National Forum

Semi's Outside Croke Park??

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Would a full house of either the likes of Paic Ui Chaoimh, Portlaois, Thurles, Tullamore, Pearse Stadium or Castlebar depending on the teams involved be a better prospect for the players and supporters alike to be playing in a full house with a good atmosphere rather than a 50/60% of the captacity of Croke park? (Without it turning into a us against them topic)

Ninnallik (Galway) - Posts: 43 - 23/01/2019 14:58:04    2159113

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I would leave the semi finals in Croke Park, going into other venues your running the risk of people not getting a ticket. They use the Galway vs Dublin game last year as evidence to change venues but between Galway fans having the hurling to go to and bit of belief was gone, id put the lack of crowd down to them reasons..
I would agree with Dublin not getting 2 super 8's games ( if they qualify) in Croke Park, purely out of fairness..think the Dub fans like to get out of Dublin for a while too

tommy132 (Mayo) - Posts: 601 - 23/01/2019 15:17:05    2159116

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Replying To tommy132:  "I would leave the semi finals in Croke Park, going into other venues your running the risk of people not getting a ticket. They use the Galway vs Dublin game last year as evidence to change venues but between Galway fans having the hurling to go to and bit of belief was gone, id put the lack of crowd down to them reasons..
I would agree with Dublin not getting 2 super 8's games ( if they qualify) in Croke Park, purely out of fairness..think the Dub fans like to get out of Dublin for a while too"
Yea this pretty much is bang on.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 23/01/2019 15:33:36    2159118

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It'l never happen ,but I would like to.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 23/01/2019 15:53:12    2159125

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I think flexibility should be in whatever thinking the GAA do on this.

Taking Dublin out of the equation for the time being Croke Pk is still a great option for All-Ireland Semi finals, depending on the counties.

Imagine a rejuvenated Meath playing a county like Armagh, Tyrone, Monaghan or Down in a semi final. Croke Park is your only option really.

I agree for some other counties, it'd be no harm to play them in Thurles, Clones, Castlebar etc.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 23/01/2019 16:13:09    2159128

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Replying To tommy132:  "I would leave the semi finals in Croke Park, going into other venues your running the risk of people not getting a ticket. They use the Galway vs Dublin game last year as evidence to change venues but between Galway fans having the hurling to go to and bit of belief was gone, id put the lack of crowd down to them reasons..
I would agree with Dublin not getting 2 super 8's games ( if they qualify) in Croke Park, purely out of fairness..think the Dub fans like to get out of Dublin for a while too"
From a supporters' point of view, this makes sense given the distances some fans travel to for the games, though there was some griping about the Limerick venue in 2014 (from a vocal minority, I'd assume) even when it appeared to be the best option, on paper, for the counties involved.

From a fairness point of view, this also makes sense. I doubt you'd get too many arguing to the contrary.

From a logistical point of view, what are the options? From the suggested listing, PUC is out of the way for most counties likely to make it to the last 4. Pearse Stadium, O'Moore Park and O'Connor Park have capacities of 34k, 27k and 20k respectively (from the always reliable Wikipedia), making them largely unsuitable given the probable level of demand. McHale Park is a little better at 38k but still probably wouldn't meet the demand of fans. Semple Stadium (46.3k) and the Gaelic Grounds (49.9k) are the best options but even these wouldn't cater for the "modest" crowd that attended Dublin v Galway last year. The latter would have met the demands of the Tyrone v Monaghan semi last year (49.7k), though would it have made sense to bring both those teams down to Limerick? That was the only semi final played in Croke Park in the last 10 years that had an attendance of less than 50k. This doesn't even consider the corporate boxes who have paid their subscriptions based on the fact that they'd get the semi finals as part of their contracts.

I'd have no problem with going to see a semi-final outside of Croke Park. As a season ticket holder I'd assume I'd get a ticket in such cases and I really enjoy the road trips. I just haven't really heard too may viable alternatives.

Kurt_Angle (Dublin) - Posts: 567 - 23/01/2019 16:42:48    2159132

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Replying To MesAmis:  "I think flexibility should be in whatever thinking the GAA do on this.

Taking Dublin out of the equation for the time being Croke Pk is still a great option for All-Ireland Semi finals, depending on the counties.

Imagine a rejuvenated Meath playing a county like Armagh, Tyrone, Monaghan or Down in a semi final. Croke Park is your only option really.

I agree for some other counties, it'd be no harm to play them in Thurles, Clones, Castlebar etc."
True could be done on a year on year basis depending on counties involved

Ninnallik (Galway) - Posts: 43 - 23/01/2019 17:39:19    2159136

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Would like it personally, not just for Dublin, but all counties really. doesn't make any sense having Mayo Vs Kerry etc in Croke Park when a suitable ground could be found closer to home as an example. Ultimately i would love the GAA to have facilities around the country to host games of this caliber.

Do Dublin no harm to stretch the legs really, if they make a semi this year i personally wouldn't mind it being in PUC and help with the cost etc. I know others might have a different view on the distance etc.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 23/01/2019 17:55:37    2159139

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No problem with it as long as my season ticket still guarantees me a ticket. Mind you I think there may be a capacity dependent clause in their Ts&Cs if memory serves.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 23/01/2019 18:18:16    2159141

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Wouldn't it be refreshing! but money will talk and nothing will happen.

Themall1916 (Kerry) - Posts: 98 - 23/01/2019 18:19:06    2159142

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Serious undervaluing of our associations home ground , we seem to have latched onto advantages left right and centre , I've gone to all Ireland semi finals were my county weren't playing particularly hurling and have no interest going anywhere else to see them anywhere else , as someone who puts the mileage in going to away games for multiple Dublin squads it's nothing to do with money , it's to do with stature tradition , semi finals belong on the big stage , at this rate some won't be happy until it's used twice a year for finals and the rest of the summer for concerts

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 23/01/2019 18:32:45    2159146

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From a hurling point of view at least, I think the semi's stay in Croke Park. From a capacity issue, the crowds at semi's should require the bigger capacity (though not always). In 2017, the 2 hurling semi's had crowds of 68,000 and 72,000 respectively. So only CP would do. Last year, the semi's had crowds of 54,000 and 71,000. Maybe the Clare/Galway semi crowd could have been handled in Thurles, but just barely.

The other aspect is the prestige Croke Park lends an occasion. Its supposed to be a promotional tool for the games, and a reward for achievement. As it stands, only 4 AI championship hurling matches are held in Croke Park every year, the Leinster final (which was even replayed in Thurles this year), the 2 semi's, and the AI final. The Ring/Rackard/Megar cups are also played there of course, but thats over one afternoon, and sparsely attended.

Obviously the Camogie finals are also played there, but all-in-all, I think Croke Park stages too few hurling games a year as it is, without losing what it already has. I'd prefer to see the GAA promote games better if crowds are dwindling, rather than just accommodate lower expectations.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 23/01/2019 18:35:33    2159147

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Misleading headline. I was here to say 1989, Jones Road, after the Offaly win.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 23/01/2019 19:15:32    2159153

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Replying To tommy132:  "I would leave the semi finals in Croke Park, going into other venues your running the risk of people not getting a ticket. They use the Galway vs Dublin game last year as evidence to change venues but between Galway fans having the hurling to go to and bit of belief was gone, id put the lack of crowd down to them reasons..
I would agree with Dublin not getting 2 super 8's games ( if they qualify) in Croke Park, purely out of fairness..think the Dub fans like to get out of Dublin for a while too"
Agreed plus Dublin domination. More inevitability I guess.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1946 - 23/01/2019 19:28:54    2159156

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Semi-final venues could be left open until semi-finalists and draw are known and then decide on most appropriate choice of venue.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 23/01/2019 19:35:50    2159157

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Replying To MesAmis:  "I think flexibility should be in whatever thinking the GAA do on this.

Taking Dublin out of the equation for the time being Croke Pk is still a great option for All-Ireland Semi finals, depending on the counties.

Imagine a rejuvenated Meath playing a county like Armagh, Tyrone, Monaghan or Down in a semi final. Croke Park is your only option really.

I agree for some other counties, it'd be no harm to play them in Thurles, Clones, Castlebar etc."
The only options for a semi would ld be Pairc Ui Chaoimh,thurles and Limerick. No other stadiums have enough capacity. Galway is a non runner..too small ,same for castlebar and clones.

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 23/01/2019 19:37:26    2159158

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Don't agree with it. Semi finals onwards should be played at Croke Park. The teams competiting want to play there. Possibly super 8 games should all be outside of Croker and spread the economic impact that comes with big games to regional cities and towns.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11230 - 23/01/2019 19:51:13    2159159

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Don't agree with it. Semi finals onwards should be played at Croke Park. The teams competiting want to play there. Possibly super 8 games should all be outside of Croker and spread the economic impact that comes with big games to regional cities and towns."
spot on .

superbluedub (Dublin) - Posts: 2837 - 23/01/2019 23:19:44    2159194

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Read the article, time to get the money on Galway.

Uimhir.a.3. (Galway) - Posts: 409 - 24/01/2019 01:11:39    2159206

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Replying To Kurt_Angle:  "From a supporters' point of view, this makes sense given the distances some fans travel to for the games, though there was some griping about the Limerick venue in 2014 (from a vocal minority, I'd assume) even when it appeared to be the best option, on paper, for the counties involved.

From a fairness point of view, this also makes sense. I doubt you'd get too many arguing to the contrary.

From a logistical point of view, what are the options? From the suggested listing, PUC is out of the way for most counties likely to make it to the last 4. Pearse Stadium, O'Moore Park and O'Connor Park have capacities of 34k, 27k and 20k respectively (from the always reliable Wikipedia), making them largely unsuitable given the probable level of demand. McHale Park is a little better at 38k but still probably wouldn't meet the demand of fans. Semple Stadium (46.3k) and the Gaelic Grounds (49.9k) are the best options but even these wouldn't cater for the "modest" crowd that attended Dublin v Galway last year. The latter would have met the demands of the Tyrone v Monaghan semi last year (49.7k), though would it have made sense to bring both those teams down to Limerick? That was the only semi final played in Croke Park in the last 10 years that had an attendance of less than 50k. This doesn't even consider the corporate boxes who have paid their subscriptions based on the fact that they'd get the semi finals as part of their contracts.

I'd have no problem with going to see a semi-final outside of Croke Park. As a season ticket holder I'd assume I'd get a ticket in such cases and I really enjoy the road trips. I just haven't really heard too may viable alternatives."
The griping in 2014 was mainly because some people believed that Croke Park should have been available for the game. The fact that it was unlikely to be needed and they were making money from the colleges football game was missed by some. It turned out to a great bit of luck to have it switched to Limerick, though unfortunately not the result for us. No way would a half full Croke Park have matched the atmosphere of a packed Gaelic Grounds. A great game, a great atmosphere, a pitch invader, a great night in Limerick and a few quid going into the tills of local businesses. It's worth trying again but only, as another poster says, unless the anticipated crowd would be too big for a stadium other than Croke Park.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7344 - 24/01/2019 06:55:14    2159210

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