Relief as GAA income tally defies recession

THE GAA defied the recession in 2009 by achieving its biggest ever income total over, with revenue stimulated by rental income of close to €14m from rugby and soccer in Croke Park, along with an increase of €3m in commercial income.

It was helped by a smaller than anticipated drop in gate receipts – from €5.1m in 2008 to €1m in 2009.

The Association’s finance director, Tom Ryan, remarked that the news was “an awful lot more positive” that they could have anticipated.

“There would have been a certain amount of trepidation as we embarked on the year, especially in the financial times we find ourselves in,” he said.

Gate receipts totalled €25,477,323, a figure primarily attributable to the enduring appeal of Gaelic games and, in the words of GAA president Christy Cooney, significantly linked to the success of the various ticketing packages in 2008.

Commercial revenue totalled €19,948,746 (up from €16,860,058) and ‘other income’ – predominantly the revenue stream from the IRFU and the FAI – came to €18,525,919. This compared to €17,142,235 the previous year.

The balance came from State funding of €3,748,241, which consists of the grant from the Sports Council.

This money is mainly used to fund the activities of 200 part-time and full-time coaches all over the country.

Worryingly for the Association, there was a reduction in receipts – as well as attendances overall – in the All-Ireland senior hurling championship for the third year in succession. In real terms, the figure of €9,550,208 shows a reduction of €1.2m on the 2008 amount.

In senior football, attendance numbers were up, but revenue, at €11,592,799 represented a decrease of €368,842.

In respect of the Allianz National Leagues, attendances for football were up but the revenue was down €726,353, while there was little change in hurling (down €34,844).

On the expenditure side, the principal items were match-day cost of €8.9m, team costs €3.07m., county and provincial distributions €8.65m, games development €10.16m, player welfare (injury scheme) €1.9m and administration costs of €9.4m.

Note: Gate receipts relate exclusively to games organised by the Central Council (All-Ireland series) and do not take account of income generated by provincial councils.