GAA Infastructure

Did you smash it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120072831#Comment_120072831

The players being amateur in Ireland brings down the cost of staging games so I don’t follow the point you are making.

To your second point, Away fans are always inconvenienced. They aren’t the primary market. Building an event for home fans is the aim. GAA games rarely have a big event feel. Now as I’ve already said this might be just the way it is here but it’s strange that the reality is never discussed that GAA games have a basic level of entertainment facilities outside of the game. It’s strange still that there seems to be an opposition to even considering throwing in a good night out as part of the deal with attending games.

Gusser09

The issue with the stand in Tullamore is that it still has the support beams. Really annoying if your are unlucky enough to end up behind one. It's a decent template for all counties apart from that though.

Pete_Cavan

Serving alcohol at games is only realistic at a couple of the largest GAA stadiums, for the vast majority it wouldn't be worth the cost of obtaining a licence and providing the facilities. I don't think there is much demand for alcohol really, anyone who wants to drink can go to a pub. Basic food could be an option. The staple food of sports matches in Europe and North America is the humble hotdog, them and a few other bits could be offered easy enough.

For me, the best thing to add something to the match day experience would be a bit of a fan zone beside the stadium before/after the match, particularly for Championship games. A plaza area with few simple games, bit of live music and invite some local food stalls. Maybe someone can sell alcohol from a stall without the CB having to get a licence. Not everywhere will have the space but those that do should try it. Get the local council involved as well, they might be able to provide space near the stadium.

Gusser09

Working toilets would be a great start in Newbridge being honest never mind a hotdog.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120072962#Comment_120072962

The players being paid doesn't make a difference but the fact that Leicester and Northampton are private business makes a big difference.

Leicester rugby don't have to worry about any of their funding going towards paying for the myriad of local championships or club grounds in Leicestershire. They can focus fully one a handful of teams and venues.

callaway92

Does anyone know if Thurles Sarsfields' 'newer' pitch has any sort of a stand? (Just for height for a camera). Thanks!

Did you smash it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120073226#Comment_120073226

Ok but what point is being made then? The idea on making matches more of an event is to provide entertainment and take in more money from spectators.

therefore it should generate money to the causes county boards supports not be a drain on income. If it’s going to cost counties to host these events then just don’t do it.

So I’m still not following..

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120073307#Comment_120073307

I can't tell you what points other people are making but my point would be that Leicester Tigers are not a fair comparison for the majority of counties.

The new PuC is at the level of a professional rugby ground but I can't imagine many other counties sustaining that.

zetecescort

That's all we need at games, more food and drink. Then spend the game getting up to leave out every gobshite to get more or go to the toilet.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120073270#Comment_120073270

No. Nothing at the moment

callaway92

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120073926#Comment_120073926

ah damn ok - Is there any height there at all? Pity!

PeggyShippen

55 pounds each for a stand ticket for the Franklin's Gardens match. Its alot in comparison to GAA games. To be honest GAA games are under priced but then the product around the game is brutal so there's that. Munster v Leinster on Stephens day was 50 euro . That's a good night and the ore match fare is good..its improved a whole lot.

PeggyShippen

Yeah i get the transport issues. I get the train usually and Limerick and Cork have decent rail connectivity. Im not a drinker so I drive to many games aswell. My wife and friends would drink but I think drinking is going way down anyway. There's way less being drank. I rarely see drunkards at games now.

People do need to support the round Robin. It's got some much room for development in Munster. How Waterford and Clare don't have flood lights is bizarre at their stage.. and there's none planned for the new Walsh Park or Cusack Park..cam you fathom that? Is the Gaelic Grounds and Thomond Park.not slap bang in middle and working class areas..

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120081162#Comment_120081162

Gaelic Grounds is certainly not in a working class are and Thomond Park borders a working class one and a very wealthy area but I'm not sure what that has to do with anything.

Limerick, Tipp and Cork are mostly pulling 27k a game and Limerick vs Cork almost sold out last year. Ide say the round robin is supported fine.

PeggyShippen

The excuse being put forward in Clare is that residents will kick up murder about the floodlights. Its like an argument from 1990. Floodlights are really focused now and I was using the Limerick situation to emphasise how 2 stadiums regularly have lights on in a residential area.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120082600#Comment_120082600

I was just confused as to why the class of the area was brought up. PnaG did have issues with the neighbours which is why we ended up with the stupid set up of having the pylons in front of the terrace.

Personally I don't get it but I suppose I'm a big sports fan so will happily take living walking distance to a stadium over all the downsides.

PeggyShippen

Yeah the pylons inside the terraces is Bizarre and blocks views. The lights are very good in the Gaelic Grounds though. Ah didn't the Thomond Park residents get railroaded a little bit in the development of the stadium. That's why I said the working class population get treated less well in planning issues ect. Theres actually very little residential directly around Cusack Park so I don't see the problem

roadmaster

An article from the Meath Chronicle about the current stituation in Navan about the stadium.

As mentioned previously by crab revoultion fear of debt is a major issue

https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2023/01/09/wexford-stadium-a-perfect-model-for-pairc-project/

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120097804#Comment_120097804

Kildare and Meath supporters being sold short by their own county boards and the GAA. The GAA's motive is Croke Park pure and simple. Both counties have significant populations within 45 minutes of Croker. Quite obvious the GAA don't want a situation where both venues are upgraded to the standard of hosting the bigger provincial ties for example.

In Kildare for example Conleths is in bits. It's crazy that they won't even pull down the fence around the pitch or fix the toilets. We have no indication as to when or if work will start.

I advocated for selling the current ground years ago and move it to a greenfield site. It's in a terrible location at the moment particularly for the bigger club games or games held on a Saturday. Kildare die hard fans are odd though. They seem to think it's in a great place. North Kildare people visiting have a different opinion on that though.

Costs will come down but my feeling is regardless of that surely building on a brand new site would be cheaper than trying to retrofit and upgrade and absolute kip.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120097804#Comment_120097804

That article is being a bit generous to Wexford Park.

Unless I am wrong about the extent of redevelopment The opposite side seating is concrete benches and the toilets on that side are like an old outhouse.

Not the worst stadium but neither is it something to aspire to.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120097903#Comment_120097903

You haven't been to Newbridge or Navan lately.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120097931#Comment_120097931

Actually never been but from what I've heard it's a joke. Much like Waterford I don't think there is any excuse for letting places get that bad.

Pete_Cavan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/113502535#Comment_113502535

Everyone know that Meath will be lucky to build one new stand at PT. After that, they might add small terraces behind the goals at some point in the future to replace the unusable grass banks but thats about all that will happen. Meath CB seem to be the only ones who think a 20k stadium with all new stands is realistic.

Thats what I said almost three years ago. Meaths ambitions were not achievable from the start. They should have focused on building one stand first and go from there. They even had provisional government grant approval for €6,273,139 towards a new main stand, I presume they wont see a penny of that and will find it difficult to get another substantial grant. Outright incompetence from Meath CB.

munchkin_utd

on a smaller scale, and worth mentioning in the light of some not quite understanding that cash needs to be generated by gate reciepts and commercial ventures (including everyones beloved GAAGO) - the Munster council have approved 1.8million of backdated club grants. Presumably there was cashflow issues due to covid seeing as its for the covid years. Its still a drop in the ocean compared to the actual cost of 23million that the various club ground improvements cost

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2023/0111/1346033-munster-gaa-announce-1-8m-club-development-investment/

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120098208#Comment_120098208

The plan they announced could have been done in stages. They could still try build some of it as you say.

I wonder does the lack of competition from other sports lead to an apathy in counties like that.

Charles Babbage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120097903#Comment_120097903

Wexford park has nice coffee, but the seats are basic.

The Athletic Grounds in Armagh is a good example of a county ground, large stand and covered terrace means that people can be under a roof for most events and the uncovered terraces behind the goals provide capacity for bigger games and the 17500 capacity is mostly sufficient.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120098297#Comment_120098297

Never been but that looks exactly like what I picture most counties needing.

Pete_Cavan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120098271#Comment_120098271

They intended to do the redevelopment in phases but that didn't help as they were never realistically getting past phase 1. The overall redevelopment was just a distraction from what should have been the focus, i.e. the main standfor whichthey could have gotten a substantial grant. I presume the overall redevelopment was disproportionally large and is the reason for fearing taking on debt.

Gusser09

I find it hard to blame the Meath CB for being overly optimistic. Those grass hills behind the goal are a disgrace in this day and age. I'd say they need to be tackled first and foremost.

Pete_Cavan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120098539#Comment_120098539

Replacing the grass banks wasn't going to be worth anything in terms of revenue. They are unlikely to need the additional capacity which would be provided by building behind the goals so an expenditure for no returns. A modern main stand could attract more patrons, strengthen the case for hosting bigger games (was PT even considered for the club finals involving Meath teams?) and even be used on non-match days. Good chance no significant works happen at PT this decade now.

Edit; and like I said almost three years ago, this has been the most likely outcome for a long time given the way MCB have gone about it so they absolutely should be blamed. Being overly optimistic shouldn't be commended when you achieve absolutely nothing after several years of effort. If they had been realistic in their ambitions they might have had something to show for it.