Should a more modern approach be taken at county grounds?

THE Athletic Grounds in Armagh and St Oliver Plunkett Park in Crossmaglen have recently seen some modernisation.

And in terms of facilities and safety they would be considered, by most, to be fairly modern stadia.

As part of an organisation which has grown from overtly conservative roots, the Croke Park authorities have, with the introduction of half-time entertainment and huge advertising screens, made some steps towards a form of modernisation.

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This wave, however, does not seem to have filtered fully from HQ into the actual ‘hosting’ of games within the Orchard County.

Unlike many other sports where player-supporter interaction is actively encouraged and where fan participation is seen as a huge part of the experience, the GAA around Ireland has yet to find a role for the paying punter who wishes for more than just a game when coming through the turnstiles.

Whilst NFL and Championship games cannot, realistically, be expected to compete with the marketing style of the English Premier League or the extravagance of the American Superbowl, perhaps more could be done within our own county grounds to attract and encourage more supporters to attend.

Perhaps some of the initiatives employed in grounds around Ireland could be trialled within the county during the National League.

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For example - a free supporters’ draw whereby a sum, usually 100, is made available from the 20,000 attained at the gates for a free draw. Each fan entering the ground would be given a numbered ticket, with the winner being named at half-time.

This kind of giving back could help the GAA’s reputation of being overly expensive and bureaucratic.

With a huge number of players being used during the McKenna Cup competition, small initiatives like names on jerseys could help many supporters, who may not recognise a player straight-off, to enjoy the games fully.

Perhaps a snappier approach to team-announcing could be employed also. Despite the cultural benefits of doing so, the long-winded announcing of teams in both English and Irish can become monotonous for supporters.

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Perhaps most importantly the creation of a feel-good factor within our stadia is needed, especially for younger supporters.

Whist traditional music is fine in its own right, a more contemporary style of musical entertainment may hold more attractions for younger people. Something ‘middle of the road’, perhaps falling short of Led Zeppelin or AC/DC, could help create a better buzz around the ground before games and during half-time.

A more enthusiastic and slick approach to the bi-lingual nature of the GAA and, indeed, its view of all things modern may create a more youthful ambience in our grounds and entice more supporters to the League and Championship in 2010.