Cork hurling fans were left outraged at the price of tickets for today's Midleton v Imokilly senior county hurling final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh after tickets were priced at €25 for adults at the gate.
The Intermediate and senior finals are taking place in amidst a swirl of discontent at the pricing structure. OAPs and students could purchase tickets for €20 euro. It marks a 25% increase on prizes from last year.
How can the county board justify a 25 per cent rise in cost of a ticket from 2017 to 2018 for the county hurling final? €25 for a county final is too much. That's €50 for two people. Board should be trying to entice fans to come, not drive them away https://t.co/kso4HLtLFH
— Kieran McCarthy (@KieranMcC_SS) October 13, 2018
Tickets are way over priced. The stadium will be empty. It's just greed at this stage. €10-€12 euro is enough for any club final. Get the numbers of people in, that's how you grow the game. That price is doing nothing for @OfficialCorkGAA
— Paul Ryan (@knowYourHurling) October 14, 2018
Robbery. New and progressive top table?? New ideas? Beautiful new stadium, showpiece of the Cork GAA Hurling calendar. How can we entice people to come with their families? Let’s fleece the suckers and charge them 25 a head and 20 for OAP. #WakeUpPeople #Cork #Dinosaurs
— Shane McCarthy (@shaneymac13) October 14, 2018
Not going, price of tickets is disgraceful. I’ve been to cork matches in thurles for cheaper.
— Alan Stack (@AlStack_Maximin) October 14, 2018
Scandalous....no regard for the fans...!!! Seriously driving people away from going to games...!! @OfficalCorkGAA need to take a leaf out of Tipperarys book....15 games for €20!! You would get so many more people in
— Laura Burchill (@laurburch) October 14, 2018
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Cork County Board chairperson Tracey Kennedy said the hike was the introduced after 12 years of a fixed prize.
Croke Park issued a directive that €20 has to be the minimum price anyway. That’s the base starting point for every county and we hadn’t increased our ticket prices in 12 years, which is a pretty long time without an increase. As well, it’s important to point out that tickets were available online for €22 until midnight on Saturday night.
All of these factors were the things that fed into the decision being taken. I’m a small bit disappointed that people might think our county finals weren’t worth €25.
Several disgruntled punters pointed to the Tipperary GAA scheme, which allows fans purchase a weekend package to all games for €20. There is also the example set by Roscommon GAA, who play their County Senior and Minor finals today with an adult ticket costing €15, OAP and students €10 and U16 free.
Tipperary County Board will host up to 15 County Championship games this weekend including 3 County Finals. For just €20 you can attend as many games as you wish during Sat and Sun if you avail of the Weekend Package.
— Tipperary GAA (@TipperaryGAA) October 13, 2018
