Attendances 2019

[Nesta99]

If a footballer can't play their A game unless it's in 'familiar' surroundings, then they won't be going very far in the game. The Spanish national teams seem to do pretty well without even having a home ground, and rotating their matches at all levels continuously.

If all U21s are to happen only in Tallaght - no debate - then what incentive does that provide for towns and clubs elsewhere to be ambitious about their stadia ? Things will never improve outside of Dublin if everything is concentrated in Dublin because it's where things are the best etc.

There are undoubtedly arguments for and against but I think a team should be used to playing and performing regardless of the surroundings. Ye only have to consider the recent game in Iceland for the U21s to see the sort of places ye could end up. With that in mind Oriel Park is obvously the best spot for teams to get used to!

ED Park is fine for underage and womens games and should be given the opportunity to host games, Sligo and Turners Cross too. The top level games like v Italy then of course Tallaght is the top choice. I'd even think that the Aviva should be used occasionally as rather than coping with poor facilities a young player would be more likely to be overawed by larger stadia and thats the stage they're being prepped for.

[Martinho II]

City Calling Stadium or Flancare Park used to host under 21 internationals,under 19 games and hosted the UEFA championship qualifiers this year. We got high praise from UEFA. We have everything except for cover on the other sides of the ground!

[Charlie Darwin]

If a footballer can't play their A game unless it's in 'familiar' surroundings, then they won't be going very far in the game. The Spanish national teams seem to do pretty well without even having a home ground, and rotating their matches at all levels continuously.

If all U21s are to happen only in Tallaght - no debate - then what incentive does that provide for towns and clubs elsewhere to be ambitious about their stadia ? Things will never improve outside of Dublin if everything is concentrated in Dublin because it's where things are the best etc.

If towns and clubs around the country can't play their A game unless they get U21 games then they won't be going very far in the game.

[EatYerGreens]

If towns and clubs around the country can't play their A game unless they get U21 games then they won't be going very far in the game.

Weak.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

If a footballer can't play their A game unless it's in 'familiar' surroundings, then they won't be going very far in the game. The Spanish national teams seem to do pretty well without even having a home ground, and rotating their matches at all levels continuously.

If all U21s are to happen only in Tallaght - no debate - then what incentive does that provide for towns and clubs elsewhere to be ambitious about their stadia ? Things will never improve outside of Dublin if everything is concentrated in Dublin because it's where things are the best etc.

If you're going to play games at substandard grounds on the basis that they're not in Dublin then what incentive is there for them to improve?

Last sentence doesn't makes sense, you really trying to say we shouldn't hold these events in the most suitable stadium simply because it happens to be in a city you have a grudge against? Cop on.

All the women's and u21 competitive games should be at the best available ground and just now that's Tallaght by a country mile. The lower down teams should be spread around like they currently are and the friendlies should too but until a ground can at least match Tallaght the players deserve to have their games played there.

[Nesta99]

If you're going to play games at substandard grounds on the basis that they're not in Dublin then what incentive is there for them to improve?

Last sentence doesn't makes sense, you really trying to say we shouldn't hold these events in the most suitable stadium simply because it happens to be in a city you have a grudge against? Cop on.

All the women's and u21 competitive games should be at the best available ground and just now that's Tallaght by a country mile. The lower down teams should be spread around like they currently are and the friendlies should too but until a ground can at least match Tallaght the players deserve to have their games played there.

What grudge? It is a matter of opinion surely but once again you show some sort of paranoia RH. I see EYG's posts as a participation in debate and not having a cut at Dublin or Tallaght for as lucky as the general region is to have multiple stadia provided by the taxpayer. As mentioned there is nothing wrong with ED Park, Sligo or Turners Cross especially for the less attractive ties. Maybe teams should play in stadia that are as similar as possible to those that will be visited away from home.

[marinobohs]

Anyhow, I think there would be great merit in moving games around the country - but only if the stadia are fit to hold them.
Draw up a list of stadia (and appropriate crowds) if other towns want "in" then spruce up their stadium.

PS (for the record) I love Dublin !

[RathfarnhamHoop]

What grudge? It is a matter of opinion surely but once again you show some sort of paranoia RH. I see EYG's posts as a participation in debate and not having a cut at Dublin or Tallaght for as lucky as the general region is to have multiple stadia provided by the taxpayer. As mentioned there is nothing wrong with ED Park, Sligo or Turners Cross especially for the less attractive ties. Maybe teams should play in stadia that are as similar as possible to those that will be visited away from home.

"if everything is concentrated in Dublin because it's where things are the best etc."

How can you read that as anything other than just letting a disliking of Dublin get in the way of an objective opinion?

The best stadium consistently available to football in this country is the Aviva but that's two expensive to open for the crowds that the U21s and Women's teams. The next best stadium is Tallaght, its the only catagory four ground that regularly hosts football in the country so that's not an opinion it's a fact.
The women can already feel a bit aggrieved that they never play in the national stadium without saying that they can't play in Tallaght either because, well what's the actual reason again? That the mens team play in Dublin? Really? It's not as if you're moving them to a similar standard ground elsewhere like the countries like England and Spain where they're moving from one top class facility to another.
In Ireland the best option for growing crowds at u21 and women's games is having a consistent ground, football isn't king here like in England and Spain we need to make it easy for people to go to games, part of that is having a quality consistent home ground. There's also a reason Dublin is where these things are located, it's easier for people all over to get to than other places.
From a performance perspective the teams are also based in Abbotstown for training so the best thing for them and their performance is to be near there and playing on the same pitch in the same surroundings is half the benefit of home advantage especially when you don't have tonnes of top class stadiums to choose from.
Your last sentence is pure nonsense.

[EatYerGreens]

If you're going to play games at substandard grounds on the basis that they're not in Dublin then what incentive is there for them to improve?

Last sentence doesn't makes sense, you really trying to say we shouldn't hold these events in the most suitable stadium simply because it happens to be in a city you have a grudge against? Cop on.

All the women's and u21 competitive games should be at the best available ground and just now that's Tallaght by a country mile. The lower down teams should be spread around like they currently are and the friendlies should too but until a ground can at least match Tallaght the players deserve to have their games played there.

You've undermined your point by assuming I'm suggesting games should be played in stadia regardless of what state they're in. When my post clearly talks multiple times about stadia being improved.

And just to prove that this isn't an anti-Dublin thing (paranoid much ?) : by your argument, U21s, womens etc shouldn't even go to the north-side of the Liffey once Dalymount is rebuilt.

Of course - if you'd like to present a rational argument to dispute the fact that the Republic of Ireland is heavily centred around Dublin, then by all means be my guess (*reaches for the popcorn*)

[Nesta99]

"if everything is concentrated in Dublin because it's where things are the best etc."

How can you read that as anything other than just letting a disliking of Dublin get in the way of an objective opinion?

The best stadium consistently available to football in this country is the Aviva but that's two expensive to open for the crowds that the U21s and Women's teams. The next best stadium is Tallaght, its the only catagory four ground that regularly hosts football in the country so that's not an opinion it's a fact.
The women can already feel a bit aggrieved that they never play in the national stadium without saying that they can't play in Tallaght either because, well what's the actual reason again? That the mens team play in Dublin? Really? It's not as if you're moving them to a similar standard ground elsewhere like the countries like England and Spain where they're moving from one top class facility to another.
In Ireland the best option for growing crowds at u21 and women's games is having a consistent ground, football isn't king here like in England and Spain we need to make it easy for people to go to games, part of that is having a quality consistent home ground. There's also a reason Dublin is where these things are located, it's easier for people all over to get to than other places.
From a performance perspective the teams are also based in Abbotstown for training so the best thing for them and their performance is to be near there and playing on the same pitch in the same surroundings is half the benefit of home advantage especially when you don't have tonnes of top class stadiums to choose from.
Your last sentence is pure nonsense.

My last sentence was intentional whimsical nonsense to reflect your original post above. You do make some valid points subsequently but there are valid counter arguments of course. Consistancy with the venue may grow a crowd but for the number of internationals at U21, for example, i'm not so sure that people will grow in to a routine of sorts. The novel nature of other parts of the country hosting games could result in sell out crowds even for less attractive games. It's not as if the senior side havent played in Limerick and Cork in recent memory. A sold out Turners Cross would feel as much and probably more like a home fixture than a half full SDCC Stadium. If you note I only suggested the possibility of the lesser type fixture being considered for playing outside of Dublin.

I dont agree with EYG on clubs lacking ambition on stadia because they cant host underage or womens internationls, that should be an irrelevance, but I dont know where you got an anti Dublin sense from a comment that is questioning how areas outside of Dublin can raise the bar if everything is concentrated in Dublin and is the best - isnt that an affirmation of Dublin and the facilities available in the Capital, its more complimentary than anything whether intended or not. Objectivity isnt your strong suit RH!

[EatYerGreens]

I dont agree with EYG on clubs lacking ambition on stadia because they cant host underage or womens internationls, that should be an irrelevance, but I dont know where you got an anti Dublin sense from a comment that is questioning how areas outside of Dublin can raise the bar if everything is concentrated in Dublin and is the best - isnt that an affirmation of Dublin and the facilities available in the Capital, its more complimentary than anything whether intended or not. Objectivity isnt your strong suit RH!

Whilst I agree with most of what you wrote above - for the record, I wasn't saying that an inability to host international fixtures was reducing the ambition clubs have for their stadia. Rather that greater availability of such fixtures to regional towns would provide another reason for clubs and local authorities to be more ambitious with their stadia. It's about increasing levels of ambition, not reducing it (i.e. cart before horse).

[Charlie Darwin]

Whilst I agree with most of what you wrote above - for the record, I wasn't saying that an inability to host international fixtures was reducing the ambition clubs have for their stadia. Rather that greater availability of such fixtures to regional towns would provide another reason for clubs and local authorities to be more ambitious with their stadia. It's about increasing levels of ambition, not reducing it (i.e. cart before horse).

To be fair, we've had games spread around the country for a long time and it hasn't provided local authorities with a reason to be more ambitious. Even the 21s' and women's increased attendances have nothing to do with SDCC approving upgrades on Tallaght. The lesson we should all take is that the only thing that will drive local authorities to be more ambitious is political will (and, to be fair, in Tallaght it was at least partly driven by counsellors who are fans of rival clubs).

[Dalymountrower]

Got an official e mail from Bohs this morning saying that this is the last day to renew memberships/buy season tickets , to be eligible to attend Rovers game on 15 Feb. With 750 members 1250 Season Tickets and 250 Junior Gypsy tickets sold, we will have little, if any, tickets for open sale for home fans this season. Typical that at a time of the greatest interest I have known in the club in the decades I have been a fan, is at a time of the smallest crowd capacity.

[PartySaint]

Got an official e mail from Bohs this morning saying that this is the last day to renew memberships/buy season tickets , to be eligible to attend Rovers game on 15 Feb. With 750 members 1250 Season Tickets and 250 Junior Gypsy tickets sold, we will have little, if any, tickets for open sale for home fans this season. Typical that at a time of the greatest interest I have known in the club in the decades I have been a fan, is at a time of the smallest crowd capacity.

Do members get season tickets with their membership?

[topia]

Do members get season tickets with their membership?

Yes. More people signing up for season tickets today too.