FAI Cup Final Venue 2008

There's three rugby teams that will be using the Thomond pitch; Munster, Bohemians and Shannon - so it's not necessarily the case that that Thomond would be available to host the final and even so, getting the pitch ready for a football match in November could be troublesome.

Both venues have there pros and cons but ultimately the location of the teams involved should dictate where the final takes place. If the FAI have this flexibility open to them, ie both the RDS and Thomond are available, they should by all means use it. If not, they should focus on hosting in the RDS.

So we are all agreed that Thomond is the best place to host the final. Good, job done. Lets move on so. Hopefully that FAI will be reading this and see sense. No logical reason not to hold it in Thomond if its available.

Its just as well too, its by far the best venue in the country now.

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Originally Posted by L37Ultra

But wouldn't that be the same case if it was in Limerick. For example if it is in Dublin this year I probably won't go but if it is in Thomond Park, I would go regardless of who was in it.

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Yeah that would also be the case in Limerick - the question then is merely about numbers - how many neutrals would turn up in Limerick versus how many neutrals would turn up in Dublin.

A face, clearly I'm in Dublin, take a chill pill for a moment there and relax a bit. As for ticket stubs as proof of attendance? Come on FFS, how many people hang on to ticket stubs from a match?

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Originally Posted by pete

Neutrals do not go to FAI Cup finals in any significant numbers especially now it played in November. I know last year was particularly harsh weather but it is also not exactly unusual for that time of year.

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I really don't think this is true Pete - don't under-estimate the numbers of neutrals who go to the Cup Final.

I've lived in Dublin for 4 years and have gone to the cup final as a neutral in 2 of those years. I'll definitely go this year if I've nothing else planned on the same day.

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Originally Posted by A face

So we are all agreed that Thomond is the best place to host the final. Good, job done. Lets move on so.

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If you read back through the discussion you might find that not everyone agreed with that.

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Originally Posted by Bald Student

If you read back through the discussion you might find that not everyone agreed with that.

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Ah but we're ignoring that stuff without a logical reason behind it aren't we, of course we are so yeah, Thomond it is.

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Originally Posted by bigmac

Yeah that would also be the case in Limerick - the question then is merely about numbers - how many neutrals would turn up in Limerick versus how many neutrals would turn up in Dublin.

A face, clearly I'm in Dublin, take a chill pill for a moment there and relax a bit. As for ticket stubs as proof of attendance? Come on FFS, how many people hang on to ticket stubs from a match?

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Agreed but lets face it, neutrals will not make a huge difference to the overall attendance of the final so that shouldn't really come into the arguement. Bascially, I would have the final in Dublin for obvious reasons. Its the capital etc... But if it was a simple argument between the RDS and Thomond Park then I would have it on in Thomond Park without a second thought because it is a top class stadium and the RDS isn't good enough for a Cup Final in my opinion. That would be of course if location was taken out of the situation.

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Originally Posted by Allstar

Galway in a final?? I'll see pigs fly first id say!!!

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Bit rich from a Cobh fan, considering we're only one game away from one already!;)

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Originally Posted by A face

Ah but we're ignoring that stuff without a logical reason behind it aren't we

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I know I am but I think that we'd disagree about what that consists of.

Whatever about the Pros and cons of Thomond Park the RDS as it was last year really isn't a suitable venue for the Cup final. 3 temporary stands and a main stand thats about a third longer than the pitch!

A better venue should be used whether its in Dublin, Limerick or somewhere else.

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Originally Posted by paudie

Whatever about the Pros and cons of Thomond Park the RDS as it was last year really isn't a suitable venue for the Cup final. 3 temporary stands and a main stand thats about a third longer than the pitch!

A better venue should be used whether its in Dublin, Limerick or somewhere else.

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Y'see thats what i've been saying, Thomond it is so, done .... Good stuff, da jawb !! ;)

I wouldn't mind travelling to the cup final in Thomond Park if Bohs were in it. I don't suppose anybody would mind travelling to Thomond Park if there team was playing in it. I would certainly hope that if it was to be held there that the FAI would make a HUGE push in advertising it in Limerick and the surrounding areas.

For nothing other than a hunch I would suggest that if it was advertised and pushed enough, and two clubs with relatively big core support and a relatively big latent support got to the final - e.g. Bohs and Cork or Derry and Drogheda, that Thomond Park would be relatively full. Of course this could all be just wishful thinking but I wouldn't be against the idea.

The points raised about holding it in Dublin though are obviously valid in terms of transport, polupation, etc. But I honestly do not think that holding it this year away from Dublin would do any harm at all even if it was just to try it out. Limerick people after all love to say that they 'love their sport'.

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Originally Posted by A face

Have the FAI booked Thomond Park yet?

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Is there seriously talk about holding the final at Thomond Park?

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Originally Posted by CharlesThompson

Is there seriously talk about holding the final at Thomond Park?

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Yeah, they mentioned it a while back alright. Haven't heard anything else since though.

The main motive for the thread was to get them thinking about it. Cant have the same situation as last year in fairness

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Originally Posted by CharlesThompson

Is there seriously talk about holding the final at Thomond Park?

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Outside of 'A Face's' house, no......

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Originally Posted by CharlesThompson

Is there seriously talk about holding the final at Thomond Park?

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The FAI mentioned it as potential venue (maybe 6 months ago) long before was ever mentioned here.

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Originally Posted by CharlesThompson

two clubs with relatively big core support and a relatively big latent support got to the final - e.g. Bohs and Cork or Derry and Drogheda, that Thomond Park would be relatively full.

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If City were in a Cup Final in Limerick in November, that was being shown live on TV, you'd have a lot less going to it from the town than you would if it was in Dublin.

The weather would combine with the fact it's on TV and the awkwardness of the journey to put off a lot more fair-weather supporters than having it in Dublin would.

We also have decent numbers of supporters in places like Belfast and Dublin who would be less inclined to travel to Limerick in the November rain.

Isn't the reason the FAI broke away from the IFA in the first place because they were too Belfast-centred? Wasn't there a final between Bohs and Shelbourne that the IFA insisted was played in Belfast? (I could be wrong about this).

I would support holding the final in Thomond Park. I think that the FAI should seriously consider rotating the cup final between Dublin and somewhere else in the country every second year (in this scenario Dublin would still have 50% of all finals). They should use it as a chance to showcase some of the better eL/general stadiums/grounds around the country, and encourage clubs to develop their stadiums using the cup final as a carrot.

Even as a Derry fan (albeit one who lives in Dublin), I don't buy the argument about distance too much. The Cup is, after all, a competition which is in a large part about chance. Its a one-off even which even the most successful teams don't get to too often.

Honestly I'd put the cup in Turners Cross before Thomond. I doubt the FAI Cup final would attract a full house in Limerick no matter who was playing and I'd rather see a full Turner's Cross absolutely hopping on TV than a half empty Thomand Park