Sport for Business T10 is a new weekly feature where we will look at Ten Key things you will benefit from knowing in an area of the business of sport either here at home or on a global basis.

Today we look at the Director General of the GAA’s Annual Report and identify ten of the key themes that have emerged or developed over the past twelve months in Ireland’s largest sporting organisation.

Amateur Status

Looking again, or perhaps seriously for the first time, at the idea of payments to coaches and managers is one of the most important issues to address in the GAA in 2018.  The Report suggests that a rule change alone will make little difference and that it is the culture and acceptance of payments above what would be reasonable expenses that is the main challenge.  It’s never about the payment to one individual or how that might be wrapped up, it’s always about the impact that has throughout a county or a club on the motivation of those who have and always weill give of their time freely and without financial reward.

“We are swimming against the tide of prfessionalism in every other area of sport,” said Paraic Duffy.  The GAA is a unique construct.  Amateur status is at the heart of it.

Splitting Dublin

The calls to split Dublin are as regular as the rising of the sun but Duffy states that is in his opinion “there is all to lose in doing so and nothing to gain.” At a time of massive success the calls become louder but why should Dublin be deprived of its county identity and why should success in terms of management on and off the field of play be used as a reason to do so.

Club Championships

The new GAA Calendar will be in place for a period of three years and frees up April and September as exclusive periods for the playing of Club Championships.  Duffy states that County Boards need to be strong in maintaining the primacy of club at these stages and to play off Championships in a timely and unobstructed fashion.  The GAA at Central level cannot impose a template on each county but it does expect that the opportunity which this change presents wil be adhered to.

Calendar Year

The playing of the AIB Club Championships in a Calendar Year is a decision to be taken after one or perhasp two years of seeing what the new calendar of fixtures produces.  the prospect though of Championship Finals under floodlights at Croke Park in December is something which now clearer on the horizon.

GAANOW

The use of clip rights and an initial trial of self broadcasting of content through Facebook was considered a success over the first year of the new media rights deal, achieving 20 million views.

“This direct to fan model is becoming more and more common in international sports broadcastingpractice and the GAA is the leader in much of this developmentin the irish sporting context.”

Anti Doping

“There is a pressing need to introduce a system whereby a player is prohibited from playing on an inter county team until he has certification that he has completed an acceptable anti-doping education programme.”

Development of Stadia

The loss of around €35 million that a successful bid to stage the Rugby World Cup would have generated leaves a significant gap in finding what is needed to upgrade and maintain the GAA’s stadium infrastructure.

Pairc Uí Chaoimh

“The cost of constructing the stadium went significantly beyond the original budget and managing the debt willpose a financial challenge for Cork, but I have no doubt that, in time, the effort, foresight and vision of those who brought this major project to completion will be acknowledged and appreciated.”

Mobile Coverage at Croke Park

A significant programme of upgrade to the network carrying capacity at Croke Park on the biggest of match days will be completed early this year providing much stronger coverage on 3G and 4G networks, even on the busiest of match days.  That will help to position the GAA to the fore in terms of fan engagement and satisfaction.

Conclusion

Paraic Duffy has penned an eloquent conclusion to his report highlighting how and why the GAA retains such an important role in the life of Irish society.  You can read those final words here and for anyone with a love of sport and an appreciation of the power it has to make life better, it is worth taking the time.

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