Unfortunately someone has to pay the bills, are people seriously suggesting that this American Football match should be cancelled? Really the whinging is reaching plague proportions on here. And someone calls this "Is the GAA losing its soul?" better than losing its reason.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4954 - 24/08/2014 21:16:28    1641427

Nail on head Marlon.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 24/08/2014 21:19:17    1641429

24/08/2014 20:44:03
REDANDBLACK30
Fair play to Joe Brolly he called it right again. The GAA are always prioritising money making over the community based aspect of the association. Its a bit sad really that an American football game takes precendence over an All Ireland semi final?? The GAA are not always prioritising money making over the community. How are they? If they were then would every single game not be played in the biggest venue possible?
The American Football game isn't taking precedence over the semi final replay. It was scheduled and everyone knew well in advance that this game was going ahead. There would be none of this discussion/whinging if this game had been decided today. The GAA should have prepared something to ensure this wouldn't have been an issue. Could they not have looked for game to go to extra time or something....

24/08/2014 21:13:50 Marlon_JD
I'm not sure if this is greed, as much as really poor planning. August is the busiest month when it comes to staging games in Croke Park. This month alone you had round 3 qualifiers, quarter-finals and semi-finals in the football, and 2 days of hurling semi-finals. Always likely that you'll have a replay somewhere, so August is the worst month to arrange anything in Croke Park other than football or hurling. Add to that the pressure of keeping the pitch in optimum condition, and it really is the one month where Croke Park needs to be managed carefully. Outside of August, and September, its not as much of a problem. Post September, the GAA should try and stage as much as they can in Croke Park over the winter months while its lying idle, be that American Football or whatever else.

But the primary purpose of Croke Park is still to facilitate and be a big stage for Gaelic Games. Fixing a game like this during Croke parks busiest time of year (for Gaelic games) seems ill thought out.It isn't greed anyway. GAA knew this American football game was going to put croke park out of action on that day/weekend so should have thought this could have occurred. Yes a replay was likely but surely the GAA could simply have insisted that some games go to extra time to ensure no replays?

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 24/08/2014 21:31:56    1641435

Ormond the amount of money being raked in by the GAA is unbecoming
of an amateur association. The GAA should be for everyone not just
for the elites or so the top brass can make as much money as
possible.

As Joe Brolly said the GAA is at a cross roads and it has chosen
profit before people.

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1702 - 24/08/2014 21:42:36    1641439

Using Croke Park for non GAA events is fine and dandy and I agree the atmosphere in Limerick will be great (will there be a ticket shortage though?). I don't think it should be used for these events at this time of the year however. It's the busiest time of the year for hurling and football and what state will the pitch be in for Sunday's semi-final? If want to have an American Football game in October,that's no problem, August isn't the time for it I don't think.

srb (Antrim) - Posts: 344 - 24/08/2014 21:43:59    1641440

The GAA decided at some point during the boom that generating revenue was it's number one goal. This revenue was to be used for better facilities in Croke Park and in other parts of the country. However, this goal now needs to be reviewed. There was a lot of money spent on some stadia which aren't used too often, and will continue to be spend on stadia which won't be used often (e.g. Pairc Ui Caoimh). People seem to forget there's nothing wrong with playing hurling or football at a pitch which doesn't have a gym, ball alley, hurling wall, stand, bar, concreted car park, etc etc. Like, improve facilities for sure, but there needs to be balance. The GAA player (of whom the CLUB player should be central) and the GAA follower (real followers who are involved in their clubs) should always be the priority of the GAA, but sadly that's not always the case nowadays. Matches are expensive to attend, expensive to park at, and there are no longer "4 bars a pound" at half-time. Club players get fewer opportunities to play as the hunger to have more and more intercounty games grows every year. I find myself frequently wondering if the people in Croke Park making decisions are GAA men at all. A re-balancing is needed.

In regard to this issue, why couldn't they have booked an American football game for October or November or a time of the year when the All-Ireland championship isn't being played? American football is a winter sport after all. Just seems that even though they are trying to achieve their goal of making more money, that goal maybe isn't what we need.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2575 - 24/08/2014 21:51:00    1641446

This American Football game can only be played next weekend because you can't expect students to take a week off college later on in the year

butters1990 (Kildare) - Posts: 262 - 24/08/2014 21:53:44    1641448

arock
County: Dublin
Posts: 2287
Unfortunately someone has to pay the bills, are people seriously suggesting that this American Football match should be cancelled? Really the whinging is reaching plague proportions on here. And someone calls this "Is the GAA losing its soul?" better than losing its reason.

I'm with you on this. Only in Ireland would you hear people complain about a non profit organization that re invests most of it's revenue straight back into grass routes when it increases it's revenue.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 24/08/2014 21:58:13    1641453

This American football match was decided a year ago - and all agreed it would be a great idea, including the pundits

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1688 - 24/08/2014 22:00:45    1641455

How is the pitch going to be ready for Sunday after the college football? Surely the entire pitch will have to be replaced?

meath67 (Meath) - Posts: 71 - 25/08/2014 08:40:39    1641460

Has greed made the GAA chiefs blind? Didnt they know that they had to keep
Croke Park free for a possible A I Semifinal football repay next Sat. ? Who made
the decision to rent out Croker for an american football game next saturday? Who
made the decision to move an AI football semi final replay to Limerick within 2
minutes of the final whistle of an enthralling game? Was anybody consulted? Why
did they not move the ridiculous american game to Limerick? This decision cannot
stand and the next GAA congress should make sure that no such decision can ever be
made again?

michael (Cork) - Posts: 381 - 25/08/2014 08:47:02    1641462

Michael, I couldnt agree more, its a disgraceful decision but I think both county boards (Mayo and Kerry) have a role to play here, if they stood up for their teams and refused to play anywhere outside of Croke Park, the GAA would get the finger out quick enough.

Mollymalone (Dublin) - Posts: 1137 - 25/08/2014 08:49:32    1641464

Silly thread and a drama like overreaction to say that the 'Gaa is losing it's soul', granted playing an AI semi final out of Croker isn't ideal but it is what it is, get on with it. As for the Gaa, well they have to try to maximize profits to allow our games to grow and fairplay to them for it, some people prefer to live in 1884 but time moves on, whether they like it or not.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 25/08/2014 09:12:18    1641475

Good to see a big game coming out of Croker, the GG will be packed out with a great atmosphere and it's a semi final that will be remembered more than most like the Dubs v Cork in '83. The rest of the country deserves an economic boost from the GAA not just Dublin

updwell (Limerick) - Posts: 899 - 25/08/2014 09:15:15    1641478

I suspect Michael from Cork that a lot of decisions being made, including this and the silly music, are being made by 20 something marketing graduates who haven't a clue about what makes our association work.


Having the replay in Limerick is not a disaster. Will be some occasion as others have said. It is just the amateur failure to factor in a replay! If Dublin and Donegal had drawn yesterday what would they have done? A Dublin football replay would sell 250,000 tickets. Where would they possibly have had that?

Just saying that to illustrate lack of foresight here.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 25/08/2014 09:34:44    1641486

I'd be less concerned with Mayo v Kerry being played in Limerick and more concerned with the state of the pitch after the yanks have had their way with it. I've been to matches in Wembley after American Football matches have been played there, you could still see the markings on the pitch and the surface was in pieces!

CaptainBrooksie (UK) - Posts: 34 - 25/08/2014 09:43:24    1641489

Two motions for congress

1. Croke Park is reserved for Gaelic Games only for the months of July, August and September.
2. All senior championship matches from QF stage onwards & provincial finals must be broadcast on terrestrial tv.

It's our organisation, we can change it.

BlastCalyle (Mayo) - Posts: 216 - 25/08/2014 09:48:17    1641491

i also posted this on other thread - lot of people being wise after the event here - dont remember anybody moaning and whinging before the game about the potential of the replay being in limerick - Think myself the should have fixed it for 6th in croke park with the proviso that the game is moved to limerick if dubs v donegal is a draw - although for selfish reason i am very glad we are getting this once in a lifetime chance to go to an all ireland semi final at home- tis a great venue and will make for great atmosphere

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 25/08/2014 09:51:04    1641494

Maybe if there was a GAA person making the commercial decisions in Croke Park and not an outsider with no regard to the traditions of the GAA.

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1903 - 25/08/2014 09:51:38    1641499

Lack of planning by the GAA chiefs but jaysus you would swear they have decided to have the All Ireland Final in Wembley the way people are reacting.
This has been planned for a year, Mayo & Kerry would have been fully aware of the situation in the event of a draw.

This game is good for the GAA, the capacity crowd generates revenue to pump back into grass roots. Anything that boosts the development of the games should be applauded.

Also, I was at the game yesterday, the atmosphere was a bit dead. Half empty stadium, 1/4 full hill and a few chants of "MAYO, MAYO, MAYO".
At least the replay will be played in a full stadium that will be buzzing.

Also the smaller pitch will be good for Mayo so I wouldn't be moaning too much. The less space James O'Donoghue has the better. Best corner back in the country getting help from Cunnife and he still managed 1-3.

GAAHattrick (Dublin) - Posts: 278 - 25/08/2014 09:56:17    1641501