By John Considine
This weekend the 2014 All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-finals take place. Both games will be played, as a double-header, in Thurles on Sunday. Dublin play Tipperary in one quarter-final. The second quarter-final is between Limerick and Wexford. It will be the fourth week in a row that the Wexford hurlers will be playing. During that time they have generated a wave of support that should ensure that Semple Stadium is close to full on Sunday. In fact it has been suggested by Wexford officials and supporters that Croke Park rather than Semple Stadium might have been a better venue. Wexford County Board Chairman, Diarmuid Devereux, made his view know in the Irish Examiner and on 2FM's Game On. An examination of the last 21 years of data on Wexford hurling games suggests that it is not clear that it will be Wexford supporters that will swell the numbers on Sunday.
Looking at single games (black squares) in the figure below, it has been 10 years since Wexford followers played in front of a crowd of more than 40,000. In 2004 a superb last minute goal by Michael Jacob knocked Kilkenny out of the Leinster championship at the semi-final stage. Wexford beat Offaly in a Leinster final in front of 46,800 spectators. Wexford supporters travelled in huge numbers to an All-Ireland semi-final where they were heavily defeated by Cork. A successful Wexford will bring more of their supporters to games.
Between 2004 and 2013 the numbers attending Wexford hurling games have tailed off. A lack of success and the dominance of Kilkenny contributing to the decline in numbers. Since 2006 no single game involving the Wexford hurlers has attracted more than 13,000 spectators. Since 2009 it took a triple-header to get more than 20,000 people through the turnstyles to see the Wexford hurlers.
Looking at single games (black squares) in the figure below, it has been 10 years since Wexford followers played in front of a crowd of more than 40,000. In 2004 a superb last minute goal by Michael Jacob knocked Kilkenny out of the Leinster championship at the semi-final stage. Wexford beat Offaly in a Leinster final in front of 46,800 spectators. Wexford supporters travelled in huge numbers to an All-Ireland semi-final where they were heavily defeated by Cork. A successful Wexford will bring more of their supporters to games.
Between 2004 and 2013 the numbers attending Wexford hurling games have tailed off. A lack of success and the dominance of Kilkenny contributing to the decline in numbers. Since 2006 no single game involving the Wexford hurlers has attracted more than 13,000 spectators. Since 2009 it took a triple-header to get more than 20,000 people through the turnstyles to see the Wexford hurlers.
The last five years were pretty bleak in terms of success on the field for Wexford. As a result, Wexford hurling supporters have added little to the revenues of the GAA. A victory over Limerick on Sunday will change this situation. However, the GAA revenues as a whole may not increase because Limerick supporters will not follow a Wexford team to Croke Park.
Diarmuid Devereux made some more interesting observations when he pointed out the limited number of stand tickets available and the timing of their sale. Wexford were the last of the quarter-finalists to qualify. Unfortunately, the tickets for the quarter-finals went on sale prior to their qualification. It is something the GAA should consider for future years.
Diarmuid Devereux made some more interesting observations when he pointed out the limited number of stand tickets available and the timing of their sale. Wexford were the last of the quarter-finalists to qualify. Unfortunately, the tickets for the quarter-finals went on sale prior to their qualification. It is something the GAA should consider for future years.
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