No atmosphere at Irish games

Deadalus

Hey all,

So I was at the game yesterday and if it wasn't for the Italians there would hardly have been a sound the whole game. Not I know it wasn't the greatest game in the world but I've been to quite a few internationals and Leinster games at the Aviva and its always a very quite affair.
The Itailans where great craic and where starting chants and really getting into it while the Irish where silent for the most part. I think we tried a mexican wave at one point to liven things up and it only went around about a quarter of the stadium.
So are there any songs that I don't know about that we could start singing or particular chants - apart from the drawn out Leinster and Ireland chant which is fairly embarrishing I think when you have 6000 Italians chanting IT-TAL-A hard and fast at the top of their lungs and drowning out about 45000 Irish chanting a slow and dreary IRELAND.
Does anybody else find this at games? I would love to attend games which a real cracking atmosphere and a proper sense of a home game but never really seems to happen.

Cheers

thebaz

Perhaps if Ireland played a more exciting brand of rugby, which they are well capable of , instead of the conservative Kidney game plan , the stadium too would come to life

CatFromHue

The Italian games have always been like this, they're just not very exciting. Hence why the tickets for this game are the cheapest of all our 6 Nations games.

We knew Ireland were going to win just not by how much. What was the main point of interest was how would Ireland play.

tolosenc

Combination of the kickoff time and how difficult it is to be enthused by Ireland lately.

JustinDee

Away fans always cheer loudly (listen to Irish in Twickenham in March for example).

Secondly when the team gives the crowd something to shout about hence the news around tries and breaks through the line.

I think the growth in popularity means there are a lot of new faces at games. Takes people a while to get into the culture of the sport.

That said - the atmosphere at provincial games is more palpable... National identity issue...!!?

CatFromHue

The All Blacks and England game last season would indicate there is no identity issue. I just think there was little to cheer about yesterday.

The fake hype from the PA system doesn't help in that I think it stifles fans.

yosser hughes

Mexican waves are started by people who aren't interested in the game and are more interested in the social occasion and I never participate in them. It's an insult to the players and annoying for those who want to watch a game.
I think the amount of people that attend internationals with only a passing interest in rugby is as responsible for a bad atmosphere as anything else. Alot of people go and expect to be entertained.Supporting your team requires participation by the supporter as well. You have to shout and roar and get behind your team.
I've been at Leinster games there and the atmosphere is much better.

edit: I don't call it the Aviva either,it will always be Landsdowne.

JustinDee

The Aviva Stadium is no different to previous. If the team aren't stringing much of a game together, then the crowd will be relatively quiet.
There are wastes of tickets at all sorts of games, including provincial team matches.

tolosenc

yosser hughes wrote: »

Mexican waves are started by people who aren't interested in the game and are more interested in the social occasion and I never participate in them. It's an insult to the players and annoying for those who want to watch a game.
I think the amount of people that attend internationals with only a passing interest in rugby is as responsible for a bad atmosphere as anything else. Alot of people go and expect to be entertained.Supporting your team requires participation by the supporter as well. You have to shout and roar and get behind your team.
I've been at Leinster games there and the atmosphere is much better.

edit: I don't call it the Aviva either,it will always be Landsdowne.

RandolphEsq

yosser hughes wrote: »

Mexican waves are started by people who aren't interested in the game and are more interested in the social occasion and I never participate in them. It's an insult to the players and annoying for those who want to watch a game.
I think the amount of people that attend internationals with only a passing interest in rugby is as responsible for a bad atmosphere as anything else. Alot of people go and expect to be entertained.Supporting your team requires participation by the supporter as well. You have to shout and roar and get behind your team.
I've been at Leinster games there and the atmosphere is much better.

edit: I don't call it the Aviva either,it will always be Landsdowne.

The Aviva at Landsowne Road?

skregs

The amtos at Ireland matches is always ****. Huge proportion of the crowd are people who got free tickets from work and are just there for the event.

CatFromHue

Just watching the highlights now and anytime Ireland do something good attacking they get a big cheer from the crowd.

I really don't think there is a huge proportion of the people at the game yesterday got free tickets either.

tolosenc

RandolphEsq wrote: »

The Aviva at Landsowne Road?

No. The Aviva Stadium.

If you want to call it something else, then you can pump the however many million into the grass roots of the game in this country. I find it obnoxious and irritating when people think they're cultured rugby fans and then have no respect for one of, if not the single largest contributor to rugby's coffers in this country.

Grimebox

I for one don't care if there's atmosphere at the matches or not. I don't cheer much because I don't really get a kick out of screaming for no good reason (imo). I enjoy watching the games and that's it for me. Frankly I'm sick of this topic constantly coming up

yosser hughes wrote: »

You have to shout and roar and get behind your team.

Do you? I feel stupid shouting random chants unless something genuinely exciting happens to bring it out in me. Leo the Lion at the leinster matches just makes me cringe

molloyjh

Grimebox wrote: »

I for one don't care if there's atmosphere at the matches or not. I don't cheer much because I don't really get a kick out of screaming for no good reason (imo). I enjoy watching the games and that's it for me. Frankly I'm sick of this topic constantly coming up

yosser hughes wrote: »

You have to shout and roar and get behind your team.

Do you? I feel stupid shouting random chants unless something genuinely exciting happens to bring it out in me. Leo the Lion at the leinster matches just makes me cringe

Letting the lads know you're behind them isn't a good reason? I think you need to lighten up. The crowd getting behind the team makes a difference. You sitting there quietly watching the match doesn't. You may as well be watching it home. Especially if the rest of us making the effort are making you cringe or look stupid to you.

The atmosphere in the Aviva is poor for a few reasons really. Mainly though I think there's a large contingent of casual fans which doesn't help. What annoys me most is the fact that so many won't sing our anthem at the start of the game. For as much as I don't like Ireland's Call I'll always give the 2 songs welly when I'm there.

Cork24

If tickets where not so pricey and this new rugby fashion... Oh I follow rugby yeah what's a fly half ?? But what about BOD yaa...

I don't go to games any more as I can't stand those type of people jumping on the whole rugby thing..

JustinDee

Believe it or not, you are no better a fan than any others.
This subjective self-grading of fandom just doesn't cut it.
It is baseless to generalise that Aviva Stadium is just attracting a sort of 'lesser' fan. When the team do well, everybody gets behind them. Using the same anecdotal evidence, there are as many effwits who have been attending for years and still haven't a clue about what goes on or why a ref is whistling as he is.

fryup

CatFromHue wrote: »

The All Blacks and England game last season would indicate there is no identity issue. I just think there was little to cheer about yesterday.

The fake hype from the PA system doesn't help in that I think it stifles fans.

fake hype? well its not as bad as Murrayfield

everytime theres a time out The Proclaimers are blasted out over the PA system "and i will walk five hundred miles...." :rolleyes: that and the fake bagpipes in the background

Grimebox

molloyjh wrote: »

Letting the lads know you're behind them isn't a good reason? I think you need to lighten up.

Yeah that is a good reason, but I feel more comfortable keeping my mouth shut. Screaming and shouting would do the opposite of lightening me up.

The crowd getting behind the team makes a difference. You sitting there quietly watching the match doesn't. You may as well be watching it home. Especially if the rest of us making the effort are making you cringe or look stupid to you.

I don't care if I look stupid or not, I feel stupid. Big difference there imo. Even the fact that you describe it as "making the effort" suggests you're going out of your way.

I enjoy being there and seeing the player right in front of me. A lot of tension builds up inside of me during the build up and going down to the stadium. I definitely enjoy it more than sitting at home. I would argue one person shouting can't make a difference, but that's an argument for a different day I think.

The atmosphere in the Aviva is poor for a few reasons really. Mainly though I think there's a large contingent of casual fans which doesn't help. What annoys me most is the fact that so many won't sing our anthem at the start of the game. For as much as I don't like Ireland's Call I'll always give the 2 songs welly when I'm there.

You're going to hate me. I don't care for singing the anthems either.

Surely professionals should be able to play to their best with or without a crowd shouting for them. This is something I've never fully understood when it comes to team sports. Home/Away advantage should not exist because these people are allegedly professionals.

I'm just trying to give a different angle at why some fan's might not be adding to the atmosphere. I've always had an issue with this since going to school matches as a kid. My friends would give out to me for not singing all the time (I did make way more of an effort back then) but fcuk it to be honest, I eventually stopped caring. I'm there to be entertained and enjoy myself at the end of the day so I'm not going to be doing many things that I don't want to do, especially if I'm paying to be there on my day off.
I usually keep these opinions to myself as I'm branded as unloyal to the team or anti-irish, all because I don't enjoy a sing-along.

errlloyd

I'd be very worried that the team start to think the fans don't care because they don't hear as much noise as they hear in provincial games.

Like if Munster players get more love playing for Munster then they do for Ireland why the **** should they even bother showing up?

Grimebox

errlloyd wrote: »

I'd be very worried that the team start to think the fans don't care because they don't hear as much noise as they hear in provincial games.

Like if Munster players get more love playing for Munster then they do for Ireland why the **** should they even bother showing up?

Silly question... if given the opportunity, would you represent your country? Of course you would.

Do players just play for the adoration of their fans? Maybe I'm way off the mark here

Jimoslimos

tolosenc wrote: »

No. The Aviva Stadium.

If you want to call it something else, then you can pump the however many million into the grass roots of the game in this country. I find it obnoxious and irritating when people think they're cultured rugby fans and then have no respect for one of, if not the single largest contributor to rugby's coffers in this country.

At the expense of what? 900 odd job cuts in Ireland, glad to see they have their priorities sorted here.

Admittedly it's a new stadium and not as crass a move as Newcastle United renaming their existing ground as 'The SportsDirect Arena' but I still dislike it.

totallegend

I think part of the problem lies in the exposure to high class rugby that people get nowadays. More international games, Leinster selling out the Aviva four times a year, it's just not as big a novelty to go to a packed house anymore.

Add to that the fact that Ireland are expected to win more often than not; people maybe don't feel the need to get behind the team as much. Fair enough, results don't always bear it out but that's a different issue.

I think the move to all-seaters definitely has an impact too.

Now, there isn't much IRFU can do about any of those things, so i'm not sure where we go from here. The attempts to whip up the crowd are a bit embarrassing though.

Edit: And like it or not, the 1.30 kickoff time does have an effect. People are louder and more boisterous with a few pints in them, I don't think that's unique to rugby.

phog

fryup wrote: »

fake hype? well its not as bad as Murrayfield

everytime theres a time out The Proclaimers are blasted out over the PA system "and i will walk five hundred miles...." :rolleyes: that and the fake bagpipes in the background

Just because Murrayfield go over board doesn't mean our use of the PA is great, I think it's terrible.

BTW, I love the bagpipes in Murrayfield.

totallegend wrote: »

IAnd like it or not, the 1.30 kickoff time does have an effect. People are louder and more boisterous with a few pints in them, I don't think that's unique to rugby.

Yes, it was mentioned earlier in this thread the 1:30 start wasn't the best time from a spectators pov but the kickback was we weren't happy with a 21:00 start a week or so ago as if there wasn't any other time slots for kickoffs. I think anytime from mid afternoon to early evening is always best time for KO.

TheTwiz

The brand of rugby we play puts most people asleep never mind start chanting or singing the Fields of Athenry. Most people going to the games haven't a clue either. They've jumped on the bandwagon due to the success of the provincial teams. The women (not all) think its a great day out as they like the look of Rob Kearney & Tommy Bowe but they couldn't tell you the difference between a prop & an outside centre. I remember S.Africa scored a try in green and two women thought Ireland got a try. The stadium is packed full of these people who scoff at other sports such as soccer & GAA yet haven't got a clue when it comes to rugby.

JustinDee

TheTwiz wrote: »

The brand of rugby we play puts most people asleep never mind start chanting or singing the Fields of Athenry. Most people going to the games haven't a clue either. They've jumped on the bandwagon due to the success of the provincial teams. The women (not all) think its a great day out as they like the look of Rob Kearney & Tommy Bowe but they couldn't tell you the difference between a prop & an outside centre. I remember S.Africa scored a try in green and two women thought Ireland got a try. The stadium is packed full of these people who scoff at other sports such as soccer & GAA yet haven't got a clue when it comes to rugby.

You're generalising and unfairly so. As said before, the only 'evidence' ever put forward is nothing more than anecdotal and subjective memory.

There are no degrees of supporter. The attitude that nobody new can join in following success belies the purpose of even beginning to try to expand. What do you want? A written test? Seconding for membership from an existing? No expansion?
So lets add to the anecdotals again, since this is the done thing: (In my own anecdotal and at times, tested to the limit in terms of patience, memory) Some of those who think they know what's going on while at a game, have not a jotting iota. These can be clubbies, current players, alikcadoos, a regular Joe with his kids but also with a number of seasons as a supporter under his belt. Cries of "Aw ref!! Hands!" even when advantage has been given or "Forward" despite sitting at an angle where is it impossible to tell if ball went forward or not. For some of the explanation of scrum penalties, I've had to stifle the laughter back as with some of the tactical discussion which basically bears the essence of telling Tyson Gay that if he wants to beat Usain Bolt, he must run faster.

I grin and bear them though. After all, it would be godawful, elitist even, to exclude them on the basis of their cluelessness.

Thats all subjective however. As was your post. As for the "brand" of rugby, if it is winning rugby, then bugger all will care.

TheTwiz

JustinDee wrote: »

You're generalising and unfairly so. As said before, the only 'evidence' ever put forward is nothing more than anecdotal and subjective memory.

There are no degrees of supporter. The attitude that nobody new can join in following success belies the purpose of even beginning to try to expand. What do you want? A written test? Seconding for membership from an existing? No expansion?
So lets add to the anecdotals again, since this is the done thing: (In my own anecdotal and at times, tested to the limit in terms of patience, memory) Some of those who think they know what's going on while at a game, have not a jotting iota. These can be clubbies, current players, alikcadoos, a regular Joe with his kids but also with a number of seasons as a supporter under his belt. Cries of "Aw ref!! Hands!" even when advantage has been given or "Forward" despite sitting at an angle where is it impossible to tell if ball went forward or not. For some of the explanation of scrum penalties, I've had to stifle the laughter back as with some of the tactical discussion which basically bears the essence of telling Tyson Gay that if he wants to beat Usain Bolt, he must run faster.

I grin and bear them though. After all, it would be godawful, elitist even, to exclude them on the basis of their cluelessness.

Thats all subjective however. As was your post. As for the "brand" of rugby, if it is winning rugby, then bugger all will care.

You make some very good point but that last bit "if it is winning rugby, then bugger all will care" -- We don't play winning rugby.

JustinDee

TheTwiz wrote: »

You make some very good point but that last bit "if it is winning rugby, then bugger all will care" -- We don't play winning rugby.

A tad 'woe-betide-us'.
My point is still relevant. A winning team garners greater and more vocal support. No-one will give a stuff about the 'style' of a win, so long as there's a win.
If the team doesn't win, the wider support subsides. That's how it is in every sport imaginable.

MrDerp

yosser hughes wrote: »

Mexican waves are started by people who aren't interested in the game and are more interested in the social occasion and I never participate in them. It's an insult to the players and annoying for those who want to watch a game.

This was incredibly annoying towards the end of the match yesterday. I was sitting in the lower tier, towards the North East Corner, and there were several attempts at the wave coming from my left. Meanwhile we were putting the Italians under pressure towards the end of the game. I was trying to watch, with difficulty, play up towards the South East corner, and muppets were ignoring what was going on on the pitch and trying to start the bloody wave.

Fine if there's players getting attention or we're stopped trying to set scrums etc, but in open play?

To make matters worse they were booing whenever the wave failed. I'm a big defender of people's right to boo, either a decision or at the end of a poor performance, but booing at random times has to be distracting for the team. Hey, you might be bored, but for all the faults of the performance, the team did actually make an effort to build up the score at the end.

To Alcohol

Tarquin and Jasper heading to the game with Meredith and Felicity after Tarquins daddy secured free tickets. There's a huge element of the prawn sandwich brigade at these matches. No wonder the atmosphere is ****e. Also a problem at Leinster matches.

spank_inferno

The international games are very very corporate though.
The company I work for gets 80 tickets for every game and doles them out to clients who for the most part couldn't care that much and if they did could easily afford to pay.

I've been to many provincial games and I've never seen Ireland play because its out of my price range. The provincial games I do attend I always give it loads.

I know it may be a generalization but there does seem to be a "too posh to cheer" element at Ireland games.

I dont mean to generalize further but I think the atmosphere is directly proportional to the amount of women in attendance wearing skinny jeans and oversized sunglasses.
ie: more of them = less atmosphere

MrDerp

I think the dearth of ticket categories, and the assignment of blocks is a problem here. You need to create a noisy corner, where the same bunch of people sit for each match. It would only need to be a few blocks, where the same type of tipsy fans sit.

When I still lived in Cork I often went to Cork City matches at Turner's cross. I remember league cup games with less than 2000 people at them, which created better atmospheres. There'd be 4 lads with bodhrans banging away for the whole match. In one particular crappy 0-0 draw with Longford town I remember a full 5 minutes of 200-300 people chanting "The Rebel Army ... The rebel army ... ". It was always great craic going up to the shed to have this atmosphere, and you'd join in too.

I don't know how this could work on such a scale as the Aviva has, but to even have 1000 fans making noise together during the quiet periods would add a lot. It doesn't happen because the type of people to do this are isolated. I've seen it plenty of times in an evening game where a pissed fella stands up to sing, holding up his flag and the he's hushed down. We need 1000 pissed fellas, all standing for the whole match, in an area where they've only eachother to annoy. They'd be in a bubble, singing away, and plenty of stuff they start would catch on around the stadium.

I guess in an environment where you sell out a lot of matches, this is difficult, but it would be great to try create this category for a few friendlies, matches which won't sell out anyway. I think it would have to be a low-mid price category, in one of the lower tiers. I mean, I'd never go for a ticket in the middle of the north stand against, say, the Argies, but if it was the noisy singing piss head category I'd buy four tickets and invite my mates up to Dublin for a match. You could even sell these as a block, over-18s only, for the Autumn internationals, and give options on 6 nations tickets to those purchasing autumn tickets. You could create a traditional section of noisy fans, who could afford to buy the block cheaper tickets. I'd definitely go in for it.

To Alcohol

Spot on spank inferno. Thats Meredith and Felicity your talking about.

siltirocker

Grimebox wrote: »

You're going to hate me. I don't care for singing the anthems either.

Surely professionals should be able to play to their best with or without a crowd shouting for them. This is something I've never fully understood when it comes to team sports. Home/Away advantage should not exist because these people are allegedly professionals.

I'm just trying to give a different angle at why some fan's might not be adding to the atmosphere. I've always had an issue with this since going to school matches as a kid. My friends would give out to me for not singing all the time (I did make way more of an effort back then) but fcuk it to be honest, I eventually stopped caring. I'm there to be entertained and enjoy myself at the end of the day so I'm not going to be doing many things that I don't want to do, especially if I'm paying to be there on my day off.
I usually keep these opinions to myself as I'm branded as unloyal to the team or anti-irish, all because I don't enjoy a sing-along.

Have you ever played a team sport?

Or even broader; have you ever been given a compliment or esteem boost? Of course you have. And you know yourself you perform better in every walk of life with one.

JustinDee

spank_inferno wrote: »

The international games are very very corporate though . . . etc

Any game at the larger stadia has a sizeable corporate attendance. This includes big games in addition to soccer, GAA and cricket too.

There's a vicious circle involved. Team needs to provide the support with something to shout about, while the supporters need to shout on the team. Team giving the watchers something to shout about can be exemplified by the increased noise during the second-half performance on Saturday when the crowd livened up.

Bigtalker

While I think the atomosphere has a lot to do with the team and the exciting rugby they are playing I also think it is directly linked to the type of 'supporter' at the game. I no longer go to the Irish games as they have become far to main stream for my liking. I am often sitting beside people who have no idea about rugby, chat through the entire game, get up and go for drinks in the middle of vital play or scream and shout when really there is nothing happening. I find it painful and have stopped going. This weekend is a perfect example. I know of 6 separate girl friends who went to the match who could not tell one end of a rugby ball from the other. They all got free corpo tickets got really dressed up and enjoyed themselves but they werent going to add to or create an atomosphere as they have no idea what to be get involved in. So me for me a lot of the reason the atomosphere at these games is not so good is the fact that a large % of the crowd actually have no idea what is going on.

Fishooks12

Bigtalker wrote: »

While I think the atomosphere has a lot to do with the team and the exciting rugby they are playing I also think it is directly linked to the type of 'supporter' at the game. I no longer go to the Irish games as they have become far to main stream for my liking. I am often sitting beside people who have no idea about rugby, chat through the entire game, get up and go for drinks in the middle of vital play or scream and shout when really there is nothing happening. I find it painful and have stopped going. This weekend is a perfect example. I know of 6 separate girl friends who went to the match who could not tell one end of a rugby ball from the other. They all got free corpo tickets got really dressed up and enjoyed themselves but they werent going to add to or create an atomosphere as they have no idea what to be get involved in. So me for me a lot of the reason the atomosphere at these games is not so good is the fact that a large % of the crowd actually have no idea what is going on.

A hipster rugby fan? Well I never...

BionicRasher

The atmosphere at the Wales game was very poor also – We sat there and not a peep was heard from the Irish fans when all around us the Welsh sang and chanted and had general banter. Go back 10 -15 years and it was a very different scene – Lansdowne packed to the rafters and everyone giving there all and sing songs breaking out everywhere – different times maybe, maybe we think we are above that and deserve to be eating prawn sandwiches at a game?

I remember a lot more Irish fans dressing up in all sorts of kit to go to a game – now you just see Scots in kilts and the Welsh make a great effort too – Irish fans seem to have a poor attitude lately at the Aviva. If you look at some of the games at the World Cup there were loads of people dressed in all sorts and they really made an effort which translates to a great craic and hence the singing and cheering is raised a notch too.

Just listen to the atmosphere at Twickenham at the weekend – it sounded great. Why can’t we replicate that? I pay for a good day out and I think it’s now better to go a sit in my local to get a bit of atmosphere. There are a lot of people on the rugby bandwagon recently but that’s no reason for them not to sing and cheer a bit too

spank_inferno

JustinDee wrote: »

Any game at the larger stadia has a sizeable corporate attendance. This includes big games in addition to soccer, GAA and cricket too.

Your dead right... one only has to look at at Wembly stadium yesterday and the large middle tier being empty even after the 2nd half started as the corporates were still getting their nibbles.

However its the proportion that is key in the Aviva.

Wembly can get away with it as it has 2 vast tiers of the "punter" seats above and below it.
The Aviva has 40,000 fewer seets so giving 15k over to the coporate market and a couple thousand more to the "out for the day girlies" can only affect the atmosphere.

The balance is wrong.

JustinDee

Bigtalker wrote: »

So me for me a lot of the reason the atomosphere at these games is not so good is the fact that a large % of the crowd actually have no idea what is going on.

Sorry but when did the generalistic "they" ever have an idea as to what was going on? I'd prefer a host of new people present as opposed to some duffers blabbing on as if they did know something of the game. Some of the guff from so-called 'afficionados' at any rugby game I hear, simply beggars belief.

The crowd aren't as dumb as you seem to think. They know what entails a try, a drive forward or an attacking run.
Rugby union isn't rocket-science, despite some of the elitism portrayed by some of its followers.

Fishooks12

JustinDee wrote: »

Sorry but when did the generalistic "they" ever have an idea as to what was going on? I'd prefer a host of new people present as opposed to some duffers blabbing on as if they did know something of the game. Some of the guff from so-called 'afficionados' at any rugby game I hear, simply beggars belief.

The crowd aren't as dumb as you seem to think. They know what entails a try, a drive forward or an attacking run.
Rugby union isn't rocket-science, despite some of the elitism portrayed by some of its followers.

here here

This negative attitude to "bandwagoners"(hate that word) is baffling too. Why would you not want more people to get interested in rugby?!

Bigtalker

I dont believe the 'they' to be dumb or incapable of understanding the fact that the ball is going forward or not/the basics of rugby and am fully aware that every person is adding to the game of rugby by attending the match both in monetary terms and building the brand of rugby. My point is that I PERSONALLY have found the experience and atom for me has changed and it is in the ways I have pointed out above that it has changed and I therefore no longer attend. I also mentioned the fact that there is a lot more tooing and frooing back and forth to the bar than before during important moments in play etc. All this has added to it. I dont believe this to be elitist?
I agree with the comments above regarding the ratio of corporate tickets and the impact this has on the game. The 6 girls I mentioned in my previous post were all going on free corporate tickets and had never been to a rugby match before.

Daz_

Bigtalker wrote: »

While I think the atomosphere has a lot to do with the team and the exciting rugby they are playing I also think it is directly linked to the type of 'supporter' at the game. I no longer go to the Irish games as they have become far to main stream for my liking. I am often sitting beside people who have no idea about rugby, chat through the entire game, get up and go for drinks in the middle of vital play or scream and shout when really there is nothing happening. I find it painful and have stopped going. This weekend is a perfect example. I know of 6 separate girl friends who went to the match who could not tell one end of a rugby ball from the other. They all got free corpo tickets got really dressed up and enjoyed themselves but they werent going to add to or create an atomosphere as they have no idea what to be get involved in. So me for me a lot of the reason the atomosphere at these games is not so good is the fact that a large % of the crowd actually have no idea what is going on.

Technically , one end of a rugby ball is the same as the other..:) so have to let your 6 gf's off the hook there..

Winters

Another factor would be the loss of standing areas in the new stadium.

Rugby and terracing go hand in hand and sitting down is not as conducive to singing and being more boisterous than going to a terrace and standing beside your mates (without having to buy all your tickets together).

I dont accept that the new Aviva Stadium had to be an all-seater. No terracing does not mean more modern.

With the likes of Ravenhill, Sportground and Thomond having terracing I am concerned when the head of the RDS talkED about an all-seater RDS Arena.

JustinDee

Bigtalker wrote: »

I dont believe the 'they' to be dumb or incapable of understanding the fact that the ball is going forward or not/the basics of rugby and am fully aware that every person is adding to the game of rugby by attending the match both in monetary terms and building the brand of rugby. My point is that I PERSONALLY have found the experience and atom for me has changed and it is in the ways I have pointed out above that it has changed and I therefore no longer attend. I also mentioned the fact that there is a lot more tooing and frooing back and forth to the bar than before during important moments in play etc. All this has added to it. I dont believe this to be elitist?

I believe it is elitist and I've already mentioned why. I "PERSONALLY" can pick out a list of referees, club hon secs, presidents, members or players who spend the day popping to the bar or yapping on their mobiles during the game. No different to any newcomer or corporate jaunter.

Bigtalker wrote: »

I agree with the comments above regarding the ratio of corporate tickets and the impact this has on the game. The 6 girls I mentioned in my previous post were all going on free corporate tickets and had never been to a rugby match before.

Well, thats great news then. It is SIX newcomers to the game and they're very welcome. I call that progress.

spank_inferno

The north stand (such as it is) could have been a token terrace.
It wouldnt have done any harm.

JustinDee

spank_inferno wrote: »

The north stand (such as it is) could have been a token terrace.
It wouldnt have done any harm.

It can't be a terrace. Terraces are not permitted in soccer and it is not economically viable in the long run to revert to temporary seating each time a game is on.

Bigtalker

Fishooks12 wrote: »

here here



This negative attitude to "bandwagoners"(hate that word) is baffling too. Why would you not want more people to get interested in rugby?!

Completely agree! Obviously used the term 'they' too loosely!! You are confusing my use of the word mainstream with Bandwagoners. The later has negative connotations and I do not use that word. I do think it is fair to say (without being elitist and back to topic!) that the more mainstream ANYHTING becomes (Sport, fashion, music, food) the intense passion towards it dissipates as more and more people become involved and therefore the atom can suffer.

Bigtalker

JustinDee wrote: »

I believe it is elitist and I've already mentioned why. I "PERSONALLY" can pick out a list of referees, club hon secs, presidents, members or players who spend the day popping to the bar or yapping on their mobiles during the game. No different to any newcomer or corporate jaunter.


Well, thats great news then. It is SIX newcomers to the game and they're very welcome. I call that progress.

Am I missing something?! Is the game of rugby in dire need of new following? Is there some issue/concern/problem with attendances at games or the spread of rugby?!! Not that I am aware of?!

Obviously new fans follwers are always welcome you are choosing to completely miss my point and the point of this thread and that is the ATMOSPHERE at games. Not the attraction of new people to rugby?

Winters

JustinDee wrote: »

It can't be a terrace. Terraces are not permitted in soccer and it is not economically viable in the long run to revert to temporary seating each time a game is on.

I would have liked the IRFU to have taken a harder line on this issue but they seem too content with having an 'all-seater'.

The rugby games sell more tickets than the soccer games do they not? I think the FAI have only had 1 or 2 sell outs since it opened.
(Expand the Rugby Union and Football matches http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviva_Stadium)

A missed opportunity.