It has been a tough time financially for the country over the past five years.

But for the GAA and Croke Park, there were signs of hope.

GAA commerical and stadium director Peter McKenna dropped into the Off The Ball studio to look back on the year for Gaelic Games and the organisation and look forward to developments including the potential for a GAA channel. 

"In terms of pure numbers, our attendances are up 10 per cent. That's very positive. We had 100,000 people come to the museum this year. Croke Park celebrated 100 years. It's great to be kicking around at Christmas and feeling healthy in yourself," he said and admitted that the prospects for the stadium and the organisation are tied to the economic stability of the country to varying degrees.

"There are signs of confidence but the thing is not to overplay it. You see house prices going up but that's really a closed economy. Really, you want to see job numbers improving and unemployment coming down. If we see those metrics being steady, you can say things are improving."

2014 will be the sixth year of the Croke Park season ticket and McKenna hailed its impact.   

"I think the season ticket is a huge boost. It allows people to attend a whole host of league games and then get rights to getting All Ireland tickets. We now have to limit the number of tickets each country can sell because of the success of the season ticket," he explained.

However, Dublin's use of Croke Park as a de facto home ground is a bone of contention for many people. Ger asked McKenna whether it gives the Dubs an unfair advantage, and he replied:

"I don't think the advantage of the venue is not near as strong as that. Croke Park is a large pitch so the advantages you might perceive are really not there. It's a world class surface so I don't see that as being an issue."

But one issue that is cropping up is the fact that rights deals with various broadcasters are coming up for renewal with murmurings of a possible deal with Sky or a dedicated GAA channel. But there have been obstacles to a dedicated Gaelic Games channel in the past.

"If we look at ourselves internationally, the market is there. How we do transmission and the style and breadth of it is something we have been considering and have been for many, many years. I certainly think there is an opportunity for us to stream games for an international audience and that can be done in an environment that is cost-effective to ourselves," said McKenna, agreeing that the right broadcaster with the right proposal could get the concept off the ground.

McKenna also touched on the importance of bringing NFL to Croke Park by way of next August's Croke Park Classic between Penn State and UCF allayed fears that the pitch will not be damaged during a busy All Ireland schedule.

 

Main image: Stadium and Commercial Director Peter McKenna and GAA Director General Paraic Duffy ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan