Offaly ticketing company says League of Ireland attendances could reach one million

TULLAMORE-based ticket sales enabling software company Future Ticketing is predicting possible total attendances of up to one million at League of Ireland grounds this season.

The 2023 season kicks off this Friday night and some clubs using the company's software have the 'sold out' signs already up for the opening evening of the new campaign.

Future Ticketing says its partner clubs across the domestic game are projecting an upswing in gate receipts of between 15 and 20% , ensuring a record year in the history of the league.

The company says as many as 800,000 fans could be passing through the turnstiles for games in the League of Ireland Premier and First Divisions.

When potential attendances of nearly 200,000 at cup, European and the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division are added, the figure of one million is within reach, according to Future Ticketing.

Future Ticketing says season ticket orders are running up to 20% ahead of 2022 – itself a record breaker - with some 20,000 people booking their seats for the whole year in advance.

Premier Division clubs who use the Future Ticketing system are Bohemians, Derry City, Drogheda, Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne, Sligo Rovers and St Pat's while partners in the First Division are Bray Wanderers, Finn Harps, Galway United, newcomers Kerry FC, Longford Town and Treaty United.

“These are boom times for League of Ireland football and a definite pattern of rapid growth can be seen in season ticket sales and that points to record attendances throughout the coming year,” said Future Ticketing chief executive Liam Holton.

“The clubs have to be applauded for embracing our online ticketing service and we are proud to share the journey with them during this remarkable digital transformation.

“All of the clubs have willingly bought into our vision of how our unique digital platform can help them and the sales figures we are now seeing are a reflection of that.”

On the pitch, Shamrock Rovers are seeking four league titles in a row but off it they have come up with a winning formula too.

Rovers director and head of communications and media, Mark Lynch, said: “A club and league record number of season ticket sales in 2023 is the latest stage in a strategic plan on season tickets which began in 2018. Various incentives and promotions around season tickets along with an excellent product, including our performances and the matchday experience, has helped the club reach the point where there will be over 4,000 season ticket holders joining thousands of other matchday fans at Tallaght Stadium in 2023.”

At St Patrick's Athletic, Friday's match at home to President's Cup winners Derry City – who sold out the Brandywell for the season curtainraiser against Rovers - is also sold out.

Karl Stafford, St Pat's ticketing manager, said: “Because we have teamed up with Future Ticketing, fans of the St Patrick’s Athletic have found it much easier to buy tickets, whether it's a season ticket for our main stand, section G, or an individual match on any Friday night. It has been a winning combination.”

On the capital's northside Dave Rothwell, membership director, Bohemians said: “Our partnership with Future Ticketing has been crucial to the continued growth of our dedicated fan base. And advance sales this year prove how popular the ticketing service is with our supporters.”

In the north west of Ireland, anticipation is once again building. Shane Crossan, marketing officer, Sligo Rovers, said: “Here at the Bit O' Red, we've always prided ourselves on being the best supported club in the country and that's why we work with Future Ticketing. Since we joined forces, that statement is truer than ever and we're delighted with demand for 2023 season tickets for both our women's and men's teams.”

Finn Harps have shown that their fans shrugged off the disappointment of relegation because total season ticket sales are on course to break 1,000 before Friday's visit of Galway.

Ian Harkin, Finn Harps chairman has noticed that many more people are also now more comfortable buying tickets online: “In most leagues around the world the single most identifying factor of being a true fan of your club is being a season ticket holder, it’s the badge of honour for most fans. For a club it is crucial, getting that up front commitment allows you to budget and plan with a certain degree of certainty.”

Looking ahead to the new season, Keith McDarby, commercial director at Shelbourne FC said: “We are set for another record-breaking season here at Shelbourne FC with regards to our season ticket offering. Since we have begun working with our ticketing provider, Future Ticketing, we have seen steady increases year on year offering our fans a seamless way of purchasing their season ticket to Tolka Park”.

Future Ticketing says it is the premier ticket solutions provider for football clubs on the island of Ireland, with progressive partners in the SSE Airtricity League and the Northern Ireland Football League.

Clubs in England and Scotland are clients of Future Ticketing too, from St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership to Wigan in the Championship and Boreham Wood in the National League.

With Future Ticketing's software, clubs retain ownership of their intimate relationship with fans by selling tickets directly through their own websites.

Future Ticketing also has contracts with Connacht Rugby racecourses across Ireland and England. Events such as the Tullamore Show also use its service, and the company is also active in the live entertainment ticketing sector.