According to todays newspapers the Gaa have given the green light to the FAI/IRFU to play friendly matches in Croke Park
The FAI have penciled in a match against the auld enemy England while the IRFU have already confirmed that New Zealand are to play in Croke Park in November
Landmark decision opens Croke Park to All Blacks
SEÁN RYAN Sunday Independent
THE All Blacks, currently ranked Number One in world rugby, will play in Croke Park in November 2008, following a decision of the GAA's Central Council at its meeting yesterday.
The Central Council announced that it had "provisionally approved an application from the FAI and IRFU respectively to play two friendly/ranking games each in Croke Park in 2008. The Central Council's decision is contingent on agreement being reached with the respective governing bodies on terms and dates."
Prior to this decision, only competitive games were covered by the historic decision of Congress to allow rugby and soccer games in Croke Park. Competitive games already approved for 2008 are the Six Nations rugby dates of February 2, February 23 and March 8, while World Cup soccer games are listed for October 11 and 15.
The IRFU has an agreement to play New Zealand, Argentina and the USA in November 2008, and following yesterday's momentous decision, the New Zealand and Argentina games will be played in Croke Park, with the USA game going, most likely, to Thomond Park, which should be re-vamped by then to a 26,000 capacity stadium.
The FAI are not as advanced in their planning, as soccer friendlies are contingent on which teams are available following the Euro 2008 group games, which conclude in November.
The only statement the FAI issued yesterday was: "Friendly matches count towards our FIFA ranking, so the opportunity to have two additional home games in 2008 in Croke Park is very welcome."
Both games will be pencilled in on the international dates in mid-February and the end of March, and the obvious targets for the FAI are World Cup holders Italy and Copa America winners Brazil, both teams which would attract capacity crowds to Croke Park.
With all four friendly games scheduled for dates outside the main GAA season, there is unlikely to be any objection to them on that basis. The negotiation of terms is another matter, as each governing body will be anxious to maximise their take from these four lucrative fixtures.
This decision of the Central Council offers the very real possibility of the World Cup holders of soccer and rugby parading their talents in Croke Park next year, as New Zealand are favourites for the RWC in France in September, while soccer's World Cup winners Italy are sure to be on the FAI's wanted list.
Among other decisions taken by Central Council concerned the University of Limerick, who will be required to pay the costs of the recent court action taken by them against CLG and that those costs would not be underwritten by Central Council.
A presentation on the playing of Club Fixtures and a better deal for club players was made by Pauric Duffy, Player Welfare Manager. He stated that it is intended that presentations based on his views on the subject will be made to the CCCC and the Provincial Councils in the next few weeks and that counties and clubs will be given the opportunity to discuss the points raised. Counties and Provinces will be asked to submit their views and proposals by August 24 for consideration by the Management Committee.
One of the many proposals are that two defeats in the hurling and football championships would mean automatic elimination. The abolition of the inter-county junior and intermediate championships is also recommended and it is suggested that the release of intercounty players for club games be legislated for and that a limit be placed on the number of training sessions for inter-county squads per year.
It was agreed to increase the grants for the Nicky Rackard, Christy Ring and Tommy Murphy Cup winners.
It was also agreed that Pauric Duffy, the Player Welfare Officer, will assume the added responsibility of National Children's Officer.
Fast food mobile units are to be banned from inside GAA grounds on the basis of Health and Safety.
A presentation on a proposed master fixture plan for 2008 was made by Jimmy Dunne, Chairman of the CCCC. It was agreed that this would be further refined and considered by Central Council at its August meeting.
A unanimous vote of gratitude to Ard Stiúrthóir Liam Mulvihill was passed for his service to Ard Comhairle both as a delegate and Director General for over 35 years. This was passed in the context of the recent announcement of his intention to retire as Director General.
A vote of sympathy to James McGarry and his family was passed on the tragic death of James's wife Vanessa in a road accident last Thursday.
What next? Those opposed to opening croke were told it was being opened for essential matches only. This suggests that croke might always be used for soccer and rugby as lies were obviously told initially. These games are giving are competitors huge coverage and millions of pounds to challenge the gaa.
In fairness they'd get the same coverage regardless of where the games were played and this way the GAA also makes money from events that it otherwise wouldn't. The fact that the redevelopment of Lansdown rd. is up and running reassures me and I think we should milk the situation for all it's worth while we can. When LR is back up and running we can go our seperate ways a richer organisation both in economic and 'goodwill' terms.
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on July 22, 2007, 02:42:05 PM
What next? Those opposed to opening croke were told it was being opened for essential matches only. This suggests that croke might always be used for soccer and rugby as lies were obviously told initially. These games are giving are competitors huge coverage and millions of pounds to challenge the gaa.
so they are rebuilding LR with no intention of using it? Get real. This was always on the cards. The GAA make more money from these games than the FAI/IRFU.
Quote from: darbyo on July 22, 2007, 03:00:06 PM
In fairness they'd get the same coverage regardless of where the games were played and this way the GAA also makes money from events that it otherwise wouldn't. The fact that the redevelopment of Lansdown rd. is up and running reassures me and I think we should milk the situation for all it's worth while we can. When LR is back up and running we can go our seperate ways a richer organisation both in economic and 'goodwill' terms.
Seemingly there is an announcement on Tallaght due this week that might strain that.... Watch this space!
The great GAA man - always in with a post whenever the Soccer topic is raised ::)
Quote from: Rossfan on July 22, 2007, 05:36:08 PM
The great GAA man - always in with a post whenever the Soccer topic is raised ::)
Mid Louth?
Thats a bit harsh
Quote from: Rossfan on July 22, 2007, 05:36:08 PM
The great GAA man - always in with a post whenever the Soccer topic is raised ::)
Is it against the law to like both soccer and Gaa???
Soccerfella never posts on any GAA topics except when the word soccer is mentioned ;)
Quote from: Rossfan on July 22, 2007, 05:51:50 PM
Soccerfella never posts on any GAA topics except when the word soccer is mentioned ;)
you should be on a stage. hilarious.
your right, i should post more about club games in nordie places i have never heard of.
its very sinister, 'outing' people as not being 'proper' GAA men.
One of the many proposals are that two defeats in the hurling and football championships would mean automatic elimination
What does that mean?
If they persist with the round robin groups of 4 for provincial losing teams it will lead to only one can go through from each group- unless the two big teams could engineer a draw. It would of course also lead to walkovers after a weaker team loses its first game in the group.
It seems people are upset that Cork could win the Hurling All Ireland having lost 2 games. Some pundits have been pontificating that this shouldnt happen which led to this proposal which obviously hasnt been thought through.
I think a lot of people want to go back to knock out Qualifiers in Hurling and this is the first shot in the campaign.
dublinfella what is the % breakdown then
Quote from: dublinfella on July 22, 2007, 04:34:34 PM
so they are rebuilding LR with no intention of using it? Get real. This was always on the cards. The GAA make more money from these games than the FAI/IRFU.
I'd be interested to know how you came to this conclusion. And no "I was talking to some bloke in the FAI and he said . . ." stories, please. Some links would be nice.
Quote from: deiseach on July 22, 2007, 08:48:51 PM
Quote from: dublinfella on July 22, 2007, 04:34:34 PM
so they are rebuilding LR with no intention of using it? Get real. This was always on the cards. The GAA make more money from these games than the FAI/IRFU.
I'd be interested to know how you came to this conclusion. And no "I was talking to some bloke in the FAI and he said . . ." stories, please. Some links would be nice.
the GAA take €1.5m per game plus a percentage of the food, bar, programmes etc. The FAI/IRFU have to pay insurance, security, electricity for the floodlights etc. Its not hard to see the FAI comong out with less than the GAA when everything is paid for.
poppycock.
Check the IRFU's year end financial reports.
THe made in excess of three million Euro per Six natinos game in Croke park.
Quote from: dublinfella on July 22, 2007, 10:02:04 PM
the GAA take €1.5m per game plus a percentage of the food, bar, programmes etc. The FAI/IRFU have to pay insurance, security, electricity for the floodlights etc. Its not hard to see the FAI comong out with less than the GAA when everything is paid for.
According the Sunday Business Post (http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2006/01/22/story11181.asp), the sale of 68,000 seats at €70 per head would amount to €4.5 million. That leaves over €3 million for the IRFU and FAI from each game, not including advertising revenue or the IRFU being able to use the Hill when the All Blacks come to town. Now, perhaps you think the sale of a few hotdogs increases the GAA's take, and the hiring of a few heavies and paying the ESB bill (something they presumably did in Lansdowne Road) reduces the IRFU's and the FAI's take, to the point where the GAA comes out ahead. But that would be a crossover of cost / revenue of at least €1.5 million. So it is, I think, quite hard to see that happening.
the FAI are charging far less per ticket than €70
Quote from: dublinfella on July 22, 2007, 10:25:22 PM
the FAI are charging far less per ticket than €70
The two tickets i got for the Wales and Slovakia matches were 70euro each
Quote from: dublinfella on July 22, 2007, 10:25:22 PM
the FAI are charging far less per ticket than €70
What are they charging then?
Quote from: The Real Laoislad on July 22, 2007, 11:10:19 PM
The two tickets i got for the Wales and Slovakia matches were 70euro each
Ahem.
QuoteHuge prices for Croke Park internationals (http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0714/crokepark.html)
Friday, 14 July 2006 13:39
RTÉ has learned that top tickets at rugby internationals in Croke Park will cost over €1,000.
When Ireland play France and England next February, the IRFU will charge €850 plus VAT per person in a corporate box, resulting in a cost of more than €1,000 per person.
With almost 2,000 seats at this level the IRFU can earn almost €2million just from the corporate boxes alone.
That sum alone will cover the reported rental cost to the GAA of €1.5million per match.
That still leaves the IRFU with another 75,000 tickets to sell including almost 9,000 in the exclusive Premium Level selling at €110.
Ordinary stand tickets will cost €80.
Under an agreement with Croke Park Stadium Ltd, the existing box holders will be given first refusal at a cheaper price. They can attend for €750 plus VAT, a cost of over €900 per person.
The FAI has told RTÉ that corporate box tickets will be under €400 per person.
Tickets will be sold as a bundle. Therefore to take a box for the high demand game against Germany, you will also have to take it for the game against Cyprus.
The game with Wales will be bundled with the match against Slovakia.
Premium level tickets for soccer internationals are expected to cost €85, with stand tickets priced at €50 and €70.
An IRFU spokesman said the difference in price merely reflects the different markets involved.
Ahem, cough, splutter.
Lads Roversfella hates the gaa, never mind not being a "proper" GAA man.
He hates them, this much is obvious.
I think its bad form the FAI having England over, the though of their soccer fans wrecking the place was in most GAA peoples mind when the rules were being debated.
Now thats theres no actual need to have them here its just bad form.
Then again its to be expected from the FAI.
QuoteI think its bad form the FAI having England over
Is this confirmed, or is it just pie in the sky tabloid sensationalism. Surely the security costs alone would be prohibitive, no?
Thats "if" they do, I havent heard anything other than whats on this thread.
I presume if there was anything to it, it would be all over the papers and the radio, so doubt its true.
Quote from: his holiness nb on July 23, 2007, 08:57:50 AM
Lads Roversfella hates the gaa, never mind not being a "proper" GAA man.
He hates them, this much is obvious.
I think its bad form the FAI having England over, the though of their soccer fans wrecking the place was in most GAA peoples mind when the rules were being debated.
Now thats theres no actual need to have them here its just bad form.
Then again its to be expected from the FAI.
There's not a hope in hell of England playing a friendly in Croker. They'll be trying to get Italy, France, Brazil or Argentina. They'll end up with Poland.
The March 8th Rugby fixture is the only one that I'd have any concern over as its so close to the All Ireland club finals. The rest of the fixtures I have no problem with as the stadium will be idle at this time of the year anyway. We got to maximize revenue from our greatest asset.
Quote from: Gnevin on July 22, 2007, 08:28:22 PM
One of the many proposals are that two defeats in the hurling and football championships would mean automatic elimination
What does that mean?
Yeah, its all bullshít.
If it was Waterford who had lost twice and drawn Munster champions Cork, then there'd be nothing about it, maybe people even saying what a great system it is.
But if Cork beat Waterford, then there'll be a huge amount of crying about how Waterford are out having lost just once, but Cork go on despite having lost twice.
The rules are in place before a sliothar was thrown in. Everyone knew them. Ergo they are perfectly fair. For years now there has always been the opportunity that a provincial champion can get knocked out of the All Ireland by a team they beat in the provincial championship. Its great when an Offaly or Waterford or Clare do it, but if Cork or Kilkenny do it then all the girls come out with their crying.
I thought friendly internationals were not allowed? Maybe the wool was pulled over my eyes....
Not really, Seanie. The congress vote gave the decision to Central Council, with no proviso about which games could/couldn't be played. Central Council, as I remember, did the deal with the FAI and the IRFU for 2007 on the basis of competitive fixtures only. As the body charged with administering the use of Croke Park for soccer/rugby while Lansdowne Road is closed, they're entitled to change that stipulation that they introduced themselves.
I understand your position on the issue, but what's wrong with an extra few million? What incremental damage can it do, on top of the untold damage (:P) already done?
You know what I meant Hardy. There was supposed to be no friendlies. It was only supposed to be a neighbourly gesture while their own ground was out of use. This has not proved to be the case. I know you were of the opposite opinion to myself and I respect that totally. I respect the decision made by Congress as a whole. I just didn't think this was part of it and I dare say I wasn't alone in that thought.
I really don't want to open up the can of worms again. I just think its worth highlighting.
QuoteI understand your position on the issue, but what's wrong with an extra few million?
Depends who's getting it.
I'm not going there either Seanie - there would never be agreement.
Seems as if the goalposts have shifted so to speak. We were told initially that the stadium was being opened for essential matches as a goodwill gesture. It now seems that money is taking over. The gaa are giving soccer and rugby unprecented revenue making potential. Although people say the gaa can invest the money at grassroots to attract more children etc. Did they never think that soccer and rubgy are making more out of the games than the gaa and thus can invest even more at grassroots level than the gaa. They already have a number of advantages over the gaa such as the international dimension and huge publicity. Id rather the GAA concentrated on getting more people and more matches into our own games in croke park.
I see there's talk in the papers croke park will stay opne beyond 2009 for big soccer and rugby games. It looks like everything said to get the stadium open was a lie and the no camp werent being paranoid and exagerating as was said when points like this were raised. As was said once these games started they'll be there for good. Landsdowne will host a lot of games but the big one's will be in croke park. I can see the financial sense of the deal though.
They should play the Leinster final a day before an International soccer game.
Sure us Dubs would have the pitch in bits for them! ;D
Quote from: his holiness nb on July 26, 2007, 02:32:37 PM
They should play the Leinster final a day before an International soccer game.
Sure us Dubs would have the pitch in bits for them! ;D
Or the Dublin footballers could just play both the soccer and GAA matches because
A- They'd probably be better soccer players than the current lot of Irish Internationals and
B- Dublin Footballers/fans are practically a soccer club anyways
Quote from: The Real Laoislad on July 26, 2007, 02:47:06 PM
Quote from: his holiness nb on July 26, 2007, 02:32:37 PM
They should play the Leinster final a day before an International soccer game.
Sure us Dubs would have the pitch in bits for them! ;D
Or the Dublin footballers could just play both the soccer and GAA matches because
A- They'd probably be better soccer players than the current lot of Irish Internationals and
B- Dublin Footballers/fans are practically a soccer club anyways
Hows your fantasy Premiership team going LL????? ::) ::)
Quote from: The Real Laoislad on July 26, 2007, 02:47:06 PM
A- They'd probably be better soccer players than the current lot of Irish Internationals and
B- Dublin Footballers/fans are practically a soccer club anyways
Laoislad, arent you the guy who only changes his avatar from Liverpool to Laois during the summer ;)
Yep thats me and i will be doing it again come the winter!!
Quote from: The Real Laoislad on July 26, 2007, 03:24:02 PM
Yep thats me and i will be doing it again come the winter!!
your some tool!!!
Quote from: The Real Laoislad on July 26, 2007, 03:24:02 PM
Yep thats me and i will be doing it again come the winter!!
Could you really do that to Debbie?? :-\
Quote from: Tyrone Dreamer on July 26, 2007, 01:31:40 PM
I see there's talk in the papers croke park will stay opne beyond 2009 for big soccer and rugby games.
Is this not another Breheny Bullshit non story??
Nobody is quoted no evidence etc just a comment that the extra 30,000 capacity would generate more money for FAI/IRFU and rent for GAA.
Sure why not forget about Lansdowne Road atogether?