The GAA hit lucky with a Dublin Football replay yesterday, a boost to the coffers that will extend to well over €1 Million given the 82,300 sell out that were at Croke Park yesterday and the likely full house that will be clambering for tickets when they go on sale later today.
Mayo had to go to Limerick last year because Croke Park was already in use for the College Football clash between Penn State and UCF. This year the Saturday is free though the ground staff will be hoping for a good evening as they get ready for another full house on Sunday for the All Ireland Hurling Final.
That means a likely 165,000 customers filing through the turnstiles in 24 hours, a task that will test Alan Gallagher and his Stadium team but one which they have proved admirably capable of in the past.
The ticket prices for the replay will be less than for the Final. The latter is €80 for the stands and €40 for the terrace as opposed to €45 for the stands for the semi-final and €25 for Hill 16 and the Nally Terrace. Add in that perhaps 15,000 of the tickets will have gone to children at a cost of only €5 and that there is no additional benefit from boxes and long term ticket holders but the revenue for Saturday will still come to well over the magic Million.
There are those for whom a GAA replay seems to be pre-ordained and there have been many in the past few years, especially at the highest level but this is sport at the highest level, played on the finest of margins and that games should be close will never be regretted by true fans.
It gives a boost to Croke Park’s central funding; to clubs for whom membership is always most attractive and most compelling around the edges when hard to get tickets are sought; and to the sponsors of the Championship and the teams.
AIB, Eircom and Supervalu will now have another prime time audience to see their involvement and to be engaged with through the various methods which each has employed over the course of the season to date.
AIG and Elvery’s will similarly have another week basking in the glow of association with a team that ‘might yet’ go all the way.
Dublin GAA management put a brave face on the Mayo comeback yesterday, recognising that sport can be cruel as well as magical on occasion. They will now be deep in the analysis of what can be improved next week.
The fans will not be moaning about having to change Saturday plans.
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