THE GAA RECORDED major increases in gate receipts and attendance figures in 2017 despite an All-Ireland final replay, which had taken place in four of the five previous years, not occurring.
The GAA took in over €34 million in gate receipts last year – a 13% increase on 2016 – as part of an overall revenue figure of €65.6 million in 2017.
When income from the Croke Park stadium (which hosted Coldplay and U2 concerts last summer) is accounted for, the 2017 revenue figure is €106.5 million.
The breakdown of the GAA’s revenue last year was as follows:
- Gate receipts – €34,391,635 – (52%)
- Commercial revenue – €18,742,684 – (29%)
- State funding – €4,442,948 – (7%)
- Other income – €8,043,235 – (12%)
€14.8 million was distributed by the GAA to counties last year, a 23% increase on the 2016 figure of €13.4 million.
Attendances
There was a notable increase in crowds last year for matches in the All-Ireland series with football up by 22% and hurling up by 29%.
The jump in attendances figures is striking considering that 2016 had seen in football an All-Ireland final replay between Dublin and Mayo and in hurling an All-Ireland semi-final replay between Kilkenny and Waterford.
A contributory factors towards the increase in football in 2017 was the run of the Mayo footballers through the All-Ireland series which included a quarter-final replay against Roscommon and a semi-final replay against Kerry.
In hurling the extended campaigns enjoyed by certain counties was significant. Wexford emerged to contest an All-Ireland quarter-final, Munster champions Cork helped to draw a major crowd to the All-Ireland semi-final of over 72,000 while All-Ireland finalists Waterford were involved in five games in the All-Ireland series.
Championship Attendances All-Ireland senior hurling
- 2017 – 348,905 (+29%) – 12 games
- 2016 – 269,745 – 12 games
All-Ireland senior football
- 2017 - 628,818 (+22%) – 33 games
- 2016 – 516,767 – 33 games
Gate Receipts Football championship
- 2017 – €16.4m (+9%)
- 2016 – €15m
Hurling championship
- 2017 – €10.7m (+26%)
- 2016 – €8.5m
Football league
- 2017 – €3.2m (+14%)
- 2016 – €2.8m
Hurling league
- 2017 – €2m (+5%)
- 2016 – €1.9m
Other Competitions
- 2017 – €1.2m (-20%)
- 2016 – €1.5m
Lovely more money for dublin
So €14million for Dublin GAA and €0.8 million for the remaining counties
Some good news…..but if the GAA enter any new contracts with Pay-to-View rip-off TV channels then for matches I can’t go to then I will stay away from them altogether and agree with anyone who says state funding should be cut…..
@Kieran Magennis: agreed Kieran. They sky deal is ludicrous and goes against the idea of the gaa. If they want to promote gaa abroad then let sky take the games but it shouldn’t affect the games on rte.
@Kieran Magennis: I’d like that comment a thousand times if I could
@Kieran Magennis: The sky deal didn’t affect the games on RTÉ they took the games TV3 used to show. Still don’t like it but they didn’t take away from RTÉ
Mayo do have a great support. They must have played 10 Championship games last season and their fan followed them every step of the way.
Excellent news. This will send poor Alan round the twist!!
@Andrew Nolan: I’ll have to bookmark this page for the next time he starts up!!
Paid €12 for a student entry to Galway and Antrim match last weekend . For a non profit organization i think it’s crazy we’re being charged that much for one match. Mightn’t seem like much but most of us are scraping by each week
@Damian O Reilly: I paid €12 for the Cork double header. Who sets the prices? I got terrific value and you got rode in comparison.
@jonathon carroll: €12 is a joke, what was wrong with 10 quid even like as a round figure
It’s only right Dublin get the lions share..after all they have a population 2000000000000 million. Change the complete penal every year. Win the hurling and football championship every year with ease. NASA fund them to the tune of billions and they don’t have to plough fields of potatoes for a living.