GREEN AND RED INVASION Mayo fans are pictured on their way into Gaelic Park in New York before the 2014 Connacht SFC match between Mayo and New York. Pic: Sportsfile
Mike Finnerty
ANY Mayo GAA fans travelling to New York for the Connacht SFC quarter-final next month without a ticket for the game will have to be down at Gaelic Park bright and early on the morning of Sunday, May 5!
That seems to be the message after a number of short statements were released via social media by both Mayo GAA and New York GAA late last week ahead of the first match of the 2019 GAA football championship.
Both of the participating counties have been given an allocation of match tickets that they will be distributing through their clubs over the coming weeks.
The Mayo News understands that Mayo GAA are set to provide around 10 tickets to each of their registered clubs, but that is set to be confirmed later this week.
Mayo GAA’s total allocation will also be distributed among players, management, County Board officials and sponsors.
New York GAA also confirmed via a tweet last Friday that ‘a certain amount of tickets’ had been allocated to their clubs and that ‘a very limited amount of tickets will be on sale on the day’ of the match.
Speaking to The Mayo News last night (Monday), Connacht GAA secretary, John Prenty, explained that tickets for the game were not on sale from the provincial council offices as the sale of match tickets are not part of their remit for this unique fixture.
Prenty did confirm, however, that he had met with New York GAA chairman, Lawrence McGrath, two weeks ago and that they had agreed on an allocation of match tickets for New York GAA and Mayo GAA, plus an allocation of tickets that could be sold on the day.
“Mayo GAA and New York GAA both have allocations of tickets to distribute to their clubs, and New York GAA also have an allocation of tickets that they will be selling on the day of the game at Gaelic Park,” said Prenty.
“So I would expect at this stage that at least 90% of people should be in a position to get a ticket for the game.
“It’s impossible to know just how many people exactly are travelling over for the weekend, coming to New York for the match, and actually planning to go to the game itself,” added the Connacht GAA chief.
“But the capacity of Gaelic Park is in the region of 4,500 and I understand that work has started to knock some existing buildings behind the goal as part of the redevelopment work at the venue. So that may actually end up increasing the capacity of the ground a little.
“The message to Mayo supporters at this stage is to contact their local GAA club and also be aware that some tickets will be on sale on the day of the match at Gaelic Park, on a first come, first served basis,” he concluded.
The game between Mayo and New York will throw-in at 2.15pm local time (7.15pm Irish time) but the first action of the day at Gaelic Park begins at 9am local time when a hurling match between the New York Development squad and Allentown, Philadelphia is played.
