National Forum

Draws For Tickets

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With the increasing number of clubs holding raffles for their tickets for the All-Ireland hurling final, is it time for the GAA to start to have an independent observer at these draws or to take these draws out of the hands of local officials?
It is grossly unfair to hold a draw where you want people from competing counties to spend 25 euro entering the draw only for a local in the GAA club to "surprisingly" win it. It has a ring of Fr. Ted and the raffle off it.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1251 - 19/07/2024 11:52:54    2560041

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The whole final tickets distribution is a farce. There'll be people, and their family members, at Sunday's game, and at the football final, who haven't attended any games all season but who will be looked after as they always are. They'll more than likely throw a few quid at the county or clubs or certain officials as a sweetener to make sure they get tickets. You won't see them again at a GAA game until this time next year. It's a gombeen distribution system and always has been.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9778 - 19/07/2024 13:47:25    2560069

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The system needs to change.

I'll never forget being at the 5 in a row final for Dublin & the fella next to me turns to his companion and says "That's Hill16 over there"

You couldn't make it up.

ondeball (Westmeath) - Posts: 122 - 19/07/2024 14:40:13    2560076

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We had a free draw that every club member could enter.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13322 - 19/07/2024 14:50:16    2560079

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I think the distribution of tickets from Croke Park is good. The problem stems when it hits the Co boards and then the clubs. Is a genuine hurling fan from Sligo not as much entitled to a ticket as a person from Clare/Cork that doesn't even attend a club game never mind a Co match. Or the person that flies home from New York for the game and also gets a ticket. They are going up for the fun and craic which is fair enough but it's at the expense of a genuine club supporter.

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 1868 - 19/07/2024 14:58:57    2560081

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "The whole final tickets distribution is a farce. There'll be people, and their family members, at Sunday's game, and at the football final, who haven't attended any games all season but who will be looked after as they always are. They'll more than likely throw a few quid at the county or clubs or certain officials as a sweetener to make sure they get tickets. You won't see them again at a GAA game until this time next year. It's a gombeen distribution system and always has been."
100%.
Why do clubs who have never promoted the game of hurling in their lives get tickets for hurling finals?
Or why do the Louth referees get tickets to raffle up between them at the expense of a person from Cork or Clare who coaches an u12 team in Clare or Cork?
There are people in my club who never go to a Wexford match and if Wexford got to a final would be the first ones looked after for tickets.
Stupid system that needs to change, 100%, Get tickets in to the hands of genuine supporters and not in to the hands of Seamus from Donegal or Wicklow or wherever who has never done anything for the game of hurling.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1777 - 19/07/2024 14:59:44    2560082

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Could be controversial opinion but if you fork out €100 per ticket are you a genuine supporter? Regardless of whether you go to every club game in your county or not.

My own mother brought me to my first All Ireland that kick started a love affair with the game. We didn't go to any other game that year.

MrPBoylan (Monaghan) - Posts: 180 - 19/07/2024 16:05:08    2560095

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Replying To eoinog:  "I think the distribution of tickets from Croke Park is good. The problem stems when it hits the Co boards and then the clubs. Is a genuine hurling fan from Sligo not as much entitled to a ticket as a person from Clare/Cork that doesn't even attend a club game never mind a Co match. Or the person that flies home from New York for the game and also gets a ticket. They are going up for the fun and craic which is fair enough but it's at the expense of a genuine club supporter."
If it were so simple, yes.
But as StoreysTash says the u12 coach in Cork most likely won't get a ticket while the "hurling fan" from Sligo who (no offence) has never had any involvement with the game bar being a "hurling fan" gets one.
It can't be as simple as the passive fan who sits down on a Sunday and watches hurling gets a ticket ahead of a coach actively involved 2-3-4 nights a week.
That is the problem. Tickets should go through the clubs, but only clubs playing the game and the lions share should go to the competing counties.
Same in football, no Kilkenny club bar the handful playing the game should get them.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1251 - 19/07/2024 16:45:43    2560100

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All the real die hards will have season tickets. Guaranteed a final ticket. Club players, coaches and those who help out will be looked after. The bandwagon crowd of which every county has well I wouldn't be too fused about them. Of course there will be some people disappointed but I've always found those who really want one get sorted in the end. The lack of minor finals has eased things a small bit in my opinion.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11375 - 19/07/2024 19:16:10    2560108

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "100%.
Why do clubs who have never promoted the game of hurling in their lives get tickets for hurling finals?
Or why do the Louth referees get tickets to raffle up between them at the expense of a person from Cork or Clare who coaches an u12 team in Clare or Cork?
There are people in my club who never go to a Wexford match and if Wexford got to a final would be the first ones looked after for tickets.
Stupid system that needs to change, 100%, Get tickets in to the hands of genuine supporters and not in to the hands of Seamus from Donegal or Wicklow or wherever who has never done anything for the game of hurling."
True but however like remind you there are smaller counties who may not have lot hurling clubs but do great work and love hurling there alos genuine support

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 428 - 19/07/2024 21:02:02    2560113

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Replying To MrPBoylan:  "Could be controversial opinion but if you fork out €100 per ticket are you a genuine supporter? Regardless of whether you go to every club game in your county or not.

My own mother brought me to my first All Ireland that kick started a love affair with the game. We didn't go to any other game that year."
To some people 100 euro is nothing. They'd spend that on a couple of prawn sandwiches and a glass of wine for lunch.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13322 - 19/07/2024 21:22:31    2560115

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "If it were so simple, yes.
But as StoreysTash says the u12 coach in Cork most likely won't get a ticket while the "hurling fan" from Sligo who (no offence) has never had any involvement with the game bar being a "hurling fan" gets one.
It can't be as simple as the passive fan who sits down on a Sunday and watches hurling gets a ticket ahead of a coach actively involved 2-3-4 nights a week.
That is the problem. Tickets should go through the clubs, but only clubs playing the game and the lions share should go to the competing counties.
Same in football, no Kilkenny club bar the handful playing the game should get them."
Who said the hurling fan in Sligo has no involvement in the game. He might be playing hurling for club and county and maybe coaching.......

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 1868 - 19/07/2024 22:02:13    2560124

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Replying To eoinog:  "I think the distribution of tickets from Croke Park is good. The problem stems when it hits the Co boards and then the clubs. Is a genuine hurling fan from Sligo not as much entitled to a ticket as a person from Clare/Cork that doesn't even attend a club game never mind a Co match. Or the person that flies home from New York for the game and also gets a ticket. They are going up for the fun and craic which is fair enough but it's at the expense of a genuine club supporter."
Is a hurling fan from Sligo more entitled to a ticket, than the hurling fans from Clare or Cork, who have followed the their counties through the year (many of who will be involved at club level) but can't get a ticket?

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2643 - 19/07/2024 22:30:24    2560127

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Is a hurling fan from Sligo more entitled to a ticket, than the hurling fans from Clare or Cork, who have followed the their counties through the year (many of who will be involved at club level) but can't get a ticket?"
This is the first year in a few years that tickets are scarce for the All Ireland. Every other year the GAA would ramp up the P.R by announcing that tickets are like gold dust but in reality there was sufficient. To answer your question a coach of a club team in a county that's competing in the All Ireland is more entitled to a ticket than a non competing county. However if you go through the clubs allocation how many tickets go to people that have no real interest in the sport but will go for the fun. What about all the tickets to corporate boxes ?? They get the tickets because they paid big money for the grandure and prestige of the rent There's no easy solution to the tickets allocation.

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 1868 - 19/07/2024 23:41:18    2560129

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A season ticket is 140 and you are guaranteed an AI Final ticket The System as it is covers everyone. Between 16k each between the 2 competing counties (this should be at least half the capacity each at 21k however ) and all clubs throughout Ireland UK and USA getting an allocation each.

Someone remarked about someone coming from the US for the "craic". The reality is people there deserve them as much as anyone else. I am based in the UK and play club and county football along with hurling. I have a ticket for Sunday and I deserve it as much as anyone else going.

If I was lucky enough to have all the games on my doorstep I'd have a season ticket one million percent

Miami305 (Galway) - Posts: 155 - 19/07/2024 23:44:57    2560130

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Many clubs also swap with other counties. A lot of swapping went on in 2017 between Mayo clubs and Galway hurling clubs as both counties were in the respective finals.

We have a former club member involved in a Galway football club, the two tickets from our club have been sent to Galway this year. If/when Mayo get to another final they will send their two tickets up to us. A lot of switching and dealing goes on.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11375 - 20/07/2024 09:16:42    2560144

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Clubs should not be allowed hold draws. Period. Should be going to their members with an interest in going to the match. Let them draw tickets among them. Not for a money making cause.

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 682 - 20/07/2024 10:15:39    2560149

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It's always funny how the "I go to every game" band only ever seem to come out when it's a final.

As has been said if you're going to every game why not get a season ticket? Failing that be a member of a club.

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1462 - 20/07/2024 10:20:04    2560150

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "With the increasing number of clubs holding raffles for their tickets for the All-Ireland hurling final, is it time for the GAA to start to have an independent observer at these draws or to take these draws out of the hands of local officials?
It is grossly unfair to hold a draw where you want people from competing counties to spend 25 euro entering the draw only for a local in the GAA club to "surprisingly" win it. It has a ring of Fr. Ted and the raffle off it."
Point is that in a draw it is just as likely that a local will win as someone who isn't from area.Thats just the way it is.These are very important fundraisers for clubs who put serious amount of work into games at a local level and you want HQ to take them over.

Alwaysencourage (Galway) - Posts: 336 - 20/07/2024 10:51:03    2560152

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Replying To countyman2022:  "Clubs should not be allowed hold draws. Period. Should be going to their members with an interest in going to the match. Let them draw tickets among them. Not for a money making cause."
Spot on.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13322 - 20/07/2024 11:39:41    2560157

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