It seams like a crazy amount of money for 1 stand. Also what's with the opposite side did they just have seats left over or something.
The GAA HQ really need to take control of stadium development
Terrace is fine, but the stand is decrepit. Plan at the moment is just to park the redevelopment until circumstances are better. I know construction is unlikely to get cheaper, but most people are happier to let the place keep falling down than drag the county into huge debt.
Did they ever do a cost excercise to sell the site and build on a new site at a cheaper location in the county?
The problem is that GAA stadiums in Ireland need at least a billion’s worth of investment and no one is going to put up that sort of money.
I’m not sure how GAA HQ taking control of stadium development will fix this problem
It's safer for HQ to handle the debt than the CBs.
I'm not expecting every county to have a brand new stadium but the GAA should look at insuring every county has 1 decent stand for the league and club game. Some counties have it already but some are woeful.
I mentioned before the GAA could put in a professional PM team to look after all Fianance and Construction. Offer county boards an option of a Bungalow blizz style 5000k seated stand with dressing rooms and facilties needed.
The GAA could then put payment terms in place that will not cripple the Countys. Any county that wants to build it there own way let them off but when they get in trouble with there loans let them sort it out
Is there an example I can see what these 5000 seater bungalow bliss stands look like?
The stand in Tullamore would be a good template for most counties although I think it may hold about 7k.
And what does that cost in today’s money for one basic bitch, zero wow factor, stand?
The main stand in the likes of Salthill or Tullamore are more then good enough for most counties.
What "wow factor" stuff are you looking for exactly.
I've absolutely no idea.Its just one of the grounds that I think got it right.
Every stand in the GAA has zero wow factor.
Overall the feeling to be given that you are lucky to attend a modern, comfortable, atmospheric, identifiable venue. County GAA grounds have never being able to provide anything other than a match. The surrounding bars are left to act as the “concession stand”. You get to the match as close as you can to throw in and get out as quickly as you can afterwards.
in terms of the stadium; floodlights, modern function room that has a history of the county’s success on the walls to host community events outside of matchdays and for match days to provide entertainment and serve decent food and alcohol. A couple of flourishes in design to make the place distinctive.
GAA’s county grounds are not soulless but they make no attempt to realize their full potential.
i may be wrong but I think Ireland doesn’t get sport as a mass entertainment product outside of things like the Galway races and internationals. Even the all Ireland final is just a big match with very little frills.
Most sports would have cut the smaller teams years ago is why.
I can't think of any other sport of the GAAs small size that wouldn't regionalize or dispand the 10 or 15 smallest counties.
You are absolutely dreaming if you think that the GAA has the potential to create 32 Ravenhills or Thomond Parks.
I think people have a massive overestimation of what the GAA is.
Wow factor? This is not an arab state where we need air con seats to watch a game.
Most county grounds just need a good stand that will protect the punters from the rain and wind
No. you need more than that. people expect decent facilities be that food/drink on site. not just a space for few people hawking bars of chocolate from the back of a van.
True and that can all be catered for. Costs are out of date and the main stand is not perfect in O Connor park but below is example of what can be done and offered
But Tullamore isn’t offering much or am I missing something?
it’s a basic stadium with no floodlights (unless I’m mistaken) and no function area for entertainment.
you turn up close to throw in, get your entertainment exclusively from the two teams on the pitch and shuffle out when the contest is over.
I can understand the argument that Irish sport is small time and underfunded so we can’t be ambitious and we can’t make it a marketable attractive social event but the idea that in 2022, people should be happy to go in their droves to a GAA game once they can be guaranteed to remain dry and sheltered is thinking from a bygone age.
its 2022, crowds expect a little bit more. And that’s the way it’s going to continue going. You talk about the GAA stadium like it’s a refugee camp.
I agree they need to do better.
Alcohol and hot food bring a lot of extra problems and money for stadia that get 6 or 7 games a year but decent coffee and sandwiches served out of a proper looking shop isn't that hard.
Whatever about booze but what are all the problems and issues with money for stadiums created by offering hot food in a stadium
Money was more the alcohol. The hot food is more of a H&S hassle. For a smaller county ground it would be easier to just let a local burger van park up under the stand. Works fine in Markets Field.
For a stadium thats hosts no more than 7 inter county games a year what are you actually looking for?
What rule exists that says GAA stadiums can only be used for GAA matches?
newbridge stadium is bang in the center of the town. It could be a venue for any number of local events (both personal events or community/gigs) or meetings or just having a cafe or bar.
now maybe there are reasons why this is not a good idea but it’s strange how GAA stadiums seem to be seen as venues that can fulfill one purpose when they are often built on sites that would be a great place for multi purpose venues.
GAA Stadiums are used for other things. But those things would also be far more limited that you are picturing I reckon.
You would have to build a load of brand new corporate facilities for very little gain. I agree though Newbridge is one that probably has untapped potential.
I was at Franklin's Gardens recently and go to a fair few matches in Rugby and football over here in the UK. The atmosphere at Welford Road and Franklin's Gardens is unreal. There were about 6 gourmet food concessions. 3 or 4 bars. 3 or 4 coffee stands and seating to listen to a ban md before the match . You can go in and walk around the stadium freely before taking your seat. I came 90mins before kick off. The GAA could try and replicate that but they'd need to committ to more nighttime matches ..these Saturday /friday night matches are still under utilised and they need at least 5 home league games and the round Robin. Cork, Limerick can sustain serious night games . There's a culture already there from the rugby. Their round Robin should be a night game every year. The supporters in the GAA aren't looked after. That's the bottom line. Id pay a tenner more a match to get a better range of food and coffee
Mackey Stand is awful, I was in it once,had great view of the heads that were sitting in front of me.
that’s a proper day out
That's all well and good but those Rugby Players are professional so it's easier in that regard. Also the prices of tickets over here would surely rise. You might pay more but I don't think everyone would. Home supporters would be well looked after for sure but asking people from Kildare or Meath for example to travel to Cork on a Friday or Saturday night, pay for hotels and then extra for tickets and concessions. Not sure it's a runner.
One big big difference between Ireland and England for night games in my experience is in England you can get a train (or bus with a toilet) home.
A Saturday night game between Limerick and Cork requires a driver or a bus that may or may not have a toilet so all that lovely food and pints might not be a good idea. And that's 2 of our biggest cities imagine what Saturday night games are like for the rest of the country.
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