Under the lease arrangement for Croke Park, the FAI and the IRFU will sell ordinary seats in the 82,500 capacity stadium, but the GAA will market the corporate box and premium seat tickets for the so-called 'foreign games'.

Informed GAA sources say the revenue from the 11,000 corporate box and premium level seats could be in the region of 3m for each soccer and rugby match at Croke Park.

Corporate hospitality tickets for the Bon Jovi and Robbie Williams concerts at Croke Park this summer were each priced at approximately 500.

The revenue from the seat sales will be shared by the GAA, the IRFU and the FAI.

The GAA will first offer the priority seats to its existing client list although the price charged will be set by the rugby and soccer organisations.

"I would be very surprised if they were not taken up, " said GAA spokesman Danny Lynch. Companies with an existing arrangement with the GAA include Eircom, Vodafone and the National Lottery.

In negotiations over the lease of Croke Park, the GAA signalled its intention to retain control over the 11,000 highearning seats.

Philip Browne of the IRFU said, "We are conscious that the GAA has an existing client base in relation to premium seats and corporate boxes."

The Irish rugby team's Six Nations match against France next February will be the first use of Croke Park since the GAA dropped its traditional opposition to 'foreign games'.

The 84 corporate boxes at Croke Park were originally sold by the GAA on 10-year leases for 300,000.

Holders of these tickets have access to restaurants and bars.