GAA aim to throw some light on the situation

August 26, 2005

Croke Park - new press facilities
In and effort to further update the newly refurbished Croke Park, the GAA are exploring the prospect of installing floodlights and TV screens at the venue. According to stadium manager, Peter McKenna, enquiries into floodlighting for the stadium are ongoing. Inquires into the suitability of the stadium for lighting would take two or three more months and consultation with the residents is a priority. "Because of the size and width of the stadium, the type of lights needed to cover the vast playing surface would have to be possibly custom made. Because of the nature of Gaelic games, with it being so fast moving and played with a small ball a special type of lighting will be required. With the fixtures being double booked during August, it would take a couple of draws to add mayhem to the fixtures list, so the possibility of lighting could relieve that perceived problem," commented McKenna. McKenna also added that with the prospect of IRFU and soccer internationals being played at Croke Park, the need for lighting had taken on a more urgent feeling. "For an autumn rugby international or early February six nations game the evenings close in quickly so obviously floodlights would be a help," stated the stadium manager. The erection of a second giant TV screen is another aspect of improvement being looked at by the stadium manager. "We feel the screen has been a big addition to the stadium and we are certainly looking at another screen at the opposite end of the ground." The installation of forty plasma screen TVs for fans at the back of lower tiers of all stands is also in the pipeline for next season. "The whole stadium package has to keep evolving. We have to make the stadium a much more attractive place to watch a game than your sitting room, and I feel we are getting there."

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