College Football Penn St/UCF Game confirmed 2014 in Croker

jack presley · 14-07-2013 6:17pm

This was on the UCF press release, anyone have any memories of the Limerick and Galway games?

Regular-Season Games Played in Ireland
1988 - Boston College 38, Army 24 - Dublin - Attendance: 45,525
1989 - Pittsburgh 46, Rutgers 29 - Dublin - Attendance: 19,800
1991 - Holy Cross 24, Fordham 19 - Limerick - Attendance: 17,411
1992 - Bowdoin 7, Tufts 6 - Galway - Attendance: 2,500
1996 - Notre Dame 54, Navy 27 - Dublin - Attendance: 38,651
2012 - John Carroll 40, St. Norbert 3 - Dublin - Attendance: 4,877
2012 - Notre Dame 50, Navy 10 - Dublin - Attendance: 48,820

jvrk · 14-07-2013 7:58pm

Tickets bought not making the same mistake as the Navy Notre Dame game by waiting to buy them.

decies · 14-07-2013 11:39pm

Such negativity on this thread . Cheer up the lot of ye lol.

bobby wade · 15-07-2013 1:02pm

jack presley wrote: »

This was on the UCF press release, anyone have any memories of the Limerick and Galway games?

Regular-Season Games Played in Ireland
1988 - Boston College 38, Army 24 - Dublin - Attendance: 45,525
1989 - Pittsburgh 46, Rutgers 29 - Dublin - Attendance: 19,800
1991 - Holy Cross 24, Fordham 19 - Limerick - Attendance: 17,411
1992 - Bowdoin 7, Tufts 6 - Galway - Attendance: 2,500
1996 - Notre Dame 54, Navy 27 - Dublin - Attendance: 38,651
2012 - John Carroll 40, St. Norbert 3 - Dublin - Attendance: 4,877
2012 - Notre Dame 50, Navy 10 - Dublin - Attendance: 48,820

Have a programme from Fordham/Holy Cross game
Nespaper clipping from Bowdoin Tufts

Son Of A Vidic · 15-07-2013 1:40pm

I couldn't give a flying shít whether the stadium is packed or not tbh. I'll be going and that's all I care about. If any of you guys are interested in a Boards.ie get together thingy for the game, then count me in.

padraig_f · 15-07-2013 3:13pm

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

I couldn't give a flying shít whether the stadium is packed or not tbh. I'll be going and that's all I care about. If any of you guys are interested in a Boards.ie get together thingy for the game, then count me in.

Just kind of begs the question, if the fans of the team don't travel in large numbers, and the game doesn't attract sufficient local interest, what's the point of playing the game here? You're never going to grow a popular international following for college football, it's by it's nature a parochial thing, related to students & alumni of the university. As a relative one-off event, like last year, fine. As a more regular thing, I don't quite get the point of it.

What I would've done would be to try and parlay the success of last year's game into an NFL game, which would have a much broader appeal (and has more scope for international growth).

Anyway, I suppose the numbers who attend will tell if it's worthwhile or not.

Adamcp898 · 15-07-2013 3:28pm

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

I couldn't give a flying shít whether the stadium is packed or not tbh. I'll be going and that's all I care about. If any of you guys are interested in a Boards.ie get together thingy for the game, then count me in.

My criticism of having it in a larger stadium and the likelihood of it being half empty as opposed to having it in a near capacity smaller one is that when teams see how low the turnout is they'll be turned off from having another game here and so we won't see one for another 10/15 years.

If we want regular games we'll have to look as attractive as possible and make these games look like they've been big hits as opposed to pictures of a full tier of seating closed and plenty of visible empty seats in the rest.

SantryRed · 15-07-2013 3:32pm

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

I couldn't give a flying shít whether the stadium is packed or not tbh. I'll be going and that's all I care about. If any of you guys are interested in a Boards.ie get together thingy for the game, then count me in.

Well when it's as much as a disaster attendance wise as it will be, there won't be more games coming back here.

jack presley · 15-07-2013 3:32pm

I don't know for sure but I get the impression that this is been driven (on the Irish side anyway) by the GAA so it's always going to be on in Croke Park. It's not like some promoter who wants to put on the game on chose it over Landsdowne.

Adamcp898 · 15-07-2013 3:38pm

jack presley wrote: »

I don't know for sure but I get the impression that this is been driven (on the Irish side anyway) by the GAA so it's always going to be on in Croke Park. It's not like some promoter who wants to put on the game on chose it over Landsdowne.

Surely a team would draw up its own shortlist of possible venues and then factor in all the variables before making its decision.

Unless of course some promotor/the GAA have offered to pay them a flat fee regardless of attendance to play the game here and hope they can make some money out of it after seeing last years. Problem is they won't make a cent and will have ruined it for everybody.

Copper_pipe · 15-07-2013 4:45pm

Tickets on sale lads

http://www.ticketmaster.ie/penn-state-nittany-lions-v-ucf-dublin-08-30-2014/event/18004AEA9B082097?artistid=836126&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=102

Bateman · 15-07-2013 5:23pm

jack presley wrote: »

I don't know for sure but I get the impression that this is been driven (on the Irish side anyway) by the GAA so it's always going to be on in Croke Park. It's not like some promoter who wants to put on the game on chose it over Landsdowne.

Greed is a powerful thing, you'd be surprised (I don't know either btw, just wouldn't be too sure the GAA have any involvement in what is essentially promoting other sports)

TO. · 15-07-2013 6:06pm

Bateman wrote: »

Greed is a powerful thing, you'd be surprised (I don't know either btw, just wouldn't be too sure the GAA have any involvement in what is essentially promoting other sports)

But when you look at it they are promoting another sport that could fill up their own pockets. They fill out Croke park they make a ton of money from concessions to ticket sales. They also get a chance to promote their own sport to many Americans. I am sure the Euros are motivation enough to spear head this.

jack presley · 15-07-2013 6:17pm

I didn't mean the GAA are behind it because they want to make a few quid, my point was in relation to some saying they should play it at Landsdowne, which we all agree would be a more suitable venue. But as I think it is being driven by the GAA, there was never going to be a chance of that.

padraig_f · 15-07-2013 6:31pm

jack presley wrote: »

I didn't mean the GAA are behind it because they want to make a few quid, my point was in relation to some saying they should play it at Landsdowne, which we all agree would be a more suitable venue. But as I think it is being driven by the GAA, there was never going to be a chance of that.

Yeah I think if you were being logical, you'd put it in the Aviva, but this is often not the way these things happen, there are other interests involved.

My fear about it is the GAA saw the game in the Aviva last year, and without really understanding the circumstances that made it a success (iconic college football program with Irish link, the link to 'The Gathering' stuff, the fact that it was planned several years in advance so the US fans had a chance to save money & make travel plans), thought they'd get in on the act, and that they could get the same type of numbers for any college game.

I wonder how well it was thought out, because to me it's not making a lot of sense, but people will vote with their feet. If they get 50,000 people to attend, the event will be justified, I just have my doubts if they will get a crowd like that.

kingcobra · 16-07-2013 12:41am

Got a pair of tickets for this today, €50 each for lower stand tickets near the centre-line isn't too shabby.

Realt Dearg Sec · 16-07-2013 2:43pm

SantryRed wrote: »

Well when it's as much as a disaster attendance wise as it will be, there won't be more games coming back here.

This is incorrect anyway, since Notre Dame are coming back in 2017.

HigginsJ · 16-07-2013 4:27pm

Really going to watch Penn. St closely this year to get up to scratch on their players. They have a potential star QB in their new recruit Christian Hackenberg. Not sure who else to be looking for, any suggestions?

jack presley · 16-07-2013 4:31pm

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

This is incorrect anyway, since Notre Dame are coming back in 2017.

Is that confirmed anywhere? I know there's talk of them coming back as there is with Boston Colege and Alabama but is it set in stone that it'll be ND in 2017?

Realt Dearg Sec · 16-07-2013 5:09pm

jack presley wrote: »

Is that confirmed anywhere? I know there's talk of them coming back as there is with Boston Colege and Alabama but is it set in stone that it'll be ND in 2017?

I got that information from a source within Notre Dame Ireland that is very reputable indeed. No official word yet I'd say, but the word was that their season opener would be here, in Croke Park if I recall correctly. Needless to say I'm just some dude on the internet so you can't really take it as gospel but don't be shocked if the announcement comes.

Fr Tod Umptious · 18-07-2013 8:59am

padraig_f wrote: »

Yeah I think if you were being logical, you'd put it in the Aviva, but this is often not the way these things happen, there are other interests involved.

My fear about it is the GAA saw the game in the Aviva last year, and without really understanding the circumstances that made it a success (iconic college football program with Irish link, the link to 'The Gathering' stuff, the fact that it was planned several years in advance so the US fans had a chance to save money & make travel plans), thought they'd get in on the act, and that they could get the same type of numbers for any college game.

I wonder how well it was thought out, because to me it's not making a lot of sense, but people will vote with their feet. If they get 50,000 people to attend, the event will be justified, I just have my doubts if they will get a crowd like that.

But the GAA already have experience in hosting both college and pro football, so there would already be knowledge and understanding within that organisation of what is involved in making it a success.

I think I will go to this.

Bateman · 18-07-2013 10:21am

Personally I think you might be giving the GAA a bit too much credit there in terms of their "understanding" of international/foreign games.

I am going to do a bit of digging and see if this has the GAA's hands all over it or someone else's.

Realt Dearg Sec · 18-07-2013 10:42am

Bateman wrote: »

Personally I think you might be giving the GAA a bit too much credit there in terms of their "understanding" of international/foreign games.

I am going to do a bit of digging and see if this has the GAA's hands all over it or someone else's.

Why would the GAA not have an understanding of how this stuff works? They have hosted more big American football games than anyone else in the country. By far.

TO. · 18-07-2013 10:43am

Bateman wrote: »

Personally I think you might be giving the GAA a bit too much credit there in terms of their "understanding" of international/foreign games.

I am going to do a bit of digging and see if this has the GAA's hands all over it or someone else's.

The only thing the GAA will be doing in this is playing hosts and coming to agreement to let the NCAA and its members use its facilities at some sort of cost. I doubt the GAA are "Running" anything here other than facilitating the colleges in playing games. Probably an agreement in place to use their facilities over the next few years thus taking out any further stadium option by the NCAA in Ireland i.e Lansdowne road. Having said all of that of course the GAA have a clear understanding on how foreign sports work especially in Croke Park as they have allowed enough games be played in their stadiums and not just Croke Park.

jack presley · 18-07-2013 11:32am

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

They have hosted more big American football games than anyone else in the country. By far.

Apart from the first ND v Navy and the preseason game with the Bears about 20 years ago, have they hosted many more? Unless you're counting those high school games last year at Parnell and Navan. But they could hardly be considered 'big'.

There's been 3 NCAA div 1 games at Landsdowne/Aviva by comparison

Realt Dearg Sec · 18-07-2013 11:53am

jack presley wrote: »

Apart from the first ND v Navy and the preseason game with the Bears about 20 years ago, have they hosted many more? Unless you're counting those high school games last year at Parnell and Navan. But they could hardly be considered 'big'.

There's been 3 NCAA div 1 games at Landsdowne/Aviva by comparison

Point taken, but I still don't understand where the notion that the GAA wouldn't "understand" these games comes from, or what that would have to do with their ability to host one?

padraig_f · 18-07-2013 3:08pm

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Why would the GAA not have an understanding of how this stuff works? They have hosted more big American football games than anyone else in the country. By far.

I'm a GAA fan, but I don't think they are very savvy at understanding marketing when it comes to their own games. There are a lot of examples of this which continue to go on. I'm sure they know logistically how to host an event, I'm not sure they have such a good understanding of market forces when it comes to international sport (actually as a fan, my impression is they have quite a poor understanding of this kind of stuff).

TO. wrote: »

The only thing the GAA will be doing in this is playing hosts and coming to agreement to let the NCAA and its members use its facilities at some sort of cost. I doubt the GAA are "Running" anything here other than facilitating the colleges in playing games. Probably an agreement in place to use their facilities over the next few years thus taking out any further stadium option by the NCAA in Ireland i.e Lansdowne road. Having said all of that of course the GAA have a clear understanding on how foreign sports work especially in Croke Park as they have allowed enough games be played in their stadiums and not just Croke Park.

Yeah, but they're hosting the event with expectation of making a profit, based on the numbers who turn up. They'll have had a decision-making process, based on expected numbers attending. The GAA probably have the biggest stake in the deal in how many people attend (I imagine the two teams are getting a relative flat fee), so it's ultimately their call in how successful the thing will be from a numbers point of view.

padraig_f · 18-07-2013 3:10pm

jack presley wrote: »

Apart from the first ND v Navy and the preseason game with the Bears about 20 years ago, have they hosted many more? Unless you're counting those high school games last year at Parnell and Navan. But they could hardly be considered 'big'.

There's been 3 NCAA div 1 games at Landsdowne/Aviva by comparison

Yeah, and the last one was 1996, nearly 20 years ago. Sport, and how people consume it has changed hugely since then, much more choice, more live sport on TV, internet channels etc. Rugby was barely professional in 1996, they'll now be competing with Autumn internationals for peoples' money, as well as August being about the biggest month in the GAA season. We're also still in a global recession, which can have a significant effect on attendances. Just a huge number of variables have changed since then.

Also, why haven't they hosted a game since 1996? My guess is the game at the Aviva last year influenced their thinking, but I'm not sure they understood the factors that made that game a success.

Realt Dearg Sec · 18-07-2013 3:57pm

padraig_f wrote: »

I'm a GAA fan, but I don't think they are very savvy at understanding marketing when it comes to their own games. There are a lot of examples of this which continue to go on. I'm sure they know logistically how to host an event, I'm not sure they have such a good understanding of market forces when it comes to international sport (actually as a fan, my impression is they have quite a poor understanding of this kind of stuff).

Yeah, but they're hosting the event with expectation of making a profit, based on the numbers who turn up. They'll have had a decision-making process, based on expected numbers attending. The GAA probably have the biggest stake in the deal in how many people attend (I imagine the two teams are getting a relative flat fee), so it's ultimately their call in how successful the thing will be from a numbers point of view.

I'm not sure what you're basing any of that on. It seems highly unlikely to me that the GAA reached out to two college teams to get them to come over, took on the risk of loss themselves and the attendant duty to promote a game between two teams whose fanbases are utterly outside of the GAA's sphere of influence. Is there any basis for what you're saying?

As hosts, though, the GAA bring in the biggest numbers through their gates of any sporting organisation in the country, week in week out all summer long every single year. How they would suddenly forget how to do this just because the ball on the pitch is a different shape I don't know, so all of this stuff about understanding "foreign games" (I mean ffs!!) seems irrelevant to me.

TO. · 18-07-2013 4:09pm

padraig_f wrote: »

Yeah, but they're hosting the event with expectation of making a profit, based on the numbers who turn up. They'll have had a decision-making process, based on expected numbers attending. The GAA probably have the biggest stake in the deal in how many people attend (I imagine the two teams are getting a relative flat fee), so it's ultimately their call in how successful the thing will be from a numbers point of view.

It depends on what contract is in place. None of us know the details of it so who knows what the GAA set to make out of it.

If the GAA are the ones pulling the strings on this your scenario makes sense but there is still no clear indication that is the case. If it is not it could well be that the Home college take a portion of the gate receipts if not most of it and pay the GAA up front for the use of the stadium. The same way the IRFU and FAI used to do it. The GAA make on the concessions also.

As I said there is not details out there.

Realt Dearg Sec · 18-07-2013 4:51pm

TO. wrote: »

It depends on what contract is in place. None of us know the details of it so who knows what the GAA set to make out of it.

If the GAA are the ones pulling the strings on this your scenario makes sense but there is still no clear indication that is the case. If it is not it could well be that the Home college take a portion of the gate receipts if not most of it and pay the GAA up front for the use of the stadium. The same way the IRFU and FAI used to do it. The GAA make on the concessions also.

As I said there is not details out there.

Exactly, we just don't know what the deal is right now, so anything we say is all speculation. On the one hand it doesn't seem likely that the home team would just accept a flat fee on a game that, on the website for the event (crokeparkclassic.ie) they expect to sell out. On the other hand, it's hard to see why the home team would have come to Ireland unless some of the risk was being shared with someone else. On the OTHER hand (I have three hands), if the GAA were taking the risk on board then it would have to have been mentioned at Congress, which I don't think it was, and there would have been UPROAR. No way the GAA rank and file would have accepted the possibility that much-needed funding might get diverted into making up for a potential loss-making venture to do with a sport the vast majority of GAA members don't care about.

Even the International Rules has to prove to be at least cost-neutral, or the GAA will pull the plug on it. It simply is not realistic that they would stampede into committing to a college football game without knowing anything about it, just because they saw it worked at the Aviva last year. Anyone who says otherwise is operating with, at worst, an agenda regarding the GAA, and at best some very outmoded assumptions about what kind of organisation it is.

Lena137 · 18-07-2013 6:47pm

Does anyone have an idea when the lower Cusack Stand might go on sale or any other sections?

event · 19-07-2013 9:05am

is the whole stadium pretty much sold out already?

padraig_f · 19-07-2013 1:20pm

No, I don't know the details of the deal. My original point was the game didn't make a whole lot of sense to me as something that would have a broad appeal, and then you wonder how the decision might have come about. I'm only speculating on the decision-making process, you can't say for sure, but you can make some educated guesses (GAA haven't hosted a game for 17 years, but announce one a year after a successful one in the Aviva. Possibly they saw that one and misunderstood the success of it).

Even if the main idea came from the other side, I saw that this is the first time in Penn State's 125 year history they've played a game overseas, so you wonder how well placed they are to judge if it'll be a success or not.

Lena137 · 19-07-2013 2:43pm

event wrote: »

is the whole stadium pretty much sold out already?

No, only some tickets are on sale right now behind the end zones.

bobby wade · 19-07-2013 3:10pm

It’s a bold move by the GAA, which is hoping to attract a crowd of 69,000 for the game. It is understood that the association had to pay the guts of €2 million to secure the match and needs a crowd of about 30,000 to break even.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/croke-park-s-game-changer-1.1467769

bobby wade · 19-07-2013 3:18pm

GoPSUJeff 5m
Dave Joyner: #PennState will practice at The University of College Dublin prior to @CrokePkClassic

padraig_f · 19-07-2013 3:47pm

bobby wade wrote: »

It’s a bold move by the GAA, which is hoping to attract a crowd of 69,000 for the game. It is understood that the association had to pay the guts of €2 million to secure the match and needs a crowd of about 30,000 to break even.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/croke-park-s-game-changer-1.1467769

That was my guess that they'd pay a flat fee and take on most of the risk getting the numbers (maybe there's bonus-type incentives on the other side, but paying €2m, they'll be taking on most of it). Whether the GAA makes a profit or not is a matter for them, but what makes it relevant to the discussion is, as the party with the biggest stake in the attendance, it was ultimately their judgment in how viable it was from a numbers point of view.

A goal of 30,000 people is modest enough from a financial point of view, but from a fan/event point of view, I think you want to get at least 50,000 to make it worthwhile.

event · 19-07-2013 3:53pm

Lena137 wrote: »

No, only some tickets are on sale right now behind the end zones.

how will we know when the other parts are on sale?

Realt Dearg Sec · 19-07-2013 3:53pm

padraig_f wrote: »

That was my guess that they'd pay a flat fee and take on most of the risk getting the numbers (maybe there's bonus-type incentives on the other side, but paying €2m, they'll be taking on most of it). Whether the GAA makes a profit or not is a matter for them, but what makes it relevant to the discussion is, as the party with the biggest stake in the attendance, it was ultimately their judgment in how viable it was from a numbers point of view.

A goal of 30,000 people is modest enough from a financial point of view, but from a fan/event point of view, I think you want to get at least 50,000 to make it worthwhile.

Yeah, fair play, you called it correct and the burden of risk falls on the GAA. I think 30,000 will easily attend though. Would be surprised if they reached their upper target all the same.

Also I don't think this did come up at Congress which makes me think it was a Croke Park PLC decision. If they don't make their money back it will be a major blunder. As a GAA member I for one would be pissed off.

jack presley · 19-07-2013 4:03pm

event wrote: »

how will we know when the other parts are on sale?

If the GAA have put €2m up for this, it'll be we'll advertised when tickets go on sale again. Don't worry about that.

Lena137 · 19-07-2013 4:07pm

event wrote: »

how will we know when the other parts are on sale?

I don't know. I emailed ticketmaster an hour ago about lower cusack tickets and they said their allocation is sold out. But on the G.A.A. website they have some Cusack tickets left. So I'm not sure what's left/not left.

TO. · 19-07-2013 6:52pm

What will happen first both colleges will be sent their Allocation. The GAA will then put up on General sale what they dont send to the colleges and will most likely announce this. Then whats left of the unused allocation will come back to the GAA and put on sale months after the original gen sale.

TO. · 19-07-2013 6:55pm

Lena137 wrote: »

I don't know. I emailed ticketmaster an hour ago about lower cusack tickets and they said their allocation is sold out. But on the G.A.A. website they have some Cusack tickets left. So I'm not sure what's left/not left.

You would be better off just taking any tickets that are on sale as the colleges will get the main allocation of the best seats in the house first. The GAA will announce gen sales on what is left over. Aiming for a specific section or the lower tiers might be your downfall when trying to get tickets.

padraig_f · 19-07-2013 7:50pm

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Yeah, fair play, you called it correct and the burden of risk falls on the GAA. I think 30,000 will easily attend though. Would be surprised if they reached their upper target all the same.

Also I don't think this did come up at Congress which makes me think it was a Croke Park PLC decision. If they don't make their money back it will be a major blunder. As a GAA member I for one would be pissed off.

Yeah I think they have a decent chance to get 30,000 people and get their money back. In my mind, the figure for it being a successful event would be 50,000 (as I said, I'm less concerned about the GAA's profit-and-loss, than I am about putting on a worthwhile sporting event).

I'm all for popularising the sport in Ireland, but I still think there has to be a point to moving a game 3000 miles. The numbers that turn up will show if there is a point. If they don't turn up, I don't think it helps anyone.

If they do get the numbers, great. I'd love to see an NFL regular-season game in Ireland one day, so despite my concerns, I'm still hoping it does well from that point of view.

Realt Dearg Sec · 19-07-2013 7:59pm

padraig_f wrote: »

Yeah I think they have a decent chance to get 30,000 people and get their money back. In my mind, the figure for it being a successful event would be 50,000 (as I said, I'm less concerned about the GAA's profit-and-loss, than I am about putting on a worthwhile sporting event).

I'm all for popularising the sport in Ireland, but I still think there has to be a point to moving a game 3000 miles. The numbers that turn up will show if there is a point. If they don't turn up, I don't think it helps anyone.

If they do get the numbers, great. I'd love to see an NFL regular-season game in Ireland one day, so despite my concerns, I'm still hoping it does well from that point of view.

I'm betting it will. Between the gaa and the schools it will, at the very least, get 50000. At least that's my bet.

polaris68 · 19-07-2013 9:12pm

Presumably Penn state's motive in agreeing to this is to generate some positive publicity after the Sandusky scandal and help with recruiting etc. Plus UCF would be considered an easy season opener.

Dirty Dingus McGee · 20-07-2013 9:30pm

This match is on the day before the All Ireland football semi final next year.Hopefully the field won't get dug up too much.

I wonder are the GAA hoping that some people might decide to make a weekend of it and attend both matches.

kingcobra · 21-07-2013 1:11am

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

This match is on the day before the All Ireland football semi final next year.Hopefully the field won't get dug up too much.

I wonder are the GAA hoping that some people might decide to make a weekend of it and attend both matches.

I completely forgot about the GAA. Is that date for the football set in stone? Because I couldn't imagine them doing that, the pitch will be covered in the painted lines too, along with advertising/match logo.

Syferus · 21-07-2013 3:11am

padraig_f wrote: »

Yeah I think if you were being logical, you'd put it in the Aviva, but this is often not the way these things happen, there are other interests involved.

My fear about it is the GAA saw the game in the Aviva last year, and without really understanding the circumstances that made it a success (iconic college football program with Irish link, the link to 'The Gathering' stuff, the fact that it was planned several years in advance so the US fans had a chance to save money & make travel plans), thought they'd get in on the act, and that they could get the same type of numbers for any college game.

I wonder how well it was thought out, because to me it's not making a lot of sense, but people will vote with their feet. If they get 50,000 people to attend, the event will be justified, I just have my doubts if they will get a crowd like that.

It's not the GAA's first barn-dance with college football or even american football in general. They'd be as well placed as the Aviva lads are to make a judgement call on this event.

30k should be easily passable so really it's up to the GAA to make some profit after that. The long game here is if they exceed 50k they immediately become the number one destination in Dublin for college ball and will be very likely to see more big programs visit in future years. They could steal the Aviva's thunder completely if they have a modest success with this game. Big programs are greedy by their nature and won't want to limit their pulling power if they feel they can draw over 50k.

It'd be smart for the GAA to keep the AI semi on the next day too if at all possible. If the Medowlands can be transformed from Giants to Jets over-night a big effort can easily have Croker ready for real football (:pac:) on Sunday.

College Football Penn St/UCF Game confirmed 2014 in Croker

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