Big Matches in Semple Stadium are worth millions to local economy - report

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary GAA’s attempts to secure much needed funding for the refurbishment of FBD Semple Stadium will have been boosted by the publication of a report which revealed the financial benefit of games at the Thurles venue to the local economy.

A comprehensive analysis of the economic impact of Gaelic games and a measurement of its Social Value and Social Return on Investment led to the production of a landmark report, the first of its kind in Irish sport, where among items analysed was the 2024 Munster Senior Hurling Final which had an attendance of 45,148 for the clash between Limerick and Clare, which was worth €3.2 million to the town of Thurles, and €4.5 million to County Tipperary.

Economic impact is gauged on the new money entering an economy that can be attributed to a specific event such as money spent in pubs, restaurants, hotel stays etc.... This process excludes local people and people whose main reason for being in the area is not the event in question, for example people who are on holiday and chance upon an event.

Recently, an application from Tipperary GAA for funding though the governments (Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) for the refurbishment of FBD Semple Stadium was unsuccessful but Tipperary GAA CEO Murtagh Brennan hopes this report will provide some impetus to their discussions with, not only with government, but also the GAA when it comes to the historic but aging venue.

“We are hoping this report might move things along a bit further or at least move it into the minds eye of people of just how important it is, if they weren’t already aware, of what FBD Semple Stadium means to the businesses as well as the supporters,” Brennan said.

“We are having dialogue with Croke Park on it, and they have been helpful and supportive in terms of understanding our predicament, as do Munster Council.

“Everyone, inside and outside of Tipperary, is proud of Semple Stadium in terms of its significance and being an historic venue. It is the GAA’s second stadium outside of Croke Park.”

This independent analysis of Gaelic games activity by international experts also found that the Social Value of Gaelic games is estimated to be worth at least €2.87 billion to Irish society annually. The study shows that for every one euro invested in Gaelic games, the benefit returned to society is at least €2.30 and could be as much as €3.96. The GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association commissioned Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Group, who are pioneers in the economics of sport and sport’s wider social impacts. Assisted by colleagues in Manchester Metropolitan University and Ulster University, they have spent the last thirteen months working on this project.

It is based, in part, on the analysis of national, provincial, county and more than 500 club accounts from across Gaelic games and establishes for the first time the economic impact of Gaelic games activity across the 32 counties, and the Social Value of the work of more than 1,600 clubs which are led by volunteers.

It is also the first time in Irish sport that a report of this detail has looked at the totality of impact from economic to social value to specific major events.

Analysis of the social value of Gaelic games activity estimates that an input or spend to produce Gaelic games of €1.244 billion, resulted in outcomes valued to Irish life worth €2.87 billion; €31.06 million for Health; €556.48 million for Subjective Wellbeing; €1.224 billion for Social Capital, and €1.056 billion for the replacement cost of volunteering.

A Satellite Account for Sport extracts its values from the System of National Accounts. The Satellite Account for Gaelic games reveals that:

• Consumer spending on Gaelic games is €377m, which equates to 7.8% of the sport industry.

• Gross Value Added attributable to Gaelic games is €710 million (8.7% of the sport industry)

• Employment generated by Gaelic games is 10,600 FTE (9.8% of the sport industry).

• Total economic activity attributable to Gaelic games is €1,619 million (10.2% of the sport industry).

• Government receives €192.6 million in direct and indirect taxation from Gaelic games.

Lead researcher, Professor Simon Shibli, said: “This report shows that Gaelic games is good for the economy and good for society.”