National Forum

Croke Park expansion

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Replying To countyman2022:  "I take it you have never been on the terraces for a Munster final."
I haven't. But I've had a seat at quite a few of them.

The terraces might be noisier and "better atmosphere", but my point is could the people there not make the same sort of noise and create the same atmosphere if they were sitting down in that spot rather than standing?

Sitting down doesn't suddenly make you unable to chant or cheer or do anything else like that.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3267 - 31/10/2025 12:39:07    2642373

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On the atmosphere issue, it's across all sports. Look at how dead rugby games are. Soccer stadiums don't have the same atmosphere there once had well in week out. People have very short attention spans these days. Same at GAA games where many spend half the time looking into their phones. Sending Instagram updates "look at me I'm at the game" brigade.

What really annoys me is all these social media influencers who get tickets for all Ireland finals. They wouldn't know one player on the field.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11829 - 31/10/2025 13:47:46    2642386

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "I get that many many people have the extreme opposite view to me on this, but I simply don't see and have never seen the attraction of terraces.

Why choose to stand for a couple of hours when you could sit instead?

People talk about "the atmosphere", but behaviour, conversation, etc., doesn't change significantly between sitting down and standing up. You can sing, chant, cheer, and make smart remarks every bit as well while sitting as when standing."
Depends, I think Pikeman, on your age, mobility, age of family or others accompanying you and other factors. I'd try avoiding a terrace now especially if I was with wife and 2 girls, 15 and 10, preferring the creature comforts of seating and, often times, reserved seating. I think the atmosphere from the terrace can make it better than seating, in Croke Park, but a lot depends on the game and the teams playing. Hill 16 when the Dubs are playing championship is an awesome sight and sound. I was lucky enough to bring the family to a packed Athletics Ground this year and 2023 and sitting down the atmosphere was unreal. But the terraces for a 20 year old with his mates, banter with opposition supporters, could have been even better

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8376 - 31/10/2025 13:48:34    2642387

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Replying To yew_tree:  "On the atmosphere issue, it's across all sports. Look at how dead rugby games are. Soccer stadiums don't have the same atmosphere there once had well in week out. People have very short attention spans these days. Same at GAA games where many spend half the time looking into their phones. Sending Instagram updates "look at me I'm at the game" brigade.

What really annoys me is all these social media influencers who get tickets for all Ireland finals. They wouldn't know one player on the field."
English soccer games may not, but look to the continent or South America and you'll see stadiums absolutely hopping

alalalalalum (USA) - Posts: 121 - 31/10/2025 14:18:39    2642398

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Depends, I think Pikeman, on your age, mobility, age of family or others accompanying you and other factors. I'd try avoiding a terrace now especially if I was with wife and 2 girls, 15 and 10, preferring the creature comforts of seating and, often times, reserved seating. I think the atmosphere from the terrace can make it better than seating, in Croke Park, but a lot depends on the game and the teams playing. Hill 16 when the Dubs are playing championship is an awesome sight and sound. I was lucky enough to bring the family to a packed Athletics Ground this year and 2023 and sitting down the atmosphere was unreal. But the terraces for a 20 year old with his mates, banter with opposition supporters, could have been even better"
You've actually just proven my point by saying "sitting down the atmosphere was unreal" - i.e. no reason there couldn't be the same atmosphere generated if there were seats instead of just standing spaces in the places in question.

Anyway, I started this discussion by saying I know I'm in the minority on it. And I still know I'm still in the minority. Maybe this is as good a place to leave it as any!

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3267 - 31/10/2025 23:23:07    2642448

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "You've actually just proven my point by saying "sitting down the atmosphere was unreal" - i.e. no reason there couldn't be the same atmosphere generated if there were seats instead of just standing spaces in the places in question.

Anyway, I started this discussion by saying I know I'm in the minority on it. And I still know I'm still in the minority. Maybe this is as good a place to leave it as any!"
'Depends, I think Pikeman, on your age, mobility, age of family or others accompanying you and other factors'.

Not every stadium is a packed Athletics ground.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8376 - 01/11/2025 15:30:45    2642517

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "'Depends, I think Pikeman, on your age, mobility, age of family or others accompanying you and other factors'.

Not every stadium is a packed Athletics ground."
Obviously not. But how many times do I have to spell it out?

One of the regular arguments in favour of terracing is "there's better atmosphere/better craic on the terraces".

My point is simply that there's no reason there couldn't or wouldn't be the same atmosphere there if the same people were sitting down in the same place instead of standing there.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3267 - 01/11/2025 19:31:30    2642544

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Replying To yew_tree:  "On the atmosphere issue, it's across all sports. Look at how dead rugby games are. Soccer stadiums don't have the same atmosphere there once had well in week out. People have very short attention spans these days. Same at GAA games where many spend half the time looking into their phones. Sending Instagram updates "look at me I'm at the game" brigade.

What really annoys me is all these social media influencers who get tickets for all Ireland finals. They wouldn't know one player on the field."
Big generalisations there. what rugby games you referring to. What soccer stadiums dont have same atmospheres any way.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3881 - 01/11/2025 21:29:41    2642561

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Replying To KillingFields:  "Big generalisations there. what rugby games you referring to. What soccer stadiums dont have same atmospheres any way."
There seemed to be pretty good atmosphere in Chicago last night for The Team Of Us to be fair

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2613 - 02/11/2025 12:39:05    2642631

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According to the Irish Independent, the IRFU has forked out the seven-figure sum for a two-bedroom house on Havelock Square, which is beside the Aviva Stadium

You would think long term the Aviva will be expanded so croke will lose out on the 400k to rent croke park for a event

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 280 - 01/12/2025 10:31:30    2646597

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Replying To Kew:  "According to the Irish Independent, the IRFU has forked out the seven-figure sum for a two-bedroom house on Havelock Square, which is beside the Aviva Stadium

You would think long term the Aviva will be expanded so croke will lose out on the 400k to rent croke park for a event"
Aviva unlikely to be expanded that much. The IRFU may build a hotel at that end or something along those lines in the space.
Dont think expanding stadium is that necessary

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3881 - 01/12/2025 12:28:40    2646618

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Replying To KillingFields:  "Big generalisations there. what rugby games you referring to. What soccer stadiums dont have same atmospheres any way."
Rugby tickets aren't cheap. Varies between 100e to 190 for a Ireland game. More affordable for a family to go to a Ireland soccer game. A lot of event junkees at Rugby games. . Many more interested in getting drinks in then watching the game

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2909 - 01/12/2025 12:44:51    2646621

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Replying To FoolsGold:  "Rugby tickets aren't cheap. Varies between 100e to 190 for a Ireland game. More affordable for a family to go to a Ireland soccer game. A lot of event junkees at Rugby games. . Many more interested in getting drinks in then watching the game"
theres kids tickets that go cheaper and a lot less than 100 for irish games. theres more than enough event junkies at irish soccer games in aviva as well.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3881 - 01/12/2025 12:51:20    2646626

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Replying To FoolsGold:  "Rugby tickets aren't cheap. Varies between 100e to 190 for a Ireland game. More affordable for a family to go to a Ireland soccer game. A lot of event junkees at Rugby games. . Many more interested in getting drinks in then watching the game"
theres tickets for kids available cheaper than 100 in places in ground.
there isnt really that many event junkies at rugby games and theres as many at soccer internationals.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3881 - 01/12/2025 14:00:21    2646642

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Paying 160 euro to watch a meaningless friendly in rugby is mind boggling.

alalalalalum (USA) - Posts: 121 - 01/12/2025 14:04:25    2646644

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Replying To alalalalalum:  "Paying 160 euro to watch a meaningless friendly in rugby is mind boggling."
People who dont understand rugby call them meaningless friendlies. people who understand rugby dont.
its fairly simple. theyre not like meaningless friendlies

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3881 - 01/12/2025 14:11:47    2646646

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Replying To KillingFields:  "People who dont understand rugby call them meaningless friendlies. people who understand rugby dont.
its fairly simple. theyre not like meaningless friendlies"
You're a rugby man so you obviously believe that and fair play to you. For those not in the bubble the November games are absolutely meaningless and the attention they're given in comparison to soccer friendlies is ludicrous. And anyone who wants to fork out that much money to watch the irrelevance is entitled to but they were surely seen coming.

alalalalalum (USA) - Posts: 121 - 01/12/2025 14:22:50    2646648

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Replying To KillingFields:  "Big generalisations there. what rugby games you referring to. What soccer stadiums dont have same atmospheres any way."
Every competition has a name and trophy, what was the name of competition and trophy the Ireland rugby team played for in their last 4 matches?

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2502 - 01/12/2025 15:26:38    2646657

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Replying To KillingFields:  "theres tickets for kids available cheaper than 100 in places in ground.
there isnt really that many event junkies at rugby games and theres as many at soccer internationals."
There is plenty. A lot of corporate business people. .
1/3 of the irish rugby team have no link to ireland only through residency rule.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2909 - 01/12/2025 15:41:24    2646658

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Replying To Kew:  "According to the Irish Independent, the IRFU has forked out the seven-figure sum for a two-bedroom house on Havelock Square, which is beside the Aviva Stadium

You would think long term the Aviva will be expanded so croke will lose out on the 400k to rent croke park for a event"
Would you not be happy with that Kew? I mean you gave out enough when the GAA rented out Croke Park to Leinster. Can't keep you happy it would seem.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1600 - 01/12/2025 16:30:58    2646668

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