Heineken Cup 1/4 Final Venues

nc6000

Hi All,

Does anybody know where Leinster or Munster will be playing their matches if they manage to get a "home" 1/4 final?

Just thinking that Lansdowne & Thomond will be unavailable and Donnybrook is hardly suitable due to capacity limits.

Looks like the games will have to be played in the UK somewhere.

Any ideas?

daveirl

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zAbbo

Hook was harping on about Fitzgerald Stadium, saying it was privately owned.

Is the rules, that the stadium has to meet certain criteria, such as capacity ( > 20k) ?

RadarControl

Hook hasn't got a clue what he is talking about. Fitzgerald Stadium is owned by Kerry GAA. There is a rule in the GAA that all County Stadiums must be owned by the GAA. Using any of the GAA stadiums is out of the question as it would need a vote of Congress. Next congress meeting is in April.

RuggieBear

personally i think it should be held in Donnybrook.

They've only sold it out for two matches this season. **** all the rest of the bandwagoners.

daveirl

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RuggieBear

I'd rather win than make money.

YoYOPowder

Is Tolka, Richmond or Dalymount an option for Leinster, or do they not meet the capacity regulation?

RuggieBear

There are no capacity restrictions for a 1/4 final.

cgarvey

RadarControl wrote:

Hook hasn't got a clue what he is talking about. Fitzgerald Stadium is owned by Kerry GAA. There is a rule in the GAA that all County Stadiums must be owned by the GAA. Using any of the GAA stadiums is out of the question as it would need a vote of Congress. Next congress meeting is in April.

Have you any source for that? I've read some pretty convincing opinion that contravenes what you're saying. I think you're closer than Hook, but still incorrect.

Apparently, it's owned by a club in Kerry, but managed independently of the club. It's still, therefore, bound by the rules of association.

jackbhoy

RuggieBear wrote:

personally i think it should be held in Donnybrook.

They've only sold it out for two matches this season. **** all the rest of the bandwagoners.

Totally agree, surrounded by 10/12 "supporters" on Sat night who hadn't been to a game all season. Although I enjoyed the match itself the atmosphere on Saturday was worse than most ML games, had much better craic at Ospreys game the previous week. Impossible to get any singing/chanting going on the terrace where i was!

Regarding the Finanial aspect, if we have to pay Reading or whoever for renting a ground, not gonna make much anyway. I'd rather enjoy the game with a small crowd of folks that have been there all season than go to UK, just so can swing a 20k+ crowd.

Erin Go Brath

Musgrave park seems to be the likliest venue for a munster home 1/4 final from what i'm hearing on the radio anyway.
Donnybrook for a leinster home 1/4 final, with Dalymount an outside possibility.

The GAA stadiums including fitzgerald are a no go, bound by the rules of the association and all that.

The semis have to have a 20,000 capacity so the millenium stadium looks a likely venue for Munster v Leinster part deux

rollie

i heard that quater final matches need a stadium with 35 or 45K plus

does anyone know anything about this, because if its true that will limit the options

davyjose

jackbhoy wrote:

Totally agree, surrounded by 10/12 "supporters" on Sat night who hadn't been to a game all season. Although I enjoyed the match itself the atmosphere on Saturday was worse than most ML games, had much better craic at Ospreys game the previous week. Impossible to get any singing/chanting going on the terrace where i was!

I don't agree - it's not a private club, and I think if people want to go to a Rugby match for the first time, they have every right to go. My brother brought his Girlfirend along to the Osprey's game - her first - and she loved it, and wants to go to more. Those 10/12 people will no doubt feel the same. I've only been going for a couple of years, but I've hardly missed a game since. This is good for Rugby and for Leinster. Munster don't have that elitist opinion about their club - how many 'bandwagoners' have they had in the last ten years? (I know people born and raised in dublin who are Munster fans), and it hasn't harmed them.
And maybe in future we won't suffer the embarrassment of being surrounded by Red at our home games, as was the case last April! Leinster are getting more popular and I for one embrace that.

daveirl

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daveirl

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davyjose

daveirl wrote:

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I know what you mean and that is annoying for sure, but I can't imagine (maybe I'm wrong, and if so fair enough) that most of the people at the match will have a)spent hundreds on corporate events, or b) be attending their first game.
Rugby is becoming a more popular game in this country, certainly to the casual observer. If that is jumping on the Bandwagon then how does any sport gain in popularity? I think if someone is willing to pay for a ticket, and gets one then fair enough. They don't owe anyone an explanation.

daveirl

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davyjose

well, yeah fair enough, that is s**t and is different to what I was talking about for sure.

An Tarbh

As has been said already there's no restrictions on quarter final venues, both Munster and Llanelli have played home quarter finals at Thomond and Stradey and there's been no problem.

The IRFU have budgeted that at least one province gets a home draw and the game takes place at Lansdowne, that's why it's hard not to see the games being moved should it work out that way.

Ravenhill is an option for Leinster, already has a 13000 capacity and can be increased with temporary seating like they did for their semi final with Toulouse in 99.

Ravenhill might also be an option for a home semi final even if the capacity only is 19000, Castres got away with 18500 in Beziers when Munster played them there in 2002, so why not have the same again.

Donnybrook is 6000 with the seats in this season, those can be removed to increase the capacity to over 7000, Musgrave only holds 8500 and 25% of those tickets would have to go to the visiting team. I'd be hugely surprised if home quarter finals are played here as much as I'd like to see it happening. I don't care about the money, I'd rather see the teams in the semi finals.

crc

I think Leinster should seriously consider Ravenhill. Its only a couple of hours from Dublin to Belfast, they wouldn't have to pay to rent a stadium in Britain, and 19,000 is a decent enough capacity for a home QF. What would be the point of renting the Madejski Stadium which only has a 24,250 capacity and forcing everyone to travel to Britain?

Munster are in a stickier position, and might just have to bite the bullet this year while they expand Thomond Park.

An Tarbh

All this talk of venues yet nobody seems to be considering Ravenhill for Munster. Is it a complete non-starter?

To be honest I don't see why both teams couldn't play there, one of the teams could play their match on the Friday and the other could play on the Saturday or Sunday.

Obviously though there's still the matter of Gloucester and Leicester to overcome this weekend first.

davyjose

Agreed. I'd travel to Ravenhill no bother, I even have a mate living in Belfast. England ... can't see myself doing that.

I don't think it matters too much if Gloc/Leicester win - wherever either team plays, it's a bit of an away game.

zAbbo

If the game is in Belfast, how will the tickets be sold ?

An Tarbh

I imagine they'd be distributed by the Leinster or Munster branch to season ticket holders and club members and then online in the unlikely event that there's any left. Just cause the game would be in Belfast doesn't mean the Ulster branch would be in charge. The IRFU is still distributing the tickets for the French and English matches.

Benedict XVI

davyjose wrote:

I don't agree - it's not a private club, and I think if people want to go to a Rugby match for the first time, they have every right to go. My brother brought his Girlfirend along to the Osprey's game - her first - and she loved it, and wants to go to more. Those 10/12 people will no doubt feel the same. I've only been going for a couple of years, but I've hardly missed a game since. This is good for Rugby and for Leinster. Munster don't have that elitist opinion about their club - how many 'bandwagoners' have they had in the last ten years? (I know people born and raised in dublin who are Munster fans), and it hasn't harmed them.
And maybe in future we won't suffer the embarrassment of being surrounded by Red at our home games, as was the case last April! Leinster are getting more popular and I for one embrace that.

Thank you davyjose - best post I have ever read on any of these sports forms against all this whinging by 'real fans' against 'banwaggoners'.
Sums it up perfectly.

Diamondmaker

windsoir park for all of them???

thirdmantackle

brilliant idea Diamond. why hasn't anyone else thought about that?

daveirl

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RuggieBear

Think it would be hilarious to play in Windoor Park and yet we can't play on any of the GAA pitches around the country....Bigots, you say?

daveirl

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An Tarbh

I thought Windsor was about 20k, they need to install temporary seats at both ends of the ground at Ravenhill. Windsor Park is a hole of a place though, FIFA had to threaten the IFA to put proper dressing rooms in, I'm sure it's still capable of holding a HEC quarter final though but if they can take Ravenhill than that's surely the better option.

jackbhoy

davyjose wrote:

I don't agree - it's not a private club, and I think if people want to go to a Rugby match for the first time, they have every right to go............

I, or nobody else here suggested it was a private club and any supporter of any team would obviously welcome new fans. The people that p!ss me off (that i talked about in my post) are the people who turn up to 2/3 big european games and have zero interest in supporting the team at any other time or if they are going through a bad patch.

All season I have been bringing different mates (and my girlfriend) to games, most of who never followed Leinster in the past but now regularly go to games and relly enjoy it.

Its these fans, who will be there when the team are not going so well, or in the p!ssing rain in October/november that we need to attract and they are the ones that are good for Irish/ Leinster rugby,...

daveirl

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Benedict XVI

Not a Rugby fan so please excuse these stupid questions

1. Leinster - I thopugh they played HC games in the RDS last year, why not this year, what is the capacity ?.

2. Munster - Why can't they use Thomond, I am aware they are ready to re-develop it, but surley it can wait the few weeks until a possible 1/4 final is played there.

P.S. I also believe there is an objection to the planning.

RuggieBear

Benedict XVI wrote:

Not a Rugby fan so please excuse these stupid questions

1. Leinster - I thopugh they played HC games in the RDS last year, why not this year, what is the capacity ?.

2. Munster - Why can't they use Thomond, I am aware they are ready to re-develop it, but surley it can wait the few weeks until a possible 1/4 final is played there.

P.S. I also believe there is an objection to the planning.

RDS is being redeveloped and will reopen in August. Thomand will close after this weekends game and there will be a big push to have it renovated/reconstructed asap

Inquitus

When all is said and done if, please god, Munster and Leinster both secure home Q/F, I feel the best option by far would be to hire the Millenium Stadium and have a double header. We all know, when it comes to the crunch, we will cheer any Irish team on...banter aside, so imagine 80,000 people cheering on the Irish lads and the advantage that would give both teams.

daveirl

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jancav

I'd love Munster to play at the Millennium stadium again - at least I'd have a chance of getting a ticket again! Been a rugby supporter all my life, go to half empty games at Thomond and have travelled to France in the bad old days when only a few of us bothered - and still can't get tickets....think I'll have to change to supporting tiddlywinks....

crc

daveirl wrote:

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daveirl wrote:

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Bigots you say?

Irish Times 3 Feb 2005 wrote:

Ulster's 'true blue' Linfield come to the aid of St Mary's camogie team

Linfield, the "true blues" of Ulster soccer, have thrown open their doors to a "homeless" west Belfast camogie team. The girls from St Mary's Training College had sought in vain for a floodlit training area on grass to sharpen up ahead of Saturday's Purcell Cup semi-final against college rivals Queen's.

Casement Park, the GAA's fine establishment in Andersonstown, could not accommodate them, so St Mary's manager Ms Mel O'Neill turned to rugby team Harlequins and north Belfast soccer stars Cliftonville for help. But all to no avail. With that, she plucked up courage and called David Jeffrey, manager of Linfield.

"We weren't delighted - we were privileged to help," he said and offered St Mary's what could be the ultimate in "away" venues. Midgley Park, in the shadow of Windsor Park is in the heart of the staunchly loyalist Village area, is not normally a Gaelic games stronghold. But St Mary's were offered every facility, marking a new era of détente between sporting codes.
...

I don't deny that there have been sectarian problems with Linfield in the past, but in this era of 'sporting détente' I think it would be better to give the benefit of the doubt before mouthing off. Linfield have also brought fans to Tolka Park, Flancare Park (Longford), and the Brandywell in the last two seasons and the only trouble was caused by morons wearing Celtic tops (let he who is without sin cast the first stone - no pun intended!). Let the record state that in 2005 Linfield's fans styled their team the 'Champions of Ireland'

daveirl

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Heisenberg.

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davyjose

jackbhoy wrote:

I, or nobody else here suggested it was a private club and any supporter of any team would obviously welcome new fans. The people that p!ss me off (that i talked about in my post) are the people who turn up to 2/3 big european games and have zero interest in supporting the team at any other time or if they are going through a bad patch.

All season I have been bringing different mates (and my girlfriend) to games, most of who never followed Leinster in the past but now regularly go to games and relly enjoy it.

Its these fans, who will be there when the team are not going so well, or in the p!ssing rain in October/november that we need to attract and they are the ones that are good for Irish/ Leinster rugby,...

Yeah fair enough man.

nc6000

Looks like this has all become irrelevant since I started the thread after Leinster were robbed and Munster got a spanking. Poor old Munsterwith such gracious fans!:D They'll both be playing away in the 1/4 finals with Leinster in Leicester and Munster at Wasps.

7mountpleasant

I think we might have dodged a bullet by losing to leicster. I think that scarlets away might nearly be a better proposition than playing stade francais in Musgrave, looks like the match is going to be played in the liberty in swansea with a capacity of 25000 so should get a fairly decent and vocal munster travelling support.