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Turn matches into money makers
THE business community of Kilkenny have been urged to pool their resources and turn big sporting events in the city into money making opportunities.
"In these tough financial times, people have to be innovative, they have to be prepared to try things," insisted Kilkenny County Board treasurer, Barry Hickey, when he identified a possible money spinning opportunity for the businesses of the area.
Newly crowned National Hurling League champions, Galway will be visitors to Nowlan Park on Saturday, May 29. They will face newly promoted Division I side, Wexford in an intriguing Leinster senior hurling championship quarter-final.
"Bearing in mind the new status of both counties, this is sure to be a major attraction," Mr Hickey felt. "People should try and sell the game in both counties and get as many people as possible to travel to Kilkenny for the weekend."
Interested in helping
The bank official said the GAA would be interested in getting together with the Chamber of Commerce, for example, or any interested local businesses in an effort to turn the big game into a huge financial windfall for the city.
Mr Hickey suggested that Kilkenny business people and those with interests in tourism could take out advertisements in Galway and Wexford 'papers and on local radio stations to sell the game and the city to possible new clients outside the usual hurling fraternity.
"The GAA will promote the game, anyway," he continued. "But if others could pool their resources and experience and promote the idea of a weekend in Kilkenny around the big game it could be a win, win situation for everyone.
"The hurling people will come anyway. But with the game being played on a Saturday there would appear to be a great opportunity there to sell a weekend package in Kilkenny."
Top class venue
"Nowlan Park is recognised as a top class venue with top class facilities, and the city itself has so much to offer visitors," Mr Hickey continued. "The hope is that in the future Kilkenny will get more big games, so a planned approach to the upcoming match would be far from a once off effort.
"The gains could be on-going, and I think they could be considerable. It is up to others to feed off what the GAA have in Kilkenny City. "
The following week, June 6, Dublin and either Carlow or Laois are scheduled to meet at Nowlan Park in another Leinster senior hurling championship tie according to the Leinster GAA Website.
The capacity of the 'Park has been reduced to 30,000 following the completion of a third all seater stand. The seating capacity is now in excess of 17,000 which means the Kilkenny stadium offers more seating than any other one in Leinster outside of Croke Park.
"There is an opportunity there, and I hope people grab it," insisted Mr Hickey.
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Weather for Kilkenny
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
