Croker after a game you'd have to go back into town for pints. A few more options around Lansdowne.

 

 

+ 1. Why can't we build and complete a proper stadium in this country.

Why does nobody in Ireland own proper rain gear?

[sees poxy ad one more time, grabs shotgun, places barrel in mouth, pulls trigger til it goes click]

 

Great set of lads those guys are Between themselves and Kilkenny they brought 22,000 to the Leinster final. 

 

I think the design could have been much better. For starters the stands are still too far from the pitch imo, the north end is sh*te and them white pipes look horrendous and blocks the spectators view of other fans.  The corporate section is too big.  I have been in the Millenium stadium and that is much much better. Its tight and the atmosphere is way better. We should have built a smaller version, 40,000 capacity stadium with fook all corporate seats (ideally none) and have it built with atmosphere in mind. The aviva was built for rugby to be honest.  Very big corporate sectors, with business in mind not atmosphere.  Someone said the aviva was built to have good acoustics. Thats a load of rubbish. You cant hear the PA for god's sake and the atmosphere is shocking. As someone said the lower terraces could have been made a bit steeper. It's a functional arena thats all that can be said for it. Might win awards for architecture but it wont win any rewards on or off the pitch for atmosphere. 

Pros:Capacity very high

nice to see a terrace,even if its not symetrical to the rest of the ground

when full makes incredible noise.

Cons:To people outside of Ireland such as away fans in the football it seemed like a temporary stand.

  And playing surface too big for football

Lansdowne:

Pros:Very nice and modern looking

Good facilities

The fact that there is a section where you can stand,sing and shout (SS)

Cons:The north stand!would have been nice to see a two tier end or something along those lines not so much a carbon copy of the south but definitely not the half-arsed north stand we have         now

As somebody said above it can be quite soulless.

and of course the sponsored name.

 

Did something productive with my time. Millenium opened in 1999 and Aviva opened in 2010.

 

 

 

The stewards are crap there as well, at the cup final in 2010 three different stewards all showed us to different seats. Just found them ourselves in the end.  Some of the stewards said there was no allocated seats and sit where you wanted.

The entrances are really small as well.  We were in the front row it takes along time to get back out. 

Would hate to think what it would be like in an emergency trying to get out of there.

 

Totally agree my waterford mate.  Pity the lads in Munster do not look afer the Waterford goys like they should.  Great that you feel at home at the home of Irish rugby. 

 

See you there for the spit roast against England  maybe

 

I haven't been in the corporate in Lansdowne but I though the premium was shocking compared to Croker, basically just another concrete tier and even plastic cups for beer. The premium in Croker is like a hotel, leather couches everywhere, paintings, carvery's and most importantly, proper pint glasses.

 

 

Croker looks rubbish from anywhere looking at the hill.

As a southsider, Croker is a little more awkward to get to, but for location, both stadia are very easily accessed.

Pros: Big capacity if needed for a big game. Few decent boozers nearby. Closer walking distance from the city. Bit more space around the service areas and generally shorter queues.

Cons: Capacity too big for most internationals. Atmosphere is kind of lost to the open air. Pitch so far away from the stands. Area is a bit more dodgy walking through late at night. Looks half finished

 

Landsdowne:

Pros: Location pretty sweet as well. Close to the pitch. Easier to get in and out of the stadium. Singing Section.

Cons: Far too much Premium. North stand looks silly. Space in the service areas really tight and massive queues.

 

Overall I still prefer Landsdowne for soccer. I think  it has potential to be rocking for really big games or if the team give us something to shout about

 

Lansdowne (not Aviva).   Made for football, crowd near the action.  Pubs are better and smell of nearby Milltown brings tears to a seagull.

 

That's all.

love it

 

I couldn't disagree more. Not contest for me, croker wins hands down for pubs. This is what I'm basing it on.

 

Baggot St / Ballsbridge is a posh rugby focused area, and always has been. I used to drink in The Den and Cullens (yes I'm aware who owns it) mainly in the old LR days and both of those boozers (along with many more) used to put 50c on the price of a pint on match days. And more often than not you used to end up getting pints in plastic cups, even if drinking inside. I'm 10 years drinking in the Hill on Gardiner St before and after games and have never once been given a plastic cup, and I still think that its only about €4.50 a pint.

 

Quinns, The Big Tree, Meaghers etc,  all big pubs which accomodate a match crowd within a couple of minutes walk of Croker and you can guaruntee there will be a big crowd in them, no need to organise meets on the internet to help get a crowd in.

 

2 completely different areas but I'd rather drink around Croker anyday than join the indoor scarf wearing brigade in D4.

The new Lansdowne just isnt intimidating enough. I far preferred the old run down stadium. It was a dump, but it was our dump that had character

 

Lansdowne is a far newer, cleaner, brighter build in a far more fitting part of town for the national game.

 

Croker does have some nice touches in the premium level, I have actually seen people reading books in the leather chairs where it is quiet when the game was on. But overall the new LR is a better build with better views on a far better pitch.

Landsdowne did as well

The Aviva doesn't

 

It depends on what you call atmosphere. Some middle aged farmers with string on their hats shouting racial abuse at the referee isn't to me an atmosphere. The cup final between Rovers and Sligo was.

 

The Irish fans haven't given the place a proper baptism wheres the LoI and rugby fans have. That says more about them then the stadium.

 

 

Which race do they insult?

Do Cavan people have their own race?

 

Didn't I not read about a load of racist abuse dished out recently in the Gah who tried to suppress it, but the players in question aren't playing ball?

Either way, it is a hive of thuggery, villany and hate. And not in a good way.

 

To be fair, the ongoing child abuse allegations emerging from within the Gah are all at club level and have nothing to do with Croke Park relative to the New Landsdowne Road.

Surprised and disappointed you brough it up though, its a low blow.

 

Well football is a global game played and watched by billions. Stickswinging and bogballing are a minority sport in Ireland. Globally you will get more flutes. Thankfully football in Ireland has integrated the new Irish and immigrants very well and racism is not an issue. Pity the same can't be said about the agri sports.

 

Another advantage to Croker  - you can do ANYTHING in the place and the law or stewards won't intervene. From snorting coke in the open to attacking referees, anything goes. They tend to enforce the law of the land at football these days.

Says yer man who's club pays Jason McGuinness and payed Chris Turner. 

 

Chris Turner was acquitted of any racial abuse, careful now.

 

As for McGuinness, isn't the point that he was dealt with immediately and severely. End of. The difference is the lack of reaction from the GAA. They don't do rules.