Staggered prices are the way forward.
The price of tickets in the GAA has been a moot subject for quite a while now. It’s not fair that a seat behind the goals in the Davin Stand costs €80 on All-Ireland final day, while a seat in the middle of the Hogan Stand costs the exact same amount on the same day.
Just as staggered prices should be in operation based on the quality of your seat, the prices of tickets should also be determined by the quality or the importance of the game you’re going to watch.
Colm Parkinson says he wouldn’t mind paying €35 into an Ulster SFC final. In fairness, not many would complain about that. But when you’re being asked to pay €35 into an Ulster quarter final between Donegal and Derry, for which Declan Bonner’s men are 1/6 favourites to win, it’s understandably a different story altogether.
On the same day, All-Ireland champions Galway will take on Kilkenny in the Leinster senior hurling championship. The clash of the championship so far, the Pearse Stadium showpiece promises to be a humdinger. And while the Ulster council are charging €35 into their offering, the Leinster are charging €15 less for a game that undoubtedly has more potential.
“The Kilkenny Galway hurling match; two All-Ireland contenders, two heavyweights in hurling, a ticket is €20. How can there be such a discrepancy between two provincial councils regarding those two games there?” asked an aghast Parkinson.
“They’re charging €35 into the Derry Donegal game. €35 for a stand ticket for a Division Four team to play a Division One team. You’re going to expect a competitive win, and Donegal to run out comfortable winners.
“For a couple and children going to a game, that’s a really expensive day out,”added the Laois man.
But that’s the way it is in Ulster, as Conan Doherty confirmed.
“Down and Antrim are the same price, so maybe it’s standardised this season, so maybe that’s the going rate. It’s still dear,” said the Derryman.
McDonnell is also disappointed with the set-up in his own province.
“I travelled to the Armagh game last weekend with a lad that paid £24 sterling for his ticket to watch that absolute crap in Brewster Park. Walking out of the ground, he was more annoyed and pissed off because of the amount he paid to watch it.”
“The prices of tickets need to be evaluated and looked at. When you’re looking at €20 to €35, that’s a huge difference,” said the Armagh legend.
On the same weekend, the clash of Tipperary and Cork in the Munster SFC has an admission fee of €20. Meanwhile, Roscommon and Leitrim in Connacht will cost €25. What’s going on in Ulster?
You can listen to this chat and much more from Thursday’s GAA Hour Show right here.
