Price cuts may be extended

THE GAA has signposted its intention to reduce prices to NFL and NHL games next year and the savings for spectators may yet carry on into the summer with the cost of attending a championship fixture also under review.

President Christy Cooney intimated as much whilst on the GAA Vodafone All Stars tour in Kuala Lumpur last month and Director General Paraic Duffy went one step further yesterday.

“We are always conscious of ticket prices,” said Duffy. “We will be going with a proposal to Ard Chomhairle in January and there will probably be some reduction in ticket prices for the leagues.

“We will look at the championships later in the year. We don’t need to be told, we are very aware of the difficulties people are experiencing.”

The Monaghan official was speaking at the launch of the GAA’s 2011 season ticket which is offering admission to all league games in either code as well as the county’s opening championship match for €75 (€10 for 16s and under).

This will be the third time that the scheme has run and Croke Park has reported a strong uptake in Tipperary, Kilkenny and Cork for hurling and in Tyrone, Dublin, Kerry and Cork (again) in football.

Meanwhile, the GAA has also confirmed that it would have no objection to a one-off International Rules game being played between Dublin and the Melbourne Demons AFL team which is being proposed as a tribute to Jim Stynes’ sporting achievements.