How do YOU get tickets for Ireland games?

CatFromHue · 14-02-2013 06:31PM #1

I'm not talking about you relating to the general public I'm talking about you the person reading this post.

When I was in school I used to go to he Ireland games and obviously I was in the school boy stand. I could get tickets for any game then and I could even get tickets for other places in Lansdowne, this is the mid to late 90's here. If my memory is right tickets for the North and South Stand for games were £20 or so and the tickets for the East and West Stands were much more.

When I left school I could apply to get tickets through my club. There was always a big queue and in the end I never got tickets through the club.

The only time I've been to an Ireland game since was a friends friend had two spare tickets to Ireland v Wales in Croker in 2010 and they were about 50 or 55 euro to stand in Hill 16 i.e. ****e tickets.

So how does anyone here who goes to Ireland games get tickets? Though your club? Via the Supporters club? You hop over the back wall after hiding up a tree by the Dodder all night?

The reason I ask is that Quinlan and Thornley were referring to "Ticketmaster" fans last night on Off The Ball but I didn't think many or any tickets for Ireland v England/France were on sale via Ticketmaster. They were also mentioning that the IRFU were pricing the tickets out of reach of "ordinary" fans but £20 in 97 wouldn't be far off 35-40 euro (a pint was about £2.50 then and a bag of chips £1 or £1.30) now and the East and West stand tickets were £40-£50 I think so you can do the maths on that one. So in my mind it's always been expensive to go to Ireland games.

awec · 14-02-2013 07:16PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

I'm not talking about you relating to the general public I'm talking about you the person reading this post.

When I was in school I used to go to he Ireland games and obviously I was in the school boy stand. I could get tickets for any game then and I could even get tickets for other places in Lansdowne, this is the mid to late 90's here. If my memory is right tickets for the North and South Stand for games were £20 or so and the tickets for the East and West Stands were much more.

When I left school I could apply to get tickets through my club. There was always a big queue and in the end I never got tickets through the club.

The only time I've been to an Ireland game since was a friends friend had two spare tickets to Ireland v Wales in Croker in 2010 and they were about 50 or 55 euro to stand in Hill 16 i.e. ****e tickets.

So how does anyone here who goes to Ireland games get tickets? Though your club? Via the Supporters club? You hop over the back wall after hiding up a tree by the Dodder all night?

The reason I ask is that Quinlan and Thornley were referring to "Ticketmaster" fans last night on Off The Ball but I didn't think many or any tickets for Ireland v England/France were on sale via Ticketmaster. They were also mentioning that the IRFU were pricing the tickets out of reach of "ordinary" fans but £20 in 97 wouldn't be far off 35-40 euro (a pint was about £2.50 then and a bag of chips £1 or £1.30) now and the East and West stand tickets were £40-£50 I think so you can do the maths on that one. So in my mind it's always been expensive to go to Ireland games.

Ireland v Wales in 2010 was also the last game I was at. I was also on Hill 16.

Since the move back to the 50,000 seater Aviva my chance of a ticket for a 6N game has been nil.

You can get them on Ticketmaster for the AI's usually.

irishbucsfan · 14-02-2013 07:20PM

I have a 10 year ticket but before that it was through whatever club I was playing for and before that it was school.

JustinDee · 14-02-2013 07:53PM

The "ticketmaster fans" moniker is in reference to what some fella from Clonmel RFC said in a comment on that piece. Personally I'd find it insulting if I took his aloof name-calling to heart. It seems that some folk have such a superiority complex over others attending games that they subscribe to the delusion that they're somehow more deserving to be at that game than others. What they appear to want is a closed shop. Either that or some form of entrance exam, which given some of the depressingly low knowledge of the game's laws I witness on the sidelines at club matches of all levels would be nothing but ironic and/or hypocritical.

I was a member of a club until my last year of McCorry Cup in 1989. I then left the country and had no access to tickets save for some school contacts, if I was lucky. Club's allocation went to highest bidder outside if not to a chosen clique within.

I know people who are new to the game and they are as deserving as the club member I'm speaking of. My own mother is new to the sport and is basically rugby loopy now. Corporate ticket jaunters and general public have always been at internationals. They are who clubs sell their allocations to when not flogging them at a premium to visiting supporters.

My two cents anyway. My own view.

Edit: ticket prices started at €25 for the England and France games.

mfceiling · 14-02-2013 07:55PM

awec wrote: »

Ireland v Wales in 2010 was also the last game I was at. I was also on Hill 16.

Since the move back to the 50,000 seater Aviva my chance of a ticket for a 6N game has been nil.

You can get them on Ticketmaster for the AI's usually.

Same...i was at the ireland v wales 2010.

Probably could get tickets for the aviva if i wanted to but with the debacle of the ticket pricing i've decided not to bother. I really don't think any ticket for any 6 nations game should be more than €50 tbh...

opinionatedfan · 14-02-2013 07:59PM

frankly i don't, last game i went to was in the old landsdowne versus SA.

can't afford it anymore.

KERSPLAT! · 14-02-2013 08:07PM

I was at the Argentina match. Seats were pretty sh!tty but got the pair for free so happy out

That was my only international match so not sure how I'd go about it for the next one

danthefan · 14-02-2013 08:12PM

I don't. I might do again when Kidney is gone and I might leave the stadium not feeling like it was a complete waste of money.

cee_jay · 14-02-2013 08:15PM

I got my ticket for this years France 6N game through the Munster Supporter's Club. However, I didn't see any tickets for the England game available through there.
It is pot luck if they get offered through the supporters club or not.

vkid · 14-02-2013 08:24PM

used to be a member of the irfu supporters club thing, but haven't bothered since the first few games in the Aviva. Last time I went to all the Irish games was in Croke Park. Just really really do not like the Aviva at all. The last game I was at there was a leinster Munster game in 2010 i think and was right up the top of one of the stands with a big metal truss in front of us. Haven't gone back since and no intention of. Too much hassle coming up from Clare, too expensive all told for crap seats and crap atmosphere. Each to their own though. Stick to thomond park these days and watch Ireland on the box.

awec · 14-02-2013 08:38PM

Price is a big factor too. I could have gone to one of the AI's but when I saw the prices and saw how much it would be for 2 tickets I thought it just wasn't worth it. Then you have to take in to account all the extra costs around it (food and drink).

I am not overly impressed with the Aviva either having been there a few times. The view from the north stand is absolutely awful. I would rather watch the game on TV than pay to be in that north stand, even if it does mean losing out on the atmosphere / experience.

Podge_irl · 14-02-2013 08:39PM

awec wrote: »

I am not overly impressed with the Aviva either having been there a few times. The view from the north stand is absolutely awful. I would rather watch the game on TV than pay to be in that north stand, even if it does mean losing out on the atmosphere / experience.

They should really have an option to make the north stand a terrace. View is poor anyway and a terrace would be good craic. You could fit more people in too.

The Guardian · 14-02-2013 08:41PM

Step 1: Join your local rugby club.
Step 2: Put a request in for tickets.
Step 3: Buy some of the older dudes the odd pint every now and then.

awec · 14-02-2013 08:50PM

At some point in my life I'll get to an Ireland v England 6N game.

I'll probably have to wait until Ireland are muck and nobody wants the tickets, but I'll be there! :pac:

The Guardian · 14-02-2013 08:51PM

ah but shure you're a moderator on boards.ie
dont feel too bad

CatFromHue · 14-02-2013 08:51PM

Interesting points.

Does anyone know how much a ticket used to be for the East or West Stand in Lansdowne Road?

I see price is being mentioned but from my memory tickets for these Stands were always expensive except for a game against Canada or Romania.

Taco Corp · 14-02-2013 08:54PM

Have been getting tickets via supporters club for 5-6 years. Only missed out on a game I wanted to see a couple of times, which is a good return on the membership. Been pretty lucky with some of the seats I've had too. I always go for upper tier because you see so much more. In terms of bad seats, aisle seats are the worst

awec · 14-02-2013 08:58PM

The Guardian wrote: »

ah but shure you're a moderator on boards.ie
dont feel too bad

I know, I reckon my life has now peaked and it's all downhill from here!

awec · 14-02-2013 08:59PM

Captain_Hindsight wrote: »

Have been getting tickets via supporters club for 5-6 years. Only missed out on a game I wanted to see a couple of times, which is a good return on the membership. Been pretty lucky with some of the seats I've had too. I always go for upper tier because you see so much more. In terms of bad seats, aisle seats are the worst

Best seats IMO are the first few rows of the upper tier.

Worst seats are easily north stand.

The front rows of the lower tier I can't imagine are much use either.

Nor are the seats underneath the overhang in the lower tier (where you are sitting underneath the upper tier).

jamiedav2011 · 14-02-2013 09:00PM

Short answer is I don't go to Irish games anymore. Too expensive for what you're getting and don't feel as close to the team as I do with Leinster for various reasons.

Not affiliated to a club so previously it was a nightmare trying to source.

ulster_Beef · 14-02-2013 09:30PM

awec wrote: »

Price is a big factor too. I could have gone to one of the AI's but when I saw the prices and saw how much it would be for 2 tickets I thought it just wasn't worth it. Then you have to take in to account all the extra costs around it (food and drink).

I am not overly impressed with the Aviva either having been there a few times. The view from the north stand is absolutely awful. I would rather watch the game on TV than pay to be in that north stand, even if it does mean losing out on the atmosphere / experience.

What atmosphere lol?

Ive been to a few games and thankfully I was at one when my team one, that was the Ulster QF. Apart from that it has been a rather depressing affair.

rje66 · 14-02-2013 09:32PM

The Guardian wrote: »

Step 1: Join your local rugby club.
Step 2: Put a request in for tickets.
Step 3: Buy some of the older dudes the odd pint every now and then.

Step 1a: play a bit on the social team
Step1b: if you dont play then help coach/manage an under age team. Clubs need you

Step4 : become a branch referee..

.ak · 14-02-2013 09:32PM

I usually am lucky enough to get tickets through the Leinster season ticket lottery almost every year. Although the last tickets I took was the Ireland v England 2011.

I have refused every one since then, on the basis I don't want to support the IRFU keeping Kidney on. As petty as it sounds (and yes, it is petty) I believe the IRFU are solely interested on how many bums are put onto seats, not results. Probably a clever bit of business too, in fairness.

ulster_Beef · 14-02-2013 09:33PM

Podge_irl wrote: »

They should really have an option to make the north stand a terrace. View is poor anyway and a terrace would be good craic. You could fit more people in too.

I said that to people all along. I agree... rugby and terraces go together in my opinion. I think football had their say their.

However, this is the 21st century and they could easily have some sort of quick release/ refit seating system that could be put back up after a terrace has been used.

Thankfully Ravenhill will have terracing all round each of the 4 stands at the base.

Heroditas · 14-02-2013 09:50PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

Does anyone know how much a ticket used to be for the East or West Stand in Lansdowne Road?

Almost positive I have a ticket up in the attic for the Italy game in 2006 for the West Stand and it was €55. Games against England etc would have been about €65 though.
It was when the games moved to Croker that the prices went up quite a bit because the GAA were also looking for a share of the proceeds.
Then once the games moved back to Lansdowne, there was the redevelopment to be paid off.

Anyway, never any issues getting tickets for matches nowadays. I'm the club's Ticket Secretary.

However, it's actually pretty hard shifting tickets the last couple of seasons. Demand isn't there anymore. Two things are the cause:
Price and performance.
If prices were lower, people would go despite the performance and if the performances were better, people would go despite the price.
Also, people are spoiled for "big games" nowadays with the HEC.

Sundy · 15-02-2013 01:21AM

I know what your saying here but the clubman who gives up two nights a week and a day one the weekend deserves a chance to buy a ticket before the before the ticketmaster fan.

And as for your opinion on clubs who flog them to the highest bidder is a typical wool over the eyes IRFU view. Haha how do you think clubs have been keeping enough money in the coffers? By flogging the tickets to english travel agents. A lot of clubs in the country would be gone under only for the fact england come here every second year.
So dont blame the clubs for selling some of their tickets to stay afloat.

awec · 15-02-2013 01:26AM

Sundy wrote: »

I know what your saying here but the clubman who gives up two nights a week and a day one the weekend deserves a chance to buy a ticket before the before the ticketmaster fan.

And as for your opinion on clubs who flog them to the highest bidder is a typical wool over the eyes IRFU view. Haha how do you think clubs have been keeping enough money in the coffers? By flogging the tickets to english travel agents. A lot of clubs in the country would be gone under only for the fact england come here every second year.
So dont blame the clubs for selling some of their tickets to stay afloat.

I think his point was more aimed at clubmen who look down their noses at the people at games who got their tickets off ticketmaster.

As if the real fans are the clubmen and the rest are just rowdy blow-ins.

chupacabra · 15-02-2013 01:33AM

Was a supporters club member for years. Didnt renew my membership in 2010 and havent since. Not the biggest fan of the Aviva and its extremely expensive to travel up from Tralee. I still go to as many Autumn Internationals as I can though because its easier to get tickets and im usually in or around Dublin that time of year. Last 6N game I was at was Italy in 2010, those were also the last tickets I got via the supporters club.

CatFromHue · 15-02-2013 01:49AM

Heroditas wrote: »

Almost positive I have a ticket up in the attic for the Italy game in 2006 for the West Stand and it was €55. Games against England etc would have been about €65 though.
It was when the games moved to Croker that the prices went up quite a bit because the GAA were also looking for a share of the proceeds.
Then once the games moved back to Lansdowne, there was the redevelopment to be paid off.

You're right, I found the below on the IRFU website for the 2003 6N:
Six Nations 2003 (France and England). Stand - EUR57.00. Stand - EUR48.00. Uncovered Stand - EUR40.00. Touch & Goal Line - EUR35.00. Terrace - EUR21.00. Schoolboy/girl - EUR5.00
http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/12326.php

The current prices are for England and France are:
Premium Level € 125.00
Category 1 € 90.00
Category 2 € 80.00
Category 3 € 65.00
Category 4 € 50.00
Schoolboy/girl € 15.00
http://www.irishrugby.ie/tickets

Category 1 and Category 2 tickets in the Aviva are by far the most common (http://www.irishrugby.ie/tickets/aviva_stadium_map.php) and would compare roughly to 57e and 48e stand in the old Lansdowne Road. That's a jump of 1.58 to 1.6 and not incl the Ticketmaster charge would be another 5+ euro at least.

The tickets for the AI's this year are listed here:
http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/26698.php

Munstermissy · 15-02-2013 02:13AM

Normal procedure for me is to BEG :-). Last international in Dublin for me was England 6 Nations game 2011. First time in the Avivia and won't be rushing back, 110 euro for ticket and was seated at the very last row at the top of the stand:-(.

Went to the Fiji game in Thomond, 10 minutes in the road from me and 20 euro for the ticket.

TheGoldenAges · 15-02-2013 04:15AM

Been to a few Ireland matches, bought a Leinster season ticket for the first time this year and the atmosphere is a whole lot better at the RDS. Didn't have any luck with 6 Nations tickets in the draw (figures) but probably wouldn't have claimed them anyway.

For what you get it's sooo not worth it not to mention Kidney out!
At least it's under 100 days now

http://kidneyclock.net/

As for the atmosphere woes, there was a thread on that after the Boks game in November where I blamed it on the PA interference much like in Murrayfield (Don't get me started on that guy :rolleyes:) I was at that match and a supporter who tried to get the atmosphere going was sneered at and told to "sit down" by others who weren't interested in contributing to the atmosphere

Wish they would release some tickets to the public, maybe 10,000.

I consider myself a diehard fan who rarely comes home with my voice

and I know some of my college friends are much the same and are increasingly frustrated at how they don't have access to tickets. Most students who aren't involved with clubs at home have no access to tickets and lets be honest are the most likely to contribute towards an atmosphere (Not a dig at any of you fine gentlemen who I'm sure can match us

)

How do YOU get tickets for Ireland games?

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