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More championship matches proposed

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Replying To Htaem:  "Weak and evasive proposal by the Gaa which does nothing to sort out the inequality in the championship, nothing to help the ailing provincials and yet again completely ignores the research done by the GPA on this issue.

Total waste of time, it's just old men, trying desperately to hold on to 'tradition' at the expense of research and common sense."
Yeah, they actually just adding more gate money for themselves.
Totally over blown bs.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 04/08/2016 21:08:21    1895883

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Yeah, they actually just adding more gate money for themselves.
Totally over blown bs."
You'd honestly wonder about their thought process, it's incredible some of the nonsense they come out with.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 04/08/2016 21:36:56    1895900

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Replying To Htaem:  "You'd honestly wonder about their thought process, it's incredible some of the nonsense they come out with."
This is the structure that I proposed in a post here on H.S a year ago.Are the GAA reading this forum?This is what we need-more games between the major teams and more big matches for provinical grounds which are vastly under utilised.

edu (Mayo) - Posts: 34 - 04/08/2016 23:05:43    1895947

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we also need more games for the weaker teams,to stop the mass exodus to america every summer.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 05/08/2016 08:44:59    1896013

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Replying To Administrator:  "This was posted as a new thread but as the subject matter is the same it has been incorporated here.

Liamwalkinstown
Posts: 6870
Dublin

Changing the 1/4's, leaving the Provs...... So, the one part of the championship thats really works ie from the 1/4 finals on...THAT they want to change
The part that really doesnt work, the provincials, THAT they want to leave as is......

how will this help Limerick or Waterford footballers for example....?

Are they actually for real like!!"
Agree with Liam.

It will marginally increase gate revenues. Quite simply, if you play more matches, more people will attend.

Will the average attendance increase? Would Dublin V Donegal be a sell out if both teams know they have two more chances to get to the semi-final? Last week's double header involving Clare/Kerry/Tipp and Galway had 27,000 - I assume there would now be another two double headers beween these counties - would the attendances be above or below 27,000 for those double headers. What will the viewership be like on TV?

Is this proposal going to make the Leinster and Munster championship more competitive? Will more people attend a Munster football final (which only gets above 20,000 if it is Cork v Kerry in Killarney as Cork lads are just going for the pints)?

Will this help the club player? A shorter gap between league and championship for every county closes some gap for club players. the fixture uncertainty due to the qualifier remains. There are now extra intercounty matches for the top teams. The championship will end earlier for 24 teams which will help.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 05/08/2016 09:28:40    1896029

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what do people thing of div 3 and 4 teams getting home draws in rounds 1/2/3 - suits us being from limerick so i am biased
could look at doing round robin for weaker teams earlier in championship e.g. at provincial level
they did round robin for hurling qualifers between 2005-2007 - didnt really catch the public imagination - think a tipp v cork game got a crowd of around 7k

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 05/08/2016 09:56:26    1896055

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The more I read down through this proposal the more I felt insulted to be honest. However if I had a vote at congress I am torn as to whether I would be yay or nah.

Lets call it bluntly, this proposal is designed to maximize revenue and repel the hoards of people calling for change. This new idea does, in no way help the weaker counties, as the championship is essentially the same until the last eight is reached. History shows us that at least six of the quarter finalists in each year are the perceived top teams in the country - that is when the championship gets interesting, the mismatches have been played and the big boys can now face off. What is proposal does is to increase the number of heavyweight clashes to MAXIMIZE REVENUE.

Lets face it, if radical change is to happen then the provincial championships need to go. They do not serve any purpose in modern football. But the traditionalists refuse to let go of them. So in essence we have been left with a measly attempt to introduce change, which isn't really change. It is pulling the wool over our eyes.

One half or me wants to burn the very paper this crap is written on and give the GAA a big up yours, but another half of me sees this as a step in the right direction to one day having a league type championship and while its not perfect maybe we should accept it for the sake of change.

TheFullBack (Galway) - Posts: 110 - 05/08/2016 10:19:59    1896067

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Replying To edu:  "This is the structure that I proposed in a post here on H.S a year ago.Are the GAA reading this forum?This is what we need-more games between the major teams and more big matches for provinical grounds which are vastly under utilised."
We do need more games bewteen the major teams, but who are the major teams, the 8 counties who happen to make the last 8 of a highly flawed and outdated championship? Personally I don't think so.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 05/08/2016 10:21:19    1896069

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Replying To 222:  "The champions league is a brilliant competition once knock outs starts, more games for top teams against each other, not to mention revenue for citys involved. Hence why it has never been retained because of its magic. GAA needs balance to their championship, all teams on a level playing field. from the start to end."
The last sentence here is exactly right. "GAA needs balance to their championship, all teams on a level playing field, from the start to end"

Duffy on Newstalk last night said "That's as good as you can do". Well maybe he needs to leave it to someone else if that's all he can achieve. Tomas O'Se "Window dressing".

My view is that this is another straw man like last year's proposal knowing that it will never pass. Then Duffy will be able to repeat the mantra - "well we tried but it was rejected".

opa01 (Cavan) - Posts: 503 - 05/08/2016 10:23:20    1896073

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It is a start suppose, however the GAA need to be honest. A new TV contract has to be discussed soon, and I suspect this is the real motivation. I cannot see how this proposal, will help the weaker counties. From where these counties start, it will take a lot of work to get to a Quarter final. Take for example a group consisting of Mayo, Dublin, Tyrone and Donegal, who play this weekend. It would generate huge interest, revenue, and really push these teams on. Imagine Dublin in Ballybofey, Omagh or Castlebar during August. It is a great idea for the closing stages of the Championship but call a spade, a spade, this has absol nothing to do with improving weaker counties, or the plight of the clubs. It is about selling very attractive TV packages to companies and massively increasing sponsorship. As a result the weak will get weaker and we will end up, even morseso than now with superpower counties who will become out of the reach of the others.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 05/08/2016 10:29:36    1896078

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Look it's not perfect but at least it is start. They are severely restricted by the provincial championships and they are not going to be removed any time soon. I think we could get some very exciting quarter final games and double headers at Croke Park would be great. The main complaint is that it will not help the weaker counties but I think that is separate. No matter how you arrange fixtures, the better teams are going to progress to the latter stages.

One worry I have is that there is no proposed fixtures schedule with this. For example a team coming through the qualifiers and then onto the quarter finals could be potentially playing 4 weeks in a row (1 qualifier followed by 3 group games in the qualifiers). Would this be too much to ask of amateur players? If the games were on a Saturday, potentially they could have to take days off work.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1876 - 05/08/2016 10:41:04    1896086

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Agree with Liam. It will marginally increase gate revenues. Quite simply, if you play more matches, more people will attend.
Will the average attendance increase? Would Dublin V Donegal be a sell out if both teams know they have two more chances to get to the semi-final? Last week's double header involving Clare/Kerry/Tipp and Galway had 27,000 - I assume there would now be another two double headers beween these counties - would the attendances be above or below 27,000 for those double headers. What will the viewership be like on TV?
Is this proposal going to make the Leinster and Munster championship more competitive? Will more people attend a Munster football final (which only gets above 20,000 if it is Cork v Kerry in Killarney as Cork lads are just going for the pints)?
Will this help the club player? A shorter gap between league and championship for every county closes some gap for club players. the fixture uncertainty due to the qualifier remains. There are now extra intercounty matches for the top teams. The championship will end earlier for 24 teams which will help.
bennybunny (Cork) - Posts:3249 - 05/08/2016 09:28:40The attendances will still be high. Dublin Donegal will still be selling out as its very much do or die even with there being 3 games in this new section of the championship. Teams will need to win in nearly all years at least 2 games to qualify for the semi finals. So games will be very much do or die.
Championship ending earlier for more counties will help the clubs and counties who will be playing in this new format regularly will just have to get their shit together and help the clubs better

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 05/08/2016 10:54:06    1896092

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Replying To sam1884:  "It is a start suppose, however the GAA need to be honest. A new TV contract has to be discussed soon, and I suspect this is the real motivation. I cannot see how this proposal, will help the weaker counties. From where these counties start, it will take a lot of work to get to a Quarter final. Take for example a group consisting of Mayo, Dublin, Tyrone and Donegal, who play this weekend. It would generate huge interest, revenue, and really push these teams on. Imagine Dublin in Ballybofey, Omagh or Castlebar during August. It is a great idea for the closing stages of the Championship but call a spade, a spade, this has absol nothing to do with improving weaker counties, or the plight of the clubs. It is about selling very attractive TV packages to companies and massively increasing sponsorship. As a result the weak will get weaker and we will end up, even morseso than now with superpower counties who will become out of the reach of the others."
You're right about the new TV deal and seeing as the carrot for sky in this deal was 2 exclusive QF's (I think) having more games at the QF stage will lead to more exclusive games on non free to air channels. So even if it doesn't increase gate revenues they are trying to get more 'attractive' games at the business end of the championship which they can charge a broadcaster a premium for.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 05/08/2016 10:54:24    1896093

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Replying To Green_Gold:  "Look it's not perfect but at least it is start. They are severely restricted by the provincial championships and they are not going to be removed any time soon. I think we could get some very exciting quarter final games and double headers at Croke Park would be great. The main complaint is that it will not help the weaker counties but I think that is separate. No matter how you arrange fixtures, the better teams are going to progress to the latter stages.

One worry I have is that there is no proposed fixtures schedule with this. For example a team coming through the qualifiers and then onto the quarter finals could be potentially playing 4 weeks in a row (1 qualifier followed by 3 group games in the qualifiers). Would this be too much to ask of amateur players? If the games were on a Saturday, potentially they could have to take days off work."
A fixture schedule was included.

If I remember correctly the provincial champions start the group a week before the qualifier teams, they have a 3 week break to round 2 and then round 3 is the week after that.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4241 - 05/08/2016 11:22:55    1896114

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