- Viewing Figures Double for Women’s FAI Cup Final
- 2015 Peak just shy of Men’s average
RTÉ Sport viewing figures seen last night by Sport for Business reveal that the audience for last weekend’s Women’s FAI Cup Final more than doubled from 2014.
The average number tuning into the game between Wexford Youths and Shelbourne climbed to 71,000 from 34,000 12 months ago while the peak number watching hit 129,000, up a massive 70,000 from last year
That figure is only 3,000 short of last year’s peak figure for the Men’s final and the average for this year’s game between Cork City and Dundalk. The peak for the Men’s final this year hit 185,000.
These figures highlight the lessening gap in perception between what men’s and women’s sport offers at this level of competition.
Attendance at the opening qualification game for the 2017 European Championship was up by 50% on the equivalent in the last campaign and the growing support is just reward for the effort going into management of the game on the Women’s side over recent years, as well as the commercial support being pumped in by Continental Tyres.
The Ladies Football All Ireland final in September was the highest attended match in Women’s sport across Europe this year and the Irish Women’s Rugby team will be moving their home base from Ashbourne to Donnybrook to facilitate a bigger live audience and enhanced TV coverage next February.
Next Wednesday, Fairyhouse racecourse will host the first ever Women’s Irish National exclusively for Women jockeys and raising money for the Marie Keating fund.
The momentum in Women’s sport is undeniable.
Sport for Business Coverage of Women’s Sport is supported by Liberty Insurance.
Image Credit: Inpho.ie
Sport for Business is a membership community of sporting and business leaders.
We produce a daily news digest covering the commercial world of sport in Ireland, and collaborate with our members, some of whom are listed alongside, to create great events and a closer link between sport, business and society.
Sport for Business is a membership community of sporting and business leaders. 
