Attendance figures give grounds for optimism

The dramatic slide in Munster senior hurling championship attendances appears to have been arrested with this year’s estimated figures showing only a small drop from 2011.

A fractional decrease of approximately less than 500 from 93,821 last year to 93,370 for the four games is expected to be recorded.

Over a five-season period from 2006 to 2011, the average Munster SHC attendance had fallen from 36,900 to 23,455.

Munster Council deputy chief executive Enda McGuane sounded a positive note about what was one of the most memorable campaigns in years and forecasts an even better one next season. While the Clare-Waterford game only attracted 12,296 — almost 10,000 less than the third most attended game — he believes there are grounds for optimism.

“Clare and Waterford was still up 2,000 on the similar match two years ago,” he said. “It’s interesting that the average attendance at Heineken Cup games is 14,000, whereas we’re looking at a bigger average again this year. Everybody has got value for money and all our matches were very tight up until the end of the Munster final.

“You look at the five Munster counties and where they’re going and you can argue next year is going to be better again.

“There have been positives in other areas. Our U21 football figures are up by 500, minor football is up by 3,500 and, interestingly, crowds for the Waterford Crystal are up by 3,000. The appetite is there, especially in hurling, and with Clare, Limerick and Cork improving, Waterford still strong and Tipperary knocking on the door for national honours all of them will see themselves in contention next year for provincial if not a national title.”

McGuane though, is aware the Munster Council may have to revise their ticket packages and methods of distribution.

They are just two of several issues that will be shortly discussed in their review of their championship ticket scheme.

“Every year there are questions about things that did and didn’t work and we’ll be meeting in the next week or two to review all aspects of the competitions. There are trends that are developing in how tickets are packaged and distributed and we need to address them. People are buying tickets in different ways, there has been a drop-off in tickets purchased through clubs and we need to consider that.”