The Munster Rugby Thread 24/25

[How bad boy]

It's a bit depressing our best nights seem to be hyped up but meaningless friendlies. Beat a touring side or go down bravely, same script. The games give us a bit of a boast I suppose and swell the coffers but there is something off when we can't get fans even remotely as excited about the real competition.

14k for a home quarter final, 20k for a home semi final while reigning URC champions, going for 2 in a row. Thomond 3/4 empty most of the time. Cork City will get a similar number of bums on seats if they go ok in the premier division next year.

What do to getting the general public back interested in meaningful games? URC promotion and relegation maybe? SA teams definitely helped but, maybe a few less games but higher profile games with more on the line?

Promotion and relegation would be an absolute disaster for lower down teams.


It's why the people advocating for a joint URC and english premiership with promotion and relegation are totally missing the bigger picture. Sure, you'd have great games with Leinster vs Leicester or Bulls vs Quins.
But for one, it'd put the final nail in the coffin of European competition.
And for every match between top teams, there'd be a Newcastle vs Connacht or Sale vs Zebre. A whole division with the likes of Dragons, Zebre, Connacht, Sale, Newcastle, would spell death for those teams, fuck all attendances with few high profile players.

That said, if the Welsh teams joined the premiership (as they really, really, really want to do), I think that would potentially make for both a better URC and a better Premiership. You could ditch the regional shields entirely.
That said, if you did that, Munster would be 3rd last right now with only Zebre and a Stormers team with a game in hand below them

 

[dahayeser]

A team going well draws a crowd, end of story.

Same as any game.

There wouldn't have been too many up in Thurles last summer had results gone against us.

Defending URC champions though having not won a trophy in years and we get a combined 34k for a home quarter and semi final? That is very poor. If Cork did win the AI last year they'd sell out nearly every game the following year defending it, including round robin games.

 

[bluesball]

Rugby compared to Gaa is very expensive to follow especially for families.

 

[TheRebelRoar]

Defending URC champions though having not won a trophy in years and we get a combined 34k for a home quarter and semi final? That is very poor. If Cork did win the AI last year they'd sell out nearly every game the following year defending it, including round robin games.

Let's see what the league attendances are like in the new year m8

You'll have the same core support that goes to the rugby. If there's a good chance of a trophy you will have the eventers.

Just like the All Ireland final this year.

You want to talk down Munster be my guest. I was at the Derry game in Croke park last year, if there were 4 thousand Cork supporters it was as many. If a team is going well or expected to go all the way they will draw a crowd. That's sport.

 

[dahayeser]

You want to talk down Munster be my guest. I was at the Derry game in Croke park last year, if there were 4 thousand Cork supporters it was as many. If a team is going well or expected to go all the way they will draw a crowd. That's sport.

Ah no not talking them down at all, it's more what the marketing people or competition structure I am questioning? These big event games are great but we need to get more people interested in the games that really matter. Those crowds as defending champs QF and SF were absolutely cat. I found that very strange. 2 in a row would have been an outstanding achievement yet we were on the cusp of it and it didn't seem to capture the imagination of the public.

You are bang on about the Cork footballers and that's what you want to avoid really isn't it. I am not sure where exactly they lost the room. Great crowds in the late 80s early 90s but the 2007 to 2012 team was very poorly supported despite being constantly in the shake up for honours.

 

[TheOutdoorThreadmill]

Rugby compared to Gaa is very expensive to follow especially for families.

My hoop, €100 for juveniles to go to AI final?

 

[dahayeser]

My hoop, €100 for juveniles to go to AI final?

Autumn international v Australia €155 for a ticked behind the goal, makes that AI ticked look like a steal

 

[TheRebelRoar]

Autumn international v Australia €155 for a ticked behind the goal, makes that AI ticked look like a steal

You seem to have a major bee in your bonnet about the rugger m8.

Stick to the bogball if it upsets you so much.

 

[TheOutdoorThreadmill]

Autumn international v Australia €155 for a ticked behind the goal, makes that AI ticked look like a steal

You know the difference between an International rugby match and a Munster game?
By the way...

• Ireland v Argentina - tickets priced from €32.50 (Restricted Cat 4) to €140 (Premium) Concessions available for schoolboys/girls.

 

[bluesball]

€50 for a stand ticket in Thomond park for a league game €25 for the terrace and 15 for juveniles , juveriles only charged full price for all ireland finals ,free into most league games and a few euro for championship matches up to semi finals i think. Al least i can get in free to my local rugby club when i want to go and see them