Do you remember the GAA backwoodsmen screaming about foreign games? Do you remember the opposition to rugby and soccer in Croke Park?
Well guess what? They got their wish, the money-flow is turned off and they're still not happy. The last rugby match in Croke Park was played yesterday when Ireland lost 23-20 to Scotland, missing out on the Triple Crown consolation prize, and that's the end of the gravy train for the GAA.
Of course, this being Ireland, it's also a fuck-up for everyone else as rugby matches that attracted a full crowd of 83,000 in Croke Park will now be held in the rebuilt Lansdowne Road stadium which has a seating capacity of 50,000.
The entire Lansdowne Road debacle has its roots in Bertie Ahern's stupidity and vacillation as he successfully steered the Abbotstown stadium proposal onto the rocks.
I think there could be no more appropriate symbol for the mismanagement of Ahern's government than 30,000 disappointed supporters watching future games at home or in the pubs, while a huge world-class stadium lies empty.
And in a final symbol of post-Ahern Ireland, although 30,000 rugby fans are disappointed, at least a giant multinational insurance company will get its advertising.
First – I dont get the link between Aviva and the capacity. Aviva came on board after the redevelopment was announced. Why are you trying to make out it was them who chose what capacity to make it.
Second – What do you prefer – Aviva contributing € 44 million to the cost in exchange for naming rights, or an even bigger hike in ticket prices.
In contrast to the Van Braun article – you are saying what needs to be said here: This was all Bertie's fault.
Point out where I said Aviva chose the capacity.
very strong implication of this in the line: "although 30,000 rugby fans are disappointed, at least a giant multinational insurance company will get its advertising."
Arguably this isn't what you meant to say – but your readership might interpret it differently.
So what is your solution to this "dilemna"? Go back to Croker for big games?
don't forget the 200,000,000 euro spent on abbotstown, without a sod being turned.
There is no solution. The cement is cast now. The capacity debacle at the new Landsdowne Road just about sums up this country.
Maybe Ireland should play their games at the Emirates Stadium eh Big Dave. How's all your friends in Kentaro these days?
I hear the FAI tried to have all their Euro 2012 qualifications games, home and away, in Dublin to keeps the like of you happy. But unfortunatley everyone else found that argument to be ridiculous.
Sorry Seconds out – Looks like we have to play some of those games abroad after all.
Also – This threads doesnt mention the FAI. So that is Off Topic. If you want to keep going on this – lets skip to the Brazil V Ireland article.
Anwyay – a 50,000 seater with a good view of the pitch is better than a 80,00 seater where you spend more time watching the monitor than looking at the pitch.
If you find the idea of a national team playing at home ridiculous then what can I say Big Dave, you could get a mass said for yourself maybe?
You Kentaro boys just don't get it do you.
I find the idea of a national team playing AWAY GAMES at home ridiculous yes
here is a crazy idea : Home games at home – Away Games Away
Works everywhere else in the world
Listen you lost this argument ages ago. But if you want to keep demeaning yourself – which is all you are doing here – lets pick it up at the article discussing it.
You can demean yourself to your heart's content.
here is a question for you relevant to THIS article: should the FAI play games in Croker in the future?
I say No! – It is a waste of time trying to accomodate fair-weather friends.
Where all these "real fans" when we played Montenegro?
Fact: FAI never had a sell out in Croker, Not even the France game.
As said you Kentaro boys just don't get it do you.
Worst Comeback Ever , Mr Breheny !!!
Anyway – Are we here to talk about the Aviva or the Emirates?
Afraid to nail your colours to the mast in case I make mince meat of you a second time.
Come on, dude, have a bit of confidence in yourself. Lets hear what you have to say about this issue.
You need to cool down Big Dave, your starting to make a spectacle of yourself.
I am cool as a cucumber, dude.
In fairness – the one who is throwing toys out of the pram is yourself – with this silly snide, and most importantly off -topic, remarks. If you have something to say about this issue, say it.
Your either with Kentaro or the FAI Big Dave, the only time you get animated in here is on this subject.
I am soccer fan . simple as that.
Consider the various themes here on BTR, other than the sports ones.
1)Limerick : I dont really know what is happening there anymore. Well – enough to know what the posts are about, but not enough to offer a different opinion.
2) The Catholic Church – A serious issue, but not something I feel I have to anything else to say on it.
3) Cultural ones, like the Flash Mob: Good posts, but very little scope for intellectual pugilism.
4) The political ones: I dont bother reading BTR posts on those subjects at all.
There will be 37,000 tickets available at Landsdowne Road for the ordinary supporter- the rest are Corporate and Premium seats. There will be some scramble for tickets.
Some of those 13,000 are the corporate seats – but a lot are the 10 year ticket schemes. These people – in my book – are the real fans. Fans who want to be there for any game, not just the big ones.
To be perfectly frank – I am not expecting a scramble for tickets for the soccer games.
Croke park is actually far too big for soccer. There has never been a full house – not even the France game (74,000 – 2,000 spare seats). The next highest attendance was the Wales game(72,000), the first one played there, not Italy Germany or Brazil.
Rugby is a different kettle of fish. But as far as I know – member of clubs get the first bit of the cherry. So if you are member of a rugby club, you should be sorted.
What happens when we aren't title contenders. The 6 nations is getting more and more competitive. We could find ourselves 4th in the table next year. It happened to Wales this year. It could happen to us.
(Even Italy are consistently putting in two decent performances every .season – Scotland and England this year)
I wonder what the scramble for tickets would be like in the wake of that !
It is a fool's errand trying to cater for the fair weather friends.
on the subject of the brazil v ireland, how was it an irish home game? to my understanding, brazil were due to play portugal at the emirates that night. following the world cup draw, brazil or portugal decided not to play each other as they had been drawn in the same group. ireland were drafted in to replace portugal in the fixture, possibly as a means for sepp to appease us following the handball incident. i doubt the fai had any choice in where the game was played.
Correct
everyone knows that – except SecondsOut.
there is a BTR article on it here somewhere.
the Sepp blatter bit is just a fairytale.
Anybody any opinions on the end of the Croker Era?
I am in favour of not going back. Not for Soccer anyway.
No, – we'll go to London to play our home games instead, whilst Croker lies idle, like it did for our home fixture against Brazil.
see what I mean – he hasnt a clue. …He didnt even watch the match for crying out loud.
You do know that there is going to be a newly refurbished stadium in Dublin 4 – called the Aviva stadium …or Landsdowne Road if you dont like the naming rights thing ( I am not going to judge anyone for using LR)..
And it is going to be our stadium for home games in soccer and rugby…
In fact – it is what this article is actually about.
You Kentaro boys, you have such a pround lack of knowledge of Irish sport that you don't realise that even when your right (which you are not) you are wrong.
return of the "Worst comeback ever ".
I can take it as well as give it – but that Kentaro jibe isnt even witty. That is just sad . It is completely lame.
you are totally obsessed with the Brazil Match thing – because I wiped the floor with you in the ensuing argument – I completely destroyed you
You didnt even dare take me to task on the "you-not-watching-the match" ,..and you know why… because it said "Bra v Irl" and everyone who watched the match saw it….and you know it…
You are just tragic.
Anyway – Do you or do you not have anything to say on Bock's article…..?
The point of the Ireland versus Brazil game is that we are not a third tier soccer nation and we shouIdn't be disgracing ourselves accepting friendlies in other countries. It was a disgrace to ask Irish fans – given the fortune they spent following them throughout Europe in the WC campaign – to travel to London.
Meantime, Ireland unveiled their new "home strip" versus Brazil in London. Fancy that. Father Ted wouldn't get a look in here, no wonder FIFA were laughing at us.
Bock is on the ball with the above. We could throw in Thomond Park an all, why didn't they make it at least 40,000 capacity while they were at it given the popularity of the European Cup.
Bertie is doing alright I notice, the bollocks won 10 grand in a quiz in his local pub I read.
Do you not realise how ludicrous that argument is – If Ireland is playing a home friendly – that means the other team is playing an away friendly. Their fans have to come here.
Sorry – but you argument is just completely stupid. Are you suggesting that Irish fans have special rights above everyone else…No they dont…..What you are saying is totally idiotic.
Teams play a few home friendlies – a few away friendlies….it is how football works,,
"Ireland unveeiled their new "home strip" versus Brazil in London"
Oh My god – are you a complete spanner ?…Teams only wear their away kit in the event of a
colour class with the host team. If there isnt – the Away team can wear their home strip….
As regards Thomond Park – I reckon it is the right size. Average attendances for Munster games
just dont justify any major expansions
I give up on you Big Dave, your completely brain dead
Ladies, ladies, ladies. Please.
Well – at least you have giving up trying to make the "kentaro" thing seem amusing…
but you have totally run out of steam altogether..and are now just resorting to piss-poor insults.
well I suppose what else can you do – seeing as you have been absolutely pulverised in this debate. I have never actually managed to wipe the floor with anyone as much as I have with you.
Tragic….just Tragic
anyway – back to the topic…( can we stick to the topic from on… for the love of god)….the GAA wouldnt be able to charge what they were charging before, because they no longer have a monopoly…
has anyone thought of that
Big Dave I've forgotten more that you'll ever know about sport, schoolboy soccer would be right up your street I reckon, leave the rest to the adults.
Tut tut tut……what a loser….
You being forgetful about sport…well that is more than plausible, i have to admit…..
It is evident to all a sundry – that you dont even know the basics…so give over with your stupid cribbing.
you lost..and lost BAD…you completely demeaned yourself….tragic, just tragic….
That isnt even a good comeback ..just a bog standard cliche….(worse as you are actually supposed to be a "writer" on this) ……take a while to come up with something original….
Bock – i notice you jumped into the fighting irish thing, asking people to get back to the topic,.,…..dont feel like doing that here, no?
concentrate on the schoolboy stuff Big Dave
concentrate on not boring us to death with this god-awful jibes of yours.
We can keep going at this as long as you like – but it doesnt change the fact I completely humilated you.
Bock would turn around and tell me to fuck off if I told him to sack you as a writer…..fair enough it is his blog, not mine. but god almighty don't you deserve it….you SO deserve it……Blogging doesnt require a particularly high standard – but even still you fail miserably….and it is plain for everyone to see
You just don't understand sport Big Dave, some day you will, maybe.
Dave — The fighting Irish post is about something serious. This is just froth.
Is there night classes in slagging that SecondsOut can go to?
I tell you what – If anybody suggests some jibe for SecondsOut to launch at me…I will pretend I cant read their post – and carry on as I thought it was him saying it.
Come on, Have some pity, people, this man needs help…..he is dying here, and no one will come to his aid….
Bock – "This is just froth." never thought I would hear a limerick man say that about rugby…
After 35 comments – we should probably discuss the actual article.
Big Foul up – but whos? I blame Bertie specfically…..That GAA congress vote in 2001 – to allows use – had a good chance of passing if he didnt intervene.
Now he wants to be the people's man – and rally for the IRFU and FAI to stay in Croker….
What a tosser!
Bertie Ahern a tosser? I think we may have found a basis for agreement.
stranger things have happened ! :p