After much discussion and debate, it is confirmed that the replay between Mayo and Kerry will go ahead in the Gaelic Grounds. I think that a full house in Limerick will create a far better atmosphere than a 60% full croker. The only problem I have is that it appears that the maximum capacity for the Gaelic Grounds in 43000. That means that already the crowd will be down from 9000 after yesterdays match. Im sure that their also will be more people wanting tickets this time due to the location of Limerick in regards to Kerry and Mayo. The thought that I have been having for a while now is the need of a 60-65k stadium for the GAA preferably somewhere accessible to all counties, e.g redeveloping Semple stadium. It would be perfect for games that are only going to attract 60k instead of playing them in croker and having mass amounts of empty seats. It would also be perfect for Football quarter finals, the GAA could have a double header there and the other 2 games in Croker. It would also work out well for the hurling championship aswell. This stadium wouldn't necessarily have to be in Thurles either. Also it appears that the GAA should have enough money to finance a project like this. Let me know your thoughts on this?

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 25/08/2014 13:23:29    1641671

Double headers are rubbish. Play the games in two slightly smaller stadia for double the atmosphere.

Gavvygavgav (Dublin) - Posts: 383 - 25/08/2014 13:31:45    1641680

If the only reason we are going to develop a 60,000 seater stadium is so that we don't have to look at empty seats in Croke Park then it is a waste of money.

Diverting games to this stadium will only result in Croke Park sitting idle & it costs too much to maintain to allow that.

I well remember last year all the criticism of staging the Ulster championship game between Donegal & Tyrone in Ballybofey. Tyrone folk were up in arms that i was too small but in the end sent tickets back.

The situation we find ourselves in re the replay is not ideal but it is very much the exception & certainly not worth building a white elephant in Thurles for.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 25/08/2014 13:36:08    1641684

It is a great idea in principle, I have often thought such a stadium being built in the Midlands would benefit our games. However I believe Limerick next week is being used before the GAA now have no choice. The long term reality is there have been too many corporate tickets sold in Croke Park so big games need to go there. No matter what the plans going forward are, the players need to be the ones making the decision, it should be about what they want.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 25/08/2014 13:49:22    1641696

Ideally yes. Somewhere in the midlands would be great. Although maybe this should have been done before the redevelopment of the stadiums in Tullamore and Portlaoise. Theyre great stadiums but a nightmare from the point of view of parking, traffic, access, congestion, public transport, etc. If it were a goer - they should consider selling the land/ground in the middle of the town, pick a spot near the motorway, a train line (station to be opened on match days), and space around the ground for people to gather, i.e. not like tullamore where ppl entering the stadium are queuing on the road as the ground has only one main access point. Maybe somewhere like athlone that the bordering counties/clubs can use also.
I know this is an often talked about point but if Dublin were to play outside Croker in the championship (and id love a day trip) the ground must logistically be able to cater for 40,000-50,000 dubs arriving

HenryHill16 (Dublin) - Posts: 249 - 25/08/2014 13:51:30    1641699

Thurles isnt a 65k stadium but it would be a far better option for Saturdays Kerry v Mayo game.

Traleenative (Kerry) - Posts: 44 - 25/08/2014 13:57:26    1641705

Build it in North Dublin

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 25/08/2014 13:58:08    1641707

Nonsense Jimbo.......South Dublin should get it.......

To prepare us for the big split ;-)

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 25/08/2014 14:59:04    1641758

25/08/2014 13:23:29 PoppinPoints
After much discussion and debate, it is confirmed that the replay between Mayo and Kerry will go ahead in the Gaelic Grounds. I think that a full house in Limerick will create a far better atmosphere than a 60% full croker. The only problem I have is that it appears that the maximum capacity for the Gaelic Grounds in 43000. That means that already the crowd will be down from 9000 after yesterdays match. Im sure that their also will be more people wanting tickets this time due to the location of Limerick in regards to Kerry and Mayo. The thought that I have been having for a while now is the need of a 60-65k stadium for the GAA preferably somewhere accessible to all counties, e.g redeveloping Semple stadium. It would be perfect for games that are only going to attract 60k instead of playing them in croker and having mass amounts of empty seats. It would also be perfect for Football quarter finals, the GAA could have a double header there and the other 2 games in Croker. It would also work out well for the hurling championship aswell. This stadium wouldn't necessarily have to be in Thurles either. Also it appears that the GAA should have enough money to finance a project like this. Let me know your thoughts on this? Fair point regarding capacity but Limerick is a much better location than Thurles. Its easier to get to etc.
The GAA doesn't need any more stadiums. Does it?
25/08/2014 13:36:08 MuckrossHead
If the only reason we are going to develop a 60,000 seater stadium is so that we don't have to look at empty seats in Croke Park then it is a waste of money.
Diverting games to this stadium will only result in Croke Park sitting idle & it costs too much to maintain to allow that.
I well remember last year all the criticism of staging the Ulster championship game between Donegal & Tyrone in Ballybofey. Tyrone folk were up in arms that i was too small but in the end sent tickets back.
The situation we find ourselves in re the replay is not ideal but it is very much the exception & certainly not worth building a white elephant in Thurles for.+1
25/08/2014 13:57:26
Traleenative
Thurles isnt a 65k stadium but it would be a far better option for Saturdays Kerry v Mayo game. Limerick is easier to get to, as good a stadium.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 25/08/2014 15:17:58    1641776

its not a new stadium they need its a new fixture maker.
somebody must have been half awake when they decided to pencil in an american football match the day before
an all ireland football semi final in the first place!!!!
you have less than 24 hours turn around to allow a pitch to recover from a sport never played there
with posts been erected on the actual pitch and differant markings and what have you.
then they dont even plan for a draw in the other all ireland semi final.
surely you would have imagined after 2 years ago when the kilkenny v galway all ireland hurling final
finished a draw and they had the debacle of forcing the womens final to be moved from its calendar date
to accomodate the hurling replay that they would have at the start of each year have
all angles covered regarding replays

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 25/08/2014 15:25:23    1641785

JayP
County: Dublin
Posts: 937

1641758
Nonsense Jimbo.......South Dublin should get it.......

To prepare us for the big split ;-)
__________

Ha-ha... sure you'll just use a hockey / Cricket pitch or something... borrow some neighboring rugby posts... close enough for yiz to have a kick about

;)

By the by... NEVER!!!!!!

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 25/08/2014 16:06:03    1641823

I'm northside Jim.......I'll stick to the polo grounds!

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 25/08/2014 16:18:45    1641841

JayP
County: Dublin
Posts: 938

1641841
I'm northside Jim.......I'll stick to the polo grounds!
_____

:)

Ha ha...

The biggest game of the year would be the two Dublin's playing each other

The culchies are sick to their back teeth with the amount of coverage Dublin GAA gets across the media

Imagine having two teams!

Wont be happening anyway but sure...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 25/08/2014 17:16:21    1641888

jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 13016

The culchies are sick to their back teeth with the amount of coverage Dublin GAA gets across the media

Don't know where you got that idea from jimbo.

Nothing we culchies enjoy more than watching Dub newspapers, radio & t.v. bigging the footballers & hyping them out of all proportion to their limited abilities.

It will make the aftermath all the sweeter, can you imagine what HS will look like next Monday morning if Dublin lose?

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 25/08/2014 18:39:13    1641941

Have we learned nothing from the bad old days? another white elephant, that would cost x3 of the original cost. No chance. I think that we have all got to use the stadium that are there, whether they are down the road, or a 4 hour drive away. That would also mean that croke park would only get filled when U2 are in town, or an all ireland final, and maybe a semi final involving donegal v dublin, or mayo v dublin. Thats about all the milage we are looking at, another stadium would really not add up.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 25/08/2014 18:49:01    1641947

Every thread now throws up some strange ideas. Like letting the players decide the fixtures OMG! or play the games in smaller stadiums to enhance the atmosphere. How about extra time? Imagine posting something sensible!

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4953 - 25/08/2014 18:57:34    1641952

Arock spot on, extra time should of being played. Have we totally forgotten the clubs of the Country.

therealtmo (Tipperary) - Posts: 1292 - 25/08/2014 19:09:34    1641962

A 40 - 50,000 seater stadium in the midlands sounds like a good idea but as a previous poster said it may take up games that would normally go to Croker, leaving it just for the games from August on or for Dublin only. I know some sporting associations carry stadia that are infrequently used but I don't know if the GAA could justify a very expensive mostly empty headquarters.

rcarragh (Dublin) - Posts: 305 - 25/08/2014 19:36:57    1641978

Donegalman - Dublin will fill the stadium at a football semi-final as they did last year against Kerry or against Down or Tyrone or indeed other counties. It is not just Donegal or Mayo.

fainleog (Limerick) - Posts: 602 - 25/08/2014 19:48:17    1641981

No need for new stadiums, if Thurles was redeveloped properly it could hold 60'000 no problem. For all the money that was spent on the place a few years ago it still looks somewhat shabby at both terraces. Semple is regarded as the GAA's second stadium so it's capacity should reflect that, stick an extra tier on the new stand get rid of the pillars and freshen up the terraces and bobs your uncle 60'000 in a relatively central location, simples!!

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3747 - 25/08/2014 19:53:55    1641985