National Forum

71 Million Croke Park Development

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Conference, hospitality and museum facilities to be upgraded. For 71 million!!

What in God's name are they going to do them them with that much money?!

Think of all the clubs across the country that would benefit from a percentage of that but the GAA opt to spend it on keeping the fat cats entertained in HQ!

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/croke-park-set-71-million-23355863

hopballref (Galway) - Posts: 377 - 21/01/2021 10:11:48    2328276

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Seems more of a vanity project. A bit like the white water Rafting project that Dublin City Council are proposing.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 21/01/2021 10:37:24    2328280

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Good idea, likely bad timing.

Croke Park is a huge money spinner for the GAA, a significant part of its revenue comes through corporate and premium seating and associated sponsorship in Croke Park, i suspect they are trying to meet interest and demand. Equally on non match days stuff like the Skyline, Stadium tour and Museum all seem to thrive.

I dont have a problem with the plans, but its likely poorly timed given the financial difficulties the games face for a couple of years.

They seem determined to develop the area into a campus, this is on top of the new handball center that opened last year in Sackville Ave. and the additional developments planned around Ballybough. Then we have the plans for the new hotel, playing pitches and facilities at Clonliffe College.

All in all if it creates revenue for the GAA in the long term thats only good for the game, but it will be a hard pill for many clubs around the country with a few years of austerity to be experienced at grass roots up.

Cant see the GAA letting Dublin out of Croke Park any time soon if this is their thinking.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 21/01/2021 11:03:11    2328283

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Will Dublin County board have to fund any of it? Seeing as the use it full time as their home ground surely like all other counties they should have to contribute to upkeep of their home venue?

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1142 - 21/01/2021 11:08:17    2328284

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Replying To TheUsername:  "Good idea, likely bad timing.

Croke Park is a huge money spinner for the GAA, a significant part of its revenue comes through corporate and premium seating and associated sponsorship in Croke Park, i suspect they are trying to meet interest and demand. Equally on non match days stuff like the Skyline, Stadium tour and Museum all seem to thrive.

I dont have a problem with the plans, but its likely poorly timed given the financial difficulties the games face for a couple of years.

They seem determined to develop the area into a campus, this is on top of the new handball center that opened last year in Sackville Ave. and the additional developments planned around Ballybough. Then we have the plans for the new hotel, playing pitches and facilities at Clonliffe College.

All in all if it creates revenue for the GAA in the long term thats only good for the game, but it will be a hard pill for many clubs around the country with a few years of austerity to be experienced at grass roots up.

Cant see the GAA letting Dublin out of Croke Park any time soon if this is their thinking."
"Letting"

Hahahahahahahahaha!

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5010 - 21/01/2021 11:10:46    2328286

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Replying To hopballref:  "Conference, hospitality and museum facilities to be upgraded. For 71 million!!

What in God's name are they going to do them them with that much money?!

Think of all the clubs across the country that would benefit from a percentage of that but the GAA opt to spend it on keeping the fat cats entertained in HQ!

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/croke-park-set-71-million-23355863"
Its not about fat cats in HQ.
Croke Park like any modern international class stadium is in use 5/6 days a week and could make a return of that 71 million without matches even going ahead.
CP can host thousands in wide range of events with the corporate boxes, premium level etc. From a dozen or less meeting in one corporate box to hundreds of people in the hogan suite.

TimeForChange2021 (Dublin) - Posts: 7 - 21/01/2021 11:12:49    2328287

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Replying To sourmilk93:  "Will Dublin County board have to fund any of it? Seeing as the use it full time as their home ground surely like all other counties they should have to contribute to upkeep of their home venue?"
Well you're right. But as our venue I don't think the DCB should allow provincial games or AI series games not involving Dublin to be played at our home ground. Those games are just messing up our pitch.

€71m is a huge investment for a museum and to extend some conference rooms. I presume there's a lot more to it but that money would go a long way elsewhere to upgrade provincial grounds.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 21/01/2021 11:26:34    2328290

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Replying To cavanman47:  ""Letting"

Hahahahahahahahaha!"
Multiple username has been peddling that 1 for a long time now, as if the gaa have a gun to dublins head and won't allow them to build their own stadium.

But the thruth is that the gaa and dublin have a symbiotic relationship 1 hand washes the other and the rest of the counties are just cannon folder.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 21/01/2021 11:50:15    2328294

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Replying To TimeForChange2021:  "Its not about fat cats in HQ.
Croke Park like any modern international class stadium is in use 5/6 days a week and could make a return of that 71 million without matches even going ahead.
CP can host thousands in wide range of events with the corporate boxes, premium level etc. From a dozen or less meeting in one corporate box to hundreds of people in the hogan suite."
True Croke Park is the main GAA stadium but it's a business in it's own right. In saying that it's unlikely these plans were drew up or put through planning this year, it's more likely these were developed with the Rugby World cup bid in mind a few years back, but as they're so far down the road and I guess there is a good business case for non matchdays they've decided to proceed despite the failed bid.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 21/01/2021 11:51:36    2328295

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I would like to view the plans, the 'story' presented today is about Croke Park but does the investment include the proposed devlopment on Clonliffe College site also...
Croke Park is a business and it provides employment and revenue for the association. Any business that remains static and does not invest for the future is left behind and to date good business sense has served the GAA very well.
Whether Dublin play in Croke Park or in another purpose built stadium outside of Parnell is a different topic.

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1820 - 21/01/2021 12:45:19    2328306

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There is plenty of Counties who don't have proper floodlighting for County games. Meath, Westmeath, Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim to name a few.
Getting all Counties up to standard should be a priority.
Croke Park had to let staff go during the pandemic, it might generate more funds but lots of what ifs.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 21/01/2021 13:08:59    2328309

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "Multiple username has been peddling that 1 for a long time now, as if the gaa have a gun to dublins head and won't allow them to build their own stadium.

But the thruth is that the gaa and dublin have a symbiotic relationship 1 hand washes the other and the rest of the counties are just cannon folder."
Well when you can produce evidence of the DCB dictating to the Leinster Council and the other Leinster counties where Dublin play their fixtures then please ask the admins to make your post a sticky. I suppose Leinster counties asking for fixture venues to be reversed to Croke Park was the poor aul Dubs fault as well. Always the villains.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 21/01/2021 14:05:37    2328319

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Replying To FoolsGold:  "There is plenty of Counties who don't have proper floodlighting for County games. Meath, Westmeath, Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim to name a few.
Getting all Counties up to standard should be a priority.
Croke Park had to let staff go during the pandemic, it might generate more funds but lots of what ifs."
I'd personally prefer to see the money going into county grounds myself but obviously they want the dollars to generate more dollars. The GAA has moved away from a lot of its traditional values IMO and has morphed into a tunnel visioned commercial enterprise where cash is king. Sport at Croker has become secondary when it comes to revenue. It's all about tourists and suits munching on canapés in conference rooms now with the odd Coldplay gig thrown in.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 21/01/2021 14:11:45    2328321

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Replying To Joxer:  "Well when you can produce evidence of the DCB dictating to the Leinster Council and the other Leinster counties where Dublin play their fixtures then please ask the admins to make your post a sticky. I suppose Leinster counties asking for fixture venues to be reversed to Croke Park was the poor aul Dubs fault as well. Always the villains."
Are you saying dublin have absolutely no choice of where they play their games?

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 21/01/2021 14:34:19    2328325

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The biggest problem the GAA need to sort out at the moment is the lack of competition in the football championship and trying to get other counties up to Dublin's level. Investing more money in Croke Park and pitches surrounding Croke Park at this time is mad.

hopballref (Galway) - Posts: 377 - 21/01/2021 14:35:38    2328326

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Only the best for the dubs.

gahfan (Wexford) - Posts: 636 - 21/01/2021 15:00:07    2328335

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Replying To sourmilk93:  "Will Dublin County board have to fund any of it? Seeing as the use it full time as their home ground surely like all other counties they should have to contribute to upkeep of their home venue?"
Jasus your very sour -:)

superbluedub (Dublin) - Posts: 2837 - 21/01/2021 15:11:46    2328338

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Replying To gahfan:  "Only the best for the dubs."
Absolutely :-)

superbluedub (Dublin) - Posts: 2837 - 21/01/2021 15:12:51    2328339

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Replying To Joxer:  "I'd personally prefer to see the money going into county grounds myself but obviously they want the dollars to generate more dollars. The GAA has moved away from a lot of its traditional values IMO and has morphed into a tunnel visioned commercial enterprise where cash is king. Sport at Croker has become secondary when it comes to revenue. It's all about tourists and suits munching on canapés in conference rooms now with the odd Coldplay gig thrown in."
You cant manage stadiums on fresh air and all the match days alone isnt enough and its a waste not to have events in them when they have the facilities for these events.
The GAA like any sporting organisation has to think significantly about its commercial value or else it severely reduces its income to plough straight back into the sports.
You cant have games in Croke Park most days or even most weeks but you can utilise the excellent bar, food, restaurants, conferencing facilities to the fullest of their capabilities.

County Boards, Provincial Councils and fans of individual counties need to pitch in more for facilities to be improved around grounds around the country.

TimeForChange2021 (Dublin) - Posts: 7 - 21/01/2021 15:36:52    2328346

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Replying To TimeForChange2021:  "You cant manage stadiums on fresh air and all the match days alone isnt enough and its a waste not to have events in them when they have the facilities for these events.
The GAA like any sporting organisation has to think significantly about its commercial value or else it severely reduces its income to plough straight back into the sports.
You cant have games in Croke Park most days or even most weeks but you can utilise the excellent bar, food, restaurants, conferencing facilities to the fullest of their capabilities.

County Boards, Provincial Councils and fans of individual counties need to pitch in more for facilities to be improved around grounds around the country."
Wexford have been saving the last few years to do a few upgrading jobs on Wexford Park and the Centre of Excellence in Ferns. Hopefully this year!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11715 - 21/01/2021 16:12:28    2328351

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