GAA could make €2.6m per game from Six Nations

RUGBY ticket sales could realise over €2.5 million per game for the GAA in next year’s Six Nations Championship.

Reports yesterday suggested the IRFU will charge €850 plus VAT per person in a corporate box, resulting in a cost of over €1,000 each. The 9,000 seats in the exclusive premium level will sell at €110, while ordinary stand tickets will cost €80.

With a gross gate of at least 8m for a sell-out, the GAA’s rental fee should be easily covered. However, Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna pointed out yesterday that the fee might be considerably higher than the €1.5m figure being mentioned.

“It’s worth pointing out that the rent for Croke Park has a floor to it — €1.5m — but there is no ceiling. We take 26% of the gross gate and the FAI or IRFU carry the expenses,” he said.

“Therefore, if one of those tenants realises a figure of €10m, then the GAA would be entitled to €2.6m.

“The figures are presupposing the games sell out. I’m sure that Ireland versus England in the Six Nations will sell out, but I don’t know if the Slovakia football team or the Italy rugby team will fill Croke Park.”

McKenna said GAA fans should not worry about ticket prices rising in line with rugby prices.

“We had a big opportunity to raise ticket prices with renewals in the Cusack but we felt those who had invested when it wasn’t fashionable deserved to be rewarded, so we tried to be fair when the renewal came up.

“The premium level deal there comes to €40 a match, and that holds until 2014. If you took a corporate box two years ago, it’s €80 a game. What we tried to do in the deal was ensure that premium and box holders had first option on tickets,” he said.

Rugby supporters will have the Hill 16 terrace experience, but soccer fans will be seated.