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GPA Looking For Gate Receipts

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Very worring views coming out of the GPA in relation to the possibility of claiming gate receipts. The GPA treat themselves as professionals in an amateur organisation using words like "stakeholders" for players. The game needs radical overhaul in terms of how the wealth in the game is distributed. Game was never about money or greed but I'm afraid it is increasingly going down this route. The game cannot survive without clubs and club players and the voluntarily support of their local people but unsure if the GPA and the top brass in the GAA understand that.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 506 - 10/08/2019 15:54:32    2223404

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If that happens I bet ticket prices will go up again

PyatPree (Cork) - Posts: 376 - 10/08/2019 16:03:57    2223407

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Very worring views coming out of the GPA in relation to the possibility of claiming gate receipts. The GPA treat themselves as professionals in an amateur organisation using words like "stakeholders" for players. The game needs radical overhaul in terms of how the wealth in the game is distributed. Game was never about money or greed but I'm afraid it is increasingly going down this route. The game cannot survive without clubs and club players and the voluntarily support of their local people but unsure if the GPA and the top brass in the GAA understand that."
Players are stakeholders. In fact the biggest stake holders. Take them out and the top brass with the paying jobs are not required. We can not live in the past forever when county players trained two times a week and that was it. If they had to work back they stayed at work and went the next night. I worked with Kilkenny and Waterford players who often had to miss two and three sessions in a row because their replacement on the next shift did not come in. How to you think they would be treated today ? The peop[e who do not want the players compensated for their work would be the first to put hands out if it were them. I hear it, they are not forced to do it but if they made that choice would be called every name under the sun. There are and was always paid jobs in the GAA but not for the performers Top performers in all walks of entertainment are compensated. Move on 2019 not 1919.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2655 - 10/08/2019 17:12:19    2223424

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Replying To Canuck:  "Players are stakeholders. In fact the biggest stake holders. Take them out and the top brass with the paying jobs are not required. We can not live in the past forever when county players trained two times a week and that was it. If they had to work back they stayed at work and went the next night. I worked with Kilkenny and Waterford players who often had to miss two and three sessions in a row because their replacement on the next shift did not come in. How to you think they would be treated today ? The peop[e who do not want the players compensated for their work would be the first to put hands out if it were them. I hear it, they are not forced to do it but if they made that choice would be called every name under the sun. There are and was always paid jobs in the GAA but not for the performers Top performers in all walks of entertainment are compensated. Move on 2019 not 1919."
That is valid point. It is a bit of a cod that there are lots of non players getting played in an amateur organisation. Coaches, especially top coaches, doing it for 'expenses' is a joke. We revere some of the so called greats when they have done it. And you are right about players being the major stakeholders - no players and you have no association.

But we should also talk about another reality. The reality of clubs and volunteerism. Lots of clubs are struggling massively to get people involved and to simply survive. That is also a reality in 2019 in 2019. Another reality is that the tge majority of stakeholders (players) are involved in these clubs and there is massive discontent that we have to wait all year for a game because the 1% of 'stakeholders' tell the rest of us when we can play.

I know of some club players who have been 'called every name under the sun' who had the temerity to book a holiday during the summer.. Ie to actually organise their lives for themselves and not have their calendars determined for them by other 'stakeholders'.

While I do know that players are officially not paid, I know a lot of Cork players who are doing very well in terms of sponsorship, jobs etc that they get as a result (not all equally) and I don't begrudge them. However, I live in a GAA 2019 reality and the GPA don't deserve a cent of the gate receipts. The CPA maybe...

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 10/08/2019 18:11:53    2223446

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Replying To Canuck:  "Players are stakeholders. In fact the biggest stake holders. Take them out and the top brass with the paying jobs are not required. We can not live in the past forever when county players trained two times a week and that was it. If they had to work back they stayed at work and went the next night. I worked with Kilkenny and Waterford players who often had to miss two and three sessions in a row because their replacement on the next shift did not come in. How to you think they would be treated today ? The peop[e who do not want the players compensated for their work would be the first to put hands out if it were them. I hear it, they are not forced to do it but if they made that choice would be called every name under the sun. There are and was always paid jobs in the GAA but not for the performers Top performers in all walks of entertainment are compensated. Move on 2019 not 1919."
The biggest issue with pay for play is that it will open up a can of worms re transfers. The ability to earn a wave from the game would be dependent on the place of birth . Why would a hurler stick with westmeath if he could earn a living playing for Cork. Why play with Longford likewise in football. All the best players would gravitate to the big earning counties and the county system as we know it would die. If a wage can be earned playing the game then players would have to given the right to free movement.

catchturnscore (Longford) - Posts: 149 - 10/08/2019 19:15:49    2223513

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Replying To PyatPree:  "If that happens I bet ticket prices will go up again"
Ticket prices will go down if anything. Dublin will be winning every year at a canter and attendances will fall.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 10/08/2019 19:27:30    2223525

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The gaa has become a beast of epic proportions some of their own making (SKY) some not ..but fact is everybody everybody in the setup gets paid physio managers doctors security fitness promotions the nan selling the flags everyone except...The player ...........as much as I'm against it it's inevitable that pay for play will eventually be the result of this megalith but the top brass have brought this on themselfs through corporate greed

Hitnhurl (Cork) - Posts: 92 - 10/08/2019 19:31:14    2223531

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Very worring views coming out of the GPA in relation to the possibility of claiming gate receipts. The GPA treat themselves as professionals in an amateur organisation using words like "stakeholders" for players. The game needs radical overhaul in terms of how the wealth in the game is distributed. Game was never about money or greed but I'm afraid it is increasingly going down this route. The game cannot survive without clubs and club players and the voluntarily support of their local people but unsure if the GPA and the top brass in the GAA understand that."
I agree but people think all those High Vis jackets on the sideline at Croke are making a packet, you start playing players and you will end up paying for everything - rightly so. The GAA is about volunteers always has and always will be, paying an organisation like GPA is a disgrace.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4895 - 10/08/2019 19:33:53    2223534

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Replying To Canuck:  "Players are stakeholders. In fact the biggest stake holders. Take them out and the top brass with the paying jobs are not required. We can not live in the past forever when county players trained two times a week and that was it. If they had to work back they stayed at work and went the next night. I worked with Kilkenny and Waterford players who often had to miss two and three sessions in a row because their replacement on the next shift did not come in. How to you think they would be treated today ? The peop[e who do not want the players compensated for their work would be the first to put hands out if it were them. I hear it, they are not forced to do it but if they made that choice would be called every name under the sun. There are and was always paid jobs in the GAA but not for the performers Top performers in all walks of entertainment are compensated. Move on 2019 not 1919."
The population of Ireland could never support a professional inter county championship. A future inter county championship that tried to go down the professional route might look like the league of Ireland in soccer. Another side effect would probably be a drop off in people prepared to volunteer.

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1337 - 10/08/2019 19:44:28    2223549

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Replying To Canuck:  "Players are stakeholders. In fact the biggest stake holders. Take them out and the top brass with the paying jobs are not required. We can not live in the past forever when county players trained two times a week and that was it. If they had to work back they stayed at work and went the next night. I worked with Kilkenny and Waterford players who often had to miss two and three sessions in a row because their replacement on the next shift did not come in. How to you think they would be treated today ? The peop[e who do not want the players compensated for their work would be the first to put hands out if it were them. I hear it, they are not forced to do it but if they made that choice would be called every name under the sun. There are and was always paid jobs in the GAA but not for the performers Top performers in all walks of entertainment are compensated. Move on 2019 not 1919."
A stakeholder is a business team in relation to a company. The GAA is not a company and shouldn't be referred to as such. Why have volunteers then? Agree there are a number of high up people earning money in the GAA which is not right. The GPA represents an elite group which is generally not good for the game. They also have high paid individuals who refer themselves to as executives. Granted every organisation needs some money to survive but the distribution and control of distribution of money is all wrong and would be futher damaged by the GPA getting their hands on the money from the gates.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 506 - 10/08/2019 19:50:19    2223555

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Replying To arock:  "I agree but people think all those High Vis jackets on the sideline at Croke are making a packet, you start playing players and you will end up paying for everything - rightly so. The GAA is about volunteers always has and always will be, paying an organisation like GPA is a disgrace."
100% agree with you. GPA are not in it for the interest of all players. If they had it their way there would not need a job after retirement and just live off the proceeds of the GAA.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 506 - 10/08/2019 19:56:14    2223563

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I never mentioned GPA. Top performers in all forms of entertainment get paid for what they do. Joe public wants this product and pays for it. Can anyone tell me of any other sport where the players entertain in front of an 80,000 crowd for free. Every sport has an amateur status as well as a professional one. I believe it would increase amateur participation as players would see the opportunity to make a living full time or part time. No we prefer the old nod nod wink wink under the table stuff. (Especially for managers.) Or the county chairman was able to get an auld handy job for Joe because of the hurling/football.
It is the form of payment you choose to use. All this nonsense about open the door to transfer is exactly that. The GAA can come up with systems when it suits them. It could come up with a system to reward players, managers and coaches etc. by giving each county a set amount and guidelines as how it is to be paid. The under the table stuff stopped and the earnings declared like everyone else. The GAA would be the employer and screw the GPA. They have no right to access gate receipts as this is the product of the employer.
How long more do we think players will continue to commit to a professional sport with no pay to the detriment of their careers and family life. I believe the death of our sport will be the non payment of performers. We the public can not get enough of it. Ireland can afford a payment system for the top performers with a well constructed system.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2655 - 10/08/2019 20:50:05    2223631

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As Colm O'Rourke has asked a few times, is there a reason why the GPA wage bill is 900k+ per annum for 12 employees? A need for GPA guys to be on 6 figure salaries? link And that was for 2017...

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2550 - 10/08/2019 22:04:21    2223692

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Replying To icehonesty:  "As Colm O'Rourke has asked a few times, is there a reason why the GPA wage bill is 900k+ per annum for 12 employees? A need for GPA guys to be on 6 figure salaries? link And that was for 2017..."
Colm O'Rourke? You're scrapping the bottom of the barrel now.

https://www.balls.ie/gaa/gaa-players-respond-to-colm-orourkes-gpa-article-140997

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2446 - 10/08/2019 22:28:03    2223705

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Replying To icehonesty:  "As Colm O'Rourke has asked a few times, is there a reason why the GPA wage bill is 900k+ per annum for 12 employees? A need for GPA guys to be on 6 figure salaries? link And that was for 2017..."
This is an absolute disgrace.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 10/08/2019 22:53:58    2223718

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Very worring views coming out of the GPA in relation to the possibility of claiming gate receipts. The GPA treat themselves as professionals in an amateur organisation using words like "stakeholders" for players. The game needs radical overhaul in terms of how the wealth in the game is distributed. Game was never about money or greed but I'm afraid it is increasingly going down this route. The game cannot survive without clubs and club players and the voluntarily support of their local people but unsure if the GPA and the top brass in the GAA understand that."
An interesting moniker you have for starting a thread on a topic that is essentially about winning at all cost!

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1902 - 10/08/2019 23:12:21    2223726

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This has to be the beginning of the end for the GPA. Now that their CEO is effectively calling for players to be paid it is time to look at what the GPA has become. It's an organisation travelling on a separate path to any travelled by any Gaels to date. Paying players would finish the GAA as a community based volunteer led association and it would not be sustainable. If the GPA endorses its CEO's views then at least we know whete we stand with them. They only exist because the GAA funds them. Surely their entire player welfare role could be done directly by the GAA .

midfield9 (Westmeath) - Posts: 102 - 10/08/2019 23:52:23    2223743

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Replying To Canuck:  "I never mentioned GPA. Top performers in all forms of entertainment get paid for what they do. Joe public wants this product and pays for it. Can anyone tell me of any other sport where the players entertain in front of an 80,000 crowd for free. Every sport has an amateur status as well as a professional one. I believe it would increase amateur participation as players would see the opportunity to make a living full time or part time. No we prefer the old nod nod wink wink under the table stuff. (Especially for managers.) Or the county chairman was able to get an auld handy job for Joe because of the hurling/football.
It is the form of payment you choose to use. All this nonsense about open the door to transfer is exactly that. The GAA can come up with systems when it suits them. It could come up with a system to reward players, managers and coaches etc. by giving each county a set amount and guidelines as how it is to be paid. The under the table stuff stopped and the earnings declared like everyone else. The GAA would be the employer and screw the GPA. They have no right to access gate receipts as this is the product of the employer.
How long more do we think players will continue to commit to a professional sport with no pay to the detriment of their careers and family life. I believe the death of our sport will be the non payment of performers. We the public can not get enough of it. Ireland can afford a payment system for the top performers with a well constructed system."
Explain? How 4 full houses a year in Croke Park is going to support a professional sport? Look at the rubber duck games in Super 8s, arguably hurling is in better position to support a semi pro sport. The sports cannot support semi pro players no way. How do you divide money out? Whatever inequalities there are currently they would be exacerbated if you started chucking euro's at players. There would be a flight from the sports, guaranteed, no one would I or club coaches like me be remotely interested in a sport that compromised its constitution because a few want to be entertained from the armchair.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4895 - 11/08/2019 00:18:58    2223753

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Replying To icehonesty:  "As Colm O'Rourke has asked a few times, is there a reason why the GPA wage bill is 900k+ per annum for 12 employees? A need for GPA guys to be on 6 figure salaries? link And that was for 2017..."
Are these guys splitting the atom or what? No wonder Paul Flynn gave up a chance of 5 in row for a top gig with the GPA.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 506 - 11/08/2019 01:36:23    2223763

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Replying To Canuck:  "I never mentioned GPA. Top performers in all forms of entertainment get paid for what they do. Joe public wants this product and pays for it. Can anyone tell me of any other sport where the players entertain in front of an 80,000 crowd for free. Every sport has an amateur status as well as a professional one. I believe it would increase amateur participation as players would see the opportunity to make a living full time or part time. No we prefer the old nod nod wink wink under the table stuff. (Especially for managers.) Or the county chairman was able to get an auld handy job for Joe because of the hurling/football.
It is the form of payment you choose to use. All this nonsense about open the door to transfer is exactly that. The GAA can come up with systems when it suits them. It could come up with a system to reward players, managers and coaches etc. by giving each county a set amount and guidelines as how it is to be paid. The under the table stuff stopped and the earnings declared like everyone else. The GAA would be the employer and screw the GPA. They have no right to access gate receipts as this is the product of the employer.
How long more do we think players will continue to commit to a professional sport with no pay to the detriment of their careers and family life. I believe the death of our sport will be the non payment of performers. We the public can not get enough of it. Ireland can afford a payment system for the top performers with a well constructed system."
Is committing to the GAA to the detriment of their careers though? In all cases.. Can you think of any examples where players have done well /benefitted from playing GAA? I do know of players that opted out to concentrate on other careers that maybe inter County GAA is. Ot compatible with. The show wentvon though.

In terms of supporting professional sports, the evidence suggests that there is no chance of this happening. Looking at soccer, rugby in this country at least.

I would like somebody to tackle the nod/wink culture of paying coaches.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 11/08/2019 09:28:11    2223817

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