Millenium Stadium Named best Rugby arena in the world...

toomevara

...by New Zealand Rugby World Magazine. Only a bit of daftness I know, but I don't like the Millennium stadium (aside form the fact that its been good to irish rugby).....

I prefer old school grounds like The Rec, The Stoop, Kingsholm...they've got character/History....

In terms of new stadia, I love the Thomond job and I'm quite fond of the Stade de France for some inexplicable reason....

buck65

was only there once Munster v Toulouse, great atmosphere would have to go along with it being the best.

Depp

Millenium stadium is class, atmosphere with roof closed is something else

conf101

The presentation of the Heineken Cup there in 08 looked incredible!! With the roof closed it seemed to really create an awesome atmosphere!!

mikedragon32

Been there several times for AI games (including a couple of Wales/NZ) and when it's full or near capacity it's awsome. If you're there for a minor AI and the place is only half full, it's dreadful.

Good choice IMO.

Robbo

They've obviously never considered the Sportsground when it's raining sideways at you from 3 different directions.

juvenal

Was there for both of Munster's HEC wins. While the roof insulates the stadium and helps amplify the atmosphere, it really irks me when the close it.

I've no issue whatsoever with the roof being closed for the week of the game, or for development/protection of the turf, but IMO rugby is a field sport, and the roof should be open for every game that is played there, irrespective of the weather conditions. There's no reason to stop them from keeping it closed all week, and then opening it at a pre-arranged time before each game, say one hour, or longer if the teams need to acclimatise.

Just a pet hate of mine about that stadium, otherwise it's a fine venue, when it's full!

chupacabra

I agree, easily the best rugby venue in the world and its not even complete! Glanmors gap is gonna be renovated in the next few years as they are tearing down cardiff arms park and they are going to build the full 3 tiers on that end which will bump the capacity up to above Croker id say.

bigbadben

toomevara wrote: »

...by New Zealand Rugby World Magazine. Only a bit of daftness I know, but I don't like the Millennium stadium (aside form the fact that its been good to irish rugby).....

I prefer old school grounds like The Rec, The Stoop, Kingsholm...they've got character/History....

In terms of new stadia, I love the Thomond job and I'm quite fond of the Stade de France for some inexplicable reason....

Easy for an NZ mag to pick a foreign stadium as the best seeing as 90% of theirs are bog standard. Cant wait for the next world cup :mad::mad:

bigbadben

bigbadben wrote: »

Easy for an NZ mag to pick a foreign stadium as the best seeing as 90% of theirs are bog standard. Cant wait for the next world cup :mad::mad:

They are redeveloping nearly all of their stadia:P

bigbadben

Ryan Icy Soy wrote: »

They are redeveloping nearly all of their stadia:P

They'd shagging want to, I was at every game at the last Lions tour and you wouldn't keep cattle in some of their provincial stadiums.

Depp

Where was croker or thomond in the list?

Serenity Now!

toomevara wrote: »

...by New Zealand Rugby World Magazine. Only a bit of daftness I know, but I don't like the Millennium stadium (aside form the fact that its been good to irish rugby).....

I prefer old school grounds like The Rec, The Stoop, Kingsholm...they've got character/History....

In terms of new stadia, I love the Thomond job and I'm quite fond of the Stade de France for some inexplicable reason....

Millenium Stadium by a country mile. Everything about it. Location, facilities, proximity to the pitch, staff that actually know what they're doing and the fact that you can see the field from anywhere there. Even the announcer there gives it 100% for his job no matter who it is that he is speaking about.
Been there for both Munster ERC wins, the 2005 6N loss, the Grand Slam win of this year and a couple of Aussie (RWC & tour) games there too. Just brilliant everytime.
Not a fan of Thomond Park. Access out of the stands to exits is way too narrow. Facilities are utter sh*te. The pitch is great and the crowd make up in a big way for what it lacks.

niceoneted

I think The Millennium Stadium is just great. Like Serenity says it's easy to access as it's bang slap in the middle of the city, beside trains and bus stations. It's easy to get in and out of, very good facilities. I've been to a number of stadiums around the world and I think it's just great.
I've been there for the 2 Munster HC wins, 6N games including the grand slam win this yr and also made the France V NZ quarter Final in the last world cup.
Atmosphere has been superb on all occasions.

tampopo

yeah, I'd agree with the complements that the Millenium Stadium gets. It's hard to believe that Croke Park was built AFTER it, and that they built it so poorly. Maybe a better word would be design it so poorly. Compared to Cardiff it's a kip altogether.

Noffles

Have to agree with the comments above, great stadium and you simply can not knock the location... and the fact you can have a beer at your seat (Croke Park hello...) and it's served super fast!!

Shame I've seen Ireland win there so often

suppafly

Ya I def my fav stadium. The fact that it all enclosed makes a big difference. also u are very close to the pitch. Twickenham, Croker and Murray Field u are far enough away from the pitch.

Chucky the tree

Depp wrote: »

Where was croker or thomond in the list?

Not on it I'd hope.

ManoCornuta

Robbo wrote: »

They've obviously never considered the Sportsground when it's raining sideways at you from 3 different directions.

Four if you're over by the clubhouse. *sigh*

Creeping-Death

bigbadben wrote: »

They'd shagging want to, I was at every game at the last Lions tour and you wouldn't keep cattle in some of their provincial stadiums.

Eden Park's their national stadium and it seems to have been constructed by pikeys using old radiators and fridges, i thought the old Lansdowne Road was bad, this gaff makes landsowne look like one of the 7 wonders of the world

twinytwo

Noffles wrote: »

Have to agree with the comments above, great stadium and you simply can not knock the location... and the fact you can have a beer at your seat (Croke Park hello...) and it's served super fast!!

Shame I've seen Ireland win there so often

hell no.. u get a retard behind slopping his beer down your back and you would change ur mind

kmart6

Hard to see how the Millenium stadium could be considered the best arena when it's generally half empty!

dingbat

The Millennium Stadium is like going to watch a match in a big gym. Can't agree that it's anywhere close to being the best rugby arena in the world.

themont85

kmart6 wrote: »

Hard to see how the Millenium stadium could be considered the best arena when it's generally half empty!

That's irrelevant to it being the best place to watch a game. When the Millenium is full on big game days, its hard to beat.

dingbat wrote: »

The Millennium Stadium is like going to watch a match in a big gym. Can't agree that it's anywhere close to being the best rugby arena in the world.

Where is then?

Twin-go

Does anybody know when they are going to finish building Croke Park? The Hill end just ruins it.:D

Millenium is fantastic arena for Rugby. The sheer volume when full at HEC final 2006 made the hairs stand on the back of my neck.