Sponsorship and Fundraising in the GAA

[Teo Lurley]

The level of sponsorship and fundraising is growing hugely in the GAA. Counties are getting big sums of money from multinational corporations, big business and backers in England and America. These counties are able to pump huge resources into funding their Gaelic football teams. They have top level coaches, nutritionists, physiologists, lifestyle coaches, basketball coaches, 5 day training camps, all they could ever ask for when preparing their teams basically.

I believe this is causing a major gap to develop between the counties that have funds v the counties that haven't. The counties receiving the highest sums are Kerry, Donegal and Dublin. Who's won the All Ireland in the past few years? Kerry, Donegal and Dublin. Mayo also have big money being invested in their team, we see them competing in the latter stages of the All Ireland every year. What this means for other counties is that they may line up against Kerry, Donegal, Dublin and Mayo with 15 v 15 but it's 15 well prepared players v 15 professionally prepared players.

This is an unfair advantage. It's causing some big beatings to occur. For example, Dublin have won games in Leinster by 27 points and 19 points this year, by 11, 16 and 16 last year and by 16, 16 and 7 the year before. No one's getting close to them and a lot of counties are beginning to think what's the point of competing in Leinster. It's killing the game in that province. In Munster, Tipperary have been making great efforts to improve their standards but they'll be halted in their progress because they have a highly financed Kerry in their way. Donegal have dominated Ulster and Mayo have dominated Connacht.

Where are their high level of resources coming from? Kerry got 4 million from fundraising overseas, we can't be sure of the exact amount Donegal are getting but they have a very wealthy backer in England who played an instrumental part in beating Dublin last year by financing a 5 day training camp leading up to the match while Dublin have AIG, sponsors of the All Blacks supplying them with a multi-million euro deal. They also have a lengthy list of other sponsors. Them being; O'Neills, Bavaria, The Gibson Hotel, Toyota, Aer Lingus, Ros Nutrition, Ballygowan, Linwoods, Energise sport and Skins.

Something has to be done about this or the gap between the rich and the poor will grow and grow. Is this the game we want? A game where only those who can attract sponsorship or investment can compete? That's where we're going if this is let continue. There'll be an elite group of teams who'll push away from the rest. We're already hearing suggestions of throwing the weak teams into a B championship. The big teams have had enough of wasting their time battering the minnows, while the weak teams are sick of the beatings. This will destroy the game, it'll be like hurling where only a few counties can aim to win the big prizes while the rest struggle away.

Let's do something about this now before it's too late.

[Teo Lurley]

It seems to be the topic that no one wants to discuss.

[heffo]

Laois were inordinatly funded when they won their Leinster title in 2003 - you should petition they hand back this title as a shining example to others.

[Dinny Breen]

Of course you need the "haves" to discuss but the status quo is in their favour so can only imagine lip service or quit your whinging and man-up kind of statements. Financial doping greatly increases a teams chances of winning. That is a reality.

AFL are addressing such imbalances..

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-04/equalisation-changes-explained

[heffo]

Financial doping greatly increases a teams chances of winning. That is a reality.

It certainly did when Kildare were running the most expensive training operation in the country under McGeeney

[AZOffaly]

I don't think it can be any question. Big money, invested wisely in preparation and coaching, produces better players. I don't see how that can be for debate.

I've said before, can't remember if I said it here or not, but in terms of Dublin the GAA acted to prevent an issue with regard to participation in the Capital, and to make sure Dublin remained a GAA powerhouse because the consequences of losing Dublin to other sports was a real prospect.

However, the way they did it, with the large investment in coaching, has now led to another issue which is that they are waxing everyone in Leinster, and probably 25+ of the other teams as well. This is not good for the long term sustainability of the competition. Dublin will always have inherent advantages (and inherent drawbacks), and part of the crack is taking them on and giving them a right lash. At this stage, that crack is gone out of it for at least 25 teams I'd say.

What we do about it is the Hobson's choice. We don't have the money to give huge amounts to every county, and some of those counties wouldn't spend it properly anyway. Dublin have been excellent in how they invested. If we reduce Dublin's grant, are we exposing the biggest population centre in the country to losing players?

Either way, I think even within the casual fan in Dublin the interest is waning until they get to the All Ireland stage, so that's an issue that has to be addressed.

Proper investment for every county, with a good coaching and preparation plan from underage up, to help them maximise their potential, whatever that might be, is the only way I think this trend can be arrested.

[Dinny Breen]

Financial doping greatly increases a teams chances of winning. That is a reality.

It certainly did when Kildare were running the most expensive training operation in the country under McGeeney

So you agree, good!

I like the luxury tax. For example cap spending at 250K per senior team and for every €1 spent in excess you pay a luxury tax of 50c paid into a shared pool for the other teams who did not exceed expenditure. Would certainly keep Dublin, Donegal and Kerry in check. It would have also ensure the likes of Kildare aren't stupid with finances that they can't afford to spend trying to keep up with the Jones Road gang.

[AZOffaly]

Something like that would be ideal, if viewed in isolation at senior team level, but the really large scale investment is being done further down the foodchain at club and development squad levels. What would you do about that?

[heffo]

Financial doping greatly increases a teams chances of winning. That is a reality.

It certainly did when Kildare were running the most expensive training operation in the country under McGeeney

So you agree, good!

I like the luxury tax. For example cap spending at 250K per senior team and for every €1 spent in excess you pay a luxury tax of 50c paid into a shared pool for the other teams who did not exceed expenditure. Would certainly keep Dublin, Donegal and Kerry in check. It would have also ensure the likes of Kildare aren't stupid with finances that they can't afford to spend trying to keep up with the Jones Road gang.

How do you control the foreign fundraising arms of the Mayo's & Donegal's etc who are bringing home huge sums to finance warm weather foreign training camps and dozens of weekends away?

[AZOffaly]

Or JP for Limerick? But I don't think the annual preparation costs are the biggest factor, I definitely think it's on the not so sexy coaching and development financial support. At the end of the day, if you go away to La Manga or Clara, you can still do your coaching and your work with the team you have. I think where the difference comes in is the money invested wisely making sure that the next generation of players are already there, and prepared physically, mentally and technically to come in and hit the ground running.

[Dinny Breen]

Something like that would be ideal, if viewed in isolation at senior team level, but the really large scale investment is being done further down the foodchain at club and development squad levels. What would you do about that?

I don't think anyone sees investment in under-age/infrastructure as an issue if it's self-funded. However this notion that any county is more important than another is wrong, all GAA grants need to be done on a pro-rata basis.

Top of my head each club in a county is assessed - how many senior mens teams, have they a ladies teams, how many underage teams, how many referees etc etc. After the assessment you get a number of points, each club's points are added up giving a county total. They then use they county total to draw down development funds from central fund. It could also be used for infrastructure grants etc.

Something like that to me would make sense, you'd have a governance team in CP to ensure transparency and that figures are audited correctly.

Rewards those clubs and counties who are working hard to promote the GAA and increase playing numbers and participation.

[Dinny Breen]

Financial doping greatly increases a teams chances of winning. That is a reality.

It certainly did when Kildare were running the most expensive training operation in the country under McGeeney

So you agree, good!

I like the luxury tax. For example cap spending at 250K per senior team and for every €1 spent in excess you pay a luxury tax of 50c paid into a shared pool for the other teams who did not exceed expenditure. Would certainly keep Dublin, Donegal and Kerry in check. It would have also ensure the likes of Kildare aren't stupid with finances that they can't afford to spend trying to keep up with the Jones Road gang.

How do you control the foreign fundraising arms of the Mayo's & Donegal's etc who are bringing home huge sums to finance warm weather foreign training camps and dozens of weekends away?

All expenditure has to be audited. Then luxury tax the shit out of them if they overspend.

[AZOffaly]

Something like that would be ideal, if viewed in isolation at senior team level, but the really large scale investment is being done further down the foodchain at club and development squad levels. What would you do about that?

I don't think anyone sees investment in under-age/infrastructure as an issue if it's self-funded. However this notion that any county is more important than another is wrong, all GAA grants need to be done on a pro-rata basis.

Top of my head each club in a county is assessed - how many senior mens teams, have they a ladies teams, how many underage teams, how many referees etc etc. After the assessment you get a number of points, each club's points are added up giving a county total. They then use they county total to draw down development funds from central fund. It could also be used for infrastructure grants etc.

Something like that to me would make sense, you'd have a governance team in CP to ensure transparency and that figures are audited correctly.

Rewards those clubs and counties who are working hard to promote the GAA and increase playing numbers and participation.

Would you not be simply heaping the disparity on for counties with small populations? However if there was a minimum level that every county got, then you could get increments based on the like of what you outline, it might be a runner.

[J70]

I think Donegal,  at least at the start, have got the money because they grew into a contender,  not vice versa. If McGuinness had not come along,  neither would the financial backing. As we got more successful,  more money was sourced to keep it going e.g. the five day camp in Enniskillen to prepare for the Dubs. If and when we slip back into the pack,  I would imagine the tap will be turned off, at least a bit. And a lot of this cash flow is contingent on a long season.  Had Derry beaten us last week and we lost in the qualifiers next week, i doubt if we would be anywhere near the top for the season.

[Dinny Breen]

Something like that would be ideal, if viewed in isolation at senior team level, but the really large scale investment is being done further down the foodchain at club and development squad levels. What would you do about that?

I don't think anyone sees investment in under-age/infrastructure as an issue if it's self-funded. However this notion that any county is more important than another is wrong, all GAA grants need to be done on a pro-rata basis.

Top of my head each club in a county is assessed - how many senior mens teams, have they a ladies teams, how many underage teams, how many referees etc etc. After the assessment you get a number of points, each club's points are added up giving a county total. They then use they county total to draw down development funds from central fund. It could also be used for infrastructure grants etc.

Something like that to me would make sense, you'd have a governance team in CP to ensure transparency and that figures are audited correctly.

Rewards those clubs and counties who are working hard to promote the GAA and increase playing numbers and participation.

Would you not be simply heaping the disparity on for counties with small populations? However if there was a minimum level that every county got, then you could get increments based on the like of what you outline, it might be a runner.

Yea it would be open for debate and discussion and a baseline could work, to me the GAA should be more socialist in it's outlook. In the last decade or more and it can seen with the Leinster Council/GPA it's very much becoming capitalist orientated and the talking of playing games in CP just for revenue generation is wrong.