Relegation will put huge dent in Cork or Galway coffers

The losers of Sunday’s Allianz HL relegation play-off stand to take a major hit in their income from gate receipts next year.

Either Galway or Cork will drop to Division 1B this weekend and the latter’s involvement in the second tier in 2014 is proof positive of the financial repercussions that come with relegation from the top flight.

Cork’s income from the 2015 NHL, during which they had four home games against Clare, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Wexford, amounted to €160,301, a 280% increase on the year previous.Cork plied their trade in Division 1B during the spring of 2014 and despite home games against Limerick, Wexford and Offaly, income from gates reached only €57,134.

Attendances at Cork’s home games that spring averaged 6,300, almost 2,500 shy of the 8,773-strong crowd that flocked through the turnstiles for the Rebels’ Division 1A contest with Kilkenny earlier this month.

For Galway, maintaining their Division 1A status is of paramount importance given the county cannot rely on a lucrative championship tie at Pearse Stadium to fatten the coffers were they to drop to Division 1B - the Tribesmen have not enjoyed a home fixture in the All-Ireland championship since their move to Leinster in 2009.

Analysis commissioned by the Limerick County Board a few years ago estimated they were missing out on a potential €100,000 per annum by not being involved in the top flight. The figures were based on home attendances, advertising, programme sales, and team sponsorship.

Waterford, meanwhile, saw their attendances fall through the floor during last year’s Division 1B round-robin series. Their game with Antrim at Walsh Park attracted a mere 1,558, while 1,200 showed for the visit of Laois. Compare this with the 6,362 who attended their Division 1A clash with Dublin earlier this month and the gulf in interest between the two divisions quickly becomes apparent.

“It is very important to remain in the top flight,” said Galway hurling board Michael Larking.

“There are a number of strands of income to a County Board, gate receipts is one. We have averaged around 6,000 in terms of crowds at our home games this spring and that is made up, largely, of a core base support.

“We would be confident we would continue to attract such crowds were we to be in Division 1B next year. Also, you have big teams there like Offaly, Limerick and Wexford that would make for attractive games. But, really, we are not contemplating being in Division 1B.”