Aviva Stadium Seating Advice

kem

My boy is dying to go to a rugby match. I am possibly getting tickets, through Done deal, for Argentina match, in the South stand lower. Any reason why this mightn't work for a 5 year old? I haven't been to a match/ got tickets before so not sure if this would be a good idea or when I meet the guy with the tix how to know if they are worth 30 euro each?

Hersheys

kem wrote: »

My boy is dying to go to a rugby match. I am possibly getting tickets, through Done deal, for Argentina match, in the South stand lower. Any reason why this mightn't work for a 5 year old? I haven't been to a match/ got tickets before so not sure if this would be a good idea or when I meet the guy with the tix how to know if they are worth 30 euro each?

Have you checked ticketmaster? Still tickets available afaik and maybe in a better location?

jamiedav2011

If the young man is a Leinster fan, the Leinster v. Clermont game on in the Aviva on the Saturday two weeks before Xmas might be a better experience tbh.

Generally a cracking atmosphere, cheaper, will be a better game and there's still lots of tickets left, plus there's normally a good show before and during the game too.

Here's a link for tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.ie/event/180048FEE7E35A82?artistid=33312&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=225

Ones behind the goal would be great.

The Ireland Arg game will realistically be a dour affair with a fairly poor atmosphere.

That's my two cents anyway.

danthefan

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

If the young man is a Leinster fan, the Leinster v. Clermont game on in the Aviva on the Saturday two weeks before Xmas might be a better experience tbh.

Generally a cracking atmosphere, cheaper, will be a better game and there's still lots of tickets left, plus there's normally a good show before and during the game too.

The Ireland Arg game will realistically be a dour affair with a fairly poor atmosphere.

That's my two cents anyway.

With all due respect to the young man, he's 5. I don't think analysing the game is going to be much of an issue.


Basically everywhere in the stadium has a reasonable view.

jamiedav2011

danthefan wrote: »

With all due respect to the young man, he's 5. I don't think analysing the game is going to be much of an issue.


Basically everywhere in the stadium has a reasonable view.

That wasn't my point, surely you'd rather a good lively game with a bit of something to it rather than the scrum filled bore that Ireland Arg games usually are?
Value for money and all that.

Losty Dublin

To be honest, the whole idea of going to a game is likely to be lost on a 5 year old and it will be a lot of money for what will be hassle for you, OP.

You can be assured that he won't be able to see over the people in the seat in front of you, it's quite a long walk from your mode of transport to the seat and back again and even in the lower tiers there are a lot of stairs so he will get a bit cranky at some stage; getting to the toilets at half and full time can be maniac; a wet or cold day won't make for a fun time and it will be a very long day for him regardless of anything else. Afterwards there is the wait for trains/buses/taxis and you can forget about driving as parking close the ground will be nil. Certainly any time I've seen very young kids at a big game it's never with a happy face on time.

If he is hell bent on going then either go to a quieter Leinster game (They often do kids prices for these) or pop up to your local club to watch a club game or even Mini Rugby at the weekend. Save the international games for when he is a wee bit older and more able to enjoy it with you

slowburner

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

That wasn't my point, surely you'd rather a good lively game with a bit of something to it rather than the scrum filled bore that Ireland Arg games usually are?
Value for money and all that.

Eh, are we talking about union here?
I relish the Ireland/Argentina games. Good, old fashioned, muscular chess matches - the very stuff the game is made of.
Rugby is a war, not a dance.

For this encounter, you'd need to be low in the stadium.
Best place to appreciate the grunt and shove, in my humble.

kem

Thanks for the advice. Also rang Irish rugby who strongly advised against buying tix from Done Deal, could be cancelled ones etc.
I took on board your comments and have booked us tickets for leinster clermont game instead. Blk 504 hopefully good spot.
Thanks for all perspectives.
kate

Heroditas

You'll have a great view from 504.

Losty Dublin

kem wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. Also rang Irish rugby who strongly advised against buying tix from Done Deal, could be cancelled ones etc.
I took on board your comments and have booked us tickets for leinster clermont game instead. Blk 504 hopefully good spot.
Thanks for all perspectives.
kate

That is 5 long sets of stairs up plus a probable climb to your seat from the gangway; it is quite a long walk by any stretch. If your wee nipper ends up with a fear of heights, you can blame this game

gcgirl

Losty Dublin wrote: »

That is 5 long sets of stairs up plus a probable climb to your seat from the gangway; it is quite a long walk by any stretch. If your wee nipper ends up with a fear of heights, you can blame this game

He'll be fine I brought up my then 5 and a half old daughter up there she loved it

hardCopy

slowburner wrote: »

Eh, are we talking about union here?
I relish the Ireland/Argentina games. Good, old fashioned, muscular chess matches - the very stuff the game is made of.
Rugby is a war, not a dance.

For this encounter, you'd need to be low in the stadium.
Best place to appreciate the grunt and shove, in my humble.

The worst game I've ever been to was Ireland - Argentine in Croke Park. I swore after that I'd never go to that fixture again. Terrible rugby, terrible atmosphere, I wouldn't subject anyone to that for their first game.

If the OP is from Leinster I'd recommend the Clermont game. There will probably be face painting and blue santa hats being handed out and the Clermont fans always bring a good atmosphere.

justsomebloke

ye would have to recommend the Leinster V Clermont game as well as there should be a lot of travelling fans and a great atmosphere that should keep him entertained. The game itself will probably also be better

slowburner

hardCopy wrote: »

The worst game I've ever been to was Ireland - Argentine in Croke Park. I swore after that I'd never go to that fixture again. Terrible rugby, terrible atmosphere, I wouldn't subject anyone to that for their first game.

If the OP is from Leinster I'd recommend the Clermont game. There will probably be face painting and blue santa hats being handed out and the Clermont fans always bring a good atmosphere.

Perhaps not for a first game...for anyone.
That said, I don't think a five year old would be overly concerned with the issue of champagne rugby versus grunt and grumble.

That game was widely criticized.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I will never forget seeing (and hearing) O'Connell's work rate up close and personal. It was a revelation.
I like old fashioned rugby, but hey, each to their own.

hardCopy

slowburner wrote: »

Perhaps not for a first game...for anyone.
That said, I don't think a five year old would be overly concerned with the issue of champagne rugby versus grunt and grumble.

That game was widely criticized.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I will never forget seeing (and hearing) O'Connell's work rate up close and personal. It was a revelation.
I like old fashioned rugby, but hey, each to their own.

The quality of rugby (subjective I know) does affect the atmosphere of the game, which is what would really make the difference for a small kid.

jamiedav2011

In these times, I'd be very wary about recommending anyone to go to an Ireland v. Arg, Italy or Scotland game tbh.

Generally, crap atmosphere, limited rugby played and neither side are the most exciting to watch.

If you think that Leinster v. Clermont wouldn't be a better spectacle, and better value than any of the above, then I'll say good day to you sir!

MrDerp

Munster man here, and I second the votes for the Clermont game.

I've been to two Leinster Heineken cup games at the Aviva and the atmosphere is 10 times better than at Ireland matches. Much better proposition for a kid in my opinion.

The target audience is a child, not a seasoned veteran of the glory days of 1-try matches. He won't remember the rugby, but he'll remember the singing, the reverberating cheers, a nice hot dog. Sport at that age is about the sights smells and sounds, and seeing (most likely) a home win with plenty of excitement in the crowd will rub off on him.

You'll get better seats cheaper, and you'll spare him the long periods of silence, the 20 x collective groans for passes that don't stick, spilled possession and soft turnovers, the swearing at bad decision making, the half-hearted Ireland's call and the mumbled Amhrán na bhFiann.

I'll probably go to the Argentina game, but that's for folks like me who grew up celebrating not getting the wooden spoon every 3rd year. H-Cup is a much better proposition for a kid, and I'll certainly be bringing any future kids of mine those matches - where I don't get emotional - reserving Ireland games for when they understand and won't repeat the myriad of insults I level at the team

LeinsterDub

A other plus 1 for Leinster. If memory serves a certain Mr Claus repelled in to the stadium last year
:cool:

spank_inferno

+1 for the Leinster / Clermont game.

We were there last year and it was very enjoyable.
We were lucky to be the front row of the upper west, amongst one of the Cleremont groups of fans.

Good atmosphere, great result, noisy away fans & a fun blue-clad Santa pre-game.

*Edit*
I also agree with a previous poster.
My earliest memory of going to a game was the feeling.. the noise... the floodlights.
I've no recolleciton of the game itelf.... it was all about the occasion & being with my dad.

((( excuse me.... I have something in my eye! )))

slowburner

My first recollection of an international, was admiring the cascades of bodily filtered Guinness, streaming down the Landsdowne rd. terraces.
I was too small to see any of the game, so I watched the piss instead.

Eponymous

+1 on the Leinster V Clermont game. Atmosphere will be brilliant with a crowd mostly focused on supporting the team and not screaming at events on the pitch, which is likely to happen when the Argies get the upper hand.

I took my daughter to her first game in the RDS just before she turned 3 (the Rabo final in May). She loved it. The rugby itself was wasted on her, but she loved cheering and singing along with everyone else and loves going to games as often as possible now.

Hint for you if you're getting seats in the Aviva is to get them close to the back of the lower tier so that it'll be easy to get to and from the loos if the need arises and makes for a quick exit at the end. Can be frustrating trying to get out with the little ones.

If you can't get to that, pretty much any game in the RDS is kid-friendly and there's always loads of them about, Leo the lion is always about for photos and if you hang about the players entrance, you can usually snag a player or two for photo opportunites too (usually those who aren't playing on the day).