The club game in GAA has really hit a high note in terms of capturing attention during covid. Rugby would do well to try copy a bit of that with the club game.
Provinces could be fucked but thereâs no shortage of those willing to line out for local club and hopefully they get support in numbers.
One is already gone. Theyâre hoping to drag someone else in. The Pro14 crave the Saffers, they want to drawn them into the 6N also.
In truth the Pro14 is dying on its hole.
The GAA is not thriving financially however.
The new fads are epidemiology and snitch tagging.
I think you hit the nail on the head in terms of social supporter. These people were never really into sport to begin with but when rugby was so pervasive at its height in popularity it was another casual topic of conversation for them. One where they could not be outed for lack of understanding as rugby commentary only dealt with superlatives and made up phrases that seemed like an in joke for the rugby fraternity.
Iâd disagree a lot of the younger lads who have gone through academies believe they are above playing club. They only see themselves play for the provisional team. There are a few exceptions.
Pro rugby in this country lost the run of itself in the last few years, keeping up with th Jones in the England and France in order to keep key stars is killing them now. The likes of sexton and Murray on massive money is weighing the union down. No player should be on âŹ500k a year. You could have 3 or 4 players for that.
Rugby pulled off the greatest marketing coup in modern times over the past 25 years or so. You have hit the nail on the head though besides that.
5 years on, @Tim_Riggins theory is going to be put to the ultimate test
Agreed but it doesnât have the same debt obligations or running costs so is better prepared to ride this one out.
It has plenty of debt obligations around the country. More than enough to concern any of us. Provincial Councils, GDAâs, stadium expansions, loans to clubs, county officers, player expenses across 32 counties and beyond, the overseas units.
Donât fool yourself, the GAA needs its income, and needs it quick.
I think the IRFU missed a big trick in the medium to long term by taking the Heineken Cup off free to air tv. I appreciate that some games are still available between TV3 and Channel 4 but they had a captive audience for this competition at a time when not much else is happening in the sporting world on sleepy Saturday afternoons and evenings in November, December and January.
Would be interesting to see what the viewing figures for a Munster or Leinster European match shown exclusively on Sky are now compared to previously.
You seem to be glossing over the fact that the gaa is amateur fortunately. If it had tried to go professional it would have gone the way of professional club rugby and the AIL.
Very true. I have found recent games without the crowd terrible to watch. The 2 recent club hurling games on tv have on the other hand been very exciting to watch. Who would have thought club hurling would be trumping top rugby games.
I donât think they will. Theyâll pile back in I reckon, for a while at least.
It just depends on the game.
The big problem rubby has is the unnatural and unaccountable sway the referee can have on a game
That there will be an inter county GAA championship this year is down to government funding (a loan ??).
This is probably âbread and circus â stuff.
The GAA needs dosh and fast . If this runs in to next year there will be real problems .
Maybe it does but I donât see any gaa clubs collapsing over the covid crisis. Maybe the top brass in gaa will collapse but wonât affect the clubs on the ground.
You dont know though. We dont know how overstretched some Clubs were going into this.
And there will be no Croke Park to bail them out this time.
I doubt it mate. County teams will struggle for funding but most clubs will be fine. I didnât hear of any clubs struggling.
Keeping Amateurism is one of the best descions the gaa have ever made. Imagine if they had to pay players without gate receipts. Debts and loans can be pushed out, people need their wages weekly/monthly
The arsehole fell out of many clubs in the last recession and needed to be bailed out by the top table. Did you hear about them struggling before the ice started to crack around them?
This has shown that professionalism in the GAA can and will never be. The likes of Paul Flynn has been awfully fucking quiet of late. The prick.