Delaney: we got Thomond prices wrong

THE FAI are to revise their ticket prices for the South Africa friendly in Thomond Park in September after a substantially less than capacity crowd turned out for the Ireland-Australia game at the venue on Wednesday night.

Tickets were priced at €50, €35 and €25 for the first soccer match atMunster rugby HQ but, although the two cheaper options sold out, the cost of the highest-priced seats in these recessionary times has been blamed for the attendance on the night falling some 7,000 short of the ground’s 26,500 capacity.

Now, FAI chief executive John Delaney has revealed that the Association is set to announce what they believe will be more affordable price packages for the South Africa match on September 8.

“We got 19,400 in on Wednesday, and I know that when Ireland played a rugby game there against Canada, they got 19,000 in. But I think we have to be more flexible on the pricing for the South Africa game. We’ll announce that on Monday. We have to look at a more family-orientated price as well. We probably got a little learning out of Wednesday, to be honest.

“But still, 19,400 was a good turnout and, in terms of the overall running of the organisation, the difference between playing that game at home and playing an away friendly – along with the TV monies we get from Sky – meant a significant profit for the organisation.

“In the wider context of the week too, about 7,000 people saw the squad training in St Michael’s (in Tipperary town) and, with all the openings that we did, there is a long-term legacy out of what we did down here this week.”