Croke Park 2008: 2 games only

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17/02/2007, 5:14 PM
Superhoops

Croke Park 2008: 2 games only

Only 2 games in CP in 2008, then no more!

The Central Council of the GAA have agreed to allow the IRFU and FAI use Croke Park in 2008.

The IRFU will hold three Six Nations games at GAA HQ in early 2008, while the FAI will use the stadium to host two 2010 World Cup qualifiers as the Lansdowne Road redevelopment project continues.

The GAA said: 'It was agreed to accede to the IRFU and FAI's request to hold three Six Nations rugby and two World Cup soccer qualifier games respectively in Croke Park in the Spring and Autumn of 2008.'

However, the GAA said that the use of Croke Park would not extend past 2008 even if the Lansdowne project should experience delays as 'the 2005 Congress decision in relation to use of the Stadium is no longer applicable post 2008.'

Almost 82,000 watched Ireland lose to France in the first rugby game at the famous venue last week, while the football team will hope for a reversal of fortunes when they take on Wales on 24 March.

Today's Central Council meeting in Croke Park also raised the issue of the Shamrock Rovers' ground at Tallaght.

Some delegates expressed disappointment that a 'reciprocal gesture' was not being made to the GAA on the basis of the opening up of Croke Park.

The association confirmed that no other GAA grounds would be made available to the IRFU and FAI but also that no application had been made by the two associations.

The GAA added that an application to host to friendly games in 2008 by both associations was not discussed at the meeting.

The association also dismissed rumours that a wreath would be laid commemorating the victims of Bloody Sunday before Ireland play England in the RBS Six Nations next Sunday.
17/02/2007, 9:01 PM
superfrank

Fair play to them.
18/02/2007, 9:09 AM
pete

Talk about drip feed. The GAA are milking this for all its worth. Its not like they making 1.5m profit per game either...

:rolleyes:
18/02/2007, 9:27 AM
Claret Murph

That's the GAA for you , they will shake your right hand and stab you in the back with their left . And one wonders why I have hated them all my life AND STILL DO .
18/02/2007, 9:42 AM
Poor Student

What is the current status of the planning application for Landsdowne?

Is it possible the GAA are playing financial hardball and might like to negotiate an even more extortionate deal should the FAI/IRFU have to return with the begging basket?
18/02/2007, 10:08 AM
Bluetonic

Planning reference 1086/06

http://www.dublincity.ie/swiftlg/apa...iteria.display
18/02/2007, 2:39 PM
Superhoops

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poor Student

What is the current status of the planning application for Landsdowne?

A final decision from An Bord Pleanala is expected to be announced on Thursday.
18/02/2007, 3:09 PM
Bondvillain

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claret Murph

That's the GAA for you , they will shake your right hand and stab you in the back with their left . And one wonders why I have hated them all my life AND STILL DO .

In fairness, I hate them too, but their house, their rules.

It isnt the GAA's fault that in Ireland, planning applications are dealt with by the Soprano's Irish cousins, and our International Football is administrated by fraggles, so you cant really fault them for making a sound business decision and assisting other sports while doing it, all within an agreed timeframe.

The GAA have many many unpleasant characteristics. Being unwilling to take up the slack after the Government & the FAI's repeated screw-ups isn't really one of them.
18/02/2007, 4:02 PM
OwlsFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bondvillain

The GAA have many many unpleasant characteristics. Being unwilling to take up the slack after the Government & the FAI's repeated screw-ups isn't really one of them.

Why not add IRFU screw ups as well :confused: ?
18/02/2007, 5:52 PM
gspain

It mayactually be a help in getting planning permission.

Lots of calls after the rugby to play all games there from now on. The last thing the FAI need is for Lansdowne to be scuppered and to have to play permanently at Croke Park at unfavourable rent.

The lack of friendlies is not a major issue for football. We would have needed Brazil or England to make them viable given the GAA's rental giarantee. This is a huge issue for rugby though as their lucrative Autumn Internationals ar enow excluded.

The influence of the hardline bigots has not gone away though and this is clearly a sop to them.
18/02/2007, 6:21 PM
Chippy

In all reality, there isn't a hope of LR being completed by the end of 2008. Where are our WC qualifiers going to be played in 2009 ?? Are we likely to have to go to Britain after all to play ??
19/02/2007, 1:54 AM
Bondvillain

Quote:

The GAA have many many unpleasant characteristics. Being unwilling to take up the slack after the Government & the FAI's repeated screw-ups isn't really one of them

Quote:

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Why not add IRFU screw ups as well :confused: ?

Because having both voted for polititians and paid to attend F.A.I. organised football matches in the past, I am well aware of their capacity for uselessness, chicanery, extortion and outright lies.

Having never attended a rugby match in my life, and being completely unaware of the IRFU's day-to-day business, (other than I am aware that they allow the homeless F.A.I. to play on their ground) I feel it it would be unfair of me to pass ill informed comment on them without knowing their history.
19/02/2007, 9:12 AM
NeilMcD

We wont be playing competitive home games in Britain at any point. I think this suits all parties to be honest because as GSpain said there were calls for games to be played in Croke Park in the fututre. That would not suit the FAI or the IRFU to be honest as they need a home. If LR gets into planning problems the GAA will open its doors again in 2009 but they are not going to promise that at the start of 2007.
19/02/2007, 9:33 AM
elroy

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

We wont be playing competitive home games in Britain at any point. I think this suits all parties to be honest because as GSpain said there were calls for games to be played in Croke Park in the fututre. That would not suit the FAI or the IRFU to be honest as they need a home. If LR gets into planning problems the GAA will open its doors again in 2009 but they are not going to promise that at the start of 2007.

Exactly I think there is alot of spin on the above statement. At the moment there is still a few dissenting voices around so the gaa is not going to make croke park available open ended. There is no way LR will be available in 2009. I think its very unlikely that the gaa would turn around in a years time and say thanks lads thats it and wave goodbye to around �10m a year.

Also I think a compromise will be reached on the friendlies/tests, on a game by game basis. Once we reach the end of march i think alot of the fuss of using croke park will have died down and there wouldnt be so much hype etc everytime an international is to take place there.

On the side, i think the calls for rugby to be played there period as premature and a bit insensitive to the gaa at this time. Im not much of a fan of how the gaa have behaved throughout this but i dont such calls are uncalled for and unnecessary at this time. In time after all the fuss has calmed down and new LR is up and running, then maybe it could be looked at on a game by game basis.
19/02/2007, 12:01 PM
geysir

That would appear to be the case. Nothing has changed. The origional decision to open Croke PK was not open ended. The GAA Central Council have decided that there is no need to debate or vote on the issue of extending it at present. As the Examiner reports
"that a serious hold-up (on Landsdowne RD.) would result in the GAA membership having to re-address Rule 42 at a future Congress."
The juices are already rolling with the CC members on how and where the rent money should be allocated.
If all goes well, any support for principled opposition is sure to dwindle in time.
19/02/2007, 12:58 PM
pineapple stu

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chippy

In all reality, there isn't a hope of LR being completed by the end of 2008. Where are our WC qualifiers going to be played in 2009 ?? Are we likely to have to go to Britain after all to play ??

The way the team's going, you could probably host the games in Belfield by then.
19/02/2007, 2:48 PM
paul_oshea

Quote:

If all goes well, any support for principled opposition is sure to dwindle in time.

once that fraction of dissenters see the money being well spent as it always is by the GAA, those voices will become less and less, however I have to say I can agree with not allowing football and rugby there forever. In the longer term, there would definately be conflicts over getting use of the stadium around certain months etc.
19/02/2007, 10:45 PM
lopez

What is the financial situation of the GAA and Croke Park without our (football and rugger-bugger) dosh? I'd like to see both sports played there permanently. It's just the grab all association running the place that bugs me.
19/02/2007, 11:09 PM
GavinZac

that rubbish about a "reciprocal gesture" with regard to tallaght is disgusting. are they suggesting that some how by selling the use of croke park for a few days a year they should be entitled to use an FAI ground whenever they want?

its like your landlord stipulating that as part of your rental agreement they can pop 'round your mam's house every day and watch a bit of corrie
19/02/2007, 11:20 PM
clearskies

well as said before, it is their ground, they own it and they decide how to run it..
think its only fair to wait on planning application to see if that extension goes through to 2009..but it is definitley not an open ended agreement, and im happy with that!
i work in croke park week in, week out and totally agree with the ground opening up, just leave it in the GAA's hands.

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