National Forum

The Dubs In Aughrim

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Replying To Soma:  "Does it say you are not guaranteed a seat or not guaranteed a ticket? I'd have no problem with the rules around season tickets being changed but as long as the current arrangement is in place it seems sensible to pick venues that can accommodate everyone that has bought the right to a ticket. The only other county that must have a similar problem is Mayo, would Leitrim be able host a 1st round game against them I wonder?"
Carrick could hold the amount of them no problem. I would imagine there will be a bigger crowd for the roscommon leitrim then would be for mayo leitrim.

ros1 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1211 - 14/05/2018 16:07:50    2100643

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Replying To Richieq:  "Ive no doubt it will however the Leinster Championship is a different case, the thing is a lot of grounds like Aughrim, Pearse Park, Dr Cullen etc have spent money in recent years upgrading their facilities and other places like St Conleths and Pairc Tailteann are planning big improvements in the near future and their efforts and spending should be acknowledged by fixing of big games, as I said before people love seeing the Dubs come to town in any competition and the Dubs love travelling so it should be a win win situation, we can't develop every ground to a 20'000 plus capacity so it seems an alteration to the season ticket schemes is the only way around this, Dublin v Kilkenny in the hurling was comfortably held in Parnell Park at the weekend and the venue added greatly to the atmosphere and championship feeling, I think it's more of that we need in the provincials and if a round robin ever comes into Leinster football, which is not beyond the realms of possibility at all, then the issue of venues will become even more important. The Wicklow/Offaly game should have also been a home game for one of those counties instead of being lumped into a double header at Portlaoise as should Carlow/Louth although I know Louth have long standing issues with a home venue. Dublin themselves need a venue to call home that could hold 30'000 plus and they deserve that and all the help needed to develop it. I can see the football championship most likely changing format in the not too distant future where home and away fixtures will be the norm, Waterford were caught on the hop with it this year due to years of inactivity in properly developing Walsh Park and that leaves then with a big disadvantage in Munster in that they will have no home games but one could argue that lack of intent by their hierarchy caused that issue, Wicklow have had far far less success and crowds than Waterford yet they went about improving Aughrim with a new stand, it's a pity it won't be full in two weeks time. Come the Super 8's capacity at grounds may be an issue depending on the pairings but for games in Leinster I think allowances for the supposed "weaker counties" should be made to help promote the game and give them a financial boost they rarely get"
I have to agree with the spirit of your post mate, you are bang on the money. Someone had a brilliant suggestion on here recently that home and away advantage should be ceded on league position for the weaker county in the provincial championship i.e. If Dublin win the league all their provincial games should be away. Simlarly if Kildare played Meath, Meath should be at home etc. It would go some way to balancing clear advantages.

It is however aspirational and the problem is always Dublin. Dublin are just the odd one out when it comes venues and you cant change the infrastructure of a whole province or country on the off chance they might have a game against Dublin. The support for games just dwarfs any other county, that hosting them safely at times just cant be feasible. I dont think there is a quick fix for that. As you rightly say Dublin dont have a home ground themselves and by defacto the GAA have made Croke Park a home ground.

I see a 30k stadium being built in Dublin but it will be the DCB who will prompt this, i dont see the senior football playing much there to be honest. Advertising, corporate boxes and premium tickets in addition to general attendance are sold on the basis of Dublin playing in Croke park as a major selling point. I dont think Croke Park will give that up. we might see piece meal stuff with an odd league game or early championship game, but the GAA want Croke Park to be Dublins home ground in my opinion as its a money spinner. To be honest this isnt to Dublins advantage despite the popular narrative in my opinion. Think what a money spinner it would be to DCB if it could sell corporate boxes, advertising, premium tickets for their own home games rather then Croke Park doing it, Dublin really would be a financial behomoth then.

I would accept its unfair on just about everyone Dublin having limited away games, any we do get in the championship are piecemeal and placatory. But apart from every provincial county having 20-30k stadium i dont think thee is anyway to mitigate and it doesnt make sense to do it just for Dublin.

It really does take the romance out of the championship. Wicklow finished bottom of the whole league, Dublin top, what a story and advertisement for the championship if they could rattle us in Aughrim, sadly it just cant happen. I dont think the season ticket is the smoking gun either, regardless fans will turn up., i know i would season ticket or not.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 14/05/2018 17:27:53    2100692

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Replying To The_Fridge:  "I hope to god someone thought of that when they came up with the super 8 concept. Wouldn't surprise in if they didn't, there will be uproar."
I bet they haven't, i dont think it will just be Dublin either, if say Kildare got to quaterfinal there is no way they are playing a home game against say Kerry or Mayo in Newbridge in a quaterfinal and you can say the same for a few other counties. Will Donegal be allowed to play in Ballyboffey against say Dublin, i can see it all the horizon if im honest.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 14/05/2018 17:32:03    2100694

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Replying To TheUsername:  "I bet they haven't, i dont think it will just be Dublin either, if say Kildare got to quaterfinal there is no way they are playing a home game against say Kerry or Mayo in Newbridge in a quaterfinal and you can say the same for a few other counties. Will Donegal be allowed to play in Ballyboffey against say Dublin, i can see it all the horizon if im honest."
This is true, Newbridge only has a capacity of 6-8000 I believe right now pending the building of a new stand, Ballybofey holds around 19'000 I think, Cavan or Monaghan would be ok as would most other Super 8 contender counties in Ulster, if my own county did reach the Super 8's this year our own capacity is around 13'600 at the minute ahead of redevelopment hopefully beginning in October which could leave ourselves in a tight spot. It appears the capacities of a lot of grounds are fluctuating from year to year and it's high time the GAA publish the current certified capacities of all the major grounds in each county so we have an idea of what we are dealing with, for example the initial capacity of Castlebar for yesterday's game was said to be 28'000 yet somehow was raised to 31'000 during the week leading to an attendance of 29'994 yesterday, MacHale Park had a capacity of well into the 30'000's only a few years back so it appears that every year something changes to alter capacities.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 14/05/2018 18:48:14    2100724

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if kildare get to the super 8s their 2nd game will be their home game against munster champions so likely kerry, will be interesting.

tipp11 (Tipperary) - Posts: 353 - 14/05/2018 20:04:40    2100750

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Replying To kildare73:  "Counties like Wicklow could badly do with a game like this in Aughrim. Imagine the boost in interest in the county a visit from the All Ireland champions would bring. The GAA should be nurturing football in these counties, not taking a big day like this away from them. Most likely won't happen but Wicklow deserve their home game just like Carlow did last year. Wake up Croke Park and give these counties the boost they need and have rightly earned."
Couldn't agree more, recently we read on HS of teams in Wicklow having difficulty fielding. The buzz & promotion as well as the badly needed economic benefit of Wicklow playing the All Irl champions at home in Aughrim would be of massive benefit to Wicklow. But no the party line of health & safety, season ticket holders & capacity is trotted out. Every county drawn to play the Dubs at home will suffer. The hollow empty rhetoric of the outgoing President about clubs & communities being the fabric of the Association is laughable, big business & professionalism is the order of the day, the Super 8's are designed to get rid of the Wicklow's & open the door for a top elite & the money from the TV companies driving this. They can point at the number of armchair viewers & that's fine but many of those are couch potato fans have no interest in driving the Association at club level. Those people at club level are disillusioned with decisions like this & leaving in droves. So much for valuing community. Wicklow fans now must travel & suffer the financial cost of watching their team play at "home", what a farce.

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 14/05/2018 20:08:54    2100754

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The modern GAA doesn't give a crap about people in Wicklow or children in Wicklow being inspired by Gaelic games. Why would any parent get their children involved in GAA? You are a second class citizen from the day you are born.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1318 - 14/05/2018 20:49:57    2100769

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Replying To tipp11:  "if kildare get to the super 8s their 2nd game will be their home game against munster champions so likely kerry, will be interesting."
It will be Croker I'd say mate!

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 14/05/2018 21:07:56    2100772

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Replying To Richieq:  "This is true, Newbridge only has a capacity of 6-8000 I believe right now pending the building of a new stand, Ballybofey holds around 19'000 I think, Cavan or Monaghan would be ok as would most other Super 8 contender counties in Ulster, if my own county did reach the Super 8's this year our own capacity is around 13'600 at the minute ahead of redevelopment hopefully beginning in October which could leave ourselves in a tight spot. It appears the capacities of a lot of grounds are fluctuating from year to year and it's high time the GAA publish the current certified capacities of all the major grounds in each county so we have an idea of what we are dealing with, for example the initial capacity of Castlebar for yesterday's game was said to be 28'000 yet somehow was raised to 31'000 during the week leading to an attendance of 29'994 yesterday, MacHale Park had a capacity of well into the 30'000's only a few years back so it appears that every year something changes to alter capacities."
The biggest issue affecting the capacity of grounds are the constantly shifting criteria laid down by the health and safety authorities. As far as I know the capacity of Parnell Park has changed twice in recent years without any physical changes being made to the ground.

AHP (Dublin) - Posts: 323 - 14/05/2018 21:34:27    2100777

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Replying To SlipperyDodger:  "Dublin are set to take on Wicklow in Aughrim in two weeks time. Not all of Dublin's season ticket holders will get a ticket. Will the GAA move it out of Aughrim? It would be some occasion if it goes ahead there!"
How many season ticket holders have Dublin and what's the capacity out of curiosity ?

Galwayjoe86 (Galway) - Posts: 258 - 14/05/2018 22:08:47    2100790

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Replying To TheUsername:  "I think it might rear its head again in the Super 8's as well mate, whatever about a Leinster first round draw a quarter final is going to draw a huge Dublin crowd, not all county grounds can facilitate that i wouldn't be surprised if we see the Dublin quarterfinal moved to the big provincial ground as opposed to the county ground depending on the opposition.

Health and Safety and town infrastructure, traffic etc will all come into play."
Wouldn't be surprised either but will depend on who they are playing ,if the dubs end up in same group as let's say tyrone mayo Tipperary then all is good the dubs play Tyrone and Mayo in croker and tipp in thurles I doubt there will be any complaining about that and gaa won't have to do anything drastic but it will deffo be something the gaa will look at when its all clear who they are playing

Galwayjoe86 (Galway) - Posts: 258 - 14/05/2018 22:17:43    2100796

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Replying To TheUsername:  "It will be Croker I'd say mate!"
There wouldn't be only 8, 000 -10,000 at a Kildare v Kerry game in the summer so going to crokepark would be a waste of time, o'connor park tullamore would do grand.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 14/05/2018 22:42:11    2100810

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Replying To AHP:  "The biggest issue affecting the capacity of grounds are the constantly shifting criteria laid down by the health and safety authorities. As far as I know the capacity of Parnell Park has changed twice in recent years without any physical changes being made to the ground."
This is true, the goalposts seem to change every year. MacHale Park is an all seater ground, albeit concrete bench seating on three sides but classed as all seater non the less, how or why if was cut from the high 30'000's to 28'000 is beyond me. I did hear before that Dr Hyde Park had its capacity cut due to inadequate toilet facilities (perhaps someone from the Rossies could clarify??). It would be good to have the criteria that H&S operate from laid out, maybe it is online somewhere but the GAA seems a hostage to H&S lately and in the 26 counties the only ground that hadn't had a capacity cut as far as I know is Croke Park, it seems to be open season on the rest year after year.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 14/05/2018 22:50:30    2100811

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For a start it's not "whinging" as one genius said on here for a weaker county to have home advantage against the stronger county. It's a bit of balance and a fair play considering that so called weaker county has won the right to be involved in that match. What a boost in interest a visit to Wicklow by the dubs would generate and promotion of football within the county. Isn't that what the GAA is meant to be doing anyway??
I do wonder about why certain grounds are deemed not suitable to hold games and the criteria used. It's still a mystery why Dublin v Laois had to be held in Kilkenny two years ago, denying Laois their home game but Dublin v Carlow last year could be held in Portlaoise and the Wicklow game can be held there this year too. No extra seating or anything done with Portlaoise in all that time but it can't hold a game one year but it can the next. What's the criteria used in the decision making? I'm not accusing Dublin of being involved, they will play anyone anywhere.
And why ever construct a Super 8 with a home and away format at the centre of it and then tell certain counties they can't host the game they have earned the right to host by qualifying? There will be a lot of bad feeling if this happens and rightly so. It will turn the concept into a farce pretty quickly.

kildare73 (Kildare) - Posts: 854 - 14/05/2018 23:54:41    2100823

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Replying To MesAmis:  "I'd say so alright.

Between football season tickets (Dublin and Wicklow) and Parnell Passes (which guarantees a ticket) there isn't the space in Aughrim I don't think.

Could be wrong but I'd imagine that's the issue.

It's a pity they couldn't just play in Aughrim in anyways. Maybe give the season ticket holders their free ticket for the next round (Leinster Semi/Qualifier) and give the Parnell Pass holders a free ticket for the next round as well to make up for losing the guarantee for Aughrim."
This is ridiculous! The free ticket business is just an arrangement between the Dublin County board and their season ticket holders. Why the hell should this arrangement be allowed to impact other counties? If there is not enough space in Aughrim to accommodate all the Dublin fans who are entitled to free tickets, that should not be Wicklow's problem. The game should be played in Aughrim, and the Dublin county board should be left to figure out what to do with the few thousand tickets they are allocated. Wicklow are being robbed of a sellout home game just because the Dublin County board made a promise to their fans that they can't keep - what a sham!

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 996 - 15/05/2018 01:10:53    2100828

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I am not sure where they get these H & S guys from!. How does the capacity of a pitch change from year to year- obviously some H & S guy decides. It appears a bit like pitch and toss!!

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 15/05/2018 01:15:36    2100829

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Replying To moc.dna:  "Couldn't agree more, recently we read on HS of teams in Wicklow having difficulty fielding. The buzz & promotion as well as the badly needed economic benefit of Wicklow playing the All Irl champions at home in Aughrim would be of massive benefit to Wicklow. But no the party line of health & safety, season ticket holders & capacity is trotted out. Every county drawn to play the Dubs at home will suffer. The hollow empty rhetoric of the outgoing President about clubs & communities being the fabric of the Association is laughable, big business & professionalism is the order of the day, the Super 8's are designed to get rid of the Wicklow's & open the door for a top elite & the money from the TV companies driving this. They can point at the number of armchair viewers & that's fine but many of those are couch potato fans have no interest in driving the Association at club level. Those people at club level are disillusioned with decisions like this & leaving in droves. So much for valuing community. Wicklow fans now must travel & suffer the financial cost of watching their team play at "home", what a farce."
Spot on ,disgusting way to treat the weaker counties, sick of them bending the rules to line their already bursting pockets , how will the game ever grow down there

johnbombkelly (Mayo) - Posts: 117 - 15/05/2018 03:50:55    2100833

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Replying To Gaillimh_Abu:  "This is ridiculous! The free ticket business is just an arrangement between the Dublin County board and their season ticket holders. Why the hell should this arrangement be allowed to impact other counties? If there is not enough space in Aughrim to accommodate all the Dublin fans who are entitled to free tickets, that should not be Wicklow's problem. The game should be played in Aughrim, and the Dublin county board should be left to figure out what to do with the few thousand tickets they are allocated. Wicklow are being robbed of a sellout home game just because the Dublin County board made a promise to their fans that they can't keep - what a sham!"
Season ticket has nothing to do with the DCB mate.

P.P. is the Dublin run scheme.

I think Dublin would be pretty happy to play in Aughrim, team, fans, DCB.

Ultimately its a decision taken out of Dublin and Wicklows hands, the decision has absolutely nothing to do with Dublin, its the Leinster Council.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 15/05/2018 10:18:24    2100872

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "There wouldn't be only 8, 000 -10,000 at a Kildare v Kerry game in the summer so going to crokepark would be a waste of time, o'connor park tullamore would do grand."
Its the same premise though mate, its forfeiting your home game.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 15/05/2018 10:21:01    2100875

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What's ridiculous is that we're even playing Wicklow a waste of everyone's time when everyone knows it will be a hammering.

It's screaming out for a two tier championship , where the winners of the second tier go up to the first tier the following season and a team goes down from the first tier.

It's too serious now for this messing to still be going on like Kerry play no division one team and will walk into the super 8's while Mayo had to play Galway and now could be out before Kerry or Dublin's season gets serious. Ridiculous stuff.


No dig at Kerry Dublin is in the same situation only we have a division 1 team in Kildare I know their gone down but they were division 1. Anyway I think you'll get my point.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 15/05/2018 11:04:39    2100898

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