Tomsmith here,

In a discussion that took place in a local bar, late one night it was suggested that the GAA should play less big games up in Dublin.
The following reasons were given

No 1 Travel expense
A Travel cost for petrol/diesel up to Dublin
B Toll costs
C Parking cost in Dublin and particularly if you get a front wheel immobilised .
D Cost of small eats up in Dublin on match day
E Two collections in prayer places

No2 Parking: Parking is a major issue in Dublin an match days.

No 3 Hassle of getting tickets: as no money is taken at the stiles in Croke park, on a lot of days you have to go to the ticket office and get a ticket to get in which is just a pain.

For the above reasons plus many more I say stage more games outside of Dunlin

tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3857 - 26/04/2015 14:10:33    1717535

We did that last year for the all ireland semi final and the whole country was whinging about it.

You just can't please people in the GAA.

As soon as games are taken out of dublin you'll have people complaining about players being denied the chance to play in croke Park

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 26/04/2015 14:34:50    1717541

Absolutely yes tom, the difference in athmosphere between the Kerry mayo drawn game in crokepark and replay last year in limerick was massive , Croker is grand for when the dubs are playing or an allireland final Croker but other then those examples it is big empty and soulless tbh.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 26/04/2015 14:43:40    1717546

Tom, you'd have similar issues if they were played outside Dublin but I agree with trying to have more games outside the capital unless the Dubs have the home draw. Dublin is more accessible by public transport than most provincial venues. A lot of fans park on the outskirts of town and travel to Drumcondra by bus or train. Parking might be trickier at country venues where they can't park'n'ride.

Agreed Kingdom, despite many peoples pre-game despair at the venue, Limerick was class for the replay last year. A lot of credit goes to those who organized park'n'ride facilities to the game. The atmosphere at the match was class, the night out afterwards was class and some of the GAA wealth was spread around the country. Clones, Breffni, the new Pairc ui Caoimh, Semple, Killarney, Limerick, Mchale Park, Pearse Stadium, Nowlan Park, The Hyde, Pairc Tailteann, etc would be great grounds for atmosphere where the crowd is decent but too small for Croker. The August Bank holiday quarter final games have woeful attendances. Having them in neutral venues or a to in costs for home advantage could make for great atmospheres at great games.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7345 - 26/04/2015 15:23:15    1717561

It isn't a big country. Quit your whinging

MartinGerard (Longford) - Posts: 275 - 26/04/2015 15:59:24    1717576

A lot of provincial venues have blinds spots in the corners for supporters, and public transport is non existent, an example last year Roscommon played Mayo in Dr Hyde Park at 2pm, trains left Mayo going through Roscommon town at 7am and 1.30pm. If you got the early train then nothing was open at 8 in the morning, if you got the 1.30 train then you missed most of the game, why don't the GAA and public transport companies work together like they do in Dublin around Croke Park and play some games in neutral venues but the AllIreland semis and final have to be in Croke Park. Also all tickets should be sold as season tickets, theses half empty venues are club supporters who don't bother going to a game until the AllIreland final, it's the season ticket people that are attending most games regularly

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 26/04/2015 16:50:29    1717594

Green/Red Tomsmith here

While I offer my sympathy to you in calling Cavan's field Breffni park (Correct name Kingspan Park) I feel that we have the best field in the Country. We are best suited for hosting big games. You have 4 roads coming to Cavan Town just at the entrance to the park 3 of them merge. You don't have parking issues at any of the big Cavan games as local farmers open up the fields beside the grounds.
You have local public house that are owner/operated by people that are steeped in the GAA tradition.
Last but not least Cavan Town itself has one of the top footballing teams in the County winning 10 out of the last 12 championships.
Other than the fact we do not have a railway we have everything else in abundance

tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3857 - 26/04/2015 17:48:45    1717632

How many ulsters have gaels won?

MartinGerard (Longford) - Posts: 275 - 26/04/2015 18:36:28    1717660

Total agree Tom , these half empty stadiums look awful !

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 26/04/2015 18:54:45    1717666

Kindomboy has nailed it. Apart from AllIreland finals and many semi finals involving Dublin, the games should be played outside of croker. Its promoting the game better. Why oh why would you want to watch a game with 30 or 40,000 empty seats and the atmosphere is dull. Compare it to the cracking atmosphere in limerick last year for Kerry and Mayo. It advertised the game beautifully. Like Thurles, a 55000 stadium should be used for AI Quarters and semis. Makes more sense then completely dragging teams up to Dublin. If casement park got redeveloped it would be perfect for quarters. Clones also would work. Why do the Gas persist in playing league games in croker, Leinster semi finals in croker, AI quarters involving Muster and Ulster teams?

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 26/04/2015 19:04:28    1717669

Typical cavan post...u dont want to spend money

Muineachain76 (Monaghan) - Posts: 180 - 26/04/2015 19:11:06    1717673

Green/Red Tomsmith here

While I offer my sympathy to you in calling Cavan's field Breffni park (Correct name Kingspan Park) I feel that we have the best field in the Country. We are best suited for hosting big games. You have 4 roads coming to Cavan Town just at the entrance to the park 3 of them merge. You don't have parking issues at any of the big Cavan games as local farmers open up the fields beside the grounds.
You have local public house that are owner/operated by people that are steeped in the GAA tradition.
Last but not least Cavan Town itself has one of the top footballing teams in the County winning 10 out of the last 12 championships.
Other than the fact we do not have a railway we have everything else in abundance
26/04/2015 18:36:28

Any chance ye put a bigger roof on that stand, I know we are not ones to talk about stands in Meath but seeing as Kingspan Breffni Park was renovated extensively in recent times I would have thought a bigger roof would have been a suitable addition

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 26/04/2015 19:22:14    1717678

I agree with the OP

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 26/04/2015 19:33:09    1717687

Valid points, but players ultimately want to play in Croke Park and many of the weaker counties set getting the 1/4 finals and playing in Croke Park as their goal.

It definitelty takes from the atmosphere playing in a half empty Croke Park but if players want to play there, then so be it.

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1102 - 26/04/2015 19:44:02    1717693

Murfman
County: Monaghan
Posts: 141

1717673 Typical cavan post...u dont want to spend money

murfman Tomsmith here

It is a wee bit unfair of you to say that we don't want to spend money, I have seen the cost of travelling up to Dublin from Cavan increase over the years. You have two tolls on theN3 You have parking charges. Two collections at the hose of prayer and then you have to pay your envelope the next Sunday back at home.
Lock- hard has his hand out to mind your car, and hats banners and flags are two prices away up in Dublin
Its all money .
I say play more games at venues outside of Dublin

tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3857 - 26/04/2015 19:56:25    1717702

The League finals yesterday (Divison 4 and 3) could have been elsewhere anyways. 8,000 for the Double header in a 82,000 capacity arena.

Good for the players to play there, but pointless with crowds like that

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 26/04/2015 21:44:53    1717744

Tomsmith here

It is said that the bigger the better , but size will matter for atmosphere particularly in games that are not tight.
THis weeks league finals are examples that the Ros V Ardmagh game could be staged in Kingspan Parkj

tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3857 - 26/04/2015 21:57:31    1717762

Tom, when you were selling Cavan as a venue you forgot to mention ye have, in my opinion, the best supporters in the land. I bet many would go to games in Kingspan as neutrals cos they love their team but also love the game. I remember playing ye in a playoff game in McHale Park a few years ago and ye well outnumbered our support. I remember thinking that ye are real dedicated supporters, not having many big days, but prepared to travel in droves to support your team.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7345 - 27/04/2015 14:29:47    1718020

Green/red

Tomsmith here
First let me apologise to you for correcting you in the name of the old breffni Park
As it is generally recognized that to apologise is assign of weakness but not on this occasion.
Yes you are correct in saying that Cavan has the greatest GAa supporters in Ireland
we could have 200/300 spectators at a Junior B league game.
We have a wonderful tradition of Gaa and indeed we won the only All Ireland final played outside of Ireland when we beat Kerry in Newyork.
As I said earlier in my Pots we are sited at cross roads in Cavan with four roads to to Noryh / South/East and west converging right beside kingspan Park.
I just pose the question how many Dublin people would go to Croke Park if Dublin was not playing ?? and the answer is not very many.
So I say give towns like Cavan more big games we are ideally suited to house major fixtures with a fine stadium and plenty of parking right beside the field almost free of charge

tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3857 - 28/04/2015 09:57:48    1718293

Fully agree with the op.

superbluedub (Dublin) - Posts: 2837 - 28/04/2015 10:08:46    1718300