you when you get to an All Ireland final once a generation.

'Annihilate' is a bit strong. Kerry are definately not the best travelling fans in Ireland., but I wouldn't say they are anywhere near the worst either. But you're coming across as very condescending. I know heaps of people in Kerry who aren't travelling to Croker this weekend because they're "waiting for the Cork game". If that's not arrogance, please, tell me what is?

keane2097

deccurley wrote: »

'Annihilate' is a bit strong. Kerry are definately not the best travelling fans in Ireland., but I wouldn't say they are anywhere near the worst either. But you're coming across as very condescending. I know heaps of people in Kerry who aren't travelling to Croker this weekend because they're "waiting for the Cork game". If that's not arrogance, please, tell me what is?

Stupidity?

I have heard literally not a single person saying that. Either heaps of people are winding you up, you're talking to heaps of people who aren't interested in football or you're making it up.

Not a single person I've spoken to in the Kerry GAA fraternity has said anything even approaching waiting for a guaranteed semi-final.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

keane2097 wrote: »

Stupidity?

I have heard literally not a single person saying that. Either heaps of people are winding you up, you're talking to heaps of people who aren't interested in football or you're making it up.

Not a single person I've spoken to in the Kerry GAA fraternity has said anything even approaching waiting for a guaranteed semi-final.

Okay, heaps may have been an exaggeration but at least 7 or 8 have said it to me. And why they'd be winding me up I don't know, I couldn't give a fiddler's who wins tbh, I'm more worried about the minor game

I'm certainly not making it up, just relaying what I've heard. God knows I know as many who are going to the game as aren't but a lot of them who were a hop, skip and a jump down to Killarney for the Tyrone game will be nowhere to be seen for this one. Obviously, financial constraints come in to play for some, but there are also those who just couldn't be arsed.

Fr Tod Umptious

deccurley wrote: »

Okay, heaps may have been an exaggeration but at least 7 or 8 have said it to me. And why they'd be winding me up I don't know, I couldn't give a fiddler's who wins tbh, I'm more worried about the minor game

I'm certainly not making it up, just relaying what I've heard. God knows I know as many who are going to the game as aren't but a lot of them who were a hop, skip and a jump down to Killarney for the Tyrone game will be nowhere to be seen for this one. Obviously, financial constraints come in to play for some, but there are also those who just couldn't be arsed.

From living down where in Kerry i have noticed the following over the past few years with a local club

Quarter Final tickets are sent out to the club, maybe 2 or three will be taken, one year none.

Semi Finals, a bit more, maybe 5 or 6.

Final - there has to be a lottery because there are a hundred people looking for 10 tickets

I know in other counties the same happens but the point is that Kerry (and Cork) do not travel to Semi Final and or Quarter Finals in the same numbers as other counties of comparable size/football interest

DDC1990

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

From living down where in Kerry i have noticed the following over the past few years with a local club

Quarter Final tickets are sent out to the club, maybe 2 or three will be taken, one year none.

Semi Finals, a bit more, maybe 5 or 6.

Final - there has to be a lottery because there are a hundred people looking for 10 tickets

I know in other counties the same happens but the point is that Kerry (and Cork) do not travel to Semi Final and or Quarter Finals in the same numbers as other counties of comparable size/football interest

I didn't even know my club got Q-Final/Semi-final Tickets!

I have a season ticket (great buy, makes you put in the effort to go to every game) and previous years I got them through Ticketmaster/County Board.

I'll ask the Chairman tonight, but I've never heard of the club getting thoses tickets.

Fr Tod Umptious

DDC1990 wrote: »

I didn't even know my club got Q-Final/Semi-final Tickets!

I have a season ticket (great buy, makes you put in the effort to go to every game) and previous years I got them through Ticketmaster/County Board.

I'll ask the Chairman tonight, but I've never heard of the club getting thoses tickets.

If a recall this was a scheme specific to that club (not to be confused with the Kerry County Board scheme).

Similar schemes may have existed in other clubs

If you paid a little extra with your yearly membership you were allowed to buy a ticket for QF, SF and (invariably) a lottery for the Final.

The season ticket and the ability to get tickets online and in outlets such as Supervalue has largely done away with such schemes.

Stoner

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

I know in other counties the same happens but the point is that Kerry (and Cork) do not travel to Semi Final and or Quarter Finals in the same numbers as other counties of comparable size/football interest

Well in all fairness they are two very good teams with a lot of poor teams, can't really remember ever a real shock in Munster, apart from 1992 but to be honest that was a poor Kerry team they were not great in the early 1990s, pity because as dub it would have been good to meet them then.
So you have two counties playing counties that mainly excel at hurling, rather than it being an issue with supporters of Kerry or Cork it could simply be a case of not being interesting enough. With the back door system both teams are always involved at this time of year.

Over the past number of years you have had Donegal, Derry, Down, Tyrone and Armagh all in Ulster,

Leinster Westmeath, Laois, Meath, Kildare, Dublin, Offaly have done something, Wexford are not bad now, have been poor up to that but still have three All Irelands in a row somewhere.

In Munster Cork and Kerry really to a large extent have it their own way and that is boring and reflected in the crowds at some games, IMHO.

ShamoBuc

keane2097 wrote: »

This thing about Kerry supporters is some joke. Per mile travelled we'd annihilate any other set of fans. Easy bring half the county with you when you get to an All Ireland final once a generation.

Don't think so. Cork fans do a fair bit of travelling and they do it for both codes - unlike Kerry.

keane2097

ShamoBuc wrote: »

Don't think so. Cork fans do a fair bit of travelling and they do it for both codes - unlike Kerry.

Ye had about 200 people at the National League final *slow clap*

ShamoBuc

keane2097 wrote: »

Ye had about 200 people at the National League final *slow clap*

You do realise we travelled to both league finals:rolleyes: