ummm, wrote: Alternative plan, rotate the derby across the provinces. We'd need to get some place like Pearse Stadium on board, but if possible would help reduce the problem of the local economy suffering.

Missing the point I think Umm, but I could have been a lot more succinct:

The Welsh and English are going from 2 games with maybe 10K at each to a day out with 70-80K i.e. 50K extra fans.

The Irish version at the Aviva would be going from 2 games with about 15K at each to 50K at the Aviva i.e. only 20K extra fans (more like 15K, but anyway).

Pearse Stadium with 30K would *reduce* the average attendance at InterPros.

So in summary: Run this in Croker and sell it out (extra 50K fans) or there is no business case.

Alternative plan, rotate the derby across the provinces. We'd need to get some place like Pearse Stadium on board, but if possible would help reduce the problem of the local economy suffering.

Unfortunately the money wouldn't be near that good. Leinster make about 700K clean profit out of an Aviva game once the IRFU/stadium have their cut.

So let's say a generous ~200K for Connacht. This stacks up very well against the ~120K we'd get for the match at the sportsground (6000@20 shekels a ticket for interpros last year, ignoring season ticket issues in both cases).

So I reckon >7000@25 euros a head this year would pretty much make the idea pointless from a monetary viewpoint, ignoring how pissed off our Connacht based sponsors would be, the cost on fans to travel, and the effect removal of 1/3 of our big home games (in our usual, non-HEC season) would have on season ticketing.

I said this was Leinster centric yesterday but I can see they'd have problems with this too. They already have a sellout vs Munster; one year in six they have to give away 75% of this revenue, one year in 6 there are 2 Leinster/Munster games in the Aviva (impacting on theirs, which doesn't have the support card).

And let's not get into the red whinge about sometimes having to play Leinster away twice in a season (not to mention the more valid concern that Munster are finding it hard enough to fill Thomond Park without occasionally removing the best fixture of the year).

Asides for all this the killer stat is that the average attendance at an InterPro last year was 16364 (still ~13500 if you remove the Aviva game) whereas is was only 10286 for the Welsh-on-Welsh games.

So the need isn't there and equally important the Aviva isn't big enough.

2 gsmes in Aviva gives notional attendance of 26000 each increases avg inter-Irish attendance to ~18000

2 games in the Liberty Stadium, 37000 each increase avg inter-Welsh attendance to ~14700, a massive increase of more than 40%

i forgot to mention in my earlier post that WRU have this fixed for 30/3/13 in millenium stadium just before HEC qtr finals.
i think if this took off the revenue generated would offset any disgruntled local businesses who could be pacified by having their name associated to a potentially extremely big fixture.

As i said in previous post there are pros and cons to everything but imo in this scenario, from connachts perspective, viewing this as advantage leinster isnt one of them either way. this is mammothly different to munster of ulster receiving a home semi in hec and having to play leinster in Aviva.
if this was to happen and fulfilled its potential of 50000+ attendance this would potentially generate 2 million euro, maybe more. If connachts share of this allowed them increase squad quality/quantity, facilities etc thats a good thing.
in addition afaik if the aviva sold out for that fixture then connachts ave home att for that season would more than double giving branch greater bargaining potential with major sponsors etc.

it was the turks who held this up in wales for a few years but are now on board,they being the furthest region from cardiff and all. it happens twice a season in AP and dramatically boosts the ave attendance figures for all involved. irish, sarries and wasps normally get between 5 and 7 thousand but average in the teens because of these fixtures. All 3 of these clubs are outside london and quins are in the shadow of Twickers. Afaik there has been no noticeable advantage to them.
A lot of welsh region supporters voiced similar objections when this was rumoured but most seem to have gotten on board since it was announced. After all we all like a good day out including players who im sure would love to play in a packed aviva.

I'd vote for it if the other provinces agreed to give us two home Christmas/New Years home ties to maximise our income.

I wouldn't be for it really either, as had been said, it would be heavily weighted in favour of Leinster. Also, above any fixtures, even Heineken Cup games, the 3 fixtures I most look forward to in the year are the 3 home interpros. Nothing like playing our rivals in the Sportsground in front of a raucous home crowd.

A pre season interpos round robin tournament may be a better idea, it would add a bit more interest to pre season and generate extra revenue for ourselves.

I'd love if they moved the derby's date's I hate watching them in the middle of xmas when the weather is dire.

rossie wrote: Would you be prepared to sacrifice a home fixture every 2nd year to be part of this?

No.

And I doubt the pubs and restaurants round Galway that sponsor players and so on would thank the branch for removing one of big draws of the season, even every second year. If we weren't in the HEC then the interpros are the only 3 big games we have.

Also: the reason this works well in London is, well, all the clubs are from London (well, ish). At the risk of sounding like a whining Munster fan, this is a bit weighted towards Leinster, isn't it?

Someone (Rossie?) proposed a preseason interpros 7. That would be a cool idea and could move round the provinces.

It has worked well in London as a means of kicking off the season. The week before the HC starts is usually interpro week so might we worth a look then. I believe it'd be worth a go to try and generate some revenue for the four teams and give the Rabo Direct a bit of publicity too.

Obviously it'd have to be a Saturday though, Friday or Sunday would be non-runners for such an event.

Great idea Rossie. Preferably either early in the season (Sept/Oct) or late Spring (March). Either way there would be a financial dividend for us purely in comparing home stadium capacity if the gate was divided four ways.

The Wru have announced an Annual Derby Day from this season similar to AP ones in twickenham. This season it will be Blues v Ospreys and Dragons v Scarlets. Each season two teams will be nominated as home team and season tickets will apply to those Home teams. AFAIK the Gate will be split 4 ways also.

Do you think it would be a runner here? ATm the Leinster v Munster Fixture on its own fills Aviva but MUnster v Ulster, connacht v Leinster etc could work. Would you be prepared to sacrifice a home fixture every 2nd year to be part of this?
I think its a great idea but of course there are pros and cons to everything.