Senior championship 2022 & 2023

[JoeH]

I agree.
Particularly for the older generation - who might not have a suitable phone/ don't know about or trust apps.
At least have a facility to pay by card at the gate? Still no cash, but more "customer friendly "
Why not?? Any reasons?

Don't agree

I bet the same people can obtain a ticket for the AI final, going to see a play etc

It can be done

 

[PatMustard]

I agree.
Particularly for the older generation - who might not have a suitable phone/ don't know about or trust apps.
At least have a facility to pay by card at the gate? Still no cash, but more "customer friendly "
Why not?? Any reasons?

Or what happens if your phone battery runs out before the turnstiles?

With all these banking/revolut etc scams going about, you’d have to be totally clued in to avoid being done. I’m not a technophobe, but I prefer handling money as it’s just easier. Technology is a minefield, and most of the time I can’t be bothered with it as it does my head in.

 

[ShiftYa]

You have to get a digital ticket for the group games also?

Yes for every single game!

I agree.
Particularly for the older generation - who might not have a suitable phone/ don't know about or trust apps.
At least have a facility to pay by card at the gate? Still no cash, but more "customer friendly "
Why not?? Any reasons?

Don’t know the reasons but every club week in week out collects cash for league games so it not as if it a hard thing to administer.

Really no need for tickets as I’ve never seen a club game have the AG at capacity.

I can see that it could speed up lines at the turnstiles but it shouldn’t be the only option.

Don’t think the county board has considered all fans here.

 

[JoeH]

Yes for every single game!


Don’t know the reasons but every club week in week out collects cash for league games so it not as if it a hard thing to administer.

Really no need for tickets as I’ve never seen a club game have the AG at capacity.

I can see that it could speed up lines at the turnstiles but it shouldn’t be the only option.

Don’t think the county board has considered all fans here.

This process has been in place for the past few years

Removing cash removes the possibility of fake notes being handed over
Removing cash removes the possibility of someone thinking there's handy money to rob - keeps people safe
Removing cash removes the possibility of accusations of pocketing money

 

[ShiftYa]

This process has been in place for the past few years

Removing cash removes the possibility of fake notes being handed over
Removing cash removes the possibility of someone thinking there's handy money to rob - keeps people safe
Removing cash removes the possibility of accusations of pocketing money

But most importantly it makes the games less accessible to many people who want to see them.
There’s plenty of people out there who don’t have a smartphone or just aren’t comfortable using them.
No doubt there will be people who will chose not to attend games because of this policy.
It’s not even that well advertised so there’ll be people turned away on arrival if the gate persons that way inclined.

I really don’t believe the issues that you mentioned were that big of a concern or at least don’t outweigh the accessibility issue.

 

[ShiftYa]

An example, there’s an older member in our club who normally goes to as many championship games as he can around the county, I know for a fact he doesn’t have a smart phone. So if wants to go to a game he’ll have to find someone who wants to go with him that can use a smartphone. Totally lost his independence. It’s an easy thing to take cash at the gate, worked forever.

 

[POINTMAN]

This process has been in place for the past few years

Removing cash removes the possibility of fake notes being handed over
Removing cash removes the possibility of someone thinking there's handy money to rob - keeps people safe
Removing cash removes the possibility of accusations of pocketing money

Removing cash means removing many casual fans who would go to games at short notice!!

 

[Onlooker]

looking at all away wins in the championship this weekend, don't think there will be many upsets. 3rd/4th seeds v 1st/2nd.

senior will be tight but intermediate and junior should be straight forward

 

[niall1980]

This process has been in place for the past few years

Removing cash removes the possibility of fake notes being handed over
Removing cash removes the possibility of someone thinking there's handy money to rob - keeps people safe
Removing cash removes the possibility of accusations of pocketing money

Are none of these possible during league games?

 

[JoeH]

Are none of these possible during league games?

True but perhaps attendances would be different for championship

 

[JoeH]

An example, there’s an older member in our club who normally goes to as many championship games as he can around the county, I know for a fact he doesn’t have a smart phone. So if wants to go to a game he’ll have to find someone who wants to go with him that can use a smartphone. Totally lost his independence. It’s an easy thing to take cash at the gate, worked forever.

I'm not disagreeing with this but I also know a few older persons who ask a family member to get the ticket printed out for them.

I don't buy the argument about the smartphone issue - very few will have a non smartphone. Most people use WhatsApp etc and are familiar with receiving photos and videos.
The national League and various championships were all buy your ticket in advance - no cash option.
Our club championship has been this way for a few years now

I do think a tap n go option to buy a ticket at the ground would be great

What happens in other counties ?

 

[ragingbull]

Have to say it’s a shame you can’t pay at the gate for a club championship game. It’ll dissuade people who attend games spontaneously or last minute and then I’m sure there’s people who’d just be put off by buying an online ticket/ having to present a digital ticket.

You can pay at the gate at a Loughgall game

 

[Big Jim]

You can pay at the gate at a Loughgall game

Loughall don't play GAA. It's Ballyhegan. You don't even need to pay in there

 

[OneofTwo]

This process has been in place for the past few years

Removing cash removes the possibility of fake notes being handed over
Removing cash removes the possibility of someone thinking there's handy money to rob - keeps people safe
Removing cash removes the possibility of accusations of pocketing money

All really poor excuses in my opinion, not a gripe at your post, just my 2p worth.

The simple and only reason it has gone to digital is to ensure the County Board get full control. End of story.

The one and only reason they aren’t letting people pay at the gate is to centralise payment and make sure they get every last penny. Modern payment systems mean it can be digital at the gate with a phone and contactless app so no need to handle cash.

On a side note, I think the £90 price of the championship pass is over priced also. Would be keen to understand the uptake of these.

 

[PatMustard]

Loughall don't play GAA. It's Ballyhegan. You don't even need to pay in there

I always use that fella next door. Pay 50p to use his kids trampoline to bounce over the perimetre fence. As you say, I could get through the turnstiles for free, but it’s the principle, innit?

 

[JoeH]

All really poor excuses in my opinion, not a gripe at your post, just my 2p worth.

The simple and only reason it has gone to digital is to ensure the County Board get full control. End of story.

The one and only reason they aren’t letting people pay at the gate is to centralise payment and make sure they get every last penny. Modern payment systems mean it can be digital at the gate with a phone and contactless app so no need to handle cash.

On a side note, I think the £90 price of the championship pass is over priced also. Would be keen to understand the uptake of these.

As I understand it 50% of the gate goes to the home club, 25% to the visiting team and 25% to the county for the group games anyway

I suppose in this way with it being digital everyone gets what they're entitled to

The £90 season ticket seems high so let's look at this

3 weekends of games coming up
You attend 1 game on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday at a fiver each. £15 by three weekends is £45
There's a quarter final qualifier so let's say you attend three games across the three championships
That's now £60
Q/finals - let's say you attend 1 from each championship at £7 each - that's £21
Up to £81
Semifinals - let's say you attend 2 semifinals at £10 each
Up to £101
Then there's the finals
Let's say £25 to see all three finals
That's £126

I'm not sure of the ticket prices for these events so the above figures might go up or down

The season ticket would be for those who go to a lot of games so I'd say it's good value

The season ticket, if you just followed your club games, probably would break even at best if your team got to the final

 

[Whites]

This process has been in place for the past few years

Removing cash removes the possibility of fake notes being handed over
Removing cash removes the possibility of someone thinking there's handy money to rob - keeps people safe
Removing cash removes the possibility of accusations of pocketing money

Cynical but true

 

[OneofTwo]

As I understand it 50% of the gate goes to the home club, 25% to the visiting team and 25% to the county for the group games anyway

I suppose in this way with it being digital everyone gets what they're entitled to

The £90 season ticket seems high so let's look at this

3 weekends of games coming up
You attend 1 game on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday at a fiver each. £15 by three weekends is £45
There's a quarter final qualifier so let's say you attend three games across the three championships
That's now £60
Q/finals - let's say you attend 1 from each championship at £7 each - that's £21
Up to £81
Semifinals - let's say you attend 2 semifinals at £10 each
Up to £101
Then there's the finals
Let's say £25 to see all three finals
That's £126

I'm not sure of the ticket prices for these events so the above figures might go up or down

The season ticket would be for those who go to a lot of games so I'd say it's good value

The season ticket, if you just followed your club games, probably would break even at best if your team got to the final

Reference the spreading of the money, you have outlined my point. It makes sure the County Board get their money. That isn’t actually my gripe though, my gripe is the removal of the pay on the day option for those who aren’t as digitally savvy. There are plenty as the forum alludes.

For me the pass should be good value if you want to attend a series of games in the championship rather than basically having to go to a game in every round of every championship! Your break down makes sense though but then again if you are going to attend that many games you would like to think you are going to get value for money!

 

[ShiftYa]

All really poor excuses in my opinion, not a gripe at your post, just my 2p worth.

The simple and only reason it has gone to digital is to ensure the County Board get full control. End of story.

The one and only reason they aren’t letting people pay at the gate is to centralise payment and make sure they get every last penny. Modern payment systems mean it can be digital at the gate with a phone and contactless app so no need to handle cash.

On a side note, I think the £90 price of the championship pass is over priced also. Would be keen to understand the uptake of these.

In fairness I think £5 for a championship game is reasonably priced even though the group stage games are all but meaningless.

But agree unless your attending 20 odd games the championship pass isn’t of real value.

 

[Armaghball]

Have to say it’s a shame you can’t pay at the gate for a club championship game. It’ll dissuade people who attend games spontaneously or last minute and then I’m sure there’s people who’d just be put off by buying an online ticket/ having to present a digital ticket.

Disgraceful. Think we should all contact our club rep to bring this up at county board level.