The GAA Infrastructure Thread

They could tidy up the hill end maybe but I see little wrong with croke park at all. TVs could be placed in a lot more places in the lower decks but it’s very easy to get in and out off and the pitch seems to be quality as well.

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Mate they’re already doing over $225m in renovations to stadiums like Gilette which were built after most of Croke Park. The stadiums of that era need big upgrading after 20 years.

The HOK designed ones of the 2000s will last a bit longer, for all of their flaws.

I agree. I get that the railway line is there at the Hill end, and perhaps they can finish off the Horseshoe due to blocking out the light on the residential areas, but something could be done. Cover and seat it at least. Put in the terracing that the modern football grounds are doing and that will appease the Dubs.

It’s rarely even half full out side of summer months and it hosts a lot less games than a football stadium.

Croke Park doesn’t need upgrading. Its full twice a year

I know it looks a little shit but I’d rather a good pitch than a roof over the hill.

Croke park is barely full twice a year.

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If they aren’t going to put seating in the hill and finish it off completely then no need to do a thing to the place

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Work needed to allow for segregation of fans at Croke Park if Euros bid successful (irishexaminer.com)

reading between the lines, the GGA reverted back to its grab all roots & people told them to fuck off

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That’s apples and oranges, though. The likes of Gilette, finished in 2002, I think, are for different sports, with smaller playing fields and different viewing experiences. When rugby and soccer were played in Croker, their respective playing areas looked tiny relative to the size of the pitch.

Most American stadia are deliberately designed as multi-purpose venues to encompass several sports, concerts, conventions etc. Croke Park is designed as a GAA stadium first and foremost and fulfils the role perfectly. There’s barely a bad seat in it.

They should finish it first

here is a photo of the league final.Can you see a flaw?

The Seattle Seahawks stadium has a stand built over a metro track. The metro even has a stop in the stadium I believe

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American stadiums are mainly designed for the corporate buck. Croke Park was designed mainly for spectators for the games that are played there, and it’s just fine.

These nouveau American stadiums are mostly shit. Met Life Stadium in New York is an inferior design to Giants Stadium. Cowboys Stadium is inferior to Texas Stadium. That new stadium in Los Angeles is shit. Though I’m sure they make a lot more money than their predecessors.

There’s a big gap here between people who see stadiums as places to go to watch matches and people who see them merely as corporate cash cows.

The Nou Camp and the San Siro are cathedrals and don’t need changing, but try telling that to the money men.

Celtic Park as a cash cow it’s useless but as a stadium it has the finest atmosphere in Europe on big nights.

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I had cause to be in and around the stadium on a weekday a while back. It is fairly shook gotten. Surprised Peter has allowed it happen. I wonder could Dublin GAA be billed for some upgrade works given they are the main users?

Croke Park is fine tbh, it doesn’t a massive upgrade.

They just need to keep on top of general maintenance to make sure it doesn’t become decrepit, which would leave no option but a renovation.

Renovating it in the near future would be a vanity project and a massive waste of money.

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All seater is inferior. If they wanted to do one thing to the stadium they could sort out the Nally and get rid of that East German style spy box.

The Hill has no need for a roof. It being open air is an integral part of the experience.

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The seats are shook gotten, as has the bowels of the stadium. It needs a general upgrade, a spit and polish. I’d be shocked if a large number of the seats down require some degree of upgrade or replacing.

I’d redevelop Thurles before Croke Park.

Croke Park is grand now as is, Thurles is genuinely crumbling and decaying. Needs a massive overhaul.

Without the hill the atmosphere would be shite. we haven’t gotten rid of pretty much everything that makes the gaa unique great or different so I suspect the hill will be going soon.

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A horrible stadium. The whole lot needs to be knocked. It has no redeeming feature and that’s before you take the location into account