The Croke Park experience and atmosphere

[kev mcq]

The whole day was just completely bizarre. The stadium itself looks really nice you as approach it. However, we had to enter the davin end via a narrow old gate before the turnstiles. The view from block 320 was ok, it was very difficult to follow what was going on down the far end of the ground. Wouldnt class the stadium as world class.

The atmostphere was just pathetic. I expected a cauldron of nosie. The little noise that was made just went up and out of the place. At Lansdowne the old stands kept it in. For what its worth I think the lansdowne fans have now been diluted with a ridiculous amount of daytrippers. The man beside me from the north didnt have a notion what was going on on. I commented on our lack of width in the first half and he looked at me like I had 40 heads.

The whole day from the fans view was summarised with that mexican wave. As that wave went around the ground, we were being pinned back on the edge our box and under the cosh big time. Most of our fans there really didnt have a clue what was going on.

Lets hope 20,000 or so of the day trippers stay away on wed and the 50,000 there can create and atmosphere. On a side note, the corporate people obviously didnt fancy the fixture, there were rows of seats free in the centre block of the stand to our right in the upper tier.

How would you not class the stadium as world class, in what way is it not? It's not the stadium's fault that the fans can't generate anything resembling an atmosphere (although i can see why there was no atmosphere with such a **** game).
And your point about LR being better suited to keep the noise in woth the stands...bullsh1t. In case you didn't notice, there were only 2 stands in LR, and the east stand was hardly enclosed compared to croke park :rolleyes:

[WexDec]

I had a horrible match in the area I was seated. I was in Cusack Lower Block 302 Row J seat 28. Was anyone here near me?

I was in 302 but up in KK. Going from the comments on here I got quite lucky although I only that realise now. For one thing although obviously generally it was shockingly quiet I seemed to be surrounded by genuine supporters. There were no obvious daytrippers and it was 99% male. Anytime Stand Up FTBIG got going everybody in our rows did so on mass and all sang and never heard one dissenting voice. If you wanted to sit like if you had a kid then you may do so looking at somebody's arse but only noticed one guy doing that and he had a kid (as any parent will tell ya its a pain yanking the kid up and down). Never once did any steward or fan say sit down, like a good ref I never noticed a steward all game. The clapping Ireland chant also was pretty consistent during the last half hour when the atmosphere got steadily better topped off by Hunt who literally brought us all to our feet 3 times in the last 10 mins. It did strike had he been on from the start and did that in the first 10 minutes it may have been a different story atmosphere wise. An attempt at The Fields of Athenry did fall flat on its face near the end though.

One thing to note is I'm on the BB waiting list, in the first 2k and I'm wondering if I was surrounded by similar such creatures. My mate who's within a 100 positions of me on the list had seats two rows directly behind me so I think this is a fair assumption. All in all I'm quite happy with the atmosphere (relative to the that of the overall stadium) and footie knowledge directly around me and the fact there was no booing, only justified genuine sighs that we all have. Also our view was quiet good being excellent for the Hill goal in line with just outside the peno box. Had to hold my hand up to keep the sun out of my eyes for canal end action a lot of course and I think the players had the same problem at times. Am nearly always in the Lower Hogan (only in Cusack lower once or twice and the upper a few times) so didn't realise that would be the case so much.

Also thankfully got on well with my new neighbour for this years matches, we sang whenever there was anything going and we had similiar views on the teamsheet namely the fullbacks were playing on the wrong sides, the two Reading boys should've started, Stephen Ireland's goal glossed over his performance and playing one up front at home to Wales was a joke. I did get irrate with O'Shea particularly as I thought Duff was actually working hard but have never booed anybody without justification (only ever an opposing player or official and never because of what club they play for which p1sses me off)

Anyway I'm hoping this area will have something to shout about on Wednesday.

[WexDec]

We were near the Welsh support and they weren't that loud anyway as away supporters go. Certainly a lot of it would go up in the air but it wasn't like it was a wild windy day and away supporters often ended up tucked away in a high corner somewhere ala St. Jame's Park. I was in away section for Liverpool match at the Nou Camp and it was like sitting on the roof of an upper tier but still we could be well heard I was told.

[paul_oshea]

i got a txt from a mate saying there was a better atmosphere in a local pub on a monday night.worse atmosphere i ever experienced at an ireland match and at croker ;), and everytime i stood up and started singing i was told sit down. i said "get up ye ****s and sing and support your team" and i was berated by most. my mate came all the way back from america that morning no sleep and there was more life in him!he was pure disgusted too

[paul_oshea]

I had a horrible match in the area I was seated. I was in Cusack Lower Block 302 Row J seat 28. Was anyone here near me? Some


kingdom i was in row d just below ye did ye see everyone in the lower area of this section coming in late after half time and leaving early to get the pints in!!!

i was the looper shoutin at everyone to stand up while they were shoutin at me to sit down

oh ya another point, and i am being completely serious on this but i reckon where i was sitting anyway was full of country gaelic supporters who didnt really know or werent use to being at a soccer game which obviouslly effects them singing and the atmosphere! one such "comedian" said to me in response to me saying come on get up and sing "if you lost your virginity you wouldn't be so frustrated!" of course he and his mmates thought he was hilarious.

i knew the atmosphere round me was going to be crap when i saw a fella called mick henley at the match with some quare one, no more interest in soccer than my dead granny. and it was full of these people beside me.

[Poor Student]

Lower Canal End is where it's at.

No it's not. A small part of it perhaps, but as I posted earlier, I seemed to be positioned a slight bit away from the main bulk of the eL allocation (as in the other side of the entrance) and no one was standing or chanting. I know the old eL terrace allocation at Landsdowne wasn't amazing, but the Canal End seems to be far more diluted and quiet.

[OwlsFan]

How would you not class the stadium as world class, in what way is it not? It's not the stadium's fault that the fans can't generate anything resembling an atmosphere (although i can see why there was no atmosphere with such a **** game).
And your point about LR being better suited to keep the noise in woth the stands...bullsh1t. In case you didn't notice, there were only 2 stands in LR, and the east stand was hardly enclosed compared to croke park :rolleyes:

The stadium is 75% world class but the Hill 16 end is a throw back to a bygone era and takes away from the overall effect of the massive stands that surround the rest of the pitch. In fact one part has no terracing at all and a building of some sort is there :confused:

Impressive stadium but looks unfinished because of above.

[reder]

Upper tier isn't corporates - the empty section was likely to be some screw-up on the ticket distribution.

No they are eircom seats alright. Mate of mine got 3 complimentary tickets for wednesday and they are midway up that very block. Id say there will be shed loads of empty seats on wednes anyway.

[reder]

The stadium is 75% world class but the Hill 16 end is a throw back to a bygone era and takes away from the overall effect of the massive stands that surround the rest of the pitch. In fact one part has no terracing at all and a building of some sort is there :confused:

Impressive stadium but looks unfinished because of above.

This is a pretty fair evaluation. I still wouldnt give it a "world class" rating. The whole away end, the building and that tiny seated area in the corner, (please dont tell me they threw the schoolboys there) really takes from the place. The rest of the stadium in nice but I just never got that wonderous feel about the place. It aint no millenium thats for sure (roof on or off).

So we do have the GAA stewards, no wonder my mate got filithy looks from one when we started shouting that the place was full of GAA fans and that at a football match they were supposed to make noise.

Thats just a personal view? I actually think wednesday will be worse, its gonna be a nightmare trying to get in with the rush hour traffic I have been told. Is the north circular road a main route for rush hour traffic?

[Bluetonic]

I was in 302 but up in KK.

One thing to note is I'm on the BB waiting list, in the first 2k and I'm wondering if I was surrounded by similar such creatures

Wasn't too far from ya, 302 JJ, in the first 2k too.

[craig7042]

Too many people at the game who were there to watch the spectacle rather than support the team. If you're not going to voice your backing for Ireland when you're at the game then why bother going?.... just watch it on TV.

It's horrible that these people so easily get tickets while fans who really want to be there and sing their hearts out are left in the cold.

This decline has been going on for over 10 years now. When I was in primary school(late 80's - early 90's) we used to queue up from 7.00 in the morning to buy tickets for all Ireland games. These tickets would be on general sale at various outlets to the general public. Until that is restored again - say 20,000 on sale(first come, first served) - we will never have a cracking atmosphere again. You can bet your bottom dollar that the vast majority of people at Croke Pk yesterday would never dream of queuing for a match ticket - proper supporters would.

Those late 80s queues were the best!! Thanks for the memory! Things have obviously changed in the atmosphere since then. We've 'grown up', which in my mind is always a good sign. Like the Scots had their 1978 when they thought they were going to win the world cup, we had our 1990 etc. Now look at us...
We have protect ourselves from being too arrogant. We need to enjoy supporting the team. We need a bit of the fun, which in fairness isnt all gone. The sense of humour... we need to dream still... like Liverpool fans dream and get soppy sometimes....

[Peadar]

There was a nice bit of MILF in front of me and we won the game so I came away from the game with a smile on my face.

[citizenerased]

i got a txt from a mate saying there was a better atmosphere in a local pub on a monday night.worse atmosphere i ever experienced at an ireland match and at croker ;), and everytime i stood up and started singing i was told sit down. i said "get up ye ****s and sing and support your team" and i was berated by most. my mate came all the way back from america that morning no sleep and there was more life in him!he was pure disgusted too

I find that comment abit over the top...I have been to many games in landsdowne and experienced a far worse atmospheres...do ya not go to any friendly matches...The FAI should have sorted out an ultras section, to generate an atmosphere....

If you want absolute shiite atmosphere go to the emirates..In patches there was decent enough atmosphere. I agree with the comment," too may spectators not enough fans!!

[Raheny Red]

There was a nice bit of MILF in front of me and we won the game so I came away from the game with a smile on my face.

Good lad:D :cool:

[Claret Murph]

Now as i said we had quite a few EL fans around me and I have got seats again in the same area ( lower canel row SS block 318 ) for Wednesday so hopefully we have have a real go at it and get behind the lads from the off . One thing for sure i will do my bit for the lads .;)

[bennocelt]

sounds like you're in it for the craic rather than the football.


well i do love football, but the craic is good fun at away games
but i dont have to prove my football creditentials to anyone

and its only football for me, none of that rugby/ga sh ite bandwagon

[RogerMilla]

i was in lower canal close to the EL lads and it was great to hear them get things going and to join in . i honestly believe if we can continue winning home games then the atmosphere will take care of itself

[WexDec]

Wasn't too far from ya, 302 JJ, in the first 2k too.

Right in front of me ! That proves that theory then as with three instances it seems the upper seats of 302 are waiting listers (and their guests). I thought the immediate surroundings around us were decent enough in relation to the overal atmosphere. Was predominantly fellas (although reading the MILF comment earlier.....). You could certainly sing and shout and stand and moan without interference from "spectators" or stewards. Not that there was that much of it going on but deffo warmed up towards the end of the match. Like I said before if Hunt had those runs at the start of the match something like that could kick it off. Unfortunately it'll always be tight at the start of matches as opposed to counterattacking a team thats behind. I wonder if its scoreless going into the last 20 mins will we risk really go for it or pathetically take a point, not that we have players to change the game especially with Keane gone. I think most would be happier if we went for it and lost considering nobody seemed too estatic about the sterile win on Saturday.

[Jerry The Saint]

And your point about LR being better suited to keep the noise in woth the stands...bullsh1t. In case you didn't notice, there were only 2 stands in LR, and the east stand was hardly enclosed compared to croke park :rolleyes:

Any theory that you can't generate an atmosphere from the Hill because the noise travels up into the ozone layer is clearly disproved 5 or 6 times every summer. :D

I agree that the "building" at the Nally terrace was a bad choice (Garda CCTV hut initially - why they couldn't have put this in a less conspicuous place I'll never know) This has been made more obvious by the installation of the two studios for RTE and BBC/Sky. For GAA matches, RTE's studio is their corporate box at the Canal End - they clearly didn't want to waste this box for the rugby games when there was money/prestige to be had.

[Joey Killester]

I dont think an internet topic has ever made my so angry, for various things, most of all the standing and singing, which are both the most natural thing to do at a football match. God I f**king hate Ireland fans! No coincidence that the best atmosphere was coming from the real Irish football fans, the EL supporters. I don't know why I was looking to go to this game. And by the way, the Mexican Wave is the most goonish thing ever! :mad:

[Beavis]

Now as i said we had quite a few EL fans around me and I have got seats again in the same area ( lower canel row SS block 318 ) for Wednesday so hopefully we have have a real go at it and get behind the lads from the off . One thing for sure i will do my bit for the lads .;)

I'll be down there too but I hope those instrument dudes arent there this time, they seem to go off on songs/chants at inappropriate times. It also feels as if atmosphere is been forced on you when its far better when its self generated.
Anyway I'll be there banging the bodhran so lets get behind the shaggin team!

Lower Canal la la la

[dublinred]

A lot of people in the very lower sections and those in the heavens couldn't see much of the match and couldn't really generate an atmosphere , we had no tactics and also the pitch was brutal hence we didn't play well which also had a knock on effect on the atmosphere but as someone pointed out unlike the compromise rules boys who got whipped by the aussies and the rugby boys who lost to France we are unbeaten and have a 100% record in Croke park.:) :)

[pineapple stu]

No it's not. A small part of it perhaps, but as I posted earlier, I seemed to be positioned a slight bit away from the main bulk of the eL allocation (as in the other side of the entrance) and no one was standing or chanting. I know the old eL terrace allocation at Landsdowne wasn't amazing, but the Canal End seems to be far more diluted and quiet.
Disagree; the Lower Canal is "where it's at". That mightn't be saying much - one steward killed half of what was going on when telling us all to sit down - but it was still definitely where most of the atmosphere, for want of a better word, was coming from.

[McGinty]

yea i noticed the lower davin we're up for the game, the rest of the pitch was like the old "West Stand", struggled to get a song together

[blobbyblob]

I was in the lower canal - the view was cat. Didnt see/hear the steward. Couldnt see passed the hald way line.

The ground is so big that there was small pockets of chants starting up all over the shop.

Just a pity we really only have a few chants

Come on you...
Stand Up for the...
The Fields works well with the clapping (ala rugby style). will only work one or twice max
<clappng> Ireland
Ole is alright at the right moment - usually being a couple of goals to the good and in a party athmosphere.
Think Molly Malone got a run out recently

If you stray outside those your generally accused of being a english premiership loving pimp. Nothing new coming on line though.

[Torn-Ado]

A few rebels songs would go down nicely

:)

[Peadar]

It's too hard to get the crowd to sing anything new or different. Songs/chants must be kept as simple as possible.

Even in Lansdowne, we'd get a few songs going, then the South Terrace would kick off with Ireland clap, clap, clap...
At least if we had ever managed to get them to join in with us, we might have had some chance of getting others in on the act.

[blobbyblob]

Agreed - what did **** me off Saturday was those drummers in front of the canal end. Good intentions but they were out of synch with the chants. Put half the people around me off singing. Wrecked me bulb.

[Jerry The Saint]

Have to say that it seems a lot more people have eyesight problems than I realised. Never heard so much complaining about the view before, maybe it's a soccer thing and everyone's eyes simply aren't Irish enough. ;)

[jbyrne]

Agreed - what did **** me off Saturday was those drummers in front of the canal end. Good intentions but they were out of synch with the chants. Put half the people around me off singing. Wrecked me bulb.

agree 100%. wrote to the FAI about this last night. the pop song after our goal was also a big turn off

[dublinred]

Have to say that it seems a lot more people have eyesight problems than I realised. Never heard so much complaining about the view before, maybe it's a soccer thing and everyone's eyes simply aren't Irish enough. ;)

In fairness for the GAA matches and rugby the ball is in the air a lot of the time so would be quite close to the fans in the upper heavens of the stands:)

[Collyontour]

the pop song after our goal was also a big turn off

Yeah, what was the craic with that? Brutal

[OneRedArmy]

I'm sure this has been brought up before, but of all the times to sing Ole Ole (the correct answer being never IMHO) Saturday was the least appropriate ever.

[jbyrne]

I'm sure this has been brought up before, but of all the times to sing Ole Ole (the correct answer being never IMHO) Saturday was the least appropriate ever.

think that was started by the band behind the goal. they wouldnt have a clue what was and wasnt appropriate. you just cant create atmosphere by bands etc. it has to be spontaneous from the fans

[eirebhoy]

I dont think an internet topic has ever made my so angry, for various things, most of all the standing and singing, which are both the most natural thing to do at a football match. God I f**king hate Ireland fans! No coincidence that the best atmosphere was coming from the real Irish football fans, the EL supporters. I don't know why I was looking to go to this game. And by the way, the Mexican Wave is the most goonish thing ever! :mad:
Since most of the atmosphere was coming from the lower corner of the Cusack/Davin I assume that was the EL supporters? If so, that was the crowd that started the mexican wave. :D

[WexDec]

A few rebels songs would go down nicely
:)

On The One Road strikes me as one of those songs that sticks in your head and you sing spot on in a crowd/pub even though you wouldn't be able to write down the words if asked. A kinda infectious group rythm about it too. BTW as pointed out in a different thread its not actual sectarian either, quite the opposite.

A good job Austria/Switzerland can't be fitted into the Que Sera Sera song like Italy / Germany as that would taking the p1ss (...unless we have a major transformation tomorrow)

I'm sure all us "daytrippers" who apparantly can't speak English, just love to sit down, hate to sing and get blamed for the bad atmosphere etc. etc. etc. will be ripping into Molly Malone though :D

[NavanBohs]

Since most of the atmosphere was coming from the lower corner of the Cusack/Davin I assume that was the EL supporters? If so, that was the crowd that started the mexican wave. :D

Pretty sure that was started by all the skangers in the corner between teh Canal End and the Cusack

[Schumi]

Think Molly Malone got a run out recently.Didn't work on Saturday though because half the people sang 'alive alive-o' and the other half started 'clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap Ireland'.

[Rosco]

I'll be down there too but I hope those instrument dudes arent there this time, they seem to go off on songs/chants at inappropriate times. It also feels as if atmosphere is been forced on you when its far better when its self generated.

Agreed, hope the band isn't there, will probably be past bedtime anyway. All seemed a little bit continental style for my liking rather than a good aul sing song LR style.

[G-Man]

In fairness for the GAA matches and rugby the ball is in the air a lot of the time so would be quite close to the fans in the upper heavens of the stands:)

The way Ireland played on Saturday the ball was in the air more often than not!!!:o

[joe316]

can we bring back "we all dream of a team of ........" i know unfortunatly that gary breen is gone :( but the only current member that i can of that will suit the song is richie dunne sorta.

btw im 302 row j, read that a good few from here are in 302 so we should get it really bouncing tonight

[dcfc1985]

I was amazed when i seen a large queue for the hot dog stand at the lower davin end....during the match. :eek: These people must have been queuing up for at least 30 minutes and missed most of the first half..surely they couldnt be that hungry?
Why bother going to the game if you are going to waste half the match queuing for food?? Unbelievable. :confused: :confused:

[Wolfie]

Not relevant for tonight because he's not playing but...........

The Man U tune "Eric the King" could be adapted to "Robbie the King" IF OR WHEN he managed to turn in a few regal performances in the future. Its to the air of Lilly The Pink..........

We'll drink, a drink, a drink
To Eric the king, the king the king,
He's the leader of our football team.
He's the greatest,
centre forward,
that the world, has ever seen.

[pineapple stu]

Agreed, hope the band isn't there.
The FAI had mentioned they were going to bring in something like this after seeing it in Germany. Different type of crowd, the Germans though - used to making an atmosphere at matches like. Didn't work at all on Saturday. Hopefully it'll die a quick death after tonight.

[jbyrne]

The FAI had mentioned they were going to bring in something like this after seeing it in Germany. Different type of crowd, the Germans though - used to making an atmosphere at matches like. Didn't work at all on Saturday. Hopefully it'll die a quick death after tonight.

al that band did in germany too was drown out the germans atmosphere.... they were sent down our end in the 2nd half to drown us out. plastic atmospheres never ever work. tried before by FAI and always failed so why introduce??

[citizenerased]

I thought it was a nice idea, alright...agree didnt work on saturday alright..I reckon more of an effort should have been made to seat all the ultra fans together...as there was pockets of singong goin on all over the ground

[Peadar]

Lots of people go to Ireland games but never go to any other football games and simply don't know what to do. We've had this conversation before, but many people think that they should be entertained by other fans and complain that they've spent €70 but the other fans wouldn't sing, to create atmosphere for them.

[John83]

I thought it was a nice idea, alright...agree didnt work on saturday alright..I reckon more of an effort should have been made to seat all the ultra fans together...as there was pockets of singong goin on all over the ground
Agreed. I think it'd work if they find the right stuff to play - anyone remember the game, early in the eL section in Lansdowne, when all the eL drummers got together in a row? That worked very well, I thought.


Didn't work on Saturday though because half the people sang 'alive alive-o' and the other half started 'clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap Ireland'.
At least three times. That was hilarious.

[Joey Killester]

Since most of the atmosphere was coming from the lower corner of the Cusack/Davin I assume that was the EL supporters? If so, that was the crowd that started the mexican wave. :D

I dont know, I wasn't at the game but from what Ive been reading here it seems that the el were creating the most noise. Must have been Derry fans or something if it swas they who started the Mexican.

[Dazzy]

If it was Derry fans i would be ashamed, but id doubt it was them.