The Government announcement on the final leg of easing Covid restrictions has been warmly welcomed across sport with an expectation that all restrictions will be lifted on October 22nd.

The timing is perfect for the IRFU in particular who will now be able to plan for full capacity games at the Aviva Stadium during the Autumn internationals against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina on three successive Saturdays from November 6th.

The first round of the Heineken Cup does not take place until December so the four provinces can also plan for those marquee games without restriction.

The Republic of Ireland’s Men’s World cup Qualifier against Portugal on November 11th will also be OK.

There will also be a potential benefit for the GAA with capacity restrictions being lowered in advance of October as well.

50 or 75 PER CENT

From September 6th, organised outdoor events will be able to accommodate 75 per cent of capacity where there is proof that all those attending are fully vaccinated, recovered from Covid within the past six months or are under the age of 18.

The figure remains limited to 50 per cent with appropriate social distancing and the wearing of face masks if the attendance cannot be checked as among those groups.

This presents a challenge for the GAA as the All Ireland final between Mayo and Tyrone will now take place on September 11th and be subject to one or the other new level of restriction.

It had already been granted Test Event status meaning a capacity of 40,000 was allowed and that is how the distribution of tickets across the Association has been planned.

With a capacity of 82,300, that number could rise to 41,150 at the lower level or a higher number of 61,725 at the higher end. The requirement to produce a vaccine certificate or proof of recovery would be needed and would also need to accommodate both the HSE certification and that of the NHS covering Northern Ireland.

TICKETING

The seating plans which have been put in place for a 40,000 capacity stadium would have to be changed and it is understood that tickets have already been printed which would require being scrapped and replaced.

Is it possible? Well, yes anything is possible and there will be pressure from fans to allow the maximum number to attend. The additional costs would be less than the revenue boost of an additional near €2 million in ticket revenue which will also be a consideration for the GAA ticket office and its agent Ticketmaster over the next 24 hours.

The requirement to produce a vaccine cert to avail of indoor dining should give cover against claims of discrimination and whether it was legal to insist on a particular health action having been undertaken though with questions still over the level of vaccination among the Tyrone team, in particular, that might be a more thorny subject to overcome.

How would Tyrone fans who could not get a ticket react to the lower level being needed because of a reluctance on the part of their team to share whether or not the players had been vaccinated or had suffered from covid in the last wave?

Ultimately we have to celebrate the fact that the restrictions are being lifted. As is so often the case in sport though the importance of timing and the offering of a choice of regulations for the final game in the men’s All Ireland series, one that should have been played last Saturday and which would have avoided the temptation, has presented the GAA with a tough call to make.

The All Ireland Camogie Finals will take place the following day and has already been granted Test Event Status allowing up to 30,000 fans to attend. It is not likely that any changes will be sought or made for this.

 

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