Can Ireland host the 2023 RWC - Off the Ball

KevIRL

McWilliams and Eddie O Sullivan join the Off the Ball lads to talk about Ireland hosting the RWC in 2023

http://soundcloud.com/off-the-ball/can-ireland-host-the-rugby

EKClarke

Seems plausible with the GAAs help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_GAA_Stadiums_by_Capacity

EKClarke

Only 13 stadia were used in the previous RWC so if we used the Aviva, Thomond and Ravenhill after its re-development that would be 3 owned by the IRFU.

And if we were lent 10 other stadia with the highest capacity by the GAA the lowest of which is Breffni Park at 32,000 and got a Government grant for development of the stadia we'd be on to something. And those stadiums are spread throughout the island both North and South.

For a few games you could do with at most a 15,000 capacity stadium and the IRFU have a few of those whose redevelopment would be relatively cheaper to the higher capacity stadia of the GAA such as the RDS, the Sportsground and Musgrave.

Casement Park (32,600 capacity) is guaranteed £61,000,000 for redevelopment and Ravenhill has £15,000,000 guaranteed as well from the Northern Ireland Executive.

There'd be plenty of tourists from GB, France and South Africa isn't that far away.

The only problem is if the GAA would hop on board and also how much would they ask for?
But it seems plausible if money was forthcoming from the Government (unlikely).:(

Phonehead

Let's not forget, the Welsh no doubt would require the use of the millenium stadium to secure their vote.

Podge_irl

The GAA won't hop on board. The GAA stadiums are woefully inadequate. Rugby in mostly GAA stadiums would be awful. Ireland would have more people visiting then NZ due to the proximity to so many rugby nations and there would be massive infrastructural problems. The stadium capacity for the next two world cups will be a massive increase on NZ, which was a fall back from France, and it's unlikely the IRB will want to go backwards again.

Essentially no.

tolosenc

Much like FIFA not allowing World Cup games in stadia with running tracks, I'd imagine that the IRB would object to the large distance between the stands and the pitch in GAA stadia. Maybe it's possible to rip out some of the seats in the lower tiers and put in temp seats that approach the touchlines a bit more?

The IRFU would never raise the money for the amount of work necessary by itself, and the Irish government is kind of broke, and the UK government (who should be contributing as the tournament would be in NI too) aren't exactly rolling in it either.

At the moment, we'd be looking at:
Aviva Stadium - 50,000
RDS - 25,000 (after upgrade)
Thomond Park - 35,000 (after upgrade)
Ravenhill - 20,000 (after upgrade)
Windsor Park/New NI National Stadium - 15,000~35,000
Millennium Stadium - 75,000
Cardiff City Stadium - 25,000
Murrayfield - 65,000
Hampden Park - 50,000
Celtic Park - 60,000
Ibrox Park - 50,000

Quarters: Aviva, Ibrox, Hampden, Millennium
Semis: Celtic, Murrayfield
Final: Milennium

Basically not going to happen for Ireland unless there are Saudi level oil reserves found under Lansdowne Road...

TBH, it's ridiculous that the World Cup hasn't gone to Italy, who could host it tomorrow, yet. I'd prefer to see it there, for the good of the game.

Podge_irl

I'd love to see a RWC in Italy. Would be excellent for the game and who the hell doesn't want to live in Italy for two months?!? Second only to Argentina in the list of RWCs likely to kill me though.

irishbucsfan

Don't think Ireland or Italy could afford to bid right now.

What about Canada?

[Jackass]

You could comfortably do it with 12 stadiums. With a joint bid with Wales, we would easily have all the stadia required, with most of the development required is already planned anyway...you don't need to redevelop all GAA stadiums, all we would ask from the GAA is for Croke Park, and we could certainly make it worth their while...

Croke Park 80,000
Millenium Stadium 75,000
Lansdowne Road 50,000
Cardiff City Stadium 27,000
Thomond Park 26,500
RDS 25,000*
Liberty Stadium 20,500
Ravenhill 20,000*
Windsor Park 20,000*
Parc Y Scarlets 16,500
Showgrounds 15,000*
Rodney Parade 15,000*

* = RDS, Windosr Park, Ravenhill developments are already planned. This only leaves Showgrounds & Rodney parade, which can be upgraded cheaply with temporary seating. A municipal stadium out west of c. 10/15k is a consideration also.

bamboozle

i think its a great idea, perhaps Dennis O'Brien and his mates could be encouraged to open their cheque books.

Co-host with scotland maybe, give the Scots their group fixtures and a quarter final and 3/4 place play off.

we've enough stadia to cover the rest. Realistically Croke Park, Aviva & say Murrayfield are big enough for the big matches with maybe McHale park or Pairc ui Caoimh also, asides from them there are plenty of pool matches which would need no more than 20-25,000 (depending on local fans interest)

EOS said last night the tournament in France attracted 2.2m visitors (or there were 2.2m ticket sales cant remember) if each ticket sale had ancillary spend in the local economy of €500 , hotel room, booze, grub, train, taxi, bus etc that would feed over €1b into the local economies.

RWC is now the 3rd most watched sports event in the world on tv, if we were to host it there would be long term benefits beyond the tournament finishing with plenty of people coming here on holidays etc afterwards.

As was suggested last night, as a country we have no problem hosting trouble free HC, 6N and GAA matches with huge crowds.

if it were to happen i just hope hotels were restricted in how much they could rip off tourists with room rates.

Podge_irl

Isnt the planned Ravenhill development going to reduce capacity?

Regardless there simply isn't enough mid sized stadia available. A RWC relying on mostly c20000 cap stadia would be ****e

nc6000

bamboozle wrote: »

i think its a great idea, perhaps Dennis O'Brien and his mates could be encouraged to open their cheque books.

We would all be much better off if these guys just paid their taxes here in the first place.

[Jackass]

Podge_irl wrote: »

Isnt the planned Ravenhill development going to reduce capacity?

Regardless there simply isn't enough mid sized stadia available. A RWC relying on mostly c20000 cap stadia would be ****e

Not sure, but I don't think so. I think they were going to knock the existing "old" stand and put in a brand new facility (across from the existing brand new facility) which would reduce capacity in that stand, but they are also going to put stands behind each of the goals, which don't currently exist, bringing the total capacity up to c. 20,000 I seem to recall.

The funding for this development (as well as Windsor park which is c. 20,000 also) has already been secured from the Brittish Government.

The size of stadia may be a problem, particularly since 2 of the big 3 are all in the same city, but there's only 4 groups, so it's not too difficult to have 3 big stadia available so close to each other to accomodate up to 3 big games per day / weekend, and mid-week and smaller matches I think would be well accomodated for in 20,000 stadiums. I think it would make for a special atmosphere and complete sell-outs, which would be unique compared to this seasons tournament.

I think England will raise the bar though with all 40k+ stadiums being sold out for every game, but I think it's certainly plausable we could host it with Wales...if not probable..

jacknes

Having just got back from the world cup in nz i think we could easily hold a rugby world cup very easily and also make it a great success.
What we need is the irfu to have some real vision and ambition and also for the government to have the same.
To host it on our own we would need some gaa stadium but i do no see and problem with the pitch sizes. A lot of the stadium in nz were also cricket ovals with good distance in between the fans and the pitch. The most important thing would be to fill stadiums and develop good atmospheres. To secure the gaa backing i think an offer to redevlop the stadium in cork would go a long way from the government. This could easily be a quality 45k stadium for use by all codes. Also a pathriotic appeal to the gaa might also be successful. They would also be very tempted by revenue.
The stadium i would envisage would be :
croke park
Aviva
Windsor
ravenhill
thomond
new cork stadium
rds
The sports ground or salthill
breffni park or clones
portlaois or tullamore
maybe fitzgerald stadium

while some of these stadium still have terrace this is not a problem for rugby supporters. Also our transport infrastructure is far superior to nz. We also have no shortage of quality cheap hotels and a huge tourist appeal.

mossyc123

Ireland/Wales/Scotland would be the best bet IMO.

2 pools for us spread over 6 stadia:
Dublin x2 (Croke Pk, Lansdowne Rd)
Limerick (Thomond pk)
Cork (Musgrave pk or Cork GAA)
Belfast (Ravenhill)
Galway (Sportsground or Salthill)

2 pools under current format = 20 games
4 each for Lansdowne & Thomond
3 each for Croke Pk, Ravenhill, Cork and Galway
+ 6 knockout games
2 Quarter-Finals (Thomond & Lansdowne)
2 Semi-Finals (Both Croke Pk)
Bronze Final (Lansdowne)
Final (Croke Pk)

= 26 games for us.

No need to play any games outside major population areas and no need to pay rent to GAA for Castlebar, Thurles, etc
Play Ireland's 2 biggest pool games in Croke Pk to maximise ticket revenue, play Ireland's smaller pool games outside Dublin for inclusiveness (1 in Limerick and another in Belfast)
Play any other big games in Lansdowne/Croke Pk/Thomond (eg England/France v SH sides)

1 pool for Wales
10 games (Millenium Stadium, Liberty Stadium, Cardiff City,Parc y Scarlets)
& 1 Quarter Final (Millenium Stadium)

= 11 games for Welsh

1 Pool for Scotland
10 games (Murrayfield, Hampden, Dundee, Aberdeen)
& 1 Quarter Final (Murrayfield)

= 11 games for Scotland

Basically give Wales and Scotland their own Pool and a chance for a Quarter-Final at home = share of burden of cost and eliminate any potential votes against the bid.

France and England would want a return to Europe after Japan 2019 surely.

Italy would possibly be main competition.

Outstanding issues:
Stadia in Cork & Galway.
Opening of Croke Pk again (schedule games for Croke Pk after 3rd Sunday in Sept, no RWC games on day of Football final either...well, maybe 1 in Ravenhill )

Accomodation, infrastructure and everything else in place.

ArmaniJeanss

mossyc123 wrote: »

2 Semi-Finals (Both Croke Pk)
Bronze Final (Lansdowne)
Final (Croke Pk)

The semi's and final should be in rugby grounds. Millenium and Aviva one each, with Millenium the most logical choice for the final.

Fr Tod Umptious

tolosenc wrote: »

Much like FIFA not allowing World Cup games in stadia with running tracks,.........

Fifa have no restriction about running tracks when it comes to selecting WC hosts

bamboozle wrote: »

.......

we've enough stadia to cover the rest. Realistically Croke Park, Aviva & say Murrayfield are big enough for the big matches with maybe McHale park or Pairc ui Caoimh also, asides from them there are plenty of pool matches which would need no more than 20-25,000 (depending on local fans interest)........

Ok, technically McHale Park is a 35k all seater stadium.

It has a brand new 10k seat stand, but the other 25k of those seats are concrete benches that have been there since the 30s..

mossyc123

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

The semi's and final should be in rugby grounds. Millenium and Aviva one each, with Millenium the most logical choice for the final.

So we host the World Cup and then give a Semi-Final AND the Final to another country (who incidentally, have already hosted the Final)

Millenium Stadium is probably one of the finest stadiums in the World but Croke Pk is well able for an event like this... why should the Final have to be in a "rugby ground"?

Our main rugby ground has a laughable capacity of 51,000... turning down the extra 30,000+ ticket sales = 40 odd % drop in revenue for the 3 main games in the tournament... guaranteed sell-outs. (2 Semi's and Final).

Giving any of them to WRU = 100% drop in ticket revenue.

ArmaniJeanss

mossyc123 wrote: »

So we host the World Cup and then give a Semi-Final AND the Final to another country (who incidentally, have already hosted the Final)

Millenium Stadium is probably one of the finest stadiums in the World but Croke Pk is well able for an event like this... why should the Final have to be in a "rugby ground"?

Well, I think a joint bid would be more of an equal partnership than doling out a host group to Wales and Scotland. I suspect they'd demand an equal bid before getting on board.

Maybe I'm a sentimentalist but I think its important for the history of the sport that the big games are in rugby grounds, so maybe the Aviva for the final then.

So in 2043 when you bring your son or grandson to his first rugby match in the Aviva you can say that XXXX scored the try there in the final of 2023 and YYYY made that famous last minute saving tackle out by that corner flag etc etc.
Rather than having the final in a GAA ground which won't subsequently be used for rugby. I do understand the capacity issue but don't think it should be the be-all.

mossyc123

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Well, I think a joint bid would be more of an equal partnership than doling out a host group to Wales and Scotland. I suspect they'd demand an equal bid before getting on board.

Maybe I'm a sentimentalist but I think its important for the history of the sport that the big games are in rugby grounds, so maybe the Aviva for the final then.

So in 2043 when you bring your son or grandson to his first rugby match in the Aviva you can say that XXXX scored the try there in the final of 2023 and YYYY made that famous last minute saving tackle out by that corner flag etc etc.
Rather than having the final in a GAA ground which won't subsequently be used for rugby. I do understand the capacity issue but don't think it should be the be-all.

Lansdowne just wouldn't be big enough for a RWC Final IMO.

Considering ticket revenue is how you make back money on hosting a tournament, capacity really is the be-all.

We are twice the size of Wales population wise and are a bigger Rugby nation then Scotland.

A pool and Q-F each would cover them if we get them to pay 15% each of the cost of buying the rights to host from the RWC.

We could pay the 70% balance.

No reason we should be playing second fiddle to either of those countries.

ArmaniJeanss

mossyc123 wrote: »

No reason we should be playing second fiddle to either of those countries.

Well the main reason for playing second fiddle (or equal fiddle as I'd put it) is that we actually need them.
We are probably not capable of putting in a solo bid so we need their help.

So if I was on the Scottish or Welsh boards I'd be looking for a full group each, a premier match from another group, a quarter-final each and a semi-final for Wales. And if Ireland didn't like it then telling Ireland to fcuk off.

It also helps the Scots and Welsh that they have 20% of the votes on the commitee which makes the decision, quite the bloc.

Its a moot discussion anyway, 2023 will go to South Africa, and by 2027 the calls for a joint USA/Canada bid will prove irrestible.

JustinDee

mossyc123 wrote: »

Considering ticket revenue is how you make back money on hosting a tournament, capacity really is the be-all

It actually isn't.
The host union earns revenue by way of profit-share from RWC Ltd. This revenue derives from TV rights share, partnership share and ticket revenue share.

mossyc123

JustinDee wrote: »

It actually isn't.
The host union earns revenue by way of profit-share from RWC Ltd. This revenue derives from TV rights share, partnership share and ticket revenue share.

Link?

I've heard it many times during the recent tournament that NZRU's only direct source of income was from ticket sales.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oct/11/rugby-world-cup-2011-tickets

mossyc123

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Well the main reason for playing second fiddle (or equal fiddle as I'd put it) is that we actually need them.
We are probably not capable of putting in a solo bid so we need their help.

So if I was on the Scottish or Welsh boards I'd be looking for a full group each, a premier match from another group, a quarter-final each and a semi-final for Wales. And if Ireland didn't like it then telling Ireland to fcuk off.

It also helps the Scots and Welsh that they have 20% of the votes on the commitee which makes the decision, quite the bloc.

Its a moot discussion anyway, 2023 will go to South Africa, and by 2027 the calls for a joint USA/Canada bid will prove irrestible.

20% of voting block are WRU/SRU... why is the hosting of the next 3 tournaments after 2015 outside of Europe a certainty?

Why would WRU/SRU when given the chance of hosting their own Pool and potentially their own Quarter-Final tell the IRFU to "f*ck off"?

its_phil

I really enjoyed that piece,becoming a bigger Off the Ball fan by the weeks

JustinDee

mossyc123 wrote: »

Link?

A link???
Its just what I know from my line of work, thats all.

ArmaniJeanss

mossyc123 wrote: »

20% of voting block are WRU/SRU... why is the hosting of the next 3 tournaments after 2015 outside of Europe a certainty?

In truth its not, 2027 may well come back to Europe. Though with Argentina, Russia, USA/Canada, Italy all talking of future bids, and Australia probably needing a tourney to stop the drift in player numbers, theres a plausible case that the European 'Original 5' of Eng/Ire/Scot/Fra/Wales may only get to host the tourney every 25/30 years or so going forward.
In which case I don't see any reason why a predominently Irish bid would be a likely winner.

mossyc123 wrote: »

Why would WRU/SRU when given the chance of hosting their own Pool and potentially their own Quarter-Final tell the IRFU to "f*ck off"?

Because as I said we need them more than they need us, so I'd expect them to demand more than such comparative crumbs.

Though I guess me and you are only a little apart in our numbers really; I'd suggest one semi final in Wales, maybe the opening match in Murrayfield, and a few extra high-profile pool matches dispersed.

Podge_irl

I think you may be overestimating how much the 6N care about the state of the game elsewhere. The RWC will be in Europe at least one in three times

its_phil

2027 is a realistic targer. A lot can happen in 16 years as well as when the bidding process begins.

eire4

I don't know that we could do it by ourselves even if we had use of the GAA stadiums as most of them are of pretty average quality. But certainly a joint bid with either Wales or Scotland would be something that could work I think.

MyKeyG

its_phil wrote: »

2027 is a realistic targer. A lot can happen in 16 years as well as when the bidding process begins.

But I doubt it will. We put forward a joint bid with Scotland for the 2008 Euro's back in 2002 and it turned out to be one of the most embarrassing episodes in the countries history. Now nearly ten years and one recession later we're no closer to realising the chance to host a major sporting occasion so I doubt another decade or two will make a difference.

Any talk of using any of the so called high capacity GAA stadiums outside of Croke Park is laughable. I'm embarrassed by the very thought.

jacothelad

Podge_irl wrote: »

Isnt the planned Ravenhill development going to reduce capacity?

Regardless there simply isn't enough mid sized stadia available. A RWC relying on mostly c20000 cap stadia would be ****e

Capacity will be 18,000. Windsor will be bigger and would be a good rugby venue (but they are so close together, as is Casement Park you would hardly need them).

The health and safety Nazis have reduced the capacity at Ravenhill almost in half over the years. Their latest brain child is only allowing two thirds of the seats in the old stand to be used in case a tsunami comes up the Ravenhill Road or Cave Hill erupts again as it did 60,000,000 years ago. They say - and this is true - that people couldn't get out of the stand quickly enough. It's been there for almost 80 years, I've been in the ground with over 20,000 in it and it's been fine but hey - modern rugby fans are too stupid to move fast enough for their own good.

its_phil

MyKeyG wrote: »

But I doubt it will. We put forward a joint bid with Scotland for the 2008 Euro's back in 2002 and it turned out to be one of the most embarrassing episodes in the countries history. Now nearly ten years and one recession later we're no closer to realising the chance to host a major sporting occasion so I doubt another decade or two will make a difference.

Sorry I dont understand your point.are you trying to say we are incapable or the country wont bid to host it?

invinciblePRSTV

bamboozle wrote: »

RWC is now the 3rd most watched sports event in the world on tv

I doubt that.

Podge_irl

invinciblePRSTV wrote: »

I doubt that.

There's no doubt some excessive manipulations going on of the figures (potential audience vs. actual audience etc.) but it's still one of the most sizeable events in the world.

MyKeyG

its_phil wrote: »

Sorry I dont understand your point.are you trying to say we are incapable or the country wont bid to host it?

I'm saying we're incapable. We don't have the stadiums nor do we have the inclination/economy/infrastructure to build them for future bids.

But as I said that hasn't stopped us bidding for a major competition in the past so maybe the same delusion will translate to rugby.

Podge_irl

The 07 RWC had no stadium below 30,000 capacity and 7 over 40,000. The 15 RWC has one under 30,000 and 6 over 40,000. The 19 RWC has three under 30,000 and 7 over 40,000. Ireland simply can't compete on that level. The only reason NZ got it is because they are NZ and it's likely the last one they'll ever host.

uberwolf

Podge_irl wrote: »

There's no doubt some excessive manipulations going on of the figures (potential audience vs. actual audience etc.) but it's still one of the most sizeable events in the world.

not aimed at you Podge in particular.

This terminology is bandied around so much.

Take the tour de france for instance. Barely grazes our consciousness over here in Ireland. Over 10 million attend the race live each year (the major mountain stages would have upwards of 250,000 people on the final climb of the day). Annual viewing figures are only second only to the football world cup at 950 million. Given the fwc is every 4 years...

Podge_irl

I'm pretty sure F1 makes a similar claim. Course they add up everyone who watches each of the practice sessions, qualifying and race as seperate viewers to arrive at absurd figures like 1 billion people watching it.

The reality is that the World Cup and the Olympics are way out in front for viewers and there are a number of events mired way behind them in third.

MyKeyG

Where does the under 14 Munster camogie final come in?

finatron

I think a celtic world cup would work (Ireland Scotland and Wales) i would not worry too much about having too up grade are stdiums, i was at world cup and the venues in New Zealand are not great

overshoot

Podge_irl wrote: »

The 07 RWC had no stadium below 30,000 capacity and 7 over 40,000. The 15 RWC has one under 30,000 and 6 over 40,000. The 19 RWC has three under 30,000 and 7 over 40,000. Ireland simply can't compete on that level. The only reason NZ got it is because they are NZ and it's likely the last one they'll ever host.

if ireland were to go it alone, it would take a massive gaa input. there is 7 existing stadiums in this country with 40k plus
croker 82,500
semple (thurles) 55,000
lansdowne 51,700
mchale pk (castlebar) 49,500
gaelic grounds limerick 49,500
Pairc ui chaoimh cork 43,500
fitzgerald stadium killarney43,000
plus another 7 with 30,000 or more
Thomond Park 26,500 (potential to increase)
potential NI stadium 40,000
the ravenhill & the RDS are the only 2 that we could possibly afford to bring up to the high 20/30k mark

so thats 2 dublin venues (3 with the RDS), 1 in connacht (+2), 1 proposed in ulster(+3 & ravenhill), 4 muster (& thomond)-brackets 30k<capacity<40k

so capacity wise we can compete with NZ with the gaa and yes the gaa grounds would need some work such as press boxes (floodlights for killarney and some of the 30k stadiums) but nothing outside of the profit of hosting id say.
the big problem is the basic infrastructure wouldnt be there to cope, with moving 100,000+ visitors trying to get to their teams game each day and financially we cant afford to change that in the next 20 years nevermind 10.
having 1 pool & 1 quarter in both wales and scotland as suggested earlier may leave it doable.
and lets face it the final would have to be in croker, sentimental in lansdowne (cough aviva-whose naming rights will be over by then) or have 33,000 more people to take home a memory of being at the final

CatFromHue

Don't forget to add in the up front payment to the IRB for hosting the event. It's circa 100 million. I can't remember if that was in euro or pounds but either way it's a spicy meat ball.

CIARAN_BOYLE

CatFromHue wrote: »

Don't forget to add in the up front payment to the IRB for hosting the event. It's circa 100 million. I can't remember if that was in euro or pounds but either way it's a spicy meat ball.

Whats more its only likely to rise. Many commentators mentioned that NZ 2011 was the last RWC likely to be hosted by a small country and possibly the last RWC ever solely in NZ.

anonymous_joe

overshoot wrote: »

if ireland were to go it alone, it would take a massive gaa input. there is 7 existing stadiums in this country with 40k plus
croker 82,500
semple (thurles) 55,000
lansdowne 51,700
mchale pk (castlebar) 49,500
gaelic grounds limerick 49,500
Pairc ui chaoimh cork 43,500
fitzgerald stadium killarney43,000
plus another 7 with 30,000 or more
Thomond Park 26,500 (potential to increase)
potential NI stadium 40,000
the ravenhill & the RDS are the only 2 that we could possibly afford to bring up to the high 20/30k mark

so capacity wise we can compete with NZ with the gaa and yes the gaa grounds would need some work such as press boxes (floodlights for killarney and some of the 30k stadiums) but nothing outside of the profit of hosting id say.
the big problem is the basic infrastructure wouldnt be there to cope, with moving 100,000+ visitors trying to get to their teams game each day and financially we cant afford to change that in the next 20 years nevermind 10.
having 1 pool & 1 quarter in both wales and scotland as suggested earlier may leave it doable.
and lets face it the final would have to be in croker, sentimental in lansdowne (cough aviva-whose naming rights will be over by then) or have 33,000 more people to take home a memory of being at the final

What state are some of those stadia in?

MyKeyG

overshoot wrote: »

if ireland were to go it alone, it would take a massive gaa input. there is 7 existing stadiums in this country with 40k plus
croker 82,500
semple (thurles) 55,000
lansdowne 51,700
mchale pk (castlebar) 49,500
gaelic grounds limerick 49,500
Pairc ui chaoimh cork 43,500
fitzgerald stadium killarney43,000
plus another 7 with 30,000 or more
Thomond Park 26,500 (potential to increase)
potential NI stadium 40,000
the ravenhill & the RDS are the only 2 that we could possibly afford to bring up to the high 20/30k mark

so thats 2 dublin venues (3 with the RDS), 1 in connacht (+2), 1 proposed in ulster(+3 & ravenhill), 4 muster (& thomond)-brackets 30k<capacity<40k

so capacity wise we can compete with NZ with the gaa and yes the gaa grounds would need some work such as press boxes (floodlights for killarney and some of the 30k stadiums) but nothing outside of the profit of hosting id say.
the big problem is the basic infrastructure wouldnt be there to cope, with moving 100,000+ visitors trying to get to their teams game each day and financially we cant afford to change that in the next 20 years nevermind 10.
having 1 pool & 1 quarter in both wales and scotland as suggested earlier may leave it doable.
and lets face it the final would have to be in croker, sentimental in lansdowne (cough aviva-whose naming rights will be over by then) or have 33,000 more people to take home a memory of being at the final

I'm sorry but except for Croker and Landsdowne it is actually boggling my mind that people keep suggesting these other dumps in all sincerity.

If you convert these stadiums to all seater then you're talking about a fraction of the capacity required. Let's be serious here!!!

overshoot

anonymous_joe wrote: »

What state are some of those stadia in?

from the other end of the country so cant really vouge for them as they are nearly all muster, but i offer

finatron wrote: »

i would not worry too much about having too up grade are stdiums, i was at world cup and the venues in New Zealand are not great

look decent on google images most of the capacity is standing, 10-15k seats in each maybe

anyway ya going for a padded seat or to watch a match! personally iv never got the facination with stadium standards. always better atmospheres around the standing areas too. rugby doesnt require seating (unless the wc does)
and it would cost a lot less to bring a high capacity stadium up to scratch that bring the RDS, ravenhill, thomond up to capacity (which arent exactly the aviva themselves either)

MyKeyG

overshoot wrote: »

from the other end of the country so cant really vouge for them as they are nearly all muster, but i offer

look decent on google images most of the capacity is standing, 10-15k seats in each maybe

anyway ya going for a padded seat or to watch a match! personally iv never got the facination with stadium standards. always better atmospheres around the standing areas too. rugby doesnt require seating (unless the wc does)
and it would cost a lot less to bring a high capacity stadium up to scratch that bring the RDS, ravenhill, thomond up to capacity (which arent exactly the aviva themselves either)

I'm not sure if the WC requires seating but surely factors that will be taken into consideration include image. I mean are Semple Stadium and the Gaelic Grounds honestly comparable with the likes of Eden Park? It may be OK for a Munster final but to expect international rugby fans to stand in terraces like cattle in a barn despite the atmosphere is potential for embarrassment. If we approach the bid with these stadiums in our pocket then we'll be laughed out the door.

anonymous_joe

overshoot wrote: »

from the other end of the country so cant really vouge for them as they are nearly all muster, but i offer

look decent on google images most of the capacity is standing, 10-15k seats in each maybe

anyway ya going for a padded seat or to watch a match! personally iv never got the facination with stadium standards. always better atmospheres around the standing areas too. rugby doesnt require seating (unless the wc does)
and it would cost a lot less to bring a high capacity stadium up to scratch that bring the RDS, ravenhill, thomond up to capacity (which arent exactly the aviva themselves either)

Realistically, we can't base a World Cup on the concept of 'well NZ was small.'

We're right beside France and the UK.

There will be thousands coming in from those countries, we could very easily host a world cup of a similar size to NZs, but in this part of the world that probably won't fly. You'd end up needing a Celtic bid, or have a very small WC.

jacothelad

Having the RWC here would also bring out the gouger mentality that roared through the place during the 'Tiger' years. The place is still ridiculously expensive for things like B&B as it is. I spend a lot of time tooling about the West and I can tell you the prices some charge are crazy. Add in the extortionate prices for cafe food and restaurants and you have a recipe for dragging the name of our country through the dirt. You know that the prices will explode while morons line their pockets.

overshoot

these were RWC 2011 stadiums, its always the pretty ones shown on tv


and anonymous_joe i clearly state anyway that our infrastructure isnt up to it suggested a celtic WC and that they would still need an overhaul (but less of a one than the RDS, ravenhill etc).