So whos going to Croker

Diamondmaker

At the risk of sounding smug....I am!!:D

But seriuosly, I know many many regular fans who cant get tickets and I would be interested in seeing how you guys are fairing.

Seems to me the occasion is further denying real fans tickets, despite extra capacity.


Any opinions?

Linford

Diamondmaker wrote:

At the risk of sounding smug....I am!!:D

But seriuosly, I know many many regular fans who cant get tickets and I would be interested in seeing how you guys are fairing.

Seems to me the occasion is further denying real fans tickets, despite extra capacity.


Any opinions?

I have tickets for the France match, but am still unsure about England match.

You are right that the occassion is denying real fans. It would almost be better if we were starting our games in Croker on a year when we play Scotland/Wales/Italy at home. The novelty factor would be gone then for the big two.

Saruman

I want to go Anyone get the spoof email about "restricted vew" seats? And they are in front of a wall

mikedragon32

Saruman wrote:

I want to go Anyone get the spoof email about "restricted vew" seats? And they are in front of a wall

Someone posted that up here a couple of weeks back.

I have a ticket for each game, which I got through my club. Really looking forward to it. Biggest problem seems to be where to go for a pint first!

MicraBoy

I have a ticket for each game, which I got through my club. Really looking forward to it. Biggest problem seems to be where to go for a pint first!

A good few of the Lansdowne area pubs are running shuttle buses. I wonder is that before and after the game.

Doesn't bother me, being a Northsider, I shall be strolling to Croke Park from home.

besty

Have tickets for each game! Delighted really - can't wait now!

mikedragon32

MicraBoy wrote:

A good few of the Lansdowne area pubs are running shuttle buses.

Do you know which ones?

kmick

Who are these real fans? Are you telling me doubling the capacity has meant that real fans can't get seats. You could always get a ticket if you stood outside one of the pubs near Lansdowne (nearly always anyway). Same will be true for Croker. If you dont have a ticket and want to go head up anyway with 100 in your pocket. You will get a ticket 7 times out of ten.

MicraBoy

Do you know which ones?

Paddy Cullen's/Mary Macs, The 51, Doheny&Nesbitt.

Free pint in the 51 if you use the bus. Although given they have a habit of upping the prices on match day I wouldn't darken the place now that the game is in Croker.

SOUTHSIDE publicans are hoping to get one against the head from their Northside opponents when rugby crosses the Liffey to Croker this weekend.

The Northsiders have won the toss and have the wind in their backs for the historic opener against France. Pubs including The Big Tree, Quinns and Gills are rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of extra games at the stadium.

But bar owners in the salubrious Lansdowne Road have a plan of their own not to be caught offside.

They are organising coaches to bus thirsty fans back across the Grand Canal for the aprés match.

Ordinarily Dublin 4 pubs can see their turnover jump by as much as 50pc compared to a non-match day.

So hostelries in Ballsbridge, Lansdowne and Baggot Street could miss out now that the oldest international rugby ground in the world is shut for rebuilding works.

Instead of letting their punters migrate north of the Liffey, they are instead running a shuttle service to Croke Park this Sunday - and some are enticing the punters back after the big game with the promise of free booze.

Favourite rugby haunts, including Doheny and Nesbitts on Baggot Street, Paddy Cullen's on Merrion Road and Bar 51 on Haddington Road, are laying on the transport to guarantee that they keep their lucrative customer base.

A barman in Bar 51 said they decided to lay on five minibuses because of demand from regular customers.

The pub - which is just a 10-minute walk from Lansdowne Road - is a traditional waterhole for those going to fixtures in Lansdowne Road.

"We'll be charging a fiver a head for the bus, but when they come back after the match they'll get a free pint," he said.

Paddy Cullen's on Merrion Road has covered its entire roof with a poster telling customers they will be running a shuttle to Drumcondra, while Doheny and Nesbitts said they are 'testing it out' to see if there is much demand for future fixtures.

Meanwhile, some ticket holders are cashing in on the demand to see the historic game. Tickets are changing hands on eBay for up to €700, with one seller asking for €1,500 for two tickets and a night at Jury's Hotel. However, tickets to the Ireland/England clash are even more sought after, with two tickets attracting bids of up to €1,400.

This compares to the original prices for stand tickets of just €80. Premium tickets cost €110, while terrace passes were priced at €30.

Edel Kennedy

shrapnel222

kmick wrote:

Who are these real fans? Are you telling me doubling the capacity has meant that real fans can't get seats. You could always get a ticket if you stood outside one of the pubs near Lansdowne (nearly always anyway). Same will be true for Croker. If you dont have a ticket and want to go head up anyway with 100 in your pocket. You will get a ticket 7 times out of ten.

i think you'll need more than a 100 this time!!!:p

Got myself one ticket for the French match (on my own )

melekalikimaka

did the gaa head season ticket holders get them?

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

davyjose

kmick wrote:

Who are these real fans? Are you telling me doubling the capacity has meant that real fans can't get seats. You could always get a ticket if you stood outside one of the pubs near Lansdowne (nearly always anyway). Same will be true for Croker. If you dont have a ticket and want to go head up anyway with 100 in your pocket. You will get a ticket 7 times out of ten.

Are you kidding me? 100quid will get you a ticket? Dream on.
I was talking to a French friend of mine, who's boss got tickets for them and 12 french clients. apparently they're all 'big into Rugby'. And actually I'd believe this, ut it still suggests strongly that their not all going to the people that they should.

shoutman

I'll be standing on hill 16 for both matchs,

this is going to be great!

Steffano2002

I got 3 tickets via my rugby club and my 2 French mates who also play for the club got 5 between them. That's 8 of us in a single row, all side by side!

I told my club I didn't want any tickets for Ireland -v- England though...

Tell them i want them!!

Amz

Didn't get one for France, and it looks like won't be getting any for England either I'm gutted.

Oh well, I suppose I'll have to break more body parts and score more for the club to be deemed worthy.

Hydromonkey

Got 2 in the lower Hogan stand for the england game, can't ****in' wait

jackbhoy

Got a couple for Engerland but not France (yet!!). Hoping one of my mates who still belong to club will come through for me.
I know lots of people who have literally never been to a rugby match and have got tickets :mad: One guy I work with got FOUR from his "corporate connections", never been to a game.
Wheras I totally agree with distribution through clubs I think too many go to corporate heads, those of us who are not club members anymore but still stand in the cold and rain supportng club/provience have to go round begging for favours....violins......

An Tarbh

I've got my tickets as well, buying up tickets for the Autumn matches has certainly paid off now.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

dodgyme

Its nice to see people getting tickets through friends or through friends who are in clubs or play etc. This is the only really fair way to distribute them. It is a pity that some cannot be sold via the net but there are the usual reasons. I have heard some of the corporate conversations in the last week, where clients are rang up and asked if they want tickets (oh and a meal hosted by account managers etc) and this is really horrible. I have one ticket for the france game and damn grateful for it too.

Crash

hrmmm not looking like i've managed to source one - damn it.

most of the guys I know who got tickets didnt get them through clubs - a large percentage got them thanks to fathers etc. getting tickets through work contacts.

TarfHead

mikedragon32 wrote:

Biggest problem seems to be where to go for a pint first!

Anyone got a recommendation of where to go to for a pint beforehand ?
We'll he heading for Croke Park from Amiens Street so I'm thinking of pubs in that area/Five Lamps/Summerhill/Ballybough and there isn't one I've ever been in before.

The only pubs I've heard of for Croke Park are ..
- the Big Tree - 'wrong' side of the ground for me
- Gaffneys/Meaghers - a bit far to walk to from Amiens Street

I know there are loads to choose from but many of them look grim from the outside so a personal recommendation would be great.

suppafly

I'm going to be heading up too. Got 3 tickets from the club. Didn't manage to get one for the english match though.

melekalikimaka wrote:

did the gaa head season ticket holders get them?

i wouldn't think so. its says on the Croker website that a season ticket entitles them to GAA matches and first pick of concert tickets there.

rugbug86

the gaa season ticket holders were given first refusal to buy the ticket for the seat they own.

Katykaboom

TarfHead wrote:

Anyone got a recommendation of where to go to for a pint beforehand ?
We'll he heading for Croke Park from Amiens Street so I'm thinking of pubs in that area/Five Lamps/Summerhill/Ballybough and there isn't one I've ever been in before.

The only pubs I've heard of for Croke Park are ..
- the Big Tree - 'wrong' side of the ground for me
- Gaffneys/Meaghers - a bit far to walk to from Amiens Street

I know there are loads to choose from but many of them look grim from the outside so a personal recommendation would be great.

The Blind Ref in Ballybough, the Clonliffe house, The Fairview inn... Id hit the blind ref myself now, its usually a quiet pub but lively on match days.

Funkstard

Haven't gotten one...it's not possible for me to be in a club so I had no real chance. Majorly pissed off to be missing the English match

delta_bravo

This is where being in the St. John Ambulance comes in handy. Free entry:) both games

rugbug86

i just got my tix!! woo hoo!! see yiz all there!

madds

Picked up a ticket for the Hill at half 9 last night. It's going to be weird hearing all the D4 tones shouting "Come on Geordan" (with a "G" ) from that traditional haven of the Dubs!!

Kinetic^

I'm going!!!!