This ploughing up Croke Park in July nonsense!

Erin Go Brath

What do people make of this ploughing up Croke Park in the middle of the Championship season?

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0714/1224250639550.html


THE ARRIVAL of U2 to Croke Park has put enormous strain on the stadium to be ready for the All-Ireland football quarter-finals over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

There is a three-day window to re-lay the pitch that was ripped up within an hour of the Leinster football final last Sunday. As far as deadlines go, it doesn’t get much tighter than this.

Early on Tuesday morning, July 28th, the U2 road show begins the 42 hour process of packing up its 11 storey, 550 tonne stage that will take up 40 per cent of the pitch surface.

It will be in place for 12 days with zero growth beneath it leaving no option but to replace the pitch.

From Wednesday morning until Friday afternoon Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna will oversee the logistical nightmare of laying and priming the new surface ahead of at least three prime time football encounters (the fourth is likely to be postponed due to the Wexford v Roscommon qualifier replay).

It is not inconceivable that a stand alone Dublin fixture will take place in Croke Park over the Bank Holiday weekend.

This means a packed house and that means full scrutiny of the new surface.

Basically, a three-month process is occurring over 10 days.

Personally, I think its an absolute disgrace that this is allowed to happen right in the middle of the Championship. Bono doesn't even pay tax in the country, and his band is way overrated anyway. :mad:

Bluetonic

Erin Go Brath wrote: »

What do people make of this ploughing up Croke Park in the middle of the Championship season?

Pretty much covered last week here.

df1985

i wouldnt mind if it wasnt bloody U2.stick them in the pheonix park imo.

Erin Go Brath

Bluetonic wrote: »

Pretty much covered last week here.

Oops didn't see that thread.

Hacks

Couldn't agree more, let them play in the phoenix park or better still......Slane or Punchestown (where there's already a stage etc set up).
Bono is all about saving the world anyway, why doesn't he play somewhere remote and bring some money out of the capital and give some town a boost.

run_Forrest_run

Hacks wrote: »

Bono is all about saving the world anyway, why doesn't he play somewhere remote and bring some money out of the capital and give some town a boost.

and expect the little boreens to manage the 80,000 people flocking there??? Another Oasis @ Slane right there.

gucci

Hacks wrote: »

Couldn't agree more, let them play in the phoenix park or better still......Slane or Punchestown (where there's already a stage etc set up).
Bono is all about saving the world anyway, why doesn't he play somewhere remote and bring some money out of the capital and give some town a boost.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055579147

The people here might have differing opinions on why gigs shouldnt be played in the venues mentioned.

rossie1977

Hacks wrote: »

Couldn't agree more, let them play in the phoenix park or better still......Slane or Punchestown (where there's already a stage etc set up).
Bono is all about saving the world anyway, why doesn't he play somewhere remote and bring some money out of the capital and give some town a boost.

slane or punchestown should never get another big one-day gig, i was at that ac/dc concert in punchestown having to walk 5-6 miles in the rain despite paying 20euro to dublin bus :mad: i won't even mention the disaster of leaving the venue

rebel girl 15

Of the 1.2 million cost, U2 are contributing roughly 40 per cent of it. AS well as that, Croke Park will receive 2.75 million in profit from the concert.

So it works for the GAA!

I think it also has to do with more matches on the pitch as well the fact that for 12 days there will be no growth underneath, it was going to have to be replaced next year anyway - so why not do it, and get 40 per cent off the cost!

homerjay2005

im sure they still would have sold out the concert 2 weeks after the footbal final. madness having it now.

premierstone

homerjay2005 wrote: »

im sure they still would have sold out the concert 2 weeks after the footbal final. madness having it now.

Somehow I doubt U2 plan their schedule around the GAA football championship, I dont see the problem tbh, no game of significance has been moved and the pitch was due to be replaced in hte Autumn anyway

rossie1977

homerjay2005 wrote: »

im sure they still would have sold out the concert 2 weeks after the footbal final. madness having it now.

U2 are in the middle of the european leg of their current tour which started on 30 june in camp nou barcelona, the US/canada leg of this tour starts on September 12, it would have been impossible to have it 2 weeks after the football final with the set on the other side of the pond