Croker open for business in 2007

**colster** · 17/01/2006, 2:05 PM

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/01/17/story240111.html

**Tired&Emotional** · 17/01/2006, 2:18 PM

Finger on the pulse closter! That was quick...

Looking forward to seeing a capacity crowd for a qualifier.....bring it on!

**Stuttgart88** · 17/01/2006, 2:32 PM

What's the latest re-temporary floodlights, or will all games be early kick-offs?

**tetsujin1979** · 17/01/2006, 3:02 PM

Could all be arranged to be weekend games too

**paul_oshea** · 17/01/2006, 3:17 PM

i met sean kelly at a reception in the embassy a month or so back, , anyhow i burned his ear for a good ten minutes and asked him, what happens if planning permission/development is delayed will we still be playing in croke park, his answer was an adamant yes. He had already known the exact timing of the rugby game and who was playing, this was actually over a month ago now, the begining of december. I didnt get to ask him about the georges cross being flown however.

**geysir** · 17/01/2006, 7:40 PM

"At least three soccer matches are also scheduled to be held"
What about friendlies? it does not look like Croker will be made available for them. A dose of friendlies might contribute to making it a temporary home. We might end up with the syndrome that affected Arsenal when they played their Euro games at Wembley. But did they improve that much when they went back to Highbury?

**Karlos** · 17/01/2006, 8:14 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

We might end up with the syndrome that affected Arsenal when they played their Euro games at Wembley. But did they improve that much when they went back to Highbury?

Statistically yes - Arsenal only have something like 2 defeats in 35+ home european games since returning to Highbury compared to 2 defeats in 3 games at Wembley (although it should be noted that the 2 defeats were against a Batistuta inspired Fiorentina and a Barca team that included Rivaldo, Figo, Luis Enrique, Guardiola and Kluivert all at their peak!)

Inter & Chelsea are the only two I can remember beating Arsenal at Highbury in Europe since the return to Highbury. Juventus, Lazio, Bayern Munich, Valencia to name a few have all being turned over at Highbury with the likes of Roma & Ajax getting credible draws. Arsenal's european problems have usually been away from home.

Might be difficult for us to get used to Croker quickly especially if things don't go right on the field - as I esxperienced at Wembley, when your losing 4-1 against quality opposition, 80,000 fans makes very little difference!

**klein4** · 17/01/2006, 9:31 PM

can someone answer me this.
is hill 16 not unavailable for qualifiers due to a ban on temp seating?
or was that rule gotten rid of?
and surely that means a reduced capacity either way?
(apologies if this has been dealt with before)

**geysir** · 17/01/2006, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by KarlosIRL

Statistically yes - Arsenal only have something like 2 defeats in 35+ home european games since returning to Highbury compared to 2 defeats in 3 games at Wembley

Only 3 games played at Wembley, I had thought it was more. Mainly I just have a memory of Bergkamp playing there and listening to the discussion on the dubious merits of the 'home advantage' that Wembley offered.
In our case we have no alternative.

Might be difficult for us to get used to Croker quickly

One difference is the ball appears to bounce much higher on the turf.

**Risteard** · 17/01/2006, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by klein4

can someone answer me this.
is hill 16 not unavailable for qualifiers due to a ban on temp seating?
or was that rule gotten rid of?
and surely that means a reduced capacity either way?
(apologies if this has been dealt with before)

Well temporary seating is banned but Lansdowne had received special dispensation so maybe the FAI will chace their arm again.

**TheJamaicanP.M.** · 18/01/2006, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by klein4

can someone answer me this.
is hill 16 not unavailable for qualifiers due to a ban on temp seating?
or was that rule gotten rid of?
and surely that means a reduced capacity either way?
(apologies if this has been dealt with before)

Temporary seating will not appear in Croke Park for two reasons: firstly, Hill 16 is too steep to accommodate temporary seating, and secondly, the dispensation provided by UEFA is for Lansdowne Road and is on the basis that we proceed with building a new stadium.

With regard to the announcement that Croker will open in 2007, it's a great day for Irish sport and indeed for Irish democracy. A stadium financed by vast sums of taxpayers' money will now be open to all Irish people. Gone are the days when Croker was reserved for Garth Brooks and American football. Now world class Irish sportsmen like Shay Given and Paul O'Connell will grace a stadium that their talents deserve.

Considering that only 3 Euro qualifiers will be played in Croker next year, it would appear that we will have to play at least 3 or maybe 4 qualifiers (depending on the size of our group) at Lansdowne before the end of 2006. That means we might only play one away qualifier in 2006.

**Superhoops** · 18/01/2006, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by TheJamaicanP.M.

Considering that only 3 Euro qualifiers will be played in Croker next year, it would appear that we will have to play at least 3 or maybe 4 qualifiers (depending on the size of our group) at Lansdowne before the end of 2006. That means we might only play one away qualifier in 2006.

It also looks like we will play 4 consecutive away games in June and September 2007, 2 lots of back to back aways, assuming the GAA will still be playing hurling and GAA football at Croke Park around those dates.

**Karlos** · 18/01/2006, 2:24 AM

Originally Posted by geysir

Only 3 games played at Wembley, I had thought it was more. Mainly I just have a memory of Bergkamp playing there and listening to the discussion on the dubious merits of the 'home advantage' that Wembley offered.

Sorry wasn't clear at all on my last post. It was 6 games, basically 2 CL campaigns. The 2 defeats in 3 games was the last campaign we played there in 99 before we moved back to highbury for the uefa cup games and ended up in the final! We lost one game the season before that at Wembley against Lyon or Lille or Lens - some french team beginning with an 'L'

one of the only bright sparks of the Wembley era was that it was against Kiev that Arsene noticed the legendary Oleg Luzhny!!!

I think the novelty factor of croker will be more important for us, Arsenal and their fans had been to Wembley almost annually at that stage.

**klein4** · 18/01/2006, 8:05 AM

Originally Posted by KarlosIRL

I think the novelty factor of croker will be more important for us, Arsenal and their fans had been to Wembley almost annually at that stage.

I like the way that was tucked in at the end there!

**Dublin12** · 18/01/2006, 8:28 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

What's the latest re-temporary floodlights, or will all games be early kick-offs?

Floodlights will be in this October,everything is in place and ready to go,They'll be ready for the next international rules series.

**Jerry The Saint** · 18/01/2006, 9:25 AM

Nice update to Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croke_Park

Croke Park (Irish: Páirc an Chrócaigh) in Dublin, Ireland is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Ireland's biggest sporting organisation. It is currently the largest stadium in Ireland (and the 4th largest in Europe) with a capacity of 82,500. The stadium is used for soccer, rugby and also Gaelic football, hurling and camogie.

**pete** · 18/01/2006, 9:29 AM

I applaud the more open members of the GAA that have helped this come about but on the other hand i can't wait for Ireland v England rugby with God saved the Queen been played. The naysayers will hopefully get a pain in their gut

**ThatGuy** · 18/01/2006, 9:49 AM

Originally Posted by TheJamaicanP.M.

financed by vast sums of taxpayers' money will now be open to all Irish people.

So what? The government payed more than half the money towards the Jodi Stand, should Bohs have to let anyone play there? Should recievers of first time buyers grants let homeless take shelter in their homes?

The GAA got what they are entitled to get.

**TheJamaicanP.M.** · 18/01/2006, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

So what? The government payed more than half the money towards the Jodi Stand, should Bohs have to let anyone play there? Should recievers of first time buyers grants let homeless take shelter in their homes?

The GAA got what they are entitled to get.

You miss the point. Bohs didn't get the vast sums of money the GAA got. Also, I'm not aware that Bohs have a rule which prevents gaelic games being played in Daylier. Indeed, considering that they've let Rovers rent the ground I'm sure they'd be only too willing to let the GAA pay for its use. You might not care that the majority of taxpayers' money went to the GAA, but I do. Soccer and rugby people pay taxes too. Croke Park would not be the stadium it is today if it wasn't for taxpayers' money. To provide money to an oprganisation with a bigoted ban on other sports is a disgrace. And I don't want to hear how great the GAA are for being an "amateur" organisation. If you only knew the salary provided to their Director General, you'd realise its far from an amateur organisation.