"Ireland somehow got trapped in a rugby nightmare the latest episode of which saw 70,000 people pay ?80-plus to watch awful rugby in a stadium in which huge swathes of the seating are - it's time to face facts - totally unacceptable.

How many of the people at Croke Park these past two weeks who put their own hand in their pockets to shell out for terrible seats at two bad games have had their fill of international rugby?" EXTRACT Brendan Cole RTE.

Is this a general opinion on our hallowed stadium or just rugger bugger begrudgery?.
Are there not good and less good (bad) seats at every venue?

endofstory69 (Cork) - Posts: 97 - 26/11/2008 11:38:01    150245

I've sat at quite a few different areas and i wouldn't say that i've had a bad view, even up in the skies.

Bald Eagle (None) - Posts: 1009 - 26/11/2008 11:42:12    150251

Utter tripe! If they dont like it.............off to the RDS with them! And I am very pro opening up Croker, but that kinda rubbish is blood boiling! Would he prefer they risked life and limb in Landsdowne's old terraces?!?!

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 26/11/2008 11:44:49    150253

Should never have let them in in the first place. FAI even changed the name of Hill 16 to 'North Terrace'! At least they didn't bring the pathetic turnout for the FAI Cup final there! 10,000! More at Dublin county final.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 26/11/2008 11:47:44    150255

That's harsh, Croker is a world class stadium your going to have seats in any stadium that aren't the best either either in nose bleed territory or in the corners i for one had one of those on saturday (luck of the draw) i would have minded the seat if the matches were good.

So there's nothing wrong with the stadium, but there something wrong with watching poor games and having to shell out 85 yoyo's

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 26/11/2008 11:48:35    150258

This is an unavoidable issue for Soccer and particularly rugby matches. I was at the All-Blacks game and, granted it may be due to the quality of the game, I'd have preferred to watch it at home. I was in the same seat (Cusack Stand side of the Canal End) for the AI final and the difference is huge. Its not a problem in GAA as the action is right in front of you at regular stages of the game however for Rugby matches the try line is miles away and depending on who is controlling the game, play might never be within 50 yards of your seat.

Just one of those things

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 26/11/2008 11:57:32    150269

Sure it makes perfect sense lads, whatever happens to go wrong with anything in this country, just blame the GAA

Annes Man (Wexford) - Posts: 208 - 26/11/2008 11:59:41    150271

i have sat all round croker and the view is superb..the problem is its not a rughby pitch and the field has to be adjusted to suit rugby..thanks by the way for paying 29millon in rent between rugby and soccer...

colin (Cork) - Posts: 233 - 26/11/2008 12:00:44    150273

I had a free ticket for the Premium seats on Sat - thank God cos it was 100 yo yos. If you stand up you can see nothing but why would you be standing up? Especially the way our lads are playing!! Actually two blokes I know went for a pint at half time and didn't come back!

Dunno who that Brendan Cole guy who wrote it is - is he the ballroom dancer?? He just seems peeved off at the way the team is playing and is having a lash at everything - wouldn't worry too much about it! I think most 'rugger' people appreciate a great stadium and its funny to see thousands of D4 heads walking through the north inner city on a Saturday evening. Its just what they have to watch on the actual green sward thats the problem at the moment!

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 26/11/2008 12:07:11    150278

Rubbish. Great excuse for the70,000+ fans who fell asleep during the recent International rugby and soccer bore fests. I was at one of the soccer matches and the lack of athmosphere, skill, passion, desire to win, compared to football and hurling had to be seen to be believed. Bringing these "foreign" games to Croker has really cemented my views that Football and Hurling truly are the geatest field games in the world.

derfil1 (Kildare) - Posts: 1612 - 26/11/2008 12:09:46    150281

pure rubbish, i have been way up in canal end and still had a great view

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 26/11/2008 12:15:37    150283

Probably some truth in what he says.
Croker is a GAA stadium in the first instance. The seats at the back of the Upper Tiers are a long way from the action but I'd rather sit there than not have a ticket. The IRFU have designated about 100 seats as ''vertigo'' seats behind the goal in the Davin Stand for anyone who doesn't like the heights! Don't think the GAA do this?

Secondly, and I've been saying this to my rugger buddies since we allowed them in, that the pitch would look very small for both rugby and soccer. The supporters would feel a long way from the action. This has mainifested itself this year as many of the games have lacked atmosphere. The teams should give the crowd something to shout about - which hasn't been happening is my argument.

Lastly, I did attend last weekends Ire v Arg match. I had really good seats in the middle of the Cusack Stand Lower (thanks to my rugger buddies!). We decided to let most of the crowd off and exit via the Hogan Stand side. We walked around by the seats in the Davin. There was a bar there that we tried to get into (Official Irish Rugby Supporters Club members only). As we left I sat in one of the seats a few rows from the last row and could barely see much of the Hill as it was obscured by the tier above. They had TVs installed here so fans could follow the flight of the ball. Didn't realise there were seats like this in the stadium and if I had paid a lot of money I probably would have been annoyed. Must be difficult sitting there for a hurling or Gaelic football match I thought! So, Brendan Cole probably had one of those seats.

One thing we have got away with so far is the roof. On each of the lower tiers, the roof will, at best, only cover half the seats on that level. GAA is mainly a summer sport so thats fair enough. First time there's a soccer or rugby match played in a downpour there will be a massive outcry ! Imagine all the hair dos that will be ruined. And any women at the game will probably be affected too. Only a matter of time before the GAA is responsible for the biggest flu epidemic ever. Flu jabs all round? You heard it here first

exiledindub (Mayo) - Posts: 123 - 26/11/2008 12:19:30    150289

in response to end of story - croker is as good as it gets- i have sat and stood in alot of places in croker and it is excellent- its not the situation with the rugby and soccer matches that we have witnessed in it but its utter tripe to say that the seats arent great in it. We will see what monuments the irfu and the fai will build and how much it will cost?

stalwart (None) - Posts: 16 - 26/11/2008 12:21:12    150290

re: Jayocluxton.

Funny watching the D4 heads alright, walking around with a look of horror on the faces.

There is only one game that has generated any sort of atmostphere that could match croker for a full house at a GAA match and that's the ireland england game... bet there was none of them complaining about their seats back then.... to enjoy a game there has to be an atmostphere which was been totally lacking for most of the soccer and rugby games.

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 26/11/2008 12:34:55    150302

26/11/2008 12:19:30
exiledindub
County: Mayo
Posts: 94

The IRFU have designated about 100 seats as ''vertigo'' seats behind the goal in the Davin Stand for anyone who doesn't like the heights! Don't think the GAA do this?

Yeah the GAA have this at every game.

Say no to racism

RMDrive (Donegal) - Posts: 2202 - 26/11/2008 13:35:35    150379

Rubish. Nothing wrong with the seats.

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 2003 - 26/11/2008 13:35:41    150380

I am delighted the rugby crowd dont like it. They play on a very small pitch and have big fat heavy lads who try to hide the ball by lying on it. It must be the only ball game where spectators pay to watch big lads trying to burst the ball !! Why dont they play on a proper sized pitch ?

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 26/11/2008 13:49:53    150401

there are no bad seats in croke park. some are better than others, in peoples opinions

wise_guy (Tyrone) - Posts: 1584 - 26/11/2008 13:53:08    150408

Trash-its one of the best stadiums in the world and the view from anywhere in it is just excellent.i would take any ticket just to be in there on all ireland final day..love the place

conor15 (None) - Posts: 347 - 26/11/2008 13:54:47    150410

26/11/2008 12:09:46
derfil1
County: Kildare
Posts: 268

150281 Rubbish. Great excuse for the70,000+ fans who fell asleep during the recent International rugby and soccer bore fests. I was at one of the soccer matches and the lack of athmosphere, skill, passion, desire to win, compared to football and hurling had to be seen to be believed. Bringing these "foreign" games to Croker has really cemented my views that Football and Hurling truly are the geatest field games in the world.

I agree totally. Could not have put it better derfil1.

Gortnagarn (UK) - Posts: 112 - 26/11/2008 13:57:21    150415