I got a chance to tour Croke Park in late July as I was
traveling through Dublin and the rest of Ireland. Below are a bunch of pictures
and a few videos of my tour. Croke Park is a very cool stadium and will be a
great venue to host the UCF-Penn State game.
It seats 82,000. The main events played at Croke are Gaelic Athletic Association
(GAA) events including the Semi-finals and finals of Gaelic Football and
Hurling. This is a huge deal in Ireland. It's similar to our Super Bowl. All of the top
dignitaries including the President and Prime Minister attend these
matches All 32 counties in Ireland are represented in
the GAA, each with a team made of up AMATUER players that were born in that
county. There is an incredible sense of pride that these players and fans have
for their hometowns.
The tour was about an hour and a half tour, starting with a
behind the scenes movie about game day for the GAA event. We then when through
the back area of the stadium to the Player's Lounge. This is where the GAA
hosts both the winning and losing teams and their select guests after the
match. There is a full bar and catered food. We then went through Locker Room
2, which is considered the Lucky Locker Room in Croke. We went through a warm
up room, down the tunnel, and to the field. Most of the shots you see are from
the Hogan Stands of the stadium, which is the Home Side and will also be UCF's
side. The Hogan Stands are named after
Gaelic Football Michael Hogan who in 1920 was playing a GAA match for Tipperary
when British soldiers entered the stadium and shot him and 13 others. This is
famously known as Bloody Sunday. I found that part really interesting.
We then moved to the upper deck of the stadium. I think
these were still pretty good seats and because of the Irish weather it is
covered. We then walked through the stadium to the other side into a luxury
suite. We finished the tour back at the
GAA Museum, which I suggest everyone try and go to.
The field itself is 157 yards by 96 yards compared to an
American Football field of 120 Yards by 53.
So there will be some additional room around the field for this game.
Overall people in Ireland seemed very excited for the game.
The Notre Dame- Navy game was tough to get tickets to and there is definitely a
demand from the Irish people to see American football. I spoke to several
people including a pub owner in Dublin who was very excited for the "match."
Their ultimate goal is to get an NFL game, so this will be a good test.
I can give you some more details about where to stay and
what to do in Dublin and the rest of Ireland, but I will post that in the
Ireland forum. You will definitely enjoy Dublin and the other parts of Ireland
if you get a chance to go.
Videos
360 From UCF Side Lower Level
Another 360 From UCF side Lower Level
360 From UCF side Upper Deck
Outside Croke Park
Players Lounge
Locker Room
Warm Up Room
Tunnel To Field
Field View from Hogan Stands (UCF Side)
Hogan Stands
Field Shot From the Upper Deck
A look at 'The Hill" standing room only section
View From Luxury Suite
This post was edited on 9/13 10:35 PM by OlearyLookAlike
traveling through Dublin and the rest of Ireland. Below are a bunch of pictures
and a few videos of my tour. Croke Park is a very cool stadium and will be a
great venue to host the UCF-Penn State game.
It seats 82,000. The main events played at Croke are Gaelic Athletic Association
(GAA) events including the Semi-finals and finals of Gaelic Football and
Hurling. This is a huge deal in Ireland. It's similar to our Super Bowl. All of the top
dignitaries including the President and Prime Minister attend these
matches All 32 counties in Ireland are represented in
the GAA, each with a team made of up AMATUER players that were born in that
county. There is an incredible sense of pride that these players and fans have
for their hometowns.
The tour was about an hour and a half tour, starting with a
behind the scenes movie about game day for the GAA event. We then when through
the back area of the stadium to the Player's Lounge. This is where the GAA
hosts both the winning and losing teams and their select guests after the
match. There is a full bar and catered food. We then went through Locker Room
2, which is considered the Lucky Locker Room in Croke. We went through a warm
up room, down the tunnel, and to the field. Most of the shots you see are from
the Hogan Stands of the stadium, which is the Home Side and will also be UCF's
side. The Hogan Stands are named after
Gaelic Football Michael Hogan who in 1920 was playing a GAA match for Tipperary
when British soldiers entered the stadium and shot him and 13 others. This is
famously known as Bloody Sunday. I found that part really interesting.
We then moved to the upper deck of the stadium. I think
these were still pretty good seats and because of the Irish weather it is
covered. We then walked through the stadium to the other side into a luxury
suite. We finished the tour back at the
GAA Museum, which I suggest everyone try and go to.
The field itself is 157 yards by 96 yards compared to an
American Football field of 120 Yards by 53.
So there will be some additional room around the field for this game.
Overall people in Ireland seemed very excited for the game.
The Notre Dame- Navy game was tough to get tickets to and there is definitely a
demand from the Irish people to see American football. I spoke to several
people including a pub owner in Dublin who was very excited for the "match."
Their ultimate goal is to get an NFL game, so this will be a good test.
I can give you some more details about where to stay and
what to do in Dublin and the rest of Ireland, but I will post that in the
Ireland forum. You will definitely enjoy Dublin and the other parts of Ireland
if you get a chance to go.
Videos
360 From UCF Side Lower Level
Another 360 From UCF side Lower Level
360 From UCF side Upper Deck
Outside Croke Park
Players Lounge
Locker Room
Warm Up Room
Tunnel To Field
Field View from Hogan Stands (UCF Side)
Hogan Stands
Field Shot From the Upper Deck
A look at 'The Hill" standing room only section
View From Luxury Suite
This post was edited on 9/13 10:35 PM by OlearyLookAlike
