What once would have cost €32,000, can today be bought for €5,000. That’s the kind of rate of reduction normally reserved for the latest big screen televisions, but this deal will bring you off the sofa and to the heart of the action for ten years worth of Euro, Nations League and World Cup Qualifiers.
The FAI CEO John Delaney was in a reflective mood yesterday when launching the new long term ticket packages at the Stadium. It’s hard to believe that we are now at the point of renewing the ten-year option for seats at the Aviva and the lessons learned from the issues that dogged the FAI finances from having pitched that first wave too high have clearly been taken on board.
He made the point that over the course of the next ten years some of the most iconic moments in sport would be played out and this was an opportunity to secure your place in one of the best seats in the house.
€5,000 for the ten-year option compares well to the €12,5000 cost of the IRFU offering in what could be the same seat and while Ireland’s standing in the latter is higher at present, a decade can see a lot of change.
The GAA option at Croke Park is higher again at €13,500 but does deliver substantially more games so comparisons deliver little by way of insight.
There are three and five-year options as well from the FAI at €2,000 and €3,000 while there is a first-time offer of family tickets in the same premium location with tickets together for two adults and two children from €15,000 for the ten-year ticket, or €6,000 for the three-year version.
Take out the calculator and work that out on a match by match basis and you will discover that at a cost of over €60 per seat per game, for those involving the senior men’s team, that’s still beyond the reach of most fans but this is the premium offering.
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Sporting facilities deliver a range of ticket options that balance each other out in terms of offering access on one hand and the ‘best seats in the house’ on the other.
The higher end also delivers the kind of financial certainty that this price point is more likely to deliver than the last round.
The packages are branded as Club Ireland Membership and have been developed following extensive consultation with current premium ticket holders from both individual and corporate perspectives.
Club Ireland members will be seated in the best seats at the Aviva Stadium, have potential access to away matches as well as access to pre-and post-game receptions with past players in attendance. Membership also includes free entry to each of the Ireland Women’s Senior team internationals, all FAI Cup Finals at Aviva Stadium, as well as all Ireland underage international matches.
They will also have an annual meeting with Ireland Senior Team Managers Mick McCarthy and Colin Bell, as well as the opportunity to be included in VIP football experiences such as match-day dressing room tours and attendance at Ireland team training sessions.
“We are delighted to relaunch Club Ireland as we embark on a very exciting time for Irish football,” said Delaney.
“The Club Ireland membership packages, created after extensive consultation with our fans, have been designed to put our fans at the heart of the action when Irish teams play.”
“These are the best value premium level season tickets in Irish sport. Our fan base, envied around the world, have been a key factor in our success over the years. Their support for the teams on the pitch is well known but membership of Club Ireland also represents an investment in the future of Irish football as the FAI work to grow and develop the game right around the country.”
“We look forward to welcoming new and existing Club Ireland members to Premium Level hospitality at the Aviva Stadium and are very grateful to them for their significant support for Irish football.”
“I’m thrilled to be here to help launch the new Club Ireland offering,” added Mick McCarthy.
“Irish football fans are known to be some of the best football fans in the world. Club Ireland will allow members a unique experience being right at the heart of the action on match days. I want to thank them in advance for their support which is vital to the team as we look to perform on the world stage. We need the green army on song.”
The tickets are on sale now with the upcoming Euro 2020 Qualifier against Georgia the first game to be included in what will hopefully be a decade of success.
Image Credit: Stephen McCarthy, Sportsfile
