Munster ticket masters fall short of resolution
One hundred and twenty five delegates voiced their concerns, with Limerick senior clubs tabling a motion expressing dissatisfaction at allocations.
Garrett Fitzgerald, Munster Branch chief executive, told the meeting that the reduction in clubs’ allocation was unavoidable because tournament rules allow the visiting team and their commercial partners increased entitlements for the quarter-finals.
Both parties requested their full entitlement which amounted to approximately 30% of the 13,000 plus capacity. Because 52% are distributed through affiliated clubs, the supporters club and underage structures, no tickets were available for public sale.
The latter factor, of course, was of little concern to the clubs who nowadays see the use of tickets to sell corporate hospitality as one of their few meaningful sources of income.
Stories abound of the Branch and several clubs reaping a rich harvest from these activities. The Branch held two corporate functions prior to the Gloucester and Bourgoin games, one in conjunction with the Radisson Hotel and another at the Limerick Institute of Technology. They will do likewise for the Stade Français quarter- final. The clubs are also hopeful of yet another bonanza despite the reduction in their ticket allocation.
It is understood that over 400 guests attended each of the functions held by one club before the Gloucester and Bourgoin games. Tables of ten in some cases cost in the region of €3,000 so the amounts of money at stake to the clubs are quite enormous. It is believed that they make up the ticket shortfall by coming to an arrangement with junior clubs located a long way from Thomond Park and for whom corporate entertainment holds little attraction.
While this is invariably to the detriment of the ordinary rugby supporter, the Branch and clubs stress that without this income, their futures would be in serious doubt.
The breakdown for the Stade Français game reads as follows: senior and junior clubs - 3,400; Stade Français - 3,199; Munster Supporters Club - 2,850; Corporate Hospitality - 720; ERC Ltd and commercial partners - 714; Munster squad, management, medical and support staff - 536; Schools - 500; Munster sponsors - 462; Branch & IRFU committees - 382; Referees, referee assessors and match commissioner - 209; U21, school, youth and junior structure - 146; Press - 60; office, ground and development staff - 54; sundry - 25.
It has come as something of a shock that Stade Français, who are not known to enjoy a large following, are taking up their full allocation.
Bourgoin, on the other hand, sent back the 700 they were allocated for the pool game and this is one of the major reasons why the senior clubs have dropped in numbers from 190 to 150.
Those far-sighted people, many of whom were scoffed at in the early days, who joined the Supporters Club and pay an annual fee of €€125 for the right to buy two tickets for every match, are now reaping the rewards. The Supporters Club membership is closed at 1,425, so their financial contribution is welcomed by the Branch.
“That cash flow helps us to run a professional team over the full 52 weeks of the year,” said Garrett Fitzgerald.
The principal motion before this week’s EGM was “to make, if necessary, special directions to the committee of the Munster Branch to alter the control and application of the Munster Branch ticket allocation/distribution policy appertaining to Munster games”.
There was a lengthy and heated debate with many contrasting views.
“It was a healthy discussion”, said Mr Fitzgerald. However, no firm decision was arrived at and it is very much on the cards that another special EGM will be held before the AGM in June to finalise a method for allocating Heineken Cup tickets for next season.
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