Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Not have 2 Friday night games, so people can travel during the day?

This assumes that IRFU had control over this. It's very unlikely they did and infinitely more likely that TV told them when the matches were happening. When there were no clashes with other test matches (for the Australia game), when was that one played? It's unlikely the SRU wanted their marquee fixture against SA at 5pm on a Sunday but that's what they got.

With the Aviva deal, at least have any Ireland XV games outside of Dublin?

Correct me if I'm wrong but there's been one such match in the last five years, and tbh I can't remember the last one before that, it's hardly a game-changer. Did anyone really check out of supporting Ireland cos of the NZ XV game in 2022?

Ireland U20 and women's matches are played around the country.

Offer tickets to long-term Provincial season ticket holders?

Sounds great, except there are more provincial season ticket holders than there are seats in the Aviva. If you give them to long-term season ticket holders, then the next criticism will be you're looking after the old guard, discriminating against younger fans, and also favouring people who have the money for season tickets but don't contribute anything to grass roots rugby.

If we're talking about the atmosphere being crap at the matches, that's one thing. You're talking about people not supporting their country because of perceived injustices at the hands of the IRFU, so I think we might need something more substantial or even accurate than the above.

Ah now you're pushing it. General concensus is that Aviva is a poor arena.Looks great from afar or above but that's it

This is nonsense - it's a relatively modern arena. It's easy to get in and out of quickly. There aren't many/any poor views in the house from practically any seat. The pitch is excellent.

It is obviously 100% too small now for Irish Rugby's needs, but outside of that, what makes it a poor arena?

There have been loads of days in that stadium where the atmosphere has been electric - All Blacks 2018, All Blacks 2021, France 2023 etc three that immediately spring to mind.

82,300 Croke pk versus 51,700 in landsowne.only one outcome here,irfu will have to up prices to miss out on the 30000 extra tickets available across town.

The days of me going to landsowne are long gone now with the cost of getting in there to give the match up and down for the goys getting the scoops in.

i think its a bit overblown in regards to the aviva, but the physical stadium can absolutely make a difference when it comes to the atmosphere - there is a particular architectural firm (populous/HOK Sport) who are involved in designing the vast majority of new stadia being built as they are seen to be the experts in stadium design. they were part of the design team for the aviva though so i suppose how good they actually are at it might be debatable to some.

i dont have too much knowledge of the stadium design personally (not my area of the industry) but i have colleagues/friends who have done analysis for their thesis and apparently the design/materials of the roof isnt optimal for preventing sound leakage and reflecting it back into the stadium - this would tally with the complaints I've heard (at least back when it first opened) about poor sound at concerts too

obviously its mainly the crowd itself that matters but other elements can definitely factor in