Floodlights

tonymontana

How come Croke Park didn't use them on Sunday, it was a pretty dark day after all? Is there some rule against using them in Championship football, can't remember any Championship game played under floodlights.

It'd be great to have the Dublin Meath replay at night on Saturday instead of the Sunday as they are planning.

The lights must only be there for soccer and rugby, seems like a waste of money to me on the GAA's part if they are not going to use them.

smashey

tonymontana wrote:

The lights must only be there for soccer and rugby, seems like a waste of money to me on the GAA's part if they are not going to use them.

Dublin vs Tyrone?

blackbelt

Well thats the GAA for you,getting mountains of money from gate receipts and not running up the electricity bill just to save what we would consider as "coppers" in our pocket.

Flukey

It wasn't anywhere near dark enough to warrant floodlights yesterday, so it is not even an issue. Despite the rain, it was very bright. Night games in Croke Park, such as the Dublin v Tyrone match, is when they are needed. It is not just the soccer and rugby that brought them there. They'll be used for GAA matches and other events too.

blackbelt

I think they should be used for the AI final.First time for the AI to be held under floodlights in CrokePark would make it extra special although I do not mind sitting or standing in the stadium watching it on a mild,balmy late afternoon in September.

tonymontana

They used them for the Ireland France rugby game when it was very bright.

The Dublin Tyrone game was just to appease hardcore GAAer's, so that it didn't just look like thay were installing them for soccer and rugby which is really why they installed them. Hardcore GAAer's would be pretty pissed to know that 3m of GAA money was used to install something just for the use of rugby and soccer.

smashey

So are they going to take them down when Landsdowne Road is finished?

Flukey

Floodlights have been going up in lots of grounds in the past few years, so it wasn't just for soccer and rugby that they went up. We've seen plenty of floodlit games in the league. Unless they move the All-Ireland Final to be played in the late evening, there is absolutely no reason to have the lights on. It makes no sense to have them on for some novelty factor. People go to see the matches themselves, not for the fact they are under lights. So having them on for an All-Ireland Final would not make it extra special, except for people who are not really focussed on the final itself. Blackbelt, you are not one of those people, so I don't see any reason for you to advocate having the lights on. Lights on or off, its the quality of a match and the result that make it special. Turning the lights on last September would not have made that final any better, and neither would having them on back in 1995!

blackbelt

Well Flukey,I quite enjoyed the match in CP between Tyrone and Dublin and I love nothing more than to go to floodlit matches in Parnell Park on a Saturday night.

When you say that its the quality of the match that matters,I see your point and agree with you to a degree but I like going to floodlit matches.I wouldn't like to see a bad match under lights but I feel there is an added element to the game.It could be a seasonal factor but I'd rather go to a fllodlit match on a cold Feb/march night than a game in daytime on a cold February/March afternoon.

Mossy Monk

blackbelt wrote:

I think they should be used for the AI final.First time for the AI to be held under floodlights in CrokePark would make it extra special although I do not mind sitting or standing in the stadium watching it on a mild,balmy late afternoon in September.

This would be great if you lived in Dublin or one of the surrounding counties.

blackbelt

Well not quite,

They could always play the game in the evening just before it gets dark and turn the lights on when its getting dark and the game would end under floodlights.

I'm guessing there is plenty of buses and trains down to Kerry,Cork or up the north on a Sunday night :rolleyes:

KevIRL

blackbelt wrote:

Well not quite,

They could always play the game in the evening just before it gets dark and turn the lights on when its getting dark and the game would end under floodlights.

I'm guessing there is plenty of buses and trains down to Kerry,Cork or up the north on a Sunday night :rolleyes:

Last train to Waterford leaves Dublin at approx 6.30

blackbelt

Then you better get the bus

Clareman

Personally, I think having matches (any sport) under lights brings something special to the TV spectile of it.

For GAA matches however, especially championship, I think they shouldn't be used. When I think of championship hurling and football I think of fine summer days, I know the Irish weather puts pay to that, but a fine Sunday afternoon is what the championship is all about.

Besides the logistics of people getting home, if there was a 7.30 throw in, the match would be over at 9, personally, I wouldn't be home till after midnight, and have work the next day, not to mind getting a pint in I believe that the GAA have an agreement with the local residants in regards to how often the lights would be used

blackbelt

I know when you think of championship matches,you think of fine sunny hot days and trips to the pub.

However,I think if the AI final was played so that the first half was played in daylight and the matches ends when the sun has set into darkness,it would be a nice way of marking the transition from summer football to winter.

Thats my two cents.It would be good if public transport was arranged for those counties fans that may live far away.

Dapos

Does anyone think that the dublin meath replay is a perfect opportunity to use the flood lights for a championship match. It would be a packed house, Dublin and meath wouldn't have too far to travel, and it would allow for the 3 high profile games to be aired on rte.

Actually i have just realised while writing this sure it wouldn't be dark till 10pm. Sure thats way too late. ah well.

OhNoYouDidn't

tonymontana wrote:

The lights must only be there for soccer and rugby, seems like a waste of money to me on the GAA's part if they are not going to use them.

The GAA didnt pay one cent for the floodlights in CP. The entire bill (more than the entire tallaght stadium that apparantly is too big a gift from the state for the GAA to stand by) was funded from the exchequer.

Nalced_irl

Dapos wrote:

Does anyone think that the dublin meath replay is a perfect opportunity to use the flood lights for a championship match. It would be a packed house, Dublin and meath wouldn't have too far to travel, and it would allow for the 3 high profile games to be aired on rte.

Actually i have just realised while writing this sure it wouldn't be dark till 10pm. Sure thats way too late. ah well.

I think it would be great. 11pm throw in, hit the club before it, would be brilliant. You really would miss the heading into town on the bus first thing in the morning (obviously this is from my point of view. People from outside Dublin may not get the bus, depending where they are), going to a nice bar with a beer garden, having a few cold ones and then having a nice strole to the stadium in the sun to sit/stand and watch a good game on a sunny day.

Now for Sunday. Get on the bus soaked to the skin cos you got pissed on for 40 mins while waiting for the bus. Fear getting off the bus as its still raining. Get off on O Connells St as the bus is stuck in traffic.....still raining. Go to a nice pub with a wet beer garden. Take a strole in the rain to Croker and stand in the first half getting soaked, but its ok, were winning.....then the rain clears, could be a good day afterall? Nah, rain replaced by 15 players falling asleep and you are lucky to draw.

Flukey

Blackbelt, as you'll know from my video, I was at the Tyrone v Dublin match in February, and it was great. As others have said, for Championship matches, right up to and including the Final and even replays, it should be day time. Summer Sunday afternoons are what the Championship about. The 5 o'clock shadow of the Hogan Stand stretching out over the crowd on the pitch as a captain lifts Sam or Liam, is part of what All-Ireland Final days are. It just wouldn't be the same a few hours later. There are lots of practical reasons why, some already outlined. Of course there is one very important one: It would cut celebrationary drinking time!!!

popebenny16

The Guards are against a 6pm throw in which rules it out altogether.

Nalced_irl

popebenny16 wrote:

The Guards are against a 6pm throw in which rules it out altogether.

Ah right, i guessed there had to be a reason.