Lansdowne Road Redevelopment Thread

[Jicked]

realistically how many people outside of Ireland watch our football team play? the 6N is shown in full in countless countries not just the scores on a wrap-up programme

Having lived in Australia and having family in South Africa I can assure you coverage of the Six Nations in the southern hemisphere is almost non-existent. Scores of individual games rarely will be published in newspapers, with a usually just a small paragraph at the end of the tournament briefly mentioning who won the lot.

[Dodge]

'tis the same with Heineken Cp. Rugby supporting mate in Australia thought they'd be going nuts with Rocky Elso winning it for Leinster last year. not a mention of it (and he's into the sport)

[Kingdom]

Rugby Union is something like 4th most popular sport in Australia. Rugby League, Aussie Rules, Cricket then Union, football not too far off either.

[endabob1]

Having lived in Australia and having family in South Africa I can assure you coverage of the Six Nations in the southern hemisphere is almost non-existent. Scores of individual games rarely will be published in newspapers, with a usually just a small paragraph at the end of the tournament briefly mentioning who won the lot.

Nonsense. I live in cape Town, every 6 Nations game is carried live here, John Robbie (ex Ireland Scrum Half) is one of the Studio analysts and while they will focus on the Super 14 when there's a clash,the 6N gets plenty of coverage. I haven't missed an Irish Rugby international on tv here in 2 years, can't say anything like the same for the football where I've had to rely on dodgy internet feeds for most of the games.

As it happens I also lived in Oz for a bit and it depends where you are, Melbourne ignores rugby (or it did in the past, might change when they join the Super 15) where as in Brisbane, Canberra & Sydney there's plenty of coverage.

[SkStu]

Nonsense. I live in cape Town, every 6 Nations game is carried live here, John Robbie (ex Ireland Scrum Half) is one of the Studio analysts and while they will focus on the Super 14 when there's a clash,the 6N gets plenty of coverage. I haven't missed an Irish Rugby international on tv here in 2 years, can't say anything like the same for the football where I've had to rely on dodgy internet feeds for most of the games.

As it happens I also lived in Oz for a bit and it depends where you are, Melbourne ignores rugby (or it did in the past, might change when they join the Super 15) where as in Brisbane, Canberra & Sydney there's plenty of coverage.

thanks for confirming as i thought that was the case - ive lost count of the number of Ireland games i watched that were streamed via a Sth African network. I started using i-Setanta this year though.

[Jicked]

Nonsense. I live in cape Town, every 6 Nations game is carried live here, John Robbie (ex Ireland Scrum Half) is one of the Studio analysts and while they will focus on the Super 14 when there's a clash,the 6N gets plenty of coverage. I haven't missed an Irish Rugby international on tv here in 2 years, can't say anything like the same for the football where I've had to rely on dodgy internet feeds for most of the games.

As it happens I also lived in Oz for a bit and it depends where you are, Melbourne ignores rugby (or it did in the past, might change when they join the Super 15) where as in Brisbane, Canberra & Sydney there's plenty of coverage.

fair enough on the S African front, I must have been misinformed though I'm surprised by that. There certainly isn't plenty of coverage in Brisbane, I remember little on an national level too. In fact I'd compare the coverage of 6N in Australia to coverage of the Super 14/15 here.

[Stuttgart88]

Was at home for Easter and thought the stadium looked amazing whilst walking Dun Laoghaire pier. Can't wait to attend a game there.

[atfconline]

ESPN covered the Six Nations in Oz this year, and One showed the winter internationals.

I think it was Setanta who showed the two WCQ's against France live.

[endabob1]

fair enough on the S African front, I must have been misinformed though I'm surprised by that. There certainly isn't plenty of coverage in Brisbane, I remember little on an national level too. In fact I'd compare the coverage of 6N in Australia to coverage of the Super 14/15 here.

Was talking to a mate last night, home on holiday from Brisbane and he kinda backs up your point actually, says there's plenty of coverage but it's so Oz focussed that the rest of the world only exist if they're playing Australia (or an Australian side) or if they happen to have a couple of good ol' Ozzie boys in their side.

[kev mcq]

Any chance of getting this thread back on topic?

[OneRedArmy]

Any chance of getting this thread back on topic?

Stadium looks bloody brilliant looking out my office window in the afternoon sunshine. The glass exterior really shines in the sunlight. Truly space age.

Can't wait to get inside and see it.

[elroy]

Hope they do a good job on the pitch and it does end up a mess like the one at Wembley.

[gspain]

I did the tour yesterday. Pitch is already down - at least half of it and you could see grass being watered.

The Wembley problems were mentioned and the line was it is down to poor ventilation. That has already been considered and won't be a problem for the Aviva. Time will tell.

Hard to believe it will be ready shortly although the work required is mainly cosmetic I suppose.

The stadium looks fantastic. Really can't wait until it opens.

[endabob1]

I did the tour yesterday. Pitch is already down - at least half of it and you could see grass being watered.

The Wembley problems were mentioned and the line was it is down to poor ventilation. That has already been considered and won't be a problem for the Aviva. Time will tell.

Hard to believe it will be ready shortly although the work required is mainly cosmetic I suppose.

The stadium looks fantastic. Really can't wait until it opens.

LR Sounds great, I would love to be able to go and hopefully I'll time my next visit home with a game so that I can experience it in all its glory.
I really don't get the Wembley pitch thing, surely they looked at other all enclosed stadiums to see how they do it, there doesn't appear to be any problems with the Pitch in Cardiff and that's a similar size and design.

[jbyrne]

LR Sounds great, I would love to be able to go and hopefully I'll time my next visit home with a game so that I can experience it in all its glory.
I really don't get the Wembley pitch thing, surely they looked at other all enclosed stadiums to see how they do it, there doesn't appear to be any problems with the Pitch in Cardiff and that's a similar size and design.

actually there is i am afraid. they have to change it two or three times a year. was explained to me once, something to do with condensation constantly forming on the pitch with not enough air circulating to get rid of it

[tetsujin1979]

Photo of the grass as it is today on twitter: http://twitpic.com/1fiasm

[Kingdom]

A couple of things. Walking down Grand Canal St or sitting on the DART, the first time you see it, it makes you feel proud as punch. Having seen the exterior up close and a few pics of the inside, it really is a great stadium, there's nothing to whinge about.

I'd have a question though about the outside. The glass panels seem to be open sometimes when I'm going past, is it the case thats for cleaning, or is it for ventilation or something?

I'd be resigning myself to missing out having got the dreaded letter from the FAI last November, but a friend has come up trumps and I'm thrilled. Can't wait now!

Gary, what's the story with the Tour, did you go through the site itself or the FAI? Would love to do that!

[gspain]

A couple of things. Walking down Grand Canal St or sitting on the DART, the first time you see it, it makes you feel proud as punch. Having seen the exterior up close and a few pics of the inside, it really is a great stadium, there's nothing to whinge about.

I'd have a question though about the outside. The glass panels seem to be open sometimes when I'm going past, is it the case thats for cleaning, or is it for ventilation or something?

I'd be resigning myself to missing out having got the dreaded letter from the FAI last November, but a friend has come up trumps and I'm thrilled. Can't wait now!

Gary, what's the story with the Tour, did you go through the site itself or the FAI? Would love to do that!

It is ventilation for the pitch I believe. An explanation was given as to how the pitch is ventilated to prevent the problems at Wembley. It sounded good to me but I
know little about the topic. They also use lots of green energy and recycle rain water and even the urinals.

I got invited on the tour by a friend of mine who was doing it. He is sharing 2 Vantage Club tickets with 3 others. We did get the sales pitch which is actually
pretty good but as I have block bookings I won't be buying. It is described as being 100 euro a month as opposed to 12K which sounds much better.

I'm sure if you ring up and ask about the Vantage Club you'll be offered a tour.

[Kingdom]

There was a programme on Nationwide about it I think. The green energy bit I've heard previously, no excuse for it not being done these days. The rain water idea for urinals and watering the pitch makes plenty of sense.

[geysir]

First game fixed for July 31st, though it sounds more like a handbags kickabout.
'Contrary to reports the composite provincial rugby match between Leinster/Ulster and Munster/Connacht will mark the opening of the new Aviva Stadium on Saturday, July 31st this year as opposed to August 7th.'