With the All-Ireland football and hurling finals just around the corner, demand for tickets is incredibly high. Fans are eager to get their hands on the coveted tickets to see their county compete for the Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy cups. But where can fans get tickets for the finals?
One of the main places fans will look to purchase All-Ireland final tickets is Ticketmaster. As the largest primary ticket seller in Ireland, Ticketmaster typically receives an allocation of tickets for major sporting events like the All-Ireland finals. Here are answers to some common questions about getting All-Ireland final tickets on Ticketmaster:
Will there be tickets on Ticketmaster for the All-Ireland finals?
In most years, yes, there are tickets allocated to Ticketmaster for both the hurling and football finals. However, the number of tickets available may be limited depending on demand. The GAA allocates a certain number of tickets to Ticketmaster, but priority is given to GAA county boards and clubs first when distributing tickets.
When do All-Ireland final tickets go on sale on Ticketmaster?
All-Ireland final tickets are usually released on Ticketmaster in the week leading up to the finals. The exact on-sale date and time will be announced closer to the events. Tickets tend to sell out extremely fast once they go live on Ticketmaster.
How much do All-Ireland final tickets cost on Ticketmaster?
Ticket prices can vary each year, but expect to pay a premium for All-Ireland final tickets on Ticketmaster. Here are sample ticket prices from the 2019 finals:
| Seating Category | Football Final Price | Hurling Final Price |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Level Sideline | €150 | €130 |
| Premium Level Endline | €90 | €80 |
| Cusack Stand | €80 | €70 |
Tickets sold on Ticketmaster will typically be more expensive than if purchased directly through a county board. Ticketmaster adds their own fees on top of the base ticket price.
What are the chances of getting All-Ireland tickets on Ticketmaster?
The chances are low, unfortunately. The overwhelming demand for All-Ireland final tickets far outweighs the limited supply. Tens of thousands of fans try to access just a few thousand tickets on Ticketmaster each year.
For example, in 2019 Ticketmaster had less than 5,000 tickets to sell for each final. With over 80,000 fans packing Croke Park for the finals, the odds of securing tickets through Ticketmaster were very slim.
Do tickets sell out immediately on Ticketmaster?
In most years, yes. Demand is so high that tickets for the hurling and football finals tend to sell out within minutes, if not seconds, once they go on sale. Fans report frantically trying to select and checkout tickets, only to find them disappear from their cart.
Bots and ticket scalpers also unfortunately scoop up many of the tickets quickly, making it even harder for genuine fans to purchase them through Ticketmaster.
What is the best way to get All-Ireland final tickets?
Realistically, the only sure way for fans to get tickets is through their county board. Each county receives an allocation of tickets for distribution to clubs and season ticket holders. Beyond that, some tickets may go on general sale through the GAA website.
Ticketmaster is essentially a lottery due to extremely limited quantities. Fans may get lucky, but most will be left disappointed. Joining your county’s supporters club is advisable to increase the chances of getting tickets in future years.
Are there other options besides Ticketmaster to get tickets?
There are some other secondary ticket sites where fans can check for All-Ireland final tickets, but availability is low and prices are inflated. Some options include:
Ticketmaster Fan-to-Fan Resale
Ticketmaster operates its own ticket resale marketplace where fans can resell extra tickets. However, tickets sell for well above face value.
Stubhub
Stubhub is a large secondary ticket marketplace where fans can buy and sell tickets. All-Ireland final tickets are rare but can sometimes be found at inflated prices.
Seatwave
Owned by Ticketmaster, Seatwave is another resale site. All-Ireland tickets will command premium pricing here when available.
Touts Outside the Stadium
Some desperate fans may buy tickets from touts hanging around Croke Park on match day. This is very risky however as there is no guarantee the tickets are legitimate.
Are there any tips for getting All-Ireland tickets on Ticketmaster?
Here are some tips to potentially increase your chances when All-Ireland tickets go on sale:
- Get online ahead of time and be logged in to your Ticketmaster account
- Ensure your payment information and shipping address are pre-saved in your account
- Keep refreshing the page ahead of the on-sale time in case tickets are released early
- Use the Ticketmaster mobile app which may work faster than the website
- Aim for single tickets rather than multi-seat purchases
- Act fast once tickets go live, have auto-fill payment ready
- If you miss out, keep trying as some tickets may get released from abandoned carts
But ultimately, it will come down to getting very lucky to beat the bots and scalpers to grab the scarce tickets made available on Ticketmaster.
What can be done about ticket scalping of All-Ireland finals?
Ticket scalping and touting continues to be a major problem, depriving genuine fans of All-Ireland tickets. Some actions that could help include:
- The GAA could increase the overall ticket allocation for general sale
- Pass anti-touting legislation with enforceable fines
- Require ID/credit card verification to prevent multiple purchases
- Use technology like bot-prevention or captcha codes
- Restrict resale of tickets above face value
A multi-pronged approach is likely needed to tackle scalping. The GAA also needs to balance rewarding loyal supporters while allowing some tickets to the general public.
Conclusion
In conclusion, getting All-Ireland final tickets on Ticketmaster will be extremely difficult due to massive demand and limited supply. While some tickets will likely be offered, they sell out in minutes or even seconds in most years. Fans have the best chance through their county board allocations. Bots and touts make getting tickets through Ticketmaster unlikely, though not impossible with diligence and a bit of luck. Extra steps by the GAA and ticket sellers could help get more tickets in the hands of genuine supporters.
