Review just the ticket up North

IT would appear that the Ulster Council need no lesson in the art of spin.

They released details this week of a number of ticket packages – all, it should be said, that were attractive and targeted at getting more bums on seats – but you could only admire the sales pitch in their opening paragraph.

‘Following increased attendances at the AIB Ulster Club Championships and the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup, Ulster GAA have announced ticket prices and admission offers for the 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship.’

It seemed, with coffers bulging, the provincial body had decided to give something back.

The reality, though, is different.

Attendances at last year’s Ulster Championship dropped with the Council suffering a 17.5 per cent drop in gate receipts.

That may have been down to many factors – the action can be compelling but it is rarely seductive as a spectacle – with the most obvious reason for the drop in spectators being the council’s hiked-up prices last summer.

And further down the press release, Ulster secretary Brian McAvoy came clean on the reasons for this week’s review.

‘Ulster GAA has taken feedback from stakeholders on last year and felt that there was merit in separating ticket prices for first round/quarterfinal games and semi-final games,’ he admitted.

And for that, McAvoy and the Ulster Council must be both applauded – the new packages represent real value – and supported.