Croke Park seating

Basic_User

I'm bringing a group of kids with some adults to the GAA club final this St. Patrick's Day. I'e never been to Croke Park.

It was a task to get 19 seats together but some are telling me that seat numbers on tickets don't matter. They're telling me that when you get there, you find the best seats you can find and that the assigned seating means nothing.

We need to sit together and I'd appreciate some advice.

Do people sit in the ticket assigned seats at Croke Park or is it a free-for-all?

Thanks!

Hammer Archer

Did you get 19 seats together? If so, then they're you're seats. For the club finals, there will usually be a good few seats free around the ground so you can get people sitting in them for a better view or to be sat together. If someone is sitting in you're seat(s), you can ask them to move. 99% of people will do so.

Basic_User

Thanks!

Yes, I have 19 together. Booking online, or in shops, would only give out groups of 8 so I drove to Dublin to get 19 seats together. I was taken back when some of the group were telling me, after my long drive, that I wasted my time as seats on tickets don't matter.

This trip is for the kids and I don't want to do anything to take away from their match experience.

Thanks for the confirmation!

Hammer Archer

Basic_User wrote: »

Thanks!

Yes, I have 19 together. Booking online, or in shops, would only give out groups of 8 so I drove to Dublin to get 19 seats together. I was taken back when some of the group were telling me, after my long drive, that I wasted my time as seats on tickets don't matter.

This trip is for the kids and I don't want to do anything to take away from their match experience.

Thanks for the confirmation!

You could have chanced your arm at sitting in random seats, however had someone come along with a ticket for even one of those seats, it would mean shuffling everyone in your group around. Safest to do it the way you have done. If you want to get better seats on the day, have a look for seats vacated by supporters after the hurling final.

Basic_User

Thanks again!

I'll stick to the assigned seats - and get there early!

ProudDUB

Basic_User wrote: »

I'm bringing a group of kids with some adults to the GAA club final this St. Patrick's Day. I'e never been to Croke Park.

It was a task to get 19 seats together but some are telling me that seat numbers on tickets don't matter. They're telling me that when you get there, you find the best seats you can find and that the assigned seating means nothing.

We need to sit together and I'd appreciate some advice.

Do people sit in the ticket assigned seats at Croke Park or is it a free-for-all?

Thanks!

It depends on the game really. Your ticket should have an assigned seat on it. In theory, everyone is supposed to sit in their assigned seat, for every single game. However, it is an 85,000 seat stadium and it is only full a handful of times a year. When small crowds are expected, people get in the habit of just sitting in whatever free seat has the best view. If someone is in their seat when they arrive, they just move to another one, as there will usually be 60,000 of them to choose from. Every section of the stadium has an safety steward policing the seating. For the big games they will make sure everyone sits in their proper seat, but for small crowds, they have a very relaxed approach to the seating. That may be why people told you it was a free for all.

So when you get there, it is possible that you may find people already sitting in your seats assigned seats, especially if they are really good ones in the Lower Hogan or Lower Cusack stands, near the half way line and close to the pitch. They'll move once they see you have a big group of kids with you. Or have a word in the ear of the safety steward when you get there, and he'll shift them for you.

araic88

I'll be going on Tuesday too and have never been in Croke Park before either!
Does anyone know how much of the city centre will be closed for the parade? I'll be coming up on the M9 and was thinking of using the Red Cow Park & Ride Luas but not sure would there be a better plan. I wonder how early we should leave to be sure of getting to Dublin and across town for 2pm

ProudDUB

Info on road closures.

http://www.theaa.ie/AA/AA-Roadwatch/Event-Guide/St-Patricks-Day-Festival/Dublin/Dublin-City-St-Patricks-Festival-Parade.aspx

I doubt if you will get parking at the Luas park and ride car parks. They'll be full from all the people who got their hours earlier to head in to the parade.

I wouldn't even think of trying to get across town in a car. Approach Croke Park from the north instead. Stay on the M50 to the M1, get off at the Santry exit and then just follow the road into Drumcondra.