Croke Park Stupidity

popebenny16

Not sure if there are posts about this, apologies if there are.

Those who dont go to Hill 16 will not know that it is made up of three sections A,B,C - looking from Cusack to the Garda Control Building. On the terrace itself these sections are divided by a small fence about the height of a grown mans waist. Underneath however, the sections are separated by gates and walls from ground to roof and have their own separate turnstyles and toilets, bars, food concessions ect.

Ever since the new hill was built all turnstyles would be opened as you approached from St Josephs Avenue. However two weeks ago Croke Park decided to close the entry into section b and force everyone into A. The problem here is that, unlike a seated area, everyone has their favourite spot on a terrace. Also, B and C are the areas with the best views. So you had a situation whereby people who would go to B year on year were forced into A.

This of course led to predictable chaos, people asking why this was being done and no reply. Two weeks ago section A was being filled and B was almost totally empty, problem was that the vast majority of those in A wanted to be in B. When people went to remonstrate with the stewards at the gates they were not told why this was happening nor if the gates would be opened. To make matters worse, A garda started shouting that "no matter what this gate will not be opened". Well he was nowhere to be seen when, after seeing the chaos that was being generated, a garda Sargent ordered the gates to be opened, thus resolving a problem that has never happened before.

I said to one of the head stewards (he was a lot of walkie talkies) that this was a stupid situation and did they have any idea that this would result in the trouble we all saw. He said that upper management in CP would be made well aware of what happened.

And that was two weeks ago with the hill only half full.

You can imagine my surprise yesterday when at four o clock and with B not even half full they pull the same stunt again. This time being on the terrace there was a flood of people climbing over the fence to get into their section. And before anyone says it, this is not a matter of people turning up late - it was half an hour before the match last time that they closed half the turnstyles, yesterday they did it closer to the throw in which was even more stupid, with a much fuller attendance on the hill.

I just dont understand what possessed the management in Croke Park to engage in this silly buggers now. If it is some aping of crowd control then they hopefully have to admit that it is failed utterly. Leaving full access and letting people go to their own area - even making it public when which section will be closed off - is better than this secret method they are using which if it goes on could lead to serious problems.

Oh, nice try at the Wexford Game on behalf of the GAA to sneak a price rise on the programmes. Obviously sales took a hit because they were cheaper yesterday. This and the much hyped spin that prices are frozen and isnt that good (frozen at height of the boom levels thanks a bunch lads).....

Its the little things.

FastFuse

Noticed this myself. I always prefer to be on/near the Nally but for some reason couldn't get my hands on a Nally ticket. Fine, I said. I got a regular Hill ticket and entered through Joseph's Road with the intention of crossing over. When I noticed the gates closed (I didn't notice at the Wexford match as I had a Nally ticket) I asked a steward who seemed to think this was the way it has always been. Realising after that, that it was pointless to explain to him I settled on this Hill, in a spot that was fine. But I agree, I have my favourite spot(s) and it has been thus ever, as I'm sure most fans have.

Would love to know the thinking behind it.

blackbelt

There is only one logic I can think of as to why they would close section B.The silly muckers must think that crowd levels are the same from 2000-2008 and so they thought with the World Cup being on and the "huge" amount of fans expected to turn up late that they'd close off the most popular section of The Hill and stop the rush to section b.

What silly muckers didn't realise is that A is much smaller and was becoming overcrowded.The fans did not want a more shoddy view of the game and wanted to be in their usual position on section b.

A lot of choice words were thrown at stewards and rightfully so.The stewards were there trying to impede fans entering over the small fence from a packed section a into section b.Gardai were very quick to back up the stewards but there was an accident waiting to happen if the situation continued.

delta_bravo

I was on the hill on a medical capacity so didnt really notice any problems as I can float between the gates with my role but you should contact croke park with the feedback.

Mullet

I was on the hill yesterday with popebenny and for the second game running the crowd control measures were shambolic. You had people jumping over the fence from A into B and the paid stewards were trying to prevent people from crossing over. Someone will be seriously hurt. This was all happening at 3.30pm. Was Area B full, No far from it