Clubs to demand more tickets

Rugby clubs will be looking for their allocation of international tickets to be trebled in 2007 following this week's agreement between the IRFU and the GAA over the use of Croke Park while Lansdowne Road is rebuilt.

Senior clubs will seek ticket allocations similar to what they got in the 1990s, which, according to the All Ireland Senior Rugby Club Association (ISRCA) averaged around 700 tickets for 48 clubs. Some clubs in Dublin got 800 tickets.

Since the reduction by the IRFU, which has been a continuous bone of contention, many clubs have had allocations cut to 230 or less, some smaller clubs receiving no more than 80.

Tickets are also available via an IRFU Supporters Club, which came into existence in the past two years. It is believed tickets the clubs used to receive go to that source as the IRFU seek to fund four professional teams.

An executive meeting of the ISRCA in February will discuss the issue and members anticipate the ticket issue will be high on the agenda given the use of Croke Park will entail an extra 25,000 tickets, excluding the corporate and premium seats. Lansdowne Road holds 49,500 while Croke Park holds 82,000.

"Take it as read that the clubs will be looking for more tickets plus the 700 back again," said ISRCA chairman John Dickson. "I am certain that when we have an executive meeting next month this issue will be discussed given the additional capacity of Croke Park for next year's international matches against England and France.

"As far as we are concerned the IRFU have already agreed that the tickets (original allocation) will be given back when the Lansdowne Road development has been completed. Obviously, Croke Park wasn't discussed as the news only came out this week."

The ISRCA contend the IRFU have made about €1.5 million by reducing ticket allocation to clubs in the past five years or so.

The IRFU ticket breakdown throughout the provinces for 2004 was done on the basis of player numbers (adult and children), clubs (senior and junior) and affiliated schools. Leinster led the way with a 35 per cent share. Munster got 15 per cent, Ulster 11 per cent and Connacht 5 per cent.

Munster, for example, received 7,200 tickets for the England match (which was initially done as a package deal with an autumn international against the USA) in a 50-50 split for terrace and stand. Almost all of this allotment goes to the clubs.

The rest? 10 per cent goes to the visiting union and 10.5 per cent to five- and 10-year ticket holders, leaving 13.5 per cent for corporate clients (around 1,000), exiles, sponsors, IRFU officers, management and players.

But the bottom line is that the demand exceeds a supply that has been consistently eroded. And since the advent of professional rugby, many clubs have had to sell their tickets to corporate clients in order to simply keep the club going.

"We do cater for our members but if we have tickets for fundraising we do set some of them aside," said a Ballymena club officer. "The clubs are doing exactly what the IRFU are doing. What's good for the goose is good for the gander."

Because the clubs have not yet had time to officially meet, officers are disinclined to go on the record, but there is a consensus they do not want to be cut out of the stadium deal.

"We would very much expect to have our ticket allocation increased. There will be huge pressure put on to get the numbers back up," said a Blackrock College officer.

"We've been cut back so much, demand is always outstripping supply," said a Lansdowne official. "There would be an expectation that the ticket allocation to clubs would go back to previous levels of five years ago. It's a way of getting tickets for general supporters but provinces also have supporters' clubs now and they will want to stick their beaks in as well."

A club like Connemara would receive only 70 to 80 tickets. They, too, will push for more.

"Definitely," said a Connemara official. "People are well prepared to travel from here for matches in Dublin if tickets were available."

Clubs are allowed sell on 15 per cent of their allocation but it is common knowledge many sell their entire tranche.