The population of Mayo in the last census came in at a little over 130,000. Yet by the time the crowd has dispersed from Croke Park next Saturday, the total attendance figure of those who have seen them through the All Ireland Football Championship Quarter and Semi Finals will be over 200,000.
Attendances throughout the closing stages of this year’s All Ireland Championships in Hurling and Football have been well ahead of last year already and with at least one more replay to throw into the mix, the revenue accruing to the GAA will be significant.
Each year in the accounts of the Association the point is well made that replays cannot be relied upon to bolster the coffers but each year they come back again.
It will be played at 3 pm next Saturday, overlapping with a potential Irish Women’s Rugby World Cup 5th place play off at Kingspan Stadium scheduled for 2 pm so long as they beat Australia again on Tuesday.
The Football Championship sponsors in AIB, eir and Supervalu will get another bonus bite at activating their sponsorships and they will all be back again for more 24 hours later as Dublin take on Tyrone in what will be their second complete sell out of Croke Park this summer.
The knock on impact of that for businesses around Dublin and on the corridors stretching South, West and North will deliver for restaurants, pubs, filling stations and more and when the entertainment is as good as was served up yesterday there will be very few complaints from the faithful fans.
The GAA will likely have reduced price admission for the semi-final replay between Mayo and Kerry, a fact likely to be confirmed in line with recent practice later today.
