Former Limerick mayor and Monaleen councillor call for big match switch
LIMERICK could double its money if the IRFU and the GAA got together to open up the Gaelic Grounds for the Heineken Cup quarter final against Northampton on April 10, according to former Mayor Cllr John Gilligan.
Cllr Gilligan agrees with Monaleen county councillor Michael Sheehan – who is also vice-chairman of the County Limerick Football Committee – that the idea should be kicked around with the aim of maximising the financial spin-off to the city for the blockbuster tie.
Munster Rugby declined to comment this week, but sources indicated the idea would be swiftly kicked to touch. The GAA and the IRFU reached an exceptional arrangement to open up Croke Park, and Croke Park only, while Lansdowne Road was being redeveloped.
Cllr Sheahan said the executive of the county board had last week "made a decision that they would welcome a formal application for permission to use the pitch on a once-off basis".
It would be up to the IRFU to make the approach, but rugby sources indicated the GAA had not approached them about the idea.
Cllr Gilligan said it was imperative the idea be explored. The pool game between the same two sides contributed j10m to the local economy. Having up to 50,000 fans in Croke Park, as opposed to 26,000 in Thomond Park, would see the good times roll for all concerned.
"Northampton had 3,000 tickets allocated to them the last time and they are getting over 6,000 in an allocation for the quarter final. Even for the pool game, I was told by Northampton fans that they couldn't get a hotel room in Limerick and they were staying in Ennis. If there were an extra 20,000 tickets, it would be like the boom times. I might even have a chance of getting a ticket myself. What we're talking about here is doubling the size of the occasion. There would be a hell of a lot left for the IRFU even after the GAA got its cut, and the spin-off benefits for the city would be enormous," said Cllr Gilligan.
Cllr Sheehan said any request to use the Gaelic Grounds would go to a full meeting where Limerick club delegates would vote on it.
"I know the clubs would have no problem with that, lots of the lads play in both codes and there would be support for it.
"What would happen then would be our Central Council delegate would go to Croke Park and ask them to approve the request on a once-off basis over the economic circumstances. Limerick is going through a hard time and this would be a good decision for the city.
“Even if we only brought it up to 40,000 in the Gaelic Grounds, that would be at least another j500,000 in ticket sales alone.
“You’d be filling hotels in the city, all over County Limerick and as far as Ennis and Tipperary,” Cllr Sheehan said.
He said he was “sick and tired of rugby friends telling me the GAA never let us in the door”, and his idea would also “test Croke Park”, who, he said, “would find it very difficult to turn down a request from the IRFU because of the economic grounds”.
He foresaw no difficulties with ERC health and safety regulations or broadcasting requirements.
Rugby sources said this week it would make little sense to move the game from its state-of-the-art new stadium in Thomond Park. Local rugby clubs benefit from significant bar revenues on big match days, while Thomond Park’s corporate hospitality suites are also a big moneyspinner.
Asked if it might be difficult for the IRFU to persuade the hoi polloi to abandon the corporate boxes for the windswept uncovered stand in the Gaelic Grounds, Cllr Gilligan said “they can keep the corporate hospitality in Thomond Park and bus them over to the Gaelic Grounds before the match. It would only take five minutes.”
“We have to look at it seriously. Everyone’s a winner. More Munster fans and Northampton fans would see the game. Munster Rugby and the GAA would both make money out of it. The pubs and restaurants and businesses of Limerick would make money out of it. We just have to be inventive. Let’s go for it,” said Cllr Gilligan.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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