The best thing to do would be to build the bottom tier as a standing are and just continue the upper tier like normal. I don't see the point in it though. What would the capacity go up to? 95k maby? This would only fill on Ai finals. I think what the Gas should focus on is a 55k stadium in a location like Athlone perfect for Ai quarters, semi not involving Dublin, Leinster final many as well. Thoughts?

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 24/09/2015 18:57:00    1792025

The cost of it would be huge, the ground to the houses is owned by Irish Rail, the rail track runs at an angle as does the Stadium there are no straight lines. If it was built to follow the specs of the rest of the Satadium it would go halfway up the back gardens of the houses on Clonliffe road especially at the Nally terrace corner. So before you do anything you'd have to purchase bout 25 houses costing anything up to 10 million, purchase the land off the Irish Rail, get planning permission, then demolish and build. Never will happen

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4953 - 24/09/2015 19:08:16    1792028

Seating reduces capacity. They should tear out all the seats make it an all terrace affair. Much better craic in the terrace

elvistheking (Galway) - Posts: 99 - 24/09/2015 19:14:29    1792032

Terraces are coming back all over Europe. The days of all seaters are numbered. The atmosphere and comfort of modern 'rail' terracing is second to none. Withing 10 years the majority of stadiums will have terraces back.

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 24/09/2015 19:58:48    1792049

I don't think any more money should be spent on Croke Park. If anything, its too big as it is, its actually not fit for purpose. As its purpose is to facilitate and promote Gaelic Games, but its now being considered too big to host many important games. Just this year, we've had discussions about moving the Leinster hurling final out of Croke park, moving AI semi's out of Croke Park, because its now considered too big for the crowds these games are getting. We had only 4 top tier hurling matches played in Croke Park this year, not a great return.

Money should be spent on marketing the games, and lowering ticket prices (or facilitating free admission for certain groups), to increase the crowds attending matches, so we can start filling the seats that are already there.
Failing that, the money should be spent on modernizing other county grounds. Not increasing capacity, modernizing, at least up to 1990's standard (realistic expectations).

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 24/09/2015 20:06:36    1792051

Its a fruitless exercise to talk about it as it will never happen. The Aviva is designed the way it is to protect the right to light of the adjoining dwellings. If the Hill was changed to match the rest of the stadium the shadow cast would be 2.5miles. To get approval would be an impossible task. The Hill is there to stay!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 24/09/2015 20:32:48    1792069

The railway line should not be a problem, you can build over it. Houses and light are I suppose. Dublin though and Ireland in general has a problem with planning.
What do Dubs here think of the lack of housing and office space in the capital? The docklands should have had high rise built on it but instead we are left with boring 5/6 story blocks. In New York at the minute they are building skyscrapers over an entire railway yard (Hudson Yards)...nothing there is said "ah it cant be done"

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11549 - 25/09/2015 08:59:53    1792156

Its not going to happen end of story.I would be more concerned with the design of the existing stands, they provide very little cover for spectators on a wet day especially the Cusack.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 25/09/2015 09:13:00    1792161

Brilliant Elvistheking - haha!

Some all seater stadiums ive been to in england have a terrible atmosphere, its boring, 'stand up for the ..., sit down for the ...'
the best thing about a standing terrace is that friends can stay together and sing and shout and enjoy themselves.

The atmosphere on the hill does be great and there is nowhere else some people would rather be.

The majority of ticket swap threads before the AI final was from people looking to swap a stand ticket for a terrace,
not the other way around.

Keep the hill. if you prefer to sit, thats grand. Just think of others who might actually like it the way it is,
despite how much it offends your eyes.

HenryHill16 (Dublin) - Posts: 249 - 25/09/2015 09:40:45    1792176

If anything Croke park is too big really. I think going forward it should be left alone. And the semi finals and so held down in Pearse stadium Salthill or else Thurles. Pearse stadium capacity is 34,000 about. Thurles about 40-50,000. Big enough for the semi finals in my opinion.
If anything Croke park capacity could be reduced. The Olympic park in Stratford is being reduced for West Ham Utd next year in the Premier league.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2614 - 25/09/2015 09:50:58    1792178

galwayford good point. Could hold each QF in a different province. random draw for each match to see where its held and only condition is you cant play in your home province if possible

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 25/09/2015 11:34:23    1792243

They should do whatever they can to finish Croker all the way around, Hill 16 is an awful eyesore.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 25/09/2015 11:55:32    1792265

I agree with you yew tree.Dublin should have gone up,not out,a long time ago.Im parked up in the Grand Canal docklands as we speak and nice as it is,there could be so much more done.I cant understand why the apartment & office blocks only go up four or five stories.There are a few that go up to ten or so stories,but it is bizarre there are not more.

The Luas cross over is making a dogs dinner of the centre and soon,the College Green/Westmoreland St/D'Olier St area will be closed to all cars and taxis.Business'sare up in arms.It is a joke.The planning in this city is pathetic.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 25/09/2015 12:14:40    1792281

just invite the parachute regiment in now as well . keep it up .

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 28/09/2015 21:01:24    1793334

It is definitely a source of frustration for Irish sports fans that we have two magnificent stadiums in the form of Croke Park and the Aviva, and yet both stadiums have an unfinished look to them, thanks to the North Stand in the Aviva, and Hill 16 in Croker. I think most people would love to see Croke Park completed in a 'bowl effect' like say the Stade de France or Wembley, but it's highly unlikely given the logistics of Hill 16, thanks to the proximity of the houses on Clonliffe Road, and the railway line which does not run parallel to the pitch. To complete Croke Park would involve purchasing some of the houses on Clonliffe Road, not to mention either putting the railway line underground or diverting it prior to Croke Park, and while all of these things are possible, it is probably not worth it. You look at Liverpool FC and the absolute nightmare they have had buying up houses around Anfield in order to develop their ground, for them is was an absolute necessity, completing Croke Park is not anywhere near a necessity.

gilly0512 (Galway) - Posts: 1176 - 29/09/2015 08:51:04    1793373

Any monies that the GAA are ear-marking for stadiums should be, as someone mentioned above, for stadium modernizing and not increasing the capacity. As a spectator going to games, apart from supporting my team, I go for the experience. This is made up from the atmosphere, the ease of going to the toilet, the ease and choice of getting food and a drink and above all safety for me and my family. I want to walk out of the stadium with a positive vibe and the desire to come back. Having been lucky enough to have seen a number of stadiums around the world, most of the Irish stadiums, including Croke Park, are in need of major overhaul to enhance the spectator experience. I would rather CP keeps the hill as it adds to the atmosphere. It is also a distinctive landmark to make CP different from a lot of other stadiums. However comparing them to say the NFL in the USA, where capacities are lower but the fan experience is first class, the Irish stadiums are lifeless bowls of concrete. The best thing they ever did was put a wrecking ball through Cork, as firstly you could not see the game when it was on due to the shallow bowl, secondly parking was non-existent and thirdly, it was not suited to the Irish weather. The same can be said for Belfast. We need to promote our game to both the internal market but also to the international market, and sports fans used to having first class facilities, will not come back to events in Ireland. Rant over.

Termon (Tyrone) - Posts: 58 - 29/09/2015 09:03:10    1793380

25/09/2015 08:59:53
yew_tree
County: Mayo
Posts: 6913

1792156
The railway line should not be a problem, you can build over it. Houses and light are I suppose. Dublin though and Ireland in general has a problem with planning.
What do Dubs here think of the lack of housing and office space in the capital? The docklands should have had high rise built on it but instead we are left with boring 5/6 story blocks. In New York at the minute they are building skyscrapers over an entire railway yard (Hudson Yards)...nothing there is said "ah it cant be done"


Your completely right but tbf they were going to build massive high rise blocks down the docks around 15 years ago but the inner city folk protesting for months against this and they won in the end. It's wrecks my head when they keep turning down sky scrapers for them horrible little square boxes.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 29/09/2015 09:48:53    1793393

I actually have no problem with the visual appearance of the Hill, given the space constraints and design difficulties at that end of the ground I think a pretty good job was done redeveloping it, a roof of some sort would be a welcome addition alright and I dont think that would be overly challenging but adding an extra tier ot trying to complete the bowl really isnt necessary. As has been pointed out its a struggle to fill its present capacity and monies should indeed be directed to modernising other grounds and I would start with Semple Stadium, for our supposed second ground behind Croker its a long way off the pace in terms of facilities and comfort

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3747 - 29/09/2015 10:20:03    1793411

ridiculous points here
you already have 70 thousand seats for those looking to sit
we have posters whinging all year that its half empty for most games
why take away the one area of the ground that you can stand in
a lot of people rather standing at games and the atmosphere is far better on terraces
anybody who was at the dublin mayo semi finals
or the dublin kerry final thats not a dub were all saying how much they enjoyed it.
its not an artist drawing who cares about looks of a stadium
you have seats everywhere else and in fact if anything the horseshoe look is more unique anyway
than just having a typical soccer looking stadium all seated.
In the past people had a point about vantage points of seeing the match being blocked
but the current hill is perfect, it has far bigger steps which allow you to view the game from all areas.
much more comfortable bars and more exits at a good height that if you have a child
you can get in and claim one so they have a clear view of the whole pitch.

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 29/09/2015 10:35:47    1793421

I'd love a roof on the hill purely for atmosphere. . Keep it standing but with a roof... the noise would be incredible

AthCliath87 (Dublin) - Posts: 345 - 29/09/2015 11:04:07    1793450