The Euro 2012 bandwagon rolls into town.

orourkeda · 12-12-2011 03:13PM #1

I was chatting to my 2 brothers yesterday and they told me that they had got tickets to the Ireland v Croatia match. Neither had set foot in the Aviva for the qualifying campaign. They are by no means alone and there are hundreds of people who have now secured tickets that did not attend some or all qualifying games.

It also seems that this extends beyond soccer. It is a sight that can be seen during every GAA season when all ireland final days come around and practically every other high profile sporting occasion that graces our nation.

With Euro 2012 now on the horizon is it fair to ask if bandwagon jumping is unique to the Irish people or is it a universal phenomenon?

SEPT 23 1989 · 12-12-2011 03:15PM

Anything that gives the country a lift at the moment is a good thing

Pherekydes · 12-12-2011 03:17PM

I didn't know it was obligatory to go to every qualifying match before you were allowed go to the finals.

kfallon · 12-12-2011 03:17PM

It's universal.....it's known as 'Le Bandwagon' in France for example!

Kojak · 12-12-2011 03:17PM

Its probably not unique to the irish - any international team or club team that are succesfull will always have their share of bandwagon fans, especially near a final.

No one is going to jump on the bandwagin for a team that are utter shíte.

Turtyturd · 12-12-2011 03:19PM

orourkeda wrote: »

I was chatting to my 2 brothers yesterday and they told me that they had got tickets to the Ireland v Croatia match. Neither had set foot in the Aviva for the qualifying campaign. They are by no means alone and there are hundreds of people who have now secured tickets that did not attend some or all qualifying games.

It also seems that this extends beyond soccer. It is a sight that can be seen during every GAA season when all ireland final days come around and practically every other high profile sporting occasion that graces our nation.

With Euro 2012 now on the horizon is it fair to ask if bandwagon jumping is unique to the Irish people or is it a universal phenomenon?

Yep...unique to Ireland and to sport, would never see it happening in something like...music.

CucaFace · 12-12-2011 03:20PM

I have mates who in the past have basically said that the types of people who support the Irish football teams are nothing but knackers. Once the Rugby team started doing well they were all about a sport none had ever played or had any real interest in before.

But now we have qualified they are heading off to Poland and looking for tickets.

If i got some extra i wouldn't even tell them about them. Id prefer to find real fans and give them the tickets.

This is the **** that really annoys me.

It's mainly the same Rugby bandwagon fans who are now coming back to the football side.

Randy Anders · 12-12-2011 03:21PM

Yeah, how dare those bandwagon jumpers pay thousands of euro to go to Poland to see our national team play in a big competition

orourkeda · 12-12-2011 03:21PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Anything that gives the country a lift at the moment is a good thing

Absolutely but thats not the point.

There are bound to be supporters who are due or deserve tickets who will miss out

Seachmall · 12-12-2011 03:22PM

Hipster.

If you buy the tickets you "deserve" to go.

John Doe1 · 12-12-2011 03:22PM

You sound like a football hipster.

orourkeda · 12-12-2011 03:23PM

Randy Anders wrote: »

Yeah, how dare those bandwagon jumpers pay thousands of euro to go to Poland to see our national team play in a big competition

Possibly at the expense of some fans who pay thousands of euro to go and see qualifying games at home and abroad.

Randy Anders · 12-12-2011 03:23PM

orourkeda wrote: »

Absolutely but thats not the point.

There are bound to be supporters who are due or deserve tickets who will miss out

So everybody who didn't attend the qualifiers should stay at home instead of going to support the team?

foxyboxer · 12-12-2011 03:24PM

It will be better watching the games in the Pub anyway.

orourkeda · 12-12-2011 03:24PM

Pherekydes wrote: »

I didn't know it was obligatory to go to every qualifying match before you were allowed go to the finals.

Did I say that?

Shouldnt those fans that do have first access

DEFTLEFTHAND · 12-12-2011 03:25PM

No I wouldn't say its a uniquely Irish phenomenon, people are drawn to success and like to feel apart of it. It is a bit sickening though, I've mates who I drink with who would not even watch a ROI match on telly a year ago and now want to go Poland and Ukraine.

The same goes for the rugby, Back in the late 90s I remember been referred to as a 'posh snob' and a 'west brit' in school because I played and watched rugby. These same muppets today swan around in their Munster jerseys and well up with tears when Ireland's Call is played.

CucaFace · 12-12-2011 03:26PM

Randy Anders wrote: »

Yeah, how dare those bandwagon jumpers pay thousands of euro to go to Poland to see our national team play in a big competition

You're missing the point.

Chances are a lot of these band wagon fans will have some connection and will end up with match tickets, when a lot of fans who have actually stuck with the team through the bad years will be left without.

I've no problem with anyone heading out there but i do have a problem with real fans being left ticketless because a big number of Rugby bandwagon fans decide to change sports for a few weeks.

Dotrel · 12-12-2011 03:26PM

orourkeda wrote: »

With Euro 2012 now on the horizon is it fair to ask if bandwagon jumping is unique to the Irish people or is it a universal phenomenon?

It's not unique to the Irish but we definitely do it as extensively as anyone. For instance, n 1987 only 17,000 came to Lansdowne to watch Ireland play Brazil (such was the level of disinterest in the Irish national team). Two years later 49,000 came to watch Ireland v Malta (a sellout, unofficial reports reckon they could have sold twice that many tickets).

(Tell your friends to at least learn all the players names before they enter the stadium.)

Seachmall · 12-12-2011 03:26PM

orourkeda wrote: »

Did I say that?

Shouldnt those fans that do have first access

Don't many clubs give members first access tickets?

I'm sure it happens in GAA, does it not happen in football or rugby too?

If not then there's not much else that can be done and people shouldn't be refused tickets because they don't qualify as fans.

HalloweenJack · 12-12-2011 03:28PM

Not unique to Ireland at all. I've come across it in other countries too.

The whole Irish bandwagon phenomenon was summed up for me a few years ago by a classmate. He was asking me what I was doing for the rugby match at the weekend. I told him I wouldn't be watching it as I have no interest whatsoever in rugby, Irish or otherwise. He said "come on, it's the only thing we have a chance of winning".

hooradiation · 12-12-2011 03:29PM

orourkeda wrote: »

There are bound to be supporters who are due or deserve tickets who will miss out

If they were real fans they'd have got their tickets early.
Bloody fair weather supporters the lot of them.....

orourkeda · 12-12-2011 03:30PM

Randy Anders wrote: »

So everybody who didn't attend the qualifiers should stay at home instead of going to support the team?

I didnt say that either. Once the supporters that turn up for qualifiers are taken care of then the remaining tickets should be placed on general sale.

The priority should be to reward people who attend qualifying games

Pherekydes · 12-12-2011 03:30PM

orourkeda wrote: »

Possibly at the expense of some fans who pay thousands of euro to go and see qualifying games at home and abroad.

Maybe they should have saved their money for the big matches?

If you buy a ticket to go to Croker or Lansdowne Road it entitles you to go to exactly one match, unless it's a special. If you want to go to more matches in other stadia buy more tickets. Simples.

But don't blame others for buying tickets ahead of you. It's first come, first served.

Dotrel · 12-12-2011 03:31PM

orourkeda wrote: »

I didnt say that either. Once the supporters that turn up for qualifiers are taken care of then the remaining tickets should be placed on general sale.

The priority should be to reward people who attend qualifying games

In particular, priority should be to reward fans who go to the away qualifiers first. Only after that should home fans be considered.

Jaxxy · 12-12-2011 03:33PM

orourkeda wrote: »

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Anything that gives the country a lift at the moment is a good thing

Absolutely but thats not the point.

There are bound to be supporters who are due or deserve tickets who will miss out

This is my issue. Most of us haven't a hope in getting tickets, my only chance is the FAI draw for the people who block book tickets. Already I have people asking me to apply for them on their behalf. I can't help but think, "I don't recall you ever going to a match previous to qualifying..."

Anyway, if I get tickets out of this draw and I can go to Poland then I'll be keeping them for myself. If I can't go then I'll be giving them to someone who I feel genuinely deserves them. Sounds snobby I know, but I don't spend hundreds a year on football tickets to hand them over to a fairweather.

Seachmall · 12-12-2011 03:34PM

Dotrel wrote: »

In particular, priority should be to reward fans who go to the away qualifiers first. Only after that should home fans be considered.

What if they're saving up for the big game?

Not everybody can afford to go to more than one match.

Fans should not be defined by disposable income.

orourkeda · 12-12-2011 03:35PM

Pherekydes wrote: »

Maybe they should have saved their money for the big matches?

If you buy a ticket to go to Croker or Lansdowne Road it entitles you to go to exactly one match, unless it's a special. If you want to go to more matches in other stadia buy more tickets. Simples.

But don't blame others for buying tickets ahead of you. It's first come, first served.

I'm not going. It doesnt affect me.

My point was that it shouldnt be first come first served. There should be some form of reward or respect for loyalty.

Not because some wanker decides to come out of the woodwork once every 10 years.

The FAI will then wonder why they have a half empty stadium when the world cup quaifiers come around

bijapos · 12-12-2011 03:36PM

orourkeda wrote: »

I was chatting to my 2 brothers yesterday and they told me that they had got tickets to the Ireland v Croatia match. Neither had set foot in the Aviva for the qualifying campaign. They are by no means alone and there are hundreds of people who have now secured tickets that did not attend some or all qualifying games.

It also seems that this extends beyond soccer. It is a sight that can be seen during every GAA season when all ireland final days come around and practically every other high profile sporting occasion that graces our nation.

With Euro 2012 now on the horizon is it fair to ask if bandwagon jumping is unique to the Irish people or is it a universal phenomenon?

I've been to plenty of Irish matches over the years, but the moment they started to charge €70 in to Lansdowne Road for every match no matter what the opposition was the time I told the FAI to finally fcuk off. They refuse point blank to reduce the price, no matter who plays, so its €70 to see World Champions play, and €70 to see Andorra. €70 for any international is crazy money, let alone to see ireland play in the middle of a recession.

The stupidity of this is reflected in the attendances, but they will refuse to do anything about it for fear of losing face. It should be interesting to seee exactly who the Official Euro 2012 packages can be bought through and what connections they have with the FAI and John "€450,000 p.a" Delaney.

Sorry but although the FAI has been run like sh1te for decades, the present crowd have driven me away completley and I'm more than happy to do my shouting in the pub.

(rant over). :mad:

orourkeda · 12-12-2011 03:37PM

Pherekydes wrote: »

Maybe they should have saved their money for the big matches?

If you buy a ticket to go to Croker or Lansdowne Road it entitles you to go to exactly one match, unless it's a special. If you want to go to more matches in other stadia buy more tickets. Simples.

But don't blame others for buying tickets ahead of you. It's first come, first served.

People who go to no matches are entitled to zero tickets by this logic

SEPT 23 1989 · 12-12-2011 03:38PM

Is there no loyalty point system for tickets?

orourkeda · 12-12-2011 03:39PM

bijapos wrote: »

I've been to plenty of Irish matches over the years, but the moment they started to charge €70 in to Lansdowne Road for every match no matter what the opposition was the time I told the FAI to finally fcuk off. They refuse point blank to reduce the price, no matter who plays, so its €70 to see World Champions play, and €70 to see Andorra. €70 for any international is crazy money, let alone to see ireland play in the middle of a recession.

The stupidity of this is reflected in the attendances, but they will refuse to do anything about it for fear of losing face. It should be interesting to seee exactly who the Official Euro 2012 packages can be bought through and what connections they have with the FAI and John "€450,000 p.a" Delaney.

Sorry but although the FAI has been run like sh1te for decades, the present crowd have driven me away completley and I'm more than happy to do my shouting in the pub.

(rant over). :mad:

Who's excusing the FAI ticket prices?

The Euro 2012 bandwagon rolls into town.

Comments