Over 100,000 fans are expected to descend on GAA HQ as it hosts all four All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals over a frenzied weekend for the capital, one that will also see alternative concert attractions at the Aviva Stadium, Marlay Park and Fairview Park.
Saturday’s double-header, involving Armagh/Roscommon followed by Dublin’s clash with Galway, looks set to prove the bigger draw.
CrokePark.ie’s community information page has flagged the expected attendance to be 60,000, with 45,000 then anticipated for the Sunday double-bill – the meetings of Donegal/Louth and Kerry/Derry. Even though such figures are a long way from Croke Park’s noughties peak, when bumper crowds were a summer staple, it suggests that football fans are finally about to come out in force as this year’s race for Sam enters the home straight.
To date, Croke Park has been semi-deserted for all four Dublin championship matches played there, attracting a combined attendance of 77,691 – less than its 82,300 capacity.
Dublin’s total domination of Leinster has sparked a dramatic reduction in crowds, with a cumulative 66,515 attending their three provincial outings. Far fewer – just 11,176 – showed up for their All-Ireland group opener against Roscommon.
This is not just a Dublin phenomenon, however, with attendances elsewhere suffering in the face of a heavily squeezed fixture calendar.
The exception to this rule has been the Munster senior hurling championship, where a final turnout of 45,158 brought this year’s overall attendance to a record high of 315,881. The Leinster hurling final, coupled with the Joe McDonagh Cup decider, also beat expectations with 35,484 paying in.
On the football front, only 6,000 turned up for Roscommon’s audacious ambush of Tyrone in Omagh last Saturday.
However, the Rossies are bound to travel in bigger numbers as they chase a first All-Ireland semi-final appearance in 33 years, against an Armagh team who have been well supported all season.
