Unsold corporate box seats set for public sale

GAA fans will have the chance to watch high-profile games at Croke Park from the comfort of corporate boxes this season.

Twenty such suites remain unsold and GAA President Christy Cooney yesterday revealed that tickets for seats in these areas of the stadium will go on general release if deals aren’t inked.

Cooney was speaking at GAA headquarters at the launch of both the Central Council and Croke Park Company financial reports for 2011, both of which were largely positive in spite of the economic downturn.

Even though Central Council revenue dropped €11m from €58m in 2010, the GAA’s Director of Finance, Tom Ryan, reports that “although clearly difficult, it had been a year of solid and encouraging performance”.

Meanwhile, Stadium and Commercial Director Peter McKenna, writes that against the backdrop of a declining economy, results for the Croke Park group of companies were positive.

These accounts — showing an operating profit of €6.05m — represent the business operations of Croke Park stadium, including rental, franchise, hospitality and premium seats and corporate box income, along with property rental income, including the Croke Park hotel.

With McKenna pointing out that, in addition to having 20 suites up for sale, a total of 2,400 long-term seats were also available, Cooney said the biggest challenge they face is in relation to the corporate boxes.

He revealed that those not sold will be used for major games — on a match-to-match basis.

Pointing to a continuous decline in gate receipts in recent years, Tom Ryan says that while the task last year was to safeguard existing revenues as far as possible, it was more important to consolidate attendance numbers.

“We sought to address this by reducing admission prices to the vast majority of games during the year. We also reduced the number of games broadcast live on television — from 50 to 40 — and this was achieved at a considerable cost (close to €3m).

“The reassuring result is our attendance numbers compare favourably with previous years. (But) undoubtedly, attendances will prove a challenge again in 2012.”

Cooney said it was not the GAA’s intention to increase ticket prices this year and that they would be open to renewing ticket packages which had proved very popular last year.

In total, Central Council revenue for 2011 amounted to €46.8m, compared to €58m the previous year. The major decreases were in commercial revenue and other income (with Ryan pointing out that the accounts were based on a 10-month year, to the end of October, in order to come into line with provincial council accounts).

Under the heading of commercial revenue, the major reductions were in media (TV) coverage — from €10.8m. to €7.9m and sponsorship from €8.2m to €6.6m.

The association had to cope with decreased funding from the Irish Sports Council and state funding and while the distribution to counties and provinces was unchanged at €11m, games development investment fell €2m to €9m.Altogether, various units received €37m. directly from Central Council funds during the year.

Reporting on the company accounts, Peter McKenna said the performance of the main Croke Park operating company — Páirc an Chrócaigh Teo — saw turnover reduced by €5.9m, representing 22% on 2010 turnover at €26.7.

Over the year, the stadium hosted 31 match days, accounting for 65 matches with a total matchday attendance of 996,000. “Our rents from the championship reduced €1.3m year on year. Two factors combined. Our ticket price changes of a €5 reduction for the semi-finals and a €10 increase for the finals resulted in a net revenue reduction of €400,000.

“Secondly, Dublin’s route through the qualifiers in 2010 generated additional rental income of €900,000.’’ Conversely, promotional efforts around the leagues, highlighted by the successful spring series, generated additional league revenues of €532,000 last year.