The wrecking ball is about to go to work. They really could spread the 70 million on grounds around the country e.g spend 10 million each in Navan, Newbridge, Parnell Park, Tuam , Portlaoise (to really bring it up) . Pairc Ui Chaoimh and Clones.

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 01/04/2015 16:32:55    1709531

In fairness Pairc Ui Chaoimh needed a major revamp, not only was it outdated but it was unsafe, if Cork wanted to maintain a major stadium in the city then wholesale redeveloment was needed. Capacity will be 45'000, 40'000 would probably have done in fairness, other grounds like Semple Stadium and the Gaelic Grounds should concentrate on more seating and cover being put in place which would lower their capacities to more realistic levels but vastly increase their comfort levels, there was €16 million spent on Thurles a few years back and yet there are still pillars in the new stand and the remodelled roof on the old stand only covers half the seats and toss all was done with the terraces, a similar figure was spent on the new stand and press box in MacHale Park, at least for €70 million Cork are getting a whole stadium revamp with facilities that can be used all year round and generate income.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3750 - 01/04/2015 17:25:20    1709552

Richieq both Thurles and Limerick has seating for over 20,000 people. Both have seated stands on each side of the ground. There is no way to add any more sets unless they build a tier on top of each on top of the stands which won't happen and in any case it isn't needed. It will only increase capacity which as you said yourself isn't necessary.

mike03 (Limerick) - Posts: 2000 - 01/04/2015 18:07:02    1709565

Would be smart for the GAA to use it to better use, play an all Ireland hurling semi final down there, and play a football all ireland quarter or semi if the teams involved were located nearby

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 01/04/2015 19:03:01    1709586

Richieq
County: Meath

Agree with everything you said above. I was similarly disappointed with the work that was done in Thurles, I've often said the same about the roofing as well (they closed the old stand for a year or so to put a roof on it, I was so disappointed with what we ended up with).
And you're right, we should be looking at modernizing facilities, instead of just maximizing capacity. If it means reducing capacity (by introducing improved seating etc), then so be it. Thurles doesn't need to be 55,000 capacity, if facilities were improved, but capacity reduced by 5-10k, I think it would be a reasonable trade off. Páirc Uí Chaoimh does need a revamp, it was dangerous, and the seating was ridiculous if you were over 5 feet tall. Although again, it seems to be alot of money being thrown at a half hearted effort (its really only the current roofed stand that'd being developed).

If every province has one stadium that can accomodate up to 40,000, I think that's enough. Other grounds should concentrate on having better facilities, without being huge (a 25,000 capacity ground is more than enough).

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 01/04/2015 19:31:59    1709606

mike03
County: Limerick
Posts: 1066

1709565
Richieq both Thurles and Limerick has seating for over 20,000 people. Both have seated stands on each side of the ground. There is no way to add any more sets unless they build a tier on top of each on top of the stands which won't happen and in any case it isn't needed. It will only increase capacity which as you said yourself isn't necessary.

Yes there is, I'm talking about replacing some of the terracing with seats. It was well highlighted that at last years All Ireland Quarter Finals in Thurles there weren't enough seats to meet demand as the majority of those attending wanted a stand seat, whilst there will always be a need for terracing we have to much of it in some grounds and certainly I feel Thurles should be seated on three sides and afforded more covered accomodation that what it has, after all it is the second ground after Croker. Replacing terracing with seats reduced capacity, the addition of a roof can also contribute to reducing capacity depending on design such as is the case in the redevelopment of the uncovered stand in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, this is the way things should go, more comfort and less capacity, I imagine Thurles could survive very well with a 45'000 capacity as opposed to it's present 50'000 plus

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3750 - 01/04/2015 20:03:28    1709620

PoppinPoints
County: Meath
Posts: 60

1709586
Would be smart for the GAA to use it to better use, play an all Ireland hurling semi final down there, and play a football all ireland quarter or semi if the teams involved were located nearby

WOULD BE IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU (FOR QUARTERS NOT SEMIS) BUT REMEMBER THE HOO HAA ABOUT HAVING A SEMI FINAL REPLAY IN LIMERICK - LOVED THE OLD STADIUM SUPER ATMOSPHERE WHEN PACKED

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 01/04/2015 20:06:14    1709623

I don't agree at all Richie. I hate seated stadiums. Even to have seats on 3 sides would be awful. It ruins the atmosphere at games.

mike03 (Limerick) - Posts: 2000 - 01/04/2015 21:40:07    1709662

Haven't been to Cork city for years but surely say 30 or 40 million would do a good revamp e.g new seating all around and two covers without pillars either side. New toilets and dressing rooms. This still leaves 30 or 40 million to share between Navan, Newbridge or Naas and Tuam. (just examples) I'm probably underestimating how bad Pairc Ui Chaoimh is at present.

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 01/04/2015 21:40:19    1709663

JanesBoro, yes, everyone gave out about Kerry and Mayo game in Limerick last year, but the atmosphere was electric, far better than Croker the week before Ben though there was about 15000 les at it. Really, the GAA should do this more often, why not play all ireland football quarter finals in Thurles, and maby an all ireland semi final, plus an all ireland hurling semi if Tipperary weren't involved

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 02/04/2015 12:14:44    1709768

janesboro
WOULD BE IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU (FOR QUARTERS NOT SEMIS) BUT REMEMBER THE HOO HAA ABOUT HAVING A SEMI FINAL REPLAY IN LIMERICK - LOVED THE OLD STADIUM SUPER ATMOSPHERE WHEN PACKED

In fairness, the hoo haa was more about it being on a pitch where one team played regularly while the other rarely set foot in, and the town hosting it being far closer to that same county than the other... This was further exasperated by the gaa's refusal to put it on the week after the other semi - because they might draw and they needed croke park to be free!

If they were scheduled for other grounds from a long way out I dont think people would have a problem.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 02/04/2015 12:36:38    1709786

The optimum would be a sensible approach to venue selection. Some quarters should be selected outside of headquarters and the teams involved should dictate the decision. If the Belfast stadia goes ahead and two northern counties face off in the quarters then play it there unless the expected crowd warrants Croker. The same should be for PUC. The GAA should be trying to make a move away from half filled grounds for big games whenever possible.

seany16 (Dublin) - Posts: 1663 - 02/04/2015 12:41:49    1709791

mike03
County: Limerick
Posts: 1072

1709662
I don't agree at all Richie. I hate seated stadiums. Even to have seats on 3 sides would be awful. It ruins the atmosphere at games.

Ah I don't know Mike, I feared the same with Croker as I was a regular on the old Canal End but I have to say when she's full, or at least at 50-60'000 capacity the atmosphere is great. Last year proved attitudes are changing, people want a return for their admission fee and a lot now want a seat, and a covered seat at that. I love the job that was done in Limerick but why spend that level of money and not roof the stand across from the Mackey is beyond me. If you look at Thurles, Limerick, Killarney, Pearse Stadium etc we see huge banks of uncovered terracing that are rarely filled, I'm a terrace man myself but I really do think that a 60/40 split in favour of seating is the way to go. Nowlan Park is a good example, seated on three sides with one terraced end, I was lucky enough to be there for Kilkenny v Tipp in the qualifiers a couple of years back and by God the atmosphere wasn't affected there I can tell you. We need a good return on stadium investment, which is why I was disappointed in what I saw in Thurles, and I certainly think Kerry should have seated that new terrace in Killarney as they have a fine stadium but again short on seats, we need more cover and more seats, not all seats now mind, but certainly more.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3750 - 02/04/2015 18:36:03    1709947

The bottom line is NO ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL Quarter final will draw 82000 on its own maby, just maby bar the exception of Dublin and Kerry. So why do the GAA keep dragging up Kerry and Cork and Mayo and Tyrone and Donegal and Monaghan to Croker when say if Cork and mayo were drawn together, play the game in Thurles or Limerick. If Donegal and Monaghan or another Ulster county they could use Clones, but ideally the redevolooed Casement Park would be ideal, even though it's not going to happen. All Ireland semi finals that don't involve Dublin never get a full house so therefore play it in Thurles if the location of the two teams is right. Only makes sense. This crack about bringing four teams up to Croker and only getting 38000 which was the attendence for the first quarter finals last year needs to stop. I hate watching games with masses of empty seats in Croker, it turns me off, equally though I love watching games with packed stadiums such as when the Dubs play in a semi or Kerry and Mayo replay last year.

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 02/04/2015 19:29:27    1709969

kerry and mayo replay last year was not a packed stadium
sure there was 36 thousand in a 50 thousand ground
they lost 16 thousand supporters from the drawn game
thats a big enough drop for an all ireland semi final.
there needs to be at least 10 thousand capacity in all grounds for terraces
there is a lot of people like myself who hate sitting at games

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 02/04/2015 20:55:15    1710004