Cash at turnstiles no longer an option, insists GAA chief
A delegate from a Westmeath club has called for the re-introduction of cash at gates to facilitate elderly GAA fans.
Speaking at the recent Westmeath GAA Convention, Joe Malone of St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge claimed that some older supporters are no longer attending games as it’s too complicated to source tickets.
While accepting that people had taken advantage in the past and got in at gates for free, he feels there is a need to assist older members with a gate that accepts cash at major venues.
“I’m sure since the introduction of the ticket only (system) to games, there has been an increase (in income). I know it would have been abused, maybe, in the past. But I’ve a slight little problem (with the current situation); I’m thinking of the elderly person,” he said.
“An cathaoirleach has said in the past that nobody will be turned away, but I’ve seen instances where people have come to games with cash. They could be in their 70s or 80s, and pride or something may prevent them from going to a neighbour to get a ticket.
“Other counties did it: perhaps there could be one gate at the major venues that would take cash. What I’d be afraid of is that some people aren’t going to games because they have to encounter this hardship regarding tickets.”
However, Westmeath GAA chairman Frank Mescall dismissed the suggestion and insisted that the county will not return to taking cash at turnstiles.
He called on all clubs to ensure their elderly members are catered for when it comes to match tickets and insisted there can be no return to cash at gates.
“I’d be very worried if there were people not going to our games because of cash. To answer the question about one gate, no, we are not going back. If we have one gate, we will end up with 80% of the people coming through that one gate. We have travelled a long way in a short time and change is always difficult and it does take time,” he said.
“Our older citizens will not be turned away from any venue. All our people scanning are made aware of that. We don’t take cash. No cash. We let the people in and we say, ‘make sure you get a ticket next week’. By and large, this year there was a huge improvement on the previous year.
“Last year I did a gate for one particular team: four championship weekends in-a-row. And the number of people who rocked up to me saying, ‘I have no ticket, I couldn’t get it’. They were let in. We didn’t have that this year, to be fair.
“Joe, and every Joe, in every club, please look out for your supporters. You have the yearly ticket, you have the championship ticket. So we are catering for people, but we are not going back. If we do, the floodgates will open with cash,” Mescall added.