Ireland In Croker???

Was talking to some GAA heads at the weekend and they reckon that the redevelopment of Hill 16 is going to open the doors of Croke Park to the FAI.

The Hill is going to be a continuation of the lower tiers in the Cusack and Hogan stands but will be terraced. It will bring the borrowings of the GAA up to €100m. At the moment it costs the GAA €4m a year to run the place and they would need to secure additional sources of revenue.

Lets get ahead of ourselves here and imagine that we get access to the place for the World Cup qualifiers, which kick off this time next year, could we get an intimidating atmosphere in the place?

There's negative impact evident in stadia around the world where football is played on a pitch far removed from spectators - normally as a result of surrounding athletics track. G.A.A. pitch dimensions are approximately 150m x 90m; those of football 100m x 70m.

This would leave spectators at matches about 15m from the pitch side and 25m from the goal line. This would not be conducive to good viewing or atmosphere which is something that at present Fran Rooney is trying to improve by inviting eircom League supporters to the games.

The current capacities at Lansdowne Road for competitive FIFA/UEFA fixtures is 34,980. Moving to Croke Park would provide double that capacity. Could we fill it for a home game against Andorra/Faroe Islands or some team like that?

One thing is for sure the FAI/IRFU need to build their own ground with a capacity of 55,000/60,000 fairly soon.

Why dont they redevelope Lansdowne Road, obviously would need a bit of work but it is possible i'd imagine.

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Originally posted by A face
Why dont they redevelope Lansdowne Road

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They would need to demolish it and build from scratch.
They could also rotate it to make use of the space where the training pitches are.

The exit streets from Croke Park are not up to FIFA standard afaik. And what about the terracing?

One of the reasons Lansdowne needs to be overhauled is that temporary seating won't be up to scratch and the FAI won't be allowed use such areas for matches.
Croke Park is a fabulous stadium but floodlights would also be needed if the FAI would ever use it.

maybe they could just use it for those vital games that they know they would have a huge demand

but they still need their own ground cos when the gaa dont need the money anymore theyd close the gates to them again

There is no way that the FAI (or IRFU) should even entain the notion of paying rent to the GAH... Public Money paid for a large percentage of the stadium (the Tax payers grants to Croker would have built eircom park easily)..... If the bogballers can't afford it, they should hand it over to the Government as a National Stadium.

Disband the Bigots...

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Originally posted by yur man
maybe they could just use it for those vital games that they know they would have a huge demand

but they still need their own ground cos when the gaa dont need the money anymore theyd close the gates to them again

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I agree. Play games against the Portugals, Hollands and Frances etc. in Croker (if possible) but for Andorra, Lithuania, the Faeroes, Scotland (;)), etc. use a smaller ground. Surely, there'd be plenty of atmosphere if you fill the ground with 80,000 people, however par the pitch is from the crowd.

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Originally posted by Peadar
They could also rotate it to make use of the space where the training pitches are.

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They'd have to rotate it. There isn't room to extend the North and South ends into proper stands with roads and houses and the West stand is right up against the DART.

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Originally posted by niamh
The exit streets from Croke Park are not up to FIFA standard afaik.

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:eek: :confused: :eek:

Do FIFA have these sort of rules for everything?!

Sure how many Irish roads are going to be to their standards?!:D

As in the narrow exits people have to walk out. Is in the FIFA licencing I think...but could be mistaken on that one.
Can be quite bad on match days but the GAA have no one to answer for in terms of supporters safety.

Croke Park is designed to empty in 11mins afaik so no problem there.

And 80,000 Irish people singing in a stadium like that - no atmosphere problems id say.

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Originally posted by Real ale Madrid
Croke Park is designed to empty in 11mins afaik so no problem there.

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Maybe that true but can be fairly congested in the surrounding streets as everyone exist the same way.

Would love to have a joint FAI/IRFU stadium (preferably at Lansdowne) if menat not to be haled to randsom by the GAA - wouldn't trust them to screw the FAI at first opportunity.

To Pete: if the GAA could screw the FAI, then why wouldn't the IRFU?

If Bertie's Bowl ain't happening on cost grounds (I don't suppose resident objections are so much of a hassle for a M50 site), then surely given that LDR would have to be completely rebuilt would make it even more expensive/ problematic?

So I'd say parleying with the GAA needs to continue. Is the rumour of the FAI considering borrowing Anfield or Old trafford still current? :(

We have a similar problem up north. Windsor's semi-derelict, but there's no serious cash to start again somewhere else.

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Originally posted by Duncan Gardner
Is the rumour of the FAI considering borrowing Anfield or Old trafford still current? :(

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Not on your Nellie!
If push came to shove we'd play our games in Croke Park.
The GAA are getting €30m + from the Irish Gov and if we needed a venue you can be sure that money would start to materialise if the GAA opened up their doors.

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Originally posted by Duncan Gardner
To Pete: if the GAA could screw the FAI, then why wouldn't the IRFU?

If Bertie's Bowl ain't happening on cost grounds (I don't suppose resident objections are so much of a hassle for a M50 site), then surely given that LDR would have to be completely rebuilt would make it even more expensive/ problematic?

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The IRFU have not tried to screw the FAI yet so no reason they likely to do so in the future. The FAI & IRFU seem to have a mutually beneficial arrangement.

The latest figures indicated that not a massive (maybe 20%) difference between the cost of new stadium in Abbotstown or redeveloping Landsdowne. Problem with Lansdowne i think is it would have to be redeveloped side by side & might not be available at all for maybe a year at the end.