Farrell: Keep Croke Park open to foreign games

[Main Street]

Effort should be put into capturing the publics imagination with big events based around our own sports rather than seeing what big soccer/rugby match we can attract.

Does one necessarily rule out the other?

Anyway the whole talk on financial benefits about Croke Pk being kept open is in fairyland
At a stretch, maybe, just maybe, a game could be played there once every 2 years after the new Lansdowne is opened.

Rule 42 on the renting out GAA facilities to competing sports is another matter.
How many clubs are already renting out their facilities to soccer clubs in their area?

Is it such a big deal for Congress to vote to leave it up to the elected club committies to decide how the facilities should be rented out, within the guidelines for usage.

[Tankie]

I think the only time you will get tens of thousands of people attending club soccer in this country is if you have a team based in Dublin competing in the English Premier league.

Shamrock Rovers got 20,000 at league games as late as the mid 90's. The potential is certainly there, espcially if facilities improve. 

Can you post the link with this?

I've been look for a web pages with has the information about the league games that had 20k at them, no joy so far but i'm sure dublinfella will have the info to hand...

I take it we wont get some hard facts from Dublinfella on this one either 

Probably it is more true to say that Rovers, on one occasion when they moved to the RDS, attracted a big crowd by LOI standards of 17,000k.

I remember that 'game' as I was at that game but they crowds never returned!

[Tyrone Dreamer]

Walsh in bid to keep Croker open

Noel Walsh
16 April 2009


Former Munster Council chairman and GAA presidential candidate Noel Walsh will urge delegates at this weekend's annual Congress to allow Central Council to retain the power to decide on the future use of Croke Park.

The Clare man had been involved in the original campaign which led to the historic decision to open up Croke Park to other sports at the 2005 Congress, and he claims the GAA will lose much of the goodwill it has earned if it decides to return to the status quo following the reopening of Lansdowne Road next year.



He said: "As before, we're not asking for anything more than the power to decide on that the use of Croke Park be left to Central Council which represents every county and overseas unit.

"It has shown itself to be wise and careful over the last few years, so there's a clear logic in allowing them continue to decide further policy on Croke Park.

"There's a great fear that if our motion is voted down and we revert to the pre-'05 position where Croke Park was locked to other sports, the GAA will lose most of the goodwill it earned in recent years. That would be very regressive."

He added: "If we allow Central Council to control the use of Croke Park, they can make a decision at relatively short notice."


I wish the guys in charge of promoting the gaa would do just that instead of coming out with this crap. The gaa was in a stronger position and had bigger crowds pre 2005. There is no evidence that opening up croke park has done anything to attract new members or promote our games.

[Gnevin]

Walsh in bid to keep Croker open

Noel Walsh
16 April 2009


Former Munster Council chairman and GAA presidential candidate Noel Walsh will urge delegates at this weekend's annual Congress to allow Central Council to retain the power to decide on the future use of Croke Park.

The Clare man had been involved in the original campaign which led to the historic decision to open up Croke Park to other sports at the 2005 Congress, and he claims the GAA will lose much of the goodwill it has earned if it decides to return to the status quo following the reopening of Lansdowne Road next year.



He said: "As before, we're not asking for anything more than the power to decide on that the use of Croke Park be left to Central Council which represents every county and overseas unit.

"It has shown itself to be wise and careful over the last few years, so there's a clear logic in allowing them continue to decide further policy on Croke Park.

"There's a great fear that if our motion is voted down and we revert to the pre-'05 position where Croke Park was locked to other sports, the GAA will lose most of the goodwill it earned in recent years. That would be very regressive."

He added: "If we allow Central Council to control the use of Croke Park, they can make a decision at relatively short notice."


I wish the guys in charge of promoting the gaa would do just that instead of coming out with this crap. The gaa was in a stronger position and had bigger crowds pre 2005. There is no evidence that opening up croke park has done anything to attract new members or promote our games.

What evidence do you have declining crows or a weakened position?  In terms of pure finances the GAA position was stronger and that money all went to the grass roots.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaa-championships/gaelic-football/gaa-dispels-fears-over-falling-championship-crowds-1420608.html
Disagrees with your statement.

[magpie seanie]

Whether it should be left open or not has nothing to do with the rubbish being spouted by Mr Walsh there. Goodwill me hole.

I was vehemently against opening but now it has been opened I don't really see any reason to close it. Funnily enough, I'd say the IRFU and FAI would prefer it to be closed up again. They will come under savage pressure to move big games that there's huge demand for which could cause them problems with their corporate/sponsors etc.

[dublinfella]

I think the only time you will get tens of thousands of people attending club soccer in this country is if you have a team based in Dublin competing in the English Premier league.

Shamrock Rovers got 20,000 at league games as late as the mid 90's. The potential is certainly there, espcially if facilities improve. 

Can you post the link with this?

I've been look for a web pages with has the information about the league games that had 20k at them, no joy so far but i'm sure dublinfella will have the info to hand...

I take it we wont get some hard facts from Dublinfella on this one either 

Probably it is more true to say that Rovers, on one occasion when they moved to the RDS, attracted a big crowd by LOI standards of 17,000k.

I remember that 'game' as I was at that game but they crowds never returned!

But my point is they got their act togther and filled the RDS at 22,000. They failed to hold that crowd as you say.

[Gnevin]

Whether it should be left open or not has nothing to do with the rubbish being spouted by Mr Walsh there. Goodwill me hole.

I was vehemently against opening but now it has been opened I don't really see any reason to close it. Funnily enough, I'd say the IRFU and FAI would prefer it to be closed up again. They will come under savage pressure to move big games that there's huge demand for which could cause them problems with their corporate/sponsors etc.

Yeah there would be some pressure from the money men but it's workable

[dublinfella]

Yeah there would be some pressure from the money men but it's workable

I don't think it is. Take soccer. They have 45,000 seats in LR. The could have 70,000 in CP. Rental of CP is 1.5m, so they would have to charge €60 per ticket and fill CP to break even, plus they lose all the concessions and merchandising revenue.

For the record I think that Rule 44 should be abolished and clubs be entitled to rent facilities to who they like within guidelines, but I cant see the FAI or IRFU availing of Croker when they don't need to.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

Walsh in bid to keep Croker open

Noel Walsh
16 April 2009


Former Munster Council chairman and GAA presidential candidate Noel Walsh will urge delegates at this weekend's annual Congress to allow Central Council to retain the power to decide on the future use of Croke Park.

The Clare man had been involved in the original campaign which led to the historic decision to open up Croke Park to other sports at the 2005 Congress, and he claims the GAA will lose much of the goodwill it has earned if it decides to return to the status quo following the reopening of Lansdowne Road next year.



He said: "As before, we're not asking for anything more than the power to decide on that the use of Croke Park be left to Central Council which represents every county and overseas unit.

"It has shown itself to be wise and careful over the last few years, so there's a clear logic in allowing them continue to decide further policy on Croke Park.

"There's a great fear that if our motion is voted down and we revert to the pre-'05 position where Croke Park was locked to other sports, the GAA will lose most of the goodwill it earned in recent years. That would be very regressive."

He added: "If we allow Central Council to control the use of Croke Park, they can make a decision at relatively short notice."


I wish the guys in charge of promoting the gaa would do just that instead of coming out with this crap. The gaa was in a stronger position and had bigger crowds pre 2005. There is no evidence that opening up croke park has done anything to attract new members or promote our games.

What evidence do you have declining crows or a weakened position?  In terms of pure finances the GAA position was stronger and that money all went to the grass roots.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaa-championships/gaelic-football/gaa-dispels-fears-over-falling-championship-crowds-1420608.html
Disagrees with your statement.

Gaa gate receipts were down €5m in 2008 fact and are budgeted to go down further in 2009. Instead of dealing with the problem and promoting gaelic games many of the people in charge of our games seem to spend of lot of their times pre occupied with attracting more rugby/soccer games into Croke Park and possibly other grounds. That goodwill talk is a big load of nonsense, there is no evidence that the goodwill from opening up croke park has done anything to attract people to gaelic games. Instead rugby seems to have benefited from its increased profile.

[dublinfella]

Gaa gate receipts were down €5m in 2008 fact and are budgeted to go down further in 2009. Instead of dealing with the problem and promoting gaelic games many of the people in charge of our games seem to spend of lot of their times pre occupied with attracting more rugby/soccer games into Croke Park and possibly other grounds. That goodwill talk is a big load of nonsense, there is no evidence that the goodwill from opening up croke park has done anything to attract people to gaelic games. Instead rugby seems to have benefited from its increased profile.

your first point is correct, but rugby is on the crest of a wave due to munsters exploits and the grand slam, and this has nothing to do with games in Croker. If they played their games in England, they would still be on an up.

[Main Street]

Lansdowne Road will be used for all games by both Rugby and Soccer.
Moving to CP for the odd game would not even be considered viable.

Either ditch rule 42 or not.

[Gnevin]

Lansdowne Road will be used for all games by both Rugby and Soccer.
Moving to CP for the odd game would not even be considered viable.

Either ditch rule 42 or not.

Italy and Germany play soccer games all over their countries . The English do so too. Also games like the H Cup semi which have no venue picked until quite late in the day . So it would be very viable.

The current rule is fine ,it allows us to generate income from our biggest structural while keeping pressure of our biggest non structural asset the clubs

[Gnevin]

Walsh in bid to keep Croker open

Noel Walsh
16 April 2009


Former Munster Council chairman and GAA presidential candidate Noel Walsh will urge delegates at this weekend's annual Congress to allow Central Council to retain the power to decide on the future use of Croke Park.

The Clare man had been involved in the original campaign which led to the historic decision to open up Croke Park to other sports at the 2005 Congress, and he claims the GAA will lose much of the goodwill it has earned if it decides to return to the status quo following the reopening of Lansdowne Road next year.



He said: "As before, we're not asking for anything more than the power to decide on that the use of Croke Park be left to Central Council which represents every county and overseas unit.

"It has shown itself to be wise and careful over the last few years, so there's a clear logic in allowing them continue to decide further policy on Croke Park.

"There's a great fear that if our motion is voted down and we revert to the pre-'05 position where Croke Park was locked to other sports, the GAA will lose most of the goodwill it earned in recent years. That would be very regressive."

He added: "If we allow Central Council to control the use of Croke Park, they can make a decision at relatively short notice."


I wish the guys in charge of promoting the gaa would do just that instead of coming out with this crap. The gaa was in a stronger position and had bigger crowds pre 2005. There is no evidence that opening up croke park has done anything to attract new members or promote our games.

What evidence do you have declining crows or a weakened position?  In terms of pure finances the GAA position was stronger and that money all went to the grass roots.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaa-championships/gaelic-football/gaa-dispels-fears-over-falling-championship-crowds-1420608.html
Disagrees with your statement.

Gaa gate receipts were down €5m in 2008 fact and are budgeted to go down further in 2009. Instead of dealing with the problem and promoting gaelic games many of the people in charge of our games seem to spend of lot of their times pre occupied with attracting more rugby/soccer games into Croke Park and possibly other grounds. That goodwill talk is a big load of nonsense, there is no evidence that the goodwill from opening up croke park has done anything to attract people to gaelic games. Instead rugby seems to have benefited from its increased profile.

Stop the presses . Gate receipts go down in time of recession. 2008 suffered from Munster Championship fatigue, all the hype and no one can come near Kilkenny.

5m is basically the loss of Dublin in the All Ireland Semi.

[RadioGAAGAA]

Nah, close her back up IMO.



The IRFU and FAI will have to use Lansdowne now to pay it back - they cannot afford to lease Croke and simply won't.

[orangeman]

I was reading the GAA annual report there today and the GAA have benefited enormously in financial terms from the opening up of Croker for the soccer and rugby games.

I can't see the soccer or rugby lads paying out the big bucks to hire Croker whenever Landsdowne is reopened.

Expect a few more concerts.