Re: League & Championship hurling 2022
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2022 3:20 pm
Birr often have teams warm up across the road.
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You need a warm up area for a county final, because either a minor game or lower tier final will be on before it, so you won't be able to allow teams onto the field at the time when they would want to do their warm up drills. It's different for a standalone game. And yes, teams can warm up across the road - but having to cross the N62 in football boots before a big game is not ideal. But as I mentioned above, it's a small thing, and there is a year there to come up with a better solution, and I have faith in Birr GAA to come up with one. I'm not for a minute trying to make this into a big thing.frankthetank wrote: ↑Wed Sep 14, 2022 3:11 pm Just to address a few of LS points:
1. Why do Birr need a warm up area? To the best of my knowledge teams are well able to warm up on the pitch. It's actually only in OCP where this is an issue as they literally lock teams off the pitch until 15 minutes before throw in. Pretty low respect levels for clubs there.
All across the board - at group games, at knockout games, at underage games, at finals, and regardless of venue, attendances were down significantly last year. I heard a number of 40% across the board here in Offaly, but that wasn't an official source, so it might be a bit out. Whether that was directly due to covid concerns and people didn't want to go to stand with crowds, or whether it was indirectly and the need for buying tickets, I don't know. Also, it was a bad pairing from the point of view of attendance. So it's plainly incorrect to say that the venue is a factor.frankthetank wrote: ↑Wed Sep 14, 2022 3:11 pm 2. Last year's county final attendance was 2,900. Covid or not county final attendances have been steadily dropping over the last decade and last year's attendance was terrible. The venue for the final is the predominant reason for this.
Atmosphere is moot FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS DEBATE because you can't measure it. Sometimes it's a product of the nature of the game - Offaly vs Tipperary went down to the wire in Kilkenny this year, as we all know only too well. However unless it manifests itself in the form of more supporters paying in the gate, then it's moot. Of course we all enjoy games when the crowd gets into it, and yes, a "full house" of 6,000 is better than 6,000 in a venue that caters for 20,000. But like the warm up area thing, that's one of a lot of small factors, not a big one.frankthetank wrote: ↑Wed Sep 14, 2022 3:11 pm 3. Atmosphere being a moot point - you're having a laugh. Going to a match as a paying punter is all about experiencing the occasion. To have it enjoyable as possible. Which would you have preferred - This year's minor All Ireland in Croke Park or Nowlan Park. I think we all know it was a brilliant occasion helped by the "immeasurable" atmosphere.
The stand in Tullamore seats 7,000 people. The stand in Birr seats what,1,500? If county final day has the sun splitting the rocks, then that's likely no problem, everyone who wants to sit down will be able to. If the forecast is bleak, or if it's raining on the day, then it's plainly incorrect to say if you want to sit down in Birr, you can. If the game throws in at 3pm, the stand will be full by 2.15pm in that case, and probably earlier. Lots of people, including the elderly, will realise that they can either stand and get wet, or go home.frankthetank wrote: ↑Wed Sep 14, 2022 3:11 pm 4. Better comfort for spectators....? Really? If I want to stand in OCP I can. Guess what? I can also stand in Birr. If I want to sit down in OCP I can. Guess what? I also can in Birr. The only difference for spectators is toilet facilities. And considering the average attendee at a county final probably spends an average 60 seconds in the bathroom it's not exactly a red line issue.
One of the biggest problems in modern society today is that people pick a side on a debate, and they never change their mind when the facts change. Whether it's political parties, social issues or what have you, people are increasingly unable to process information that forces them to say "I was wrong on that".frankthetank wrote: ↑Wed Sep 14, 2022 3:11 pm LS, your posts here are always excellent. Really balanced and informative and I constantly enjoy reading them. But you have to admit you have a serious bias towards OCP in this argument.
greenairfield wrote: ↑Wed Sep 14, 2022 7:23 pm Lone shark some of your points are based on information from about 7 or 8 years ago and aren't up to date.
Birr warm up area is not across the n62 it's in school pitch the other side of the ground.
The ground now holds over 12,000 and the stands holds between 2 and 3000 not 1500 like you said.
When was the last time you were in SBP out of interest ?
Pretty sure no-one suggested criminality is afoot here.greenairfield wrote: ↑Thu Sep 15, 2022 9:57 am LS but its not just about figures of attendance and apparenty the feeling of the county board is to give the traditional hurling area where most county finals been won hurling matches in SBP I really dont think this is a crime and all it does is give more visability to hurling all over the county.