GAA President defends hike in All-Ireland final ticket prices

GAA President Jarlath Burns has defended the decision to raise the price of All-Ireland final tickets to €100. 

The GAA announced on May 31 that tickets for the 2024 All-Ireland hurling and football finals will be priced at €100 (stand) and €55 (terrace), an increase of €10 and €5 respectively on 2023 prices.

Ticket prices for quarter-finals and semi-finals will increase by €5.

Speaking with RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland on Monday, Burns conceded that €100 "is a lot" and said he understood "that there will be certainly eyebrows raised at that."

However, he defended the rise in prices, noting that this is the first time that the cost of All-Ireland final tickets has changed in six years. 

"It was a very big move for us to go to three figures, but remember, it's the first time since 2018 we've changed (prices). It's only the second time since 2011," Burns told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

"We all know where inflation has gone, but I think our members understand that 83% of everything we earn is ploughed right back into the game.

"We have 350 coaches, we're spending €7m on those at the minute. That's going to go up to €12m. We're increasing that number, we're actually gving them better terms."

Burns added that the GAA will be spending around €5 million on county grounds over the next 12 months, while it will also be increasing the amount of grants given to clubs around the country from €3 million last year to €4.5 million in 2024. He said that figure will rise to €5 million next year. 

He further noted that it was free to bring a child to all National League games this year, while juvenile tickets for All-Ireland championship games so far this summer have cost €5. 

"It is quite good value, but we do understand that €100 is a lot for an All-Ireland ticket," Burns told Morning Ireland.