Football championship set to break GAA financial records again

Despite eight fewer matches, this year’s crowds for the slimmed down Sam Maguire Cup will exceed those of 2025 with the final total going close to the 700,000 mark.

The All-Ireland SFC quarter-final double-header featuring Louth v Monaghan and Dublin v Galway was one of the sell-out days at Croke Park. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Widely considered as the best for entertainment and quality, the All-Ireland senior football championship is also expected to be most lucrative for the GAA.

Croke Park’s concerns that the change to the competition’s framework would cost them €1 million will be allayed by the success of this year’s renewal.