Time for common sense from GAA over ‘no screenshot tickets’ – Lombard

It is time for some common sense within the GAA as a no screenshots tickets rule is enforced for this weekend’s national league matches, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Tim Lombard from Cork said Croke Park, through their social media channels, is warning all GAA fans that “for this weekend screenshots of mobile tickets will no longer work for entry.”

The third round of matches in the Allianz Football League takes place this weekend across the country.

Ahead of tomorrow and Sunday’s fixtures, the GAA has said, “mobile tickets must be downloaded to your phone wallet in advance. Printed tickets will also be accepted.”

Senator Lombard said there needs to be wider communication on this issue with GAA fans.

“A lot of GAA patrons across the country attending games this weekend at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork, Croke Park in Dublin, Letterkenny in Donegal or Austin Stack Park in Tralee are elderly and may not be as mobile phone savvy as others.

“Since Covid, we have all had to get used to buying tickets online with no physical sales outside of venues. That is fair enough as circumstances for all aspects of our lives change all the time and technology is to forefront of ensuring this.

“However, the GAA ticket mobile guide informs us that screenshots of tickets are not allowed this weekend[1].

“This is a generally unknown development and was first tried in recent months but is only coming to people’s attention now as the GAA season starts to pick up a gear.

“While options for transferring tickets online are available, not all wishing to attend games will be adept at transferring tickets to different accounts and saving to Google wallets ahead of the match.

“What about the daughter who lives elsewhere in the country and buys her dad a ticket for his game and previously sent him a screenshot of it? He now must find out how to save the original ticket to his phone etc. Is he even aware he has to do this?

“Everyone knows national league matches don’t sell out and there is no issue with forged tickets for league matches.

“It’s time for the GAA to have some common sense and make it as easy for people to attend matches on wet, cold weekends in February.

“Eventually, we will be in a position where screenshots will not be allowed but give due warning and let it be a gradual process rather than a sudden outcome.

“We all want to support our county teams – why make it harder for those who probably have been doing it the longest and shown the most loyalty to the GAA,” Senator Lombard asked.

[1] https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/mobiletickets