National Forum

Croke Park expansion

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "It was down to stewarding. Not proper stewards from clubs but paid security who were clearly not up to task.

I was in Limerick for big games and yerrace stewards were excellent. Even nipped some potential flash points with drunken but otherwise harmless young fellas in bud with help of good Gardaí.

There is persistent pattern of gangs occuppying upper right part of Hill and throwing bottles and debris onto people below them. Could easily be solved."
Based on what you say here and what Francie81 says above, seems to me the biggest issue on the Hill is supporter behaviour.

Wonder should the GAA consider moving towards the "safe standing" model you find in English Premier League grounds? i.e. fold-down seats with a barrier in front that you can stand against, and allocated spaces for everybody.

Would solve the problem of people gravitating towards one area of the Hill when they've been directed by stewards to another. Would also make it easier to identify the culprits behind the disgraceful behaviour of throwing bottles and other items.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3794 - 15/07/2026 10:45:30    2685833

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  ""There is persistent pattern of gangs occuppying upper right part of Hill and throwing bottles and debris onto people below them. Could easily be solved."
If it's a persistent pattern, why hasn't it already been solved?"
Its a persistent pattern because it hasn't been solved. They have separate lines for bag checks with Garda presence so no excuse really for missing flares, cans, bottles etc.

Although you can't stop people bringing or buying bottled water which has been weapon of choice where ive seen people hit.

Likewise, drunks should be refused admission same as any other public venue.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4488 - 15/07/2026 10:54:47    2685834

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Replying To Fionn:  "That is a regular occurrence now Barney from non Dublin fans. Bottles and flares raining down on us from top centre right area.

As for the so called over crowding….
A lot of it is down to stewarding.
Far too many teenage stewards and a lot of them girls, who are suddenly confronted by a rush of hundreds of fans coming in. I feel for them tbh.
Trying to check if beer is being brought in, trying to direct them to areas where there is space, when the fans want to meet up with their pals on different areas of the Hill. There is also a part of the Hill close to the Cusack which fans are rarely allowed into.

There is another reason why fans don't want to be directed down to the lower terracing and no one has referenced it yet…..
that damn plastic 20 foot barrier.
You can't see the game properly from behind it. Glare in the sunshine, reflection, flowing water on it during rainy days, and generally a blurred view from the dirt on it.
It is a nightmare trying to watch a game from behind it.
You can't blame fans for wanting to move higher up the terracing to avoid being behind it."
Surely it is time to remove those plastic abominations at this stage….
Restricted View - no wonder no one wants to stand on the first few rows of the Hill…!

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5186 - 15/07/2026 13:03:39    2685850

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Replying To Fionn:  "Surely it is time to remove those plastic abominations at this stage….
Restricted View - no wonder no one wants to stand on the first few rows of the Hill…!"
Devil's advocate here, but isn't it a bit of a chicken and egg situation?

Basically, the screen was erected to prevent pitch invasions from The Hill, because rightly or wrongly, it was felt that crowds there couldn't be trusted as much to stay off the pitch as people in other parts of the ground.

And for so long as the people going there show that they can't be trusted to obey the directions of stewards, to not bring in flares, and to not throw bottles and other items around, it'd be hard to trust them to stay off the pitch as well.

And as for "overcrowding" issues....I've been on The Hill for a couple of All-Ireland Hurling Finals, when it would have been every bit as full as for the football matches last weekend. Go in early enough - i.e. maybe an hour before the game - and you'll get a decent spot all right.

The problems are mainly caused by too many people leaving it to the last few minutes to try get in there at all, often because they're gulping another pint or two first, and then not moving on far enough from the access points when they do get in, thus blocking others from gaining access at all.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3794 - 15/07/2026 23:48:15    2685902

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Devil's advocate here, but isn't it a bit of a chicken and egg situation?

Basically, the screen was erected to prevent pitch invasions from The Hill, because rightly or wrongly, it was felt that crowds there couldn't be trusted as much to stay off the pitch as people in other parts of the ground.

And for so long as the people going there show that they can't be trusted to obey the directions of stewards, to not bring in flares, and to not throw bottles and other items around, it'd be hard to trust them to stay off the pitch as well.

And as for "overcrowding" issues....I've been on The Hill for a couple of All-Ireland Hurling Finals, when it would have been every bit as full as for the football matches last weekend. Go in early enough - i.e. maybe an hour before the game - and you'll get a decent spot all right.

The problems are mainly caused by too many people leaving it to the last few minutes to try get in there at all, often because they're gulping another pint or two first, and then not moving on far enough from the access points when they do get in, thus blocking others from gaining access at all."
It is a bit of both tbh.
I have been on the Hill and seen it much worse than last Sunday.

The screen is far too tall and needs to be changed.

That area on the Hill near the Cusack needs to be used. Keeping it vacant makes no sense. What other stadium in the world does that.

Stewarding needs to improve also. Putting young teenagers at the entrances is bonkers. Adults are gonna just push by them. Not enough stewards.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5186 - 16/07/2026 09:44:19    2685916

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I dont go to the Hill much anymore as I like the comfort of a seat and can come and go but the perspex hoarding is terrible and no wonder fans dont want to go down front.If its sunny or raining the view is complete s**t*.The only time it is watchable from there is a dry dull day.Some of the stewards dont want any hassle and are no use.I understand if the hoarding comes down fans will enter pitch but something has to be done.

brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 758 - 16/07/2026 12:48:22    2685934

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Replying To Fionn:  "It is a bit of both tbh.
I have been on the Hill and seen it much worse than last Sunday.

The screen is far too tall and needs to be changed.

That area on the Hill near the Cusack needs to be used. Keeping it vacant makes no sense. What other stadium in the world does that.

Stewarding needs to improve also. Putting young teenagers at the entrances is bonkers. Adults are gonna just push by them. Not enough stewards."
Thanks for the reasonable answer because I was half afraid that the continued suggestion it's all at least partly down to supporter behaviour would cause feathers to flutter :)

As regards that section near the Cusack - the answer to how many other stadia do this is "not many", but that's because not many major stadia still use "old-fashioned" standing only areas. "Safe standing", with fold-up seats and more railings, has become the norm.

The more I think about it, the more I believe it should be considered for Croke Park in the long run, and that it'd solve all the issues currently experienced on big days. But there'd be consequences too, with the most obvious ones being how there'd be some reduction in capacity, and how groups of eight or ten or more wouldn't be able to watch the match together any more unless they all bought tickets alongside each other at exactly the same time.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3794 - 16/07/2026 12:57:08    2685936

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