Streaming boom and 'dodgy box brigade' hit Laois GAA in the pocket as gate receipts drop

Laois GAA has reported a significant decline in match-day income for 2025, with the newly released financial statements showing substantial losses across the traditional revenue streams that the county has long depended upon.

The figures, which will be discussed at the Convention on December 8 in the Midlands Park Hotel, point to a worrying drop in Football and Hurling championship receipts, in addition to decreases in shop sales and programme income. The overall picture suggests that fewer supporters are attending games at Laois Hire O’Moore Park, while more are choosing to watch from home or from local pubs.

Gate receipts fell from €457,333 in 2024 to €444,825 in 2025, which represents a loss of €12,508. The largest falls occurred in the Football and Hurling championships. Football income fell by €14,714 compared with last year, and Hurling income dropped by €13,228. The combined fall of almost €28,000 is a severe setback for Laois GAA.

OAP and season ticket income also decreased, finishing €2,028 lower than in 2024. Underage games were the only area to show any movement in the opposite direction, producing a small increase of €1,337. That rise, however, essentially disappears when set beside the much larger losses in the main championship categories.

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Laois GAA Secretary Niall Handy addresses the issue directly in his report for the Convention. 

“In recent years, we have successfully streamed our internal club games via Clubber TV, a contract that was extended for 2025 to include all our games. The service provided is excellent and is a means for our older membership and diaspora to view our games. Unfortunately, I am of the opinion that the streaming of our games is having an adverse effect on our gate receipts. Local publicans promoting the broadcasting of our games in the comfort of their taverns with refreshments provided, and of course, there is also the “dodgy box” brigade, all contribute to a decrease in our attendance at games. It is difficult to try to quantify the potential losses incurred, but it will certainly be part of our discussion with Clubber TV in our negotiation with them to potentially extend our contract for further years.”

Programme income suffered another notable fall. Laois GAA continued with digital match-day programmes for the 2025 Football and Hurling Championships. These digital programmes were free for all fixtures up to the quarter-final stages. Posters with QR codes were placed around Laois Hire O’Moore Park to allow supporters to access the programmes on their phones.

The income figure of €19,868 relates only to programme sales from the quarter-finals onwards. Even with this model in place, programme income still declined by €12,655 compared with 2024. This is another sign of supporters being less inclined to make purchases at games or perhaps attending fewer fixtures overall.

Shop income also fell sharply. The combined sales from Laois Hire O’Moore Park and from occasional activity at the LOETB Centre of Excellence dropped from €25,050 to €20,000. This represents a loss of €5,050 and again reflects reduced footfall at venues throughout the year.

The one area that increased significantly was streaming income. The figure rose from €29,500 in 2024 to €45,625 in 2025, which is a rise of €16,125. While this might appear positive, it highlights a dilemma for Laois GAA. Streaming is bringing in more money each year, but the increase is not enough to compensate for the deeper losses in gate receipts and other match-day sales. The association now faces a challenge in finding a balance between providing modern, accessible coverage for supporters and protecting the match-day income that has always been the financial backbone of Gaelic games in the county.

The 2025 financial statements show an organisation facing a rapidly changing environment. Traditional revenue sources are weakening, and the behaviour of supporters is shifting at a pace that is difficult to manage.

As the Convention approaches, Laois GAA will be under pressure to find solutions that protect its finances at a time when more and more people are choosing to watch games away from the grounds instead of passing through the turnstiles.

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