Croke Park is paid for

K-9

Bumper GAA year clears Croke Park debt - RTÉ Sport

So Croker is paid for, could well be the first time in its history. I'm sure we all criticise them at times, but that's a great achievement. Money that was spent on debt repayments should now funnel down to the grass roots and provincial ground improvements.

I can remember when the plans were unveiled in 90/91, thought it was a pipe dream, but here we are with a fantastic stadium just over 20 years later, and all paid for.

tomwaterford

some achievement to be fair....
does this mean ticket prices will go down:rolleyes:

yop

K-9 wrote: »

Bumper GAA year clears Croke Park debt - RTÉ Sport

So Croker is paid for, could well be the first time in its history. I'm sure we all criticise them at times, but that's a great achievement. Money that was spent on debt repayments should now funnel down to the grass roots and provincial ground improvements.

I can remember when the plans were unveiled in 90/91, thought it was a pipe dream, but here we are with a fantastic stadium just over 20 years later, and all paid for.

Brilliant management in fairness, GAA and Croke Park ship a lot of criticism at times but it makes me very very proud to be part of Croke Park on match days. Its one of the best stadiums I have visited in Europe.

K-9

tomwaterford wrote: »

some achievement to be fair....
does this mean ticket prices will go down:rolleyes:

I doubt All Ireland prices will, though they've been fair with replay prices.

Tbh €35/40 for 2 All Ireland Quarter Finals is great value, can't think of anywhere else that matches it.

tomwaterford

K-9 wrote: »

I doubt All Ireland prices will, though they've been fair with replay prices.

Tbh €35/40 for 2 All Ireland Quarter Finals is great value, can't think of anywhere else that matches it.

TBF im from Waterford so all Ireland prices rarely bother me:cool:.....though I did hear league prices were coming down

Bowlardo

Which ground will be the next to get done up?
Cork or thurles?

BNMC

Great for Dublin alright. The whole country paid for their home grounds.

Now hopefully the will look after the other 31 county grounds.

tomwaterford

Bowlardo wrote: »

Which ground will be the next to get done up?
Cork or thurles?

AFAIK cork were going doing a big job not so long ago....it must be under water at the min id say though

mickdw

Maybe I'm missing something but it hardly takes brilliant management to make money in a business where half the country are providing free services to them and the main act don't get paid.

clickhere

I have met and have had some dealings with the stadium director Peter McKenna and i must say he is a gentleman.The GAA are very lucky to have him.

K-9

Bowlardo wrote: »

Which ground will be the next to get done up?
Cork or thurles?

Cork has plans, Casement Park just got planning permission so it will get funds, but the Ulster Council and fund raising will contribute a big chunk along with Government funding.

Just on pay, do the FAI pay much to international players? Used to be a couple of grand each at best!

Red Crow

Bowlardo wrote: »

Which ground will be the next to get done up?
Cork or thurles?

Thurles was redeveloped in the last decade all ready and further redevelopment would likely only be as a result of upgrading the facility for the hosting of a major international tournament for example the hosting of a Rugby World Cup which is extremely unlikely as Thurles wouldn't meet various requirements anyway as town.

Pairc Ui Chaoimh is currently being proposed for redevelopment and is most likely next to be sanctioned.


The only way Semple will get further redeveloped is if there is a likely possibility of it being involved in the 2023 RWC.

Surely Kildare has to be up there. St. Conleths is a terrible stadium.

yop

mickdw wrote: »

Maybe I'm missing something but it hardly takes brilliant management to make money in a business where half the country are providing free services to them and the main act don't get paid.

Ummm, your in Ireland, look at the lack of brilliant or any management where huge sums of money were mismanaged and how it left the country.
They could have easily have been dragged into silly investments etc like too many in this country.

tomwaterford

mickdw wrote: »

Maybe I'm missing something but it hardly takes brilliant management to make money in a business where half the country are providing free services to them and the main act don't get paid.

sure they managed to pay off a massive investment in relatively short timeframe.....or just have a look at the other two (admitted new stadiums) that were proposed at the same time.....
HINT: you wont see them in the flesh,and one of them was to be built by a much disliked ex-taosich

ProudDUB

mickdw wrote: »

Maybe I'm missing something but it hardly takes brilliant management to make money in a business where half the country are providing free services to them and the main act don't get paid.

So how come Cork's county ground is a complete $hit hole then? Doesn't Cork have more GAA clubs and more registered players than any other county in the country? Based on your logic, shouldn't they have a stadium that would put Croke Park, the Ethiad and the San Siro to shame?

mickdw

ProudDUB wrote: »

So how come Cork's county ground is a complete $hit hole then? Doesn't Cork have more GAA clubs and more registered players than any other county in the country? Based on your logic, shouldn't they have a stadium that would put Croke Park, the Ethiad and the San Siro to shame?

No. My thinking is that croke Park take in extraordinary amounts of gate receipts which had allowed this Centre piece to be paid off. There is no doubt it takes a good product that is in demand to achieve this. When there is little or no costs associated with the performers, you have a real money spinner.
In fairness to them, they do make cash from concerts etc but imagine if garth brooks came and didn't want his share of the takings, the profits would be crazy.

iDave

Pairc Tailteann in need of an upgrade. Hope we get some funds for redevelopment

Greendiamond

BNMC wrote: »

Great for Dublin alright. The whole country paid for their home grounds.

Now hopefully the will look after the other 31 county grounds.

Parnell Park is Dublins home ground

paul71

ProudDUB wrote: »

So how come Cork's county ground is a complete $hit hole then? Doesn't Cork have more GAA clubs and more registered players than any other county in the country? Based on your logic, shouldn't they have a stadium that would put Croke Park, the Ethiad and the San Siro to shame?

I think you are getting confused between county grounds and the GAA headquarters stadium. Cork or any other county (including Dublin) could not build a Croke Park as the project would be too big for one county, conversely Dublin county board did not build Croke Park, the entire GAA did that.

yop

paul71 wrote: »

I think you are getting confused between county grounds and the GAA headquarters stadium. Cork or any other county (including Dublin) could not build a Croke Park as the project would be too big for one county, conversely Dublin county board did not build Croke Park, the entire GAA did that.

True and on a league game the gate is split 50-50 between the 2 teams.
In a championship game the teams get a lot less. So Croke Park doesn't get the full gate either.

As I said earlier, its something we should be incredibly proud of and should be given world advertising as much as possible.
I remember the state of Croke Park over 30 years ago and how its now is fantastic. The ONLY issue with is the location is lacking parking and proper public access, but thats only a small issue.

Santa Cruz

tomwaterford wrote: »

AFAIK cork were going doing a big job not so long ago....it must be under water at the min id say though

I hear they will have a good team for this years water polo championships

BNMC

Greendiamond wrote: »

Parnell Park is Dublins home ground

Why are they playing their home league games in Croker then?

When was the last time Dublin played a championship game outside of Dublin?

tomwaterford

Santa Cruz wrote: »

I hear they will have a good team for this years water polo championships

synchronized swimming I heard!!

Kavrocks

BNMC wrote: »

Why are they playing their home league games in Croker then?

Dublin aren't playing all their home league games in Croker, only the footballers are and its because you won't fit 25,000 and more into Parnell Park.

BNMC wrote: »

When was the last time Dublin played a championship game outside of Dublin?

Last year, Dublin v Kilkenny in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship. Which was played in Portlaoise.

What have either of those questions got to do with Croke Park being debt free?

This has already been debated and moaned about to death do we really need to continue with it? Build a bridge and get over it.

BNMC

They have a huge advantage over everyone else. Only in the GAA would this be allowed happen.

A level playing field is all people want. Dublin already have by far the largest population and yet the GAA continue to allow this. How they don't manage to win the All Ireland every year is beyond me.

Bernard Brogan has never played a championship game outside of Croke Park. Says it all.

ProudDUB

paul71 wrote: »

I think you are getting confused between county grounds and the GAA headquarters stadium. Cork or any other county (including Dublin) could not build a Croke Park as the project would be too big for one county, conversely Dublin county board did not build Croke Park, the entire GAA did that.

I'm not getting confused at all. My point was that if having amateur players playing the sport (that don't require paying) was the sole reason for Croke Park being (a) as great as it is and (b) fully paid off, how come there are not other mini versions of it all over the country? If it was that easy, every county would be doing it. Look at all the football and hurling games that are held in Munster every year. Those players don't get paid either, yet the only stadium in the province that isn't a run down $hit hole is Semple Stadium.

Pairc Ui Chaoimh is a dilapidated wreak and a death trap all at the same time. The last time I was in Fitzgerald Stadium in Kilarney, I got splinters in my bum from the worn out, crappy wooden seats. (Great views though .) If other counties & provinces choose to pour their resources into other things than their county grounds, that is their decision. There are lots of demands on their money. I get that. The point I was making is that not having to pay the players, is not the sole reason for the GAA being able to pay off Croke Park. Off course it is a big help, but its not the only reason. Good financial planning and marketing also came into it and, for that, they deserve great credit imo.

BNMC wrote: »

Why are they playing their home league games in Croker then?

Because back in 2010 the Dublin County Board decided that they wanted to market Dublin home league games better. Getting in bigger crowds, in a bigger venue was the main part of that. So they pay the GAA to hire Croker out for home league games, just like anyone else who wants to use it does. Just like one G. Mr Brooks does. They are not given it for free. The rental costs eat up most of the profits that the DCB makes from home games.

BNMC

ProudDUB wrote: »

Because back in 2010 the Dublin County Board decided that they wanted to market Dublin games better & get bigger crowds, in a bigger venue. So they pay the GAA to hire it out for home league games, just like anyone else who wants to use it does. Just like one G Mr Brooks does. They are not given it for free. The rental costs eat up most of the profits that the DCB makes from home games.

Apart from Dublin who cares if they make a profit or not... That shouldn't be the GAA's problem. What are they doing to help other counties?

The fact remains, they have an unfair advantage by playing every game in their home county in the same stadium. In what other sport does this happen?

BNMC

BNMC wrote: »

They have a huge advantage over everyone else. Only in the GAA would this be allowed happen.

A level playing field is all people want. Dublin already have by far the largest population and yet the GAA continue to allow this. How they don't manage to win the All Ireland every year is beyond me.

Bernard Brogan has never played a championship game outside of Croke Park. Says it all.

You know I'm just after watching an ''Inconvenient Truth'' here and it's funny the parallels in it.(Al Gore's global warming documentary)

Some people might disagree based on the past but Dublin are going to start to dominate football massively to the detriment of the other 31 counties.
The aim will be to get to a final and have your day out losing to Dublin.

The thing is, what will the response be?.

People from the 31 counties will talk about splitting Dublin, and the Dubs will talk about Kerry and Kilkenny and how they were allowed to dominate.

While fair points, it would be foolish to split already mediocre sized counties, a million population out of six million, with five million split between 31 was always going to lead to problems when the big gun got their act together.

Even if they were split in two, you're still talking Cork x2.... I reckon you'd still have a North Vs South Dublin football final or close to it.

Anyway this is a few years away yet, but 2 from 3 is the current tally and it's looking likely to grow and it'll be interesting to see where it ends.

In the short term, limiting Dublins home advantage would be a start, the population slide is enough of an advantage not to have exclusive use of HQ added.

Maybe it's time to look at building them a new 40-50k seater stadium in West Dublin, could maybe add in Meath as well since they're also in need.

El Viz

Greendiamond wrote: »

Parnell Park is Dublins home ground

He's just trolling man.

El Viz

BNMC wrote: »

Why are they playing their home league games in Croker then?

When was the last time Dublin played a championship game outside of Dublin?

Speak to the GAA about that. It's them making this decisions. As I dub I'd prefer to see our home games in Parnell Park and leave Croker till the business end of the championship.

It's all down to money!! The GAA aren't going to leave money on the table keeping Dublin in Parnell Park when the demand for tickets could sell it out 3 times over.

Funny that, isn't it? Probably goes some ways to Croke Park being paid for.

iDave

Nice of the GAA to build a personal arena for Garth Brooks to hold his concerts. A 5th date FFS.

PaddyCar

Anyone know how much the GAA are getting for all the concerts in croker this year? 5 garth brooks now and a few one direction should be worth a few bob

Clareman

FFS, wouldn't it be great to have a discussion about Croke Park without saying how it's Dublin's home ground and they get an unfair advantage blah blah blah.

Anyway, fair play to the GAA for getting it paid off, it's a great facility for the country to have and in my opinion it should be used more. I would also say that the GAA has too many big grounds, but that's a different debate.

Godge

BNMC wrote: »

Apart from Dublin who cares if they make a profit or not... That shouldn't be the GAA's problem. What are they doing to help other counties?

The fact remains, they have an unfair advantage by playing every game in their home county in the same stadium. In what other sport does this happen?

This is the silliest part of your post which says something.

Without Dublin's crowds in the championship, the Leinster Council and the GAA would both be losing money. If that was the case, every county in the country would suffer.

It is now got to the stage where the GAA is dependent on Dublin getting to at least the quarter-final stage of the Football Championship and being in the semi-final of the National League to ensure revenue holds up. The problem is if Dublin keep having more success than that, the competitions lose competitiveness.

El Viz

He'll be playing Croker more times than Dublin at this stage.

Defiler Of The Coffin

For an amateur organisation in a small country to have the fourth largest stadium in Europe is a massive achievement that all GAA fans should be proud of.

sasta le

Will ticket prices come down now?

iDave

sasta le wrote: »

Will ticket prices come down now?

10.00 for a league ticket is great value

jj72

Godge wrote: »

This is the silliest part of your post which says something.

Without Dublin's crowds in the championship, the Leinster Council and the GAA would both be losing money. If that was the case, every county in the country would suffer.

It is now got to the stage where the GAA is dependent on Dublin getting to at least the quarter-final stage of the Football Championship and being in the semi-final of the National League to ensure revenue holds up. The problem is if Dublin keep having more success than that, the competitions lose competitiveness.

How does it matter whos in the quater finals? At that stage a double header pretty much sells out no matter whos in it. THe semi final is always going to be a sell out or very close to it. Either way the few seats that would be empty wouldnt make or break the GAA.

Godge

jj72 wrote: »

How does it matter whos in the quater finals? At that stage a double header pretty much sells out no matter whos in it. THe semi final is always going to be a sell out or very close to it. Either way the few seats that would be empty wouldnt make or break the GAA.

The quarter finals do not sell out.

Kerry v Cavan double-header saw attendance of 63,466

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2013/0804/466325-live-all-ireland-sfc-quarter-finals/

The Dublin double-header had over 70,000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_All-Ireland_Senior_Football_Championship

Going back further the attendance at the Leinster Final was more than the Ulster and Connaught Finals combined. Going forward the attendance at the Dublin-Kerry semi-final was over 80,000 compared to 65,000 at the Mayo semi.

We can look for other years if you like but the point I made stands. In order for the GAA to make a profit, it needs Dublin supporters in numbers.

jj72

Godge wrote: »

The quarter finals do not sell out.

Kerry v Cavan double-header saw attendance of 63,466

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2013/0804/466325-live-all-ireland-sfc-quarter-finals/

The Dublin double-header had over 70,000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_All-Ireland_Senior_Football_Championship

Going back further the attendance at the Leinster Final was more than the Ulster and Connaught Finals combined. Going forward the attendance at the Dublin-Kerry semi-final was over 80,000 compared to 65,000 at the Mayo semi.

We can look for other years if you like but the point I made stands. In order for the GAA to make a profit, it needs Dublin supporters in numbers.

So do you think if that 15,000 extra seats werent there every year that the GAA wouldnt be making a profit? Very unlikely! Im pretty sure the GAA would still make a tidy profit if Dublin went out in the Leinster final every year.

Kavrocks

The GAA is a non-profit organisation. All of its proceeds are pumped straight back in.

Arguing over the GAA's profits is futile argument.

BNMC

El Viz wrote: »

Speak to the GAA about that. It's them making this decisions. As I dub I'd prefer to see our home games in Parnell Park and leave Croker till the business end of the championship.

It's all down to money!! The GAA aren't going to leave money on the table keeping Dublin in Parnell Park when the demand for tickets could sell it out 3 times over.

Funny that, isn't it? Probably goes some ways to Croke Park being paid for.

What's funny is you and your ilk trying to justify this blatant favoritism and as another poster alluded to earlier, Dublin will dominate football for years to come if this carry on is continued.

When will the likes of Leitrim, Carlow and Antrim get their day out in Croker? Suppose we can't let them nobodys in to HQ because they won't generate any money for the suits.

The GAA claim to be a non profit organisation. My arse.

nxbyveromdwjpg

BNMC wrote: »

Apart from Dublin who cares if they make a profit or not... That shouldn't be the GAA's problem.

Did you not read his post? What problem are you referring to?

ProudDUB wrote: »

they pay the GAA to hire Croker out for home league games, just like anyone else who wants to use it does. Just like one G. Mr Brooks does. They are not given it for free..

Anyone can rent it.

Someday

Meath
Louth
Kildare
Wicklow

These 4 should be helped asap! the amount of cash some of the counties are getting is unreal!

Give them €3 million each and that will cover about 1/2 for what each need to do!

paul71

Someday wrote: »

Meath
Louth
Kildare
Wicklow

These 4 should be helped asap! the amount of cash some of the counties are getting is unreal!

Give them €3 million each and that will cover about 1/2 for what each need to do!

I would love to say I agree but I don't. The Leinster council long ago decided to develope Portloaise and Tullamore ahead of these counties, and Leinster does not need 5 or 6 big Stadia, it needs 2 medium and 1 big one ie. Croke park which Meath Kildare matches in the 90s made a significant contribution to paying for.

Godge

jj72 wrote: »

So do you think if that 15,000 extra seats werent there every year that the GAA wouldnt be making a profit? Very unlikely! Im pretty sure the GAA would still make a tidy profit if Dublin went out in the Leinster final every year.

You are missing the point completely. As someone else has pointed out, the GAA is a non-profit making organisation.

What the figures show is that the ordinary Dublin punter paying into Croke Park in years in which Dublin get beyond the first round is responsible for

(1) The Croke Park stadium being nearly debt-free and an asset to the whole GAA organisation
(2) The GAA being able to pay extra money out across the country to GAA county boards.

Someday

It's €3 million not €33!!!!

purplepanda

paul71 wrote: »

I would love to say I agree but I don't. The Leinster council long ago decided to develope Portloaise and Tullamore ahead of these counties, and Leinster does not need 5 or 6 big Stadia, it needs 2 medium and 1 big one ie. Croke park which Meath Kildare matches in the 90s made a significant contribution to paying for.

Why are both Portloaise and Tullamore, which are in adjacent counties 33km or so apart both being upgraded? One stadium in that region should have been selected for redevelopment.

Kilkenny's Nowlan Park has plans to increase capacity to 40,000 & is nearby to most of central & south Leinster as well as bordering Munster, would be the obvious candidate for investment. Plus it might encourage the locals to play more football?

Clareman

The GAA aren't going to put any money into developing any stadiums until the decision is made on the Rugby World Cup, then they'll get money from the government and the IRFU to do up the grounds selected. In my opinion, having Croke Park paid for is a credit to the organisation, but in fairness they have a monopoly in Ireland in regards to a venue, the Aviva isn't getting a look in for concerts or any big events, so if it wasn't paid for there would be something seriously wrong. Saying that, it's a credit to the GAA that the ground is in use for often, from pretty much May till September it's in use every week, there aren't many national stadiums that can say that, I would say it would be in use all year round if needed.

In regards to giving money to counties, the GAA already do this but they don't just throw money at the counties, the counties have to come up with a plan with what they are going to do and then submit looking for grants. Also, some of the grounds are a credit to the GAA, around Clare alone there's the Gaelic Grounds, Salthill and Thurles, I would say you would struggle to find a location in Ireland without 3 top class GAA grounds within 100 miles

RoyalCelt

purplepanda wrote: »

Why are both Portloaise and Tullamore, which are in adjacent counties 33km or so apart both being upgraded? One stadium in that region should have been selected for redevelopment.

Kilkenny's Nowlan Park has plans to increase capacity to 40,000 & is nearby to most of central & south Leinster as well as bordering Munster, would be the obvious candidate for investment. Plus it might encourage the locals to play more football?

I seriously hope Nowlan park getting upgraded to 40k is a joke. They get around 8k for home league games for the opening championship match against offaly around 12k were in attendance. Granted a big qualifier or league final can get 25k, I would give 30k as the absolute maximum that ground should ever be made to hold.