Which seats in Croker

[Bluetonic]

There has been a lot said about the corporate boxes since my post above, so just to clarify.

* Some corporate boxes are owned for every event in the stadium and the FAI will get no direct revenue off these

* Some corporate boxes aren't owned for every event (GAA sponsors boxes) and some aren't owned by anyone as they are not all sold out. The FAI will get revenue off these. Wales + Cyprus match €795pp for both games, Slovakia + Germany €895pp for both games includes dinner with wine, bar before and after, finger food etc..,

* Some premium tickets are 10 year stadium tickets for every event and the FAI will get no direct revenue off these. These tickets are few and far between.

* Some premium tickets are 10 year GAA tickets, I believe these people are being given an option to purchase for the non GAA events and one would presume this is direct revenue for the FAI.

* Some premium tickets are unsold and the FAI will be selling these getting direct revenue.

Does anyone know whats the situation with revenue from catering? Are the FAI tied to the same contract the GAA have and as such the same profits? I imagine there is potential for the FAI to make bigger sales than the GAA given some of the matches are in the evening with people travelling directly from work and they'll need a bite to eat.

Does anyone know if the bars are going to be open and serving alcohol ? If so whats the revenue situation there?

Also what are the FAI going to do encourage people to arrive early so they can maximise their profit potentials from catering and alcohol if sold. The earlier people are in the stadium the more money the FAI will make obviously, also this will add to the atmosphere.

[Jerry The Saint]

Does anyone know if the bars are going to be open and serving alcohol ?

It's probably going to be the same as at Lansdowne, which I've never understood. OK for rugby fans but closed for the soccer ruffians .

Bars in Premium section will be open for all events.

[Bluetonic]

It's probably going to be the same as at Lansdowne, which I've never understood. OK for rugby fans but closed for the soccer ruffians

I don't its safe to assume this, unless you know something definite?

[doyle_shoots]

To be honest, I can't see drink being served to the "soccer ruffians" as Jerry The Saint so poetically puts it

Like it or not, we are stuck with the English mentaility of a non-drinking culture at football stadia, and until this country breaks away from 90% of football Irish supporting fans supporting the likes of Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Celtic and the like, this mentality is going to stay.

That said, surely this non-drinking culture in stadia prevails right across Europe? Apart from Amsterdam ArenA - however I'm open for contradiction on this point - how many stadiums have the green army been too and indulged in their favourite tipple? Of course, those of us in Stuttgart will all remember the infamous "beer" we were served in the stadium, only to discover later it was to be our downfall

Best option is to stick to the usual, start early in the day, and do the pub crawl out to Croker...

[paul_oshea]

whats the pub crawl out to croker then, i mean what trail, there are the "backways" via the dub spots or up the country spots via maes!!

[Saint Tom]

under uefa rules they are not allowed to sell alcohol in the ground for any competitive games. Not available at any of the grounds i have been to for away matches. If "beer" is on sale it is non alcoholic for sure. They also close bars during uefa club competitions. (note the bar in dalymount closing for the games)

[zinedineontour]

I'd say the upper Canal would be best for the signing so I'm going there. It was the best for the singing when the Hill was gone that Championship year.

€50 though, the FAI are robbing fcuking wakners, pssing all over the very fans that have stood by through their farcical policies of the past.

€50 euro a ticket aint that bad imo .. When you take in the rent they are paying for croker and the difference between it and lansdowne the increase is to be expected.

[Clipper]

Got to agree, €50 for a seat in Croker versus €30 to sit on some scaffolding in Lansdowne. Can't really complain too much about the FAI on this one.

Anyone know when the FAI will let us know how many tickets we're entitled to??

[Bluetonic]

I see the Welsh fans are up in arms regarding having to pay 34 GBP for the privilege of sitting on The Hill.

the irish have stitched us up here. Not only is it a rip-off price, but our allocation is on temporary seats bolted to an open terrace, known as Hill 16, at croke park. the only bit of the ground which is uncovered, and exposed to the elements (Dublin is as rainy as Wales). Plus being behind the goals, the field will be miles away, with a football field being much shorter than a gaelic games pitch. Perhaps for £35, the FAI are providing us with rainjackets, sou'westers, umbrellas, wellies and binoculars. Let's reciprocate the 'welcome' here, by staging the home game at the Racecourse. they could have the Kop terrace, providing we can dismantle the roof in time. Irish hospitality eh?

In fairness to the czech republic, northern ireland and poland in recent away games, the seats we were given were first class - no sticking us in the open end, or the worst part of the ground. I think the FAW/FSF Cymru should be doing something about this now. Why the FAI see the need to use this terraced area at Croke Park beats me, when there are still 68,000 seats for them to use in the stadium. unfortunately, when the Irish come to the Millennium, its impossible to give them a crap area, 'cos none exist.

Keano, if we dont sell our allocation, it'll be down to the FAI's rip-off prices (you lot will only get charged around £22 for a very decent seat in a proper stadium) and the very magnanimous gesture of hospitality, of putting us on an open terrace. Diolch.

http://www.dragonsoccer.co.uk/news/ticket.php

[paul_oshea]

Perhaps for £35, the FAI are providing us with rainjackets, sou'westers, umbrellas, wellies and binoculars. Let's reciprocate the 'welcome' here, by staging the home game at the Racecourse. they could have the Kop terrace, providing we can dismantle the roof in time. Irish hospitality eh?

seriouslly F' them, an irish international is still cheaper than your average premiership match. we aint going to see the best 11 from the principilaty of wales premier division.

[Jerry The Saint]

an open terrace, known as Hill 16, at croke park. the only bit of the ground which is uncovered, and exposed to the elements

If only that was true!

Someone needs to give these lads a crash course in 20th Century Irish history, with particular reference to Kevin Heffernan and the 1970s, so they can understand the significance of this crap area before they moan about it.

[WexDec]

Yeah was thinking that when we're hoping the calculated risk (of view vs shelter and price) to go for lower tier tickets lands us in the double lettered rows half way up and back from that i.e. covered if it rains !

[WexDec]

seriouslly F' them, an irish international is still cheaper than your average premiership match. we aint going to see the best 11 from the principilaty of wales premier division.

They're a bit spoilt with their own stadium as they take a European approach of lowering prices for different sections and matches depending on view and demand. Family tickets for their Cyprus match are £10 adult and £5 child like. The big difference is that we don't do that as the demand for tickets is so high and also matches are grouped so can't be choosy about Cyprus if ends up as having no competitive meaning. Their FA wouldn't vary prices either if they had a similar demand. I bet they wouldn't like that point though !

They also plainly miss the significance of Croker to Irish culture particularly in relation to football and rugby. If they did they might appreciate the historical event a bit more and particularly the very terrace where they're situated. I know lads who moan about being in a good stand seat as they'd have preferred to be on the Hill, where its at and not just for Dubs either.

But its true 34 quid would be a reasonably priced ticket for a non-London Premiership match although there's downward pressure on those now too with fans kicking up at Bolton, Wigan, Man City and Boro with some results at that.

[WexDec]

A 6k allocation is brilliant by any standards too. I think they will sell out as the Welsh love coming over to Dublin on the p1ss, obviously usually for a rugby match though for which tickets are notoriously hard to obtain. Jesus they even head over on the Rosslare ferry in large numbers (in both senses of the word) and just go on the p1ss in Wexford watching the match in the pub. This will be a rare chance to do the trip with a ticket in hand and strong exchange rate to boot.

NI only gave them 1k and they're £25, not that much cheaper. The pitch will be no further away from them then for the Irish on the Canal End and people on the lower tier of that, and any lower tier, can get p1ssed on too. Those at the back of the upper will be much further away from the pitch then them but they'd have complained about that if they had got that section.

Truth is Croker isn't designed to segregate fans and the Hill was always the natural structural choice for worse than Irish "soccer ruffians" but foreign ones at that. Has separate entry points too. Betcha the GAA insisted on this from the off. Then again does anybody know how the IRFU are handling French and English supporters ?

[casso36]

If Only it was the brits the first game!!! could you imagine the emotion, although when they do come whos taking out the tank??? lol Joke.

[WexDec]

To be honest, I can't see drink being served to the "soccer ruffians" as Jerry The Saint so poetically puts it

Like it or not, we are stuck with the English mentaility of a non-drinking culture at football stadia, and until this country breaks away from 90% of football Irish supporting fans supporting the likes of Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Celtic and the like, this mentality is going to stay.

You can drink at Anfield mate I can't vouch for or discount the others but I would be surprised if it were unique.

Besides that there is a pro-family event argument against it, incl GAA and rugby in my mind. But you would think it would be a general event policy nothing to do with the actual sport being played.

It would be nice for the afternoon matches alright. I could see some argument against it for evening matches though, kid wise, which there should be plenty of despite the one priced tickets. Not saying there should be none myself just can see some validity for argument for evening matches.

I will drink before and after anyway but wouldn't during the match even if had the option.......more to do with missing the match while going to the p1sser than anything Can picture the Heineken "Love we tear us apart" ad of yer man missing the action whilst queuing for the drinks in the under stand tunnel of the stadium

[WexDec]

If Only it was the brits the first game!!! could you imagine the emotion, although when they do come whos taking out the tank??? lol Joke.

The rematch 85 odd years later ! We've forgot to repay your tanks from last time you were here. Hey you've started it now.

Where are they putting the english rugger buggers ?

Anyway Welsh are brits !!!!!!

[eirebhoy]

You can drink at Anfield mate I can't vouch for or discount the others but I would be surprised if it were unique.

I've never been to Anfield but surely you'd expect to be every second person in the crowd with a pint if that was the case?

[Schumi]

Then again does anybody know how the IRFU are handling French and English supporters ?

There's never been segregation for rugby matches, can't see that changing for croke park.

[Docboy]

You can drink at the bars in the concourse under the stands at the few premier league grounds I've been to, White Hart Lane, Anfield etc but you are not allowed to bring them to your seat, hence the not seeing them on tv.

Why do you think you always see the lads heading off just before half-time. Have on occasion witnessed gamblers who go to the game then watch the results coming in on the tv's at the bar!