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Wexford Hurling thread 2024

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Replying To Viking66:  "Nowlan Park still has no lights"
Yes you are right pikeman and viking. I think Nowlan Park is probably one of the few county grounds without lights. Although on reflection I don't believe Walsh Park has them either.
What I should have said in my earlier post was that we were slower than most getting lights and modern seating fitted. The scoreboard had been giving trouble and now it's really good and is a credit to the CB.
We all want to see our main ground providing up to date facilities. We have come a long way in recent times and with new seating on the cards for the open side will give the park a finished appearance.
Sorry if I came across as been overly critical but I want Wexford Park to be one of the top grounds in the country. I believe we are going in the right direction.

Magpie2 (Wexford) - Posts: 505 - 13/02/2024 08:48:13    2525789

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "I agree that the concrete benches are far from ideal, and I've never liked sitting on them myself. I've rarely if ever gone to that side of the ground out of choice.

However, I can't help thinking it's somewhat ironic that you first mention Nowlan Park and then accuse Wexford of being last with everything (including lights), when you consider that Nowlan Park doesn't have floodlights and Kilkenny Co. Board don't have any plans to install them any time soon either.

As for the scoreboard - Wexford Park was one of the first county grounds in the country to have an electronic scoreboard installed, more than 20 years ago. Then when it started to become troublesome at the end of its working life, they were fairly quick to replace it with one of the newer-type scoreboards, that there still aren't many of in other county grounds.

Finally, a roof - I reckon that in Leinster alone, there are only two county grounds (Parnell Park & Nowlan Park) that have a roof on more than one side of the ground. Unsure about Longford as I haven't been there for a long time and I think there might be a roof behind one of the goals as well as over the main stand, but at the very least, there's nine out of twelve that are no "worse" than Wexford.

In addition, many of them - even one as highly-regarded and busy as Portlaoise - only have standing areas outside of the main stand, whereas we at least have some sort of seating, even if we agree it isn't ideal.

I'd be critical of certain things myself sometimes, but I'd at least try to keep the criticisms accurate."
TBF Wexford Park is becoming a lovely stadium and is far ahead of most leinster grounds. Pitch looked well on TV and the amount of signage brings colour and I am sure a good income. There was a nice Hurling 365 sign on the terrace last week also.

wexfordwin (Wexford) - Posts: 191 - 13/02/2024 08:48:41    2525790

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Replying To Magpie2:  "Yes you are right pikeman and viking. I think Nowlan Park is probably one of the few county grounds without lights. Although on reflection I don't believe Walsh Park has them either.
What I should have said in my earlier post was that we were slower than most getting lights and modern seating fitted. The scoreboard had been giving trouble and now it's really good and is a credit to the CB.
We all want to see our main ground providing up to date facilities. We have come a long way in recent times and with new seating on the cards for the open side will give the park a finished appearance.
Sorry if I came across as been overly critical but I want Wexford Park to be one of the top grounds in the country. I believe we are going in the right direction."
Apart from the Nell and Nowlan Park, and having been to most of the rest in the last couple of years as well, Wexford Park would be as good as the best of them.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16124 - 13/02/2024 09:06:54    2525792

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Replying To wexfordwin:  "TBF Wexford Park is becoming a lovely stadium and is far ahead of most leinster grounds. Pitch looked well on TV and the amount of signage brings colour and I am sure a good income. There was a nice Hurling 365 sign on the terrace last week also."
Once the seats are installed in the stand and open side we will have one of the finest county grounds in the country. Credit to the county board the centre of excellence will be a great facility once fully complete over the coming years. Then we can fully concrete our resources on improving our games in the county

Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 13/02/2024 09:21:15    2525795

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Looking forward to being home this summer and seeing the upgrades to Wexford Park but it will be for club championship.
Wexford Park does not need much more upgrading but I remember a few years back portaloos being on the town end terrace. Is that still the same?
The open side in Wexford Park is nice on a sunny day but desperate at any other time. I do not feel it needs a roof though because there might be a couple of times a year when it is needed when the stand can't hold the crowd? Its not worth it for that IMO.
Would open side benefit from terracing rather than seating? Ennis, Carlow, Portlaoise, Tullamore have this. Might make for a better atmosphere.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1854 - 13/02/2024 10:55:25    2525812

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "Looking forward to being home this summer and seeing the upgrades to Wexford Park but it will be for club championship.
Wexford Park does not need much more upgrading but I remember a few years back portaloos being on the town end terrace. Is that still the same?
The open side in Wexford Park is nice on a sunny day but desperate at any other time. I do not feel it needs a roof though because there might be a couple of times a year when it is needed when the stand can't hold the crowd? Its not worth it for that IMO.
Would open side benefit from terracing rather than seating? Ennis, Carlow, Portlaoise, Tullamore have this. Might make for a better atmosphere."
Might not be a bad idea but it sounds like the county board are pushing ahead with bucket seats same as the covered stand this year. It would create a better atmosphere. I always prefer sitting in the covered stand even on a sunny day I find the atmosphere is much better there. I would imagine capacity of the covered and open side will be reduced with the bucket seating rather than benches/concrete seating?

Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 13/02/2024 11:42:59    2525823

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Replying To Afinestick:  "Might not be a bad idea but it sounds like the county board are pushing ahead with bucket seats same as the covered stand this year. It would create a better atmosphere. I always prefer sitting in the covered stand even on a sunny day I find the atmosphere is much better there. I would imagine capacity of the covered and open side will be reduced with the bucket seating rather than benches/concrete seating?"
It's my understanding that all this is being done to host concerts.

Hard to tell but people tend to spread out a good bit on the uncovered side so clearly defined seats might have a positive impact.

There's always fairly substantial gaps between groups even when the place looks full.

It was built for 25k but capacity dropped back to 18k because of health and safety standards. In other words there's a good bit of wasted space as a result.

Interestingly the original plans had two covered stands and corner terraces that never came to be

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3698 - 13/02/2024 11:58:37    2525826

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "Looking forward to being home this summer and seeing the upgrades to Wexford Park but it will be for club championship.
Wexford Park does not need much more upgrading but I remember a few years back portaloos being on the town end terrace. Is that still the same?
The open side in Wexford Park is nice on a sunny day but desperate at any other time. I do not feel it needs a roof though because there might be a couple of times a year when it is needed when the stand can't hold the crowd? Its not worth it for that IMO.
Would open side benefit from terracing rather than seating? Ennis, Carlow, Portlaoise, Tullamore have this. Might make for a better atmosphere."
I don't recall ever seeing portaloos at the Town End myself, but I'm normally in the stand anyway, or failing that, on the open side. Honestly can't remember the last time I watched a match from either terrace.

Am wondering though if maybe the portaloos were a temporary measure for big championship matches where a capacity or near-capacity crowd was expected, and the regular toilets wouldn't have been enough for the crowd?

On the other thing - as stated, I'm not one for standing on terracing myself if I can avoid it, but I always wonder at the notion that standing areas somehow have a better atmosphere. Are people really that much more inclined to shout and cheer if they're standing up rather than sitting?

I actually think it looks fairly backward when you go to a fine ground like Portlaoise, and see that it's just standing on three sides. And bad and all as the concrete benches are in Wexford Park, I think it would be a backward step to remove them and replace with a standing area, rather than the new seats that are in the pipeline.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2905 - 13/02/2024 12:13:05    2525829

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "It's my understanding that all this is being done to host concerts.

Hard to tell but people tend to spread out a good bit on the uncovered side so clearly defined seats might have a positive impact.

There's always fairly substantial gaps between groups even when the place looks full.

It was built for 25k but capacity dropped back to 18k because of health and safety standards. In other words there's a good bit of wasted space as a result.

Interestingly the original plans had two covered stands and corner terraces that never came to be"
That was what a co. board rep told me, he said the designated seating will increase the capacity of the stands because every inch of the bench is accountable for. From a health and safety perspective its not good enough to say "that bench holds around 25 people".
I think the issues with access and toilet facilities in the Pineridge Terrace reduced the capacity?
I think the stadium is fine once they improve the seating in the open side, its not like Wexford is located to capture neutral fixtures like say Kilkenny or Portlaoise are.
Either way, it is good to see improvements and made for a nice evening on Saturday despite the weather.
Somebody mentioned Parnell, aside from the atmosphere and tight pitch and closeness to the action I don't like it. The roof is leaking in parts and its not as fine a ground as the others in Leinster in my opinion. I felt we should have pressed ahead with the stadium in Spawell and sold the Nell for development. I never saw the need for COE's in Spawell and Hollistown but that belongs on the Dublin board.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1368 - 13/02/2024 12:34:22    2525831

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Wexford Park will be a fine ground if all these developments come to pass, personally in terms of Leinster I think Tullamore is a lovely ground would rate it best and Nowlan Park obviously is 3/4 seating and has a great atmosphere, toilets could do with improvement alright, Portlaoise was very modern for its time when it was redeveloped around 2002 but probably on par now with other grounds upgrades, biggest issue with Wexford Park is out of anyone's hands. its mother nature, when there's a gale blowing it can be a disaster, after Salthill possibly effected worst than any other county ground.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 13/02/2024 12:54:52    2525834

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "That was what a co. board rep told me, he said the designated seating will increase the capacity of the stands because every inch of the bench is accountable for. From a health and safety perspective its not good enough to say "that bench holds around 25 people".
I think the issues with access and toilet facilities in the Pineridge Terrace reduced the capacity?
I think the stadium is fine once they improve the seating in the open side, its not like Wexford is located to capture neutral fixtures like say Kilkenny or Portlaoise are.
Either way, it is good to see improvements and made for a nice evening on Saturday despite the weather.
Somebody mentioned Parnell, aside from the atmosphere and tight pitch and closeness to the action I don't like it. The roof is leaking in parts and its not as fine a ground as the others in Leinster in my opinion. I felt we should have pressed ahead with the stadium in Spawell and sold the Nell for development. I never saw the need for COE's in Spawell and Hollistown but that belongs on the Dublin board."
Have the access and total facilites been improved at the pineridge end. Even when we had ''full houses'' for Clare and KK games the Clonard end always looked much more full. I agree I think we should go ahead with the new seating on the open side will really add to the ground

Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 13/02/2024 13:08:07    2525837

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For what it's worth, a certain advantage that Wexford Park holds over Portlaoise.....

Don't know if anybody else has ever noticed the state of the seats around the middle third of the stand there. Let's just say that lots of pigeons must roost in the rafters above them!

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2905 - 13/02/2024 13:17:12    2525841

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "I don't recall ever seeing portaloos at the Town End myself, but I'm normally in the stand anyway, or failing that, on the open side. Honestly can't remember the last time I watched a match from either terrace.

Am wondering though if maybe the portaloos were a temporary measure for big championship matches where a capacity or near-capacity crowd was expected, and the regular toilets wouldn't have been enough for the crowd?

On the other thing - as stated, I'm not one for standing on terracing myself if I can avoid it, but I always wonder at the notion that standing areas somehow have a better atmosphere. Are people really that much more inclined to shout and cheer if they're standing up rather than sitting?

I actually think it looks fairly backward when you go to a fine ground like Portlaoise, and see that it's just standing on three sides. And bad and all as the concrete benches are in Wexford Park, I think it would be a backward step to remove them and replace with a standing area, rather than the new seats that are in the pipeline."
Yeah I think they were just a temporary measure catering for a bigger crowd, my only game on a terrace in the park in the last 15 years was the Kilkenny game in 2017 as I couldn't get a stand ticket, there was portaloos at the pineridge end that evening. As a recent experience was on the terrace for the u20 Leinster final in Carlow last year for the same reason, personally can't say terracing rather than seating enhanced my enjoyment of the game to be honest.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 13/02/2024 13:31:04    2525849

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Replying To TerribleFootwork:  "Yeah I think they were just a temporary measure catering for a bigger crowd, my only game on a terrace in the park in the last 15 years was the Kilkenny game in 2017 as I couldn't get a stand ticket, there was portaloos at the pineridge end that evening. As a recent experience was on the terrace for the u20 Leinster final in Carlow last year for the same reason, personally can't say terracing rather than seating enhanced my enjoyment of the game to be honest."
Sorry was actually at the Clonard end for that Kilkenny game,

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 13/02/2024 14:14:23    2525859

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Replying To TerribleFootwork:  "Yeah I think they were just a temporary measure catering for a bigger crowd, my only game on a terrace in the park in the last 15 years was the Kilkenny game in 2017 as I couldn't get a stand ticket, there was portaloos at the pineridge end that evening. As a recent experience was on the terrace for the u20 Leinster final in Carlow last year for the same reason, personally can't say terracing rather than seating enhanced my enjoyment of the game to be honest."
Was on the terrace facing the stand also for the u20 final and the view wasn't great tbh. It wasn't really high enough.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16124 - 13/02/2024 14:25:27    2525863

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Update on injury situation taken from Wexford People interview with Rossiter
''The fitness of Mikie Dwyer, Matthew O'Hanlon, Liam Ryan and Rory O'Connor will be assessed this week and they could be in contention for the match day 26 for the visit of Brian Lohan's side, while Conor Devitt is also not far away from a return and Conor McDonald and Diarmuid O'Keeffe are both making good progress as they recuperate from back injuries''
Would be great to have Dwyer , Hanlon , Ryan , ROC back for Clare game. Think its one we will really focus on after last years debacle

Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 13/02/2024 14:29:32    2525865

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "It's my understanding that all this is being done to host concerts.

Hard to tell but people tend to spread out a good bit on the uncovered side so clearly defined seats might have a positive impact.

There's always fairly substantial gaps between groups even when the place looks full.

It was built for 25k but capacity dropped back to 18k because of health and safety standards. In other words there's a good bit of wasted space as a result.

Interestingly the original plans had two covered stands and corner terraces that never came to be"
Hopefully be done before August and we get ACDC to play Wexford Park on their tour!!!

camánouttathat (Wexford) - Posts: 64 - 13/02/2024 15:30:00    2525876

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Replying To camánouttathat:  "Hopefully be done before August and we get ACDC to play Wexford Park on their tour!!!"
Now you are talking. Angus doing the duck walk across the back of the stage at the town end!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16124 - 13/02/2024 16:39:52    2525889

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Replying To camánouttathat:  "Hopefully be done before August and we get ACDC to play Wexford Park on their tour!!!"
I did see Austin Deasy in the Park one time, for a home league match with Waterford

wendellgee (Wexford) - Posts: 29 - 13/02/2024 19:34:01    2525924

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Replying To camánouttathat:  "Hopefully be done before August and we get ACDC to play Wexford Park on their tour!!!"
You'll know you've arrived when the 'The Boss' plays there.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2819 - 13/02/2024 20:43:29    2525931

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