The GAA has revealed a €2.6 million rise in commercial revenues in 2012; a €2.5 million climb in total gate receipts and a €5.9 million overall increase in revenue to €52.7 million.

The annual accounts published at Croke park yesterday show the Association to be in sound financial health, despite the continued flat performance in spending and economic activity in broader society.
“This was a year of solid financial performance at central level,” said GAA Finance Director Tom Ryan.
The figures do cover a different time period with 2011 having been reported as a short year with a change of reporting dates but nevertheless the figures are still positive.
Income from gate receipts for Central Council games in 2012 was up €2.5m to €26.7m compared to a figure of €24.2 for 2011. The All-Ireland hurling final replay between Kilkenny and Galway generated a financial ‘windfall’ of €2.8m;
That could have been €1 million higher but a significant reduction in ticket prices, while costing short term revenue, was a sound stroke in terms of engagement with the core base of fans that filled the stadium three times in the four weeks of September to the 1st October.
Ryan expressed his satisfaction with those figures in light of the major competition for spectators’ attention last summer due to the staging of the Olympic Games in London and the European Soccer Championships.
“The Olympics and Ireland’s participation at the European Championship Finals during our peak season certainly posed a potential challenge to us over the course of the year,” added Ryan. “It’s very difficult to say that they had no effect, but they didn’t have a perceptibly negative impact on how we fared.”
Key figures on where the money was spent include:

  • Player Welfare Projects €3.5 million, up from €2.9 million
  • Match Day Costs of €9.5m
  • Games Development €9.9m, up from €8.9 million
  • County and Provincial Distributions and team costs of €11.3 million.

Ryan expanded on exactly where the revenue generated by the GAA is spent: “We try to be as open and transparent as possible about where the revenues of the Association are both earned and spent,” said Ryan.
“19 per cent of the revenue is spent on the direct staging of matches and the costs of putting on games on a Sunday.”
“After that, we distribute upwards of 20 per cent back to counties, clubs and provinces.”
“A further 20 per cent goes to medium and long-term development of the games both in Ireland and overseas, including the deployment of over 200 coaches nationwide.”
“The cost of running the Association absorbs about 16 per cent of every Euro that is paid through the turnstiles. After that, 17 per cent went on capital projects.”
Ryan stressed that the money supporters pay to go through turnstiles at Central Council games is reinvested in the Association itself to safeguard and promote the future of Gaelic Games.
“We are not here to make a profit or generate a return. The only necessity to generate a positive return is to ensure that we can foster the games and keep the Association on a healthy footing.”
Click here to download the accounts in full 
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