Croke Park atmosphere

[Superhoops]

Can't help thinking after watching the Dubs on The Hill yesterday, that Ireland's games will be missing something unless the crowd in the bucket seats can get some spark going.

I was in Upper Cusack yesterday near the Canal End and there did not seem to be much much noise coming from there. May be wrong but it looked like they were mainly Offaly fans there and even though they did not have much to shout about in the second half, there did not seem to be much life in them even when they were in the game in the first half.

Was also at last week's Ulster final in CP and although there was 50000 at it, it still felt half empty and the atmosphere was a bit flat. It certainly did not have the same buzz as the Dubs generated yesterday.

Anyone got any views, was anyone else at the game yesterday?

[Docboy]

Yep I was there alright, only ever been to Croker a few times and not been on the Hill but without it the atmosphere would certainly be less. However, I'm a believer that when the big games come along the atmosphere comes with it, Israel & the french games were fairly vocal so I don't think we'll suffer unduely. Cannot wait!!!!

[Maynard]

Croker is odd without the Hill. Had to do without it in 2003, and although that was a poor year for footballing reasons, the atmosphere was certainly diluted.

My prediction for the Ireland games is that the atmosphere will be only slightly better than the usual swill at Lansdowne, on account of the novelty factor. That is assuming the games in question are sell outs. Otherwise it'll be even more disjointed.

Won't be a patch on yesterday any way you look at it.

[paul_oshea]

superhoops are you saying that the atmosphere at the dubs game yesterday was good?

[geysir]

Can't help thinking after watching the Dubs on The Hill yesterday, that Ireland's games will be missing something unless the crowd in the bucket seats can get some spark going.

I was in Upper Cusack yesterday near the Canal End and there did not seem to be much much noise coming from there. May be wrong but it looked like they were mainly Offaly fans there and even though they did not have much to shout about in the second half, there did not seem to be much life in them even when they were in the game in the first half.

Was also at last week's Ulster final in CP and although there was 50000 at it, it still felt half empty and the atmosphere was a bit flat. It certainly did not have the same buzz as the Dubs generated yesterday.

Anyone got any views, was anyone else at the game yesterday?

What was the view like from that end of the Upper Cusack?
I could only watch both games on satellite. It appears to me that if there are <50,000 or so, there is an empty look to the stadium with a corresponding half empty echo sound from the crowd.
One factor that I suspect is with the stadium roof, doesn't trap the sound.

The camera at the LF panned the Hill a few times, you could see that it was rocking but the microphones didn't pickup the sound generated.

[Superhoops]

What was the view like from that end of the Upper Cusack?
I could only watch both games on satellite. It appears to me that if there are <50,000 or so, there is an empty look to the stadium with a corresponding half empty echo sound from the crowd.
One factor that I suspect is with the stadium roof, doesn't trap the sound.

The camera at the LF panned the Hill a few times, you could see that it was rocking but the microphones didn't pickup the sound generated.

Was lucky to have a seat 5 rows from front so not too bad.

However, saw last years All-Ireland football from same section but two rows from back and it's a long way up and not the best view particularly when play is up the Railway end.

What will be crucial for soccer internationals will be how they lay out the pitch. The playing surface at CP is recorded as 144.5 m x 88m. The pitch size for international football games is 100m (minimum)/110m (maximum) x 64m (minimum)/75m (maximum). No doubt Steven Staunton will have an influence on pitch size but I guess we would prefer to play on a tight pitch.

Whatever the size, the pitch will be laid out with plenty of 'spare grass'. If they align the pitch centrally, it is likely to detract from the current view from both the Canal End and the Canal End wings of the Hogan and Cusack stands. If they align the pitch from directly in front of Canal End, as they do now for GAA games, this would have the effect of putting the 'away' supporters on the Hill further away from the game but I think it would mean that the most of the seats at the Railway end of the Hogan and Cusacks stands would be beyond the goal line at the Railway end. Also I don't think it would suit the corporate set-up many of whom could find themselves down looking over the penalty area at the Railway end.

As a Block Booker whose seat is currently at the Havelock end of the East Upper (Block US), if I am given a choice, I think I will opt for a more central seat preferably about 10/20 rows back on either the lower deck of the Hogan or Cusack, even if it will be twice the price of my current seat, after all it is only going to be for no more than 10 games before Lansdowne is redeveloped.

[Superhoops]

superhoops are you saying that the atmosphere at the dubs game yesterday was good?

It was excellent.

What made it better was how it changed a few times. They were buzzin before the game but for a good part of the first half when Offaly got the early scores and were outplaying them, it went quiet. They perked up just as half time approached when Dublin got back into it. But in the second half and with the Dubs playing some great football in towards The Hill, they were flying again.

Without doubt the best GAA supporters for atmosphere, even better than Cork in Thurles on Musnter final day.

[paul_oshea]

i thought you just said in the first post that the atmosphere wasnt up to much and that for soccer it would be missing something.

i am totally confused now....

Without doubt the best GAA supporters for atmosphere, even better than Cork in Thurles on Musnter final day.

I would have to agree almost, i think per head the rossies have a great following and atmosphere at their games, and are the only other county to have songs to sing about the team.

[Superhoops]

i thought you just said in the first post that the atmosphere wasnt up to much and that for soccer it would be missing something.

i am totally confused now.....

Paul, I said the atmosphere was a bit flat at the Ulster final the previous week, not at the Dublin v Offaly game.

The point I was trying to make in my first post was that because the way Dubs had lifted it last Sunday and the fact that IMO it was a bit flat the previous Sunday at the Ulster final, much of the atmosphere at CP is created by a vibrant crowd on The Hill. Unless the crowd in the bucket seats on the The Hill at soccer internationals, who are are likely to be away supporters, generate a bit of buzz, there may be a danger that the atmosphere in CP could be flat, unless of course soccer supporters are more vocal than their GAA counterparts. Recent games at Landsdowne have been less than convincing.

The other point was that even a 50000 crowd in CP does not automatically result in a good atmosphere, as although there may be 50000 in, there will still be 32000 empty spaces. It is hard enough to generate good atmosphere in a full stadium, very difficult to do if it is only 60% full.

[paul_oshea]

ok sorry, fair enough, i amnt trying to be annoying but this to be makes you think the atmoshphere was crap:

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Can't help thinking after watching the Dubs on The Hill yesterday, that Ireland's games will be missing something unless the crowd in the bucket seats can get some spark going.

I was in Upper Cusack yesterday near the Canal End and there did not seem to be much much noise coming from there. May be wrong but it looked like they were mainly Offaly fans there and even though they did not have much to shout about in the second half, there did not seem to be much life in them even when they were in the game in the first half.

ya fair enough but with 50,000 there is only about 20,000 it is still a lot though in fairness, im pretty sure that all the qualifiers will be sold out, for the novelty experience alone.

I have sat in the cusack since its been done up and I find that atmosphere at gaa matches far better than soccer or rugby because you constantly have cheering and roaring becaues its end to end stuff, and every point or near miss generates a roar or whatever, unfortunately at soccer you only get this probably once every 7 - 10 minutes. I still think the atmosphere is very good at croke park at a dull enough game, cos it feels enclosed, though sometimes i feel that those sitting across the other side are almost so far away they are at another game....

actually i dont really know what the atmosphere is going to be like!!!

[Tenderloins]

As an aside to this a number of the FAI and IRFU stewards attended the game working with their GAA counterparts.
Those that I talked to were well impressed with the whole deal.

[elroy]

To be honest, Id find it hard to think of any competitive game at lansdowne where the atmosphere was anyway lacking. The only one that comes to mind was prob the Swiss game (0-0) when I felt the whole place including the team was very flat.

[joema]

I watched the game on TV and could barely hear the hill. Im sure they were generating a good atmosphere but without a roof that cant really be heard that well on TV. Id say if you moved all the people from the hill to a section under the roof the noise would be massive

[paul_oshea]

Id say if you moved all the people from the hill to a section under the roof the noise would be massive

ya cos its the ppl!!!!! if the people in the stands made the same noise then it would be just as good!!!!!!!!

also, you have to remember from the person at the bottom of the hill - pitch side - to the speaker is still a good 6 metres i.e. 20 or so foot.

[Stuttgart88]

To be honest, Id find it hard to think of any competitive game at lansdowne where the atmosphere was anyway lacking. The only one that comes to mind was prob the Swiss game (0-0) when I felt the whole place including the team was very flat.

Agree. So what if the atmosphere is lacking at a friendly? If there's something to play for the crowd gets excited. My expectation is that if we're in contention the atmosphere will be great. The crowd can usually sense when their input is required & responds. I for one couldn't be arsed singing at a friendly, not much anyway. At friendlies I attend to observe, at qualifiers I attend to support.

[DmanDmythDledge]

I was in the Upper Canal for last years All-Ireland QF against Tyrone and the atmosphere was amazing. Great view of the pitch as well.

[Superhoops]

I was in the Upper Canal for last years All-Ireland QF against Tyrone and the atmosphere was amazing. Great view of the pitch as well.

When Dublin are playing at CP the atmosphere is generally good, until they know they are beaten, when it dies off.

I saw last year's hurling final from Upper Canal and even with a good crowd of Cork supporters in there it was quiter than I expected. I think that someone made the point earlier that because there are more scores in GAA games and the play moves from end to end so quickly, the tempo is different and the mood of the supporters is different.

I have no doubt the first couple of games will be buzzin, and also with the second game probably being under lights, I always think that adds to the atmosphere.

Roll on 24th March next year and we will see!!!

[joema]

]ya cos its the ppl!!!!! if the people in the stands made the same noise then it would be just as good!!!!!!!!

also, you have to remember from the person at the bottom of the hill - pitch side - to the speaker is still a good 6 metres i.e. 20 or so foot.

Yeah thats what Im saying. If the people made the same noise it would be twice as good as it wouldnt drift away!!!

[Beavis]

Yeah thats what Im saying. If the people made the same noise it would be twice as good as it wouldnt drift away!!!

In 04 when the Hill was gone, at times when the Canal End got going there was massive noise, but the Hill crowd were too diluted throughout the ground, that added to a poor season, it wasnt great overall. I remember the Kerry match in particular being totally dead.

[Soko]

As an aside to this a number of the FAI and IRFU stewards attended the game working with their GAA counterparts.
Those that I talked to were well impressed with the whole deal.

Did they like the pitch invasion?