Mayo's All-Ireland ticket allocation is down significantly
GETTING a ticket for this year's All-Ireland senior football final on September 18 is going to be harder than ever before, it has been revealed.
Alot of Mayo supporters will be very dissapointed by the news that the county's initial allocation, due for distribution to the clubs next week, is down signficantly compared to 2013.
GAA county secretary, Vincent Neary, told last night's meeting of the County GAA Board that a number of factors have contributed to a drop in Mayo's allocation, particularly the absence of a minor team, which boosted their allocation by 1,500 in 2013 when both teams were in the final.
“The big increase in season ticket holders, which now stands at 3,700, the fact that it is Dublin who are in the final and the absence of a minor team means Mayo's allocation is down by over 2,000 from 2013,” said Mr. Neary.
One of the first casualties will be the Chairde Mhaigheo season ticket holders who had the option in the past of buying an extra ticket for the final and that facility has has been withdrawn.
Former county senior players, who played championship football for Mayo, will still be eligible to purhase a ticket.
However, there may be better news when the first round of tickets are allocated as a second 'bump up' is anticipated after clubs get their first allocation.
Clubs will, nevertheless, be hard pressed to look after all their players as well as supporters given the reduced allocation and the increase in club memberships since 2013, Castlebar Mitchels alone having over 900 members.
The Mayo County Board came under attack at the meeting for offering extra tickets to clubs who raise money for the team training fund. Clubs who raise the ceiling of €2,000 are eligible to purhcase 40 extra tickets, or 20 for €1,000 raised.
Mike Conneely, chairman, said the board had been accused of being less than transparent when they got to the final in 2013 and he did not want similar accusations being made this year.
“We are going to do our best to ensure all clubs are faciliatated as far as possible and any extra tickets will go to the clubs. But we can only deal with what we are been given from Croke Park,” he said.