Boothman warns of 'disastrous decision'

Opening Croke Park to other sports would be "the most disastrous decision ever taken in our history", according to former GAA president Jack Boothman.

In a letter addressed to all elected leaders of the GAA, Boothman outlines reasons the GAA should resist any temptation to amend Rule 42, which covers the use of the association's grounds for other sporting events.

At a time when opinions clearly remain mixed on the matter, Boothman also sends out a warning against some of the reasons currently being put forward for such an amendment of the rule ahead of the GAA Congress in Killarney next April.

"The main reason being put forward to 'open' Croke Park," he says, "is based on the financial benefits which supposedly would accrue to the association. No figures have been mentioned to support this argument. Surely you people are entitled to know what exactly the benefits are before taking such a mammoth leap into the unknown.

"The other aspect of opening Croke Park which must be considered is the financial aid it will offer to our keenest rivals. Rugby and soccer operate worldwide in a blaze of publicity and hype. And as an association we are unable to compete. Everywhere we look rugby and soccer are making inroads into the areas we would have considered our own."

It is the advantages that might accrue to the other sporting bodies which are of particular concern for Boothman, whose three-year term as GAA president began in 1994.

"It seems to me that to offer our keenest rivals our prime marketing asset and financial assistance as well is ludicrous in the extreme,  and if such a decision is taken it will prove to be the most disastrous decision ever taken in our history."

Boothman also points to certain motions that will come before Congress, such as one from his native Wicklow and devised by the Arklow club Geraldines/Ballymoney which calls on the GAA to lease Croke Park to the Government to stage a limited number of events each year.

Other motions from counties like Dublin, Roscommon, Cavan and Clare call for Central Council to be given the freedom to decide what events should be held at Croke Park.

"Unwittingly," he says, "the idea is becoming widespread that Croke Park is no longer a part of the association, being  controlled by a separate body. This idea is preposterous. Croke Park is owned by the GAA, and is the jewel in the portfolio of physical development vested in and controlled by the association.

"No reference is made anywhere in the official guide to Croke Park as a separate entity, and as such motions to open Croke Park must be dealt with in the context of all association property, as applied to Rule 42."

In presenting reasons for keeping Croke Park solely for GAA purposes, Boothman points towards last year's opening game of the National Football League, where over 54,000 - including around 15,000 schoolchildren - showed up for the meeting of Dublin and then All-Ireland champions Armagh.

"This effort needs to be repeated many times during the season by all counties accessing Croke Park, and demonstrates what a powerful propaganda and marketing tool the GAA possesses. Instead of decrying the expense of playing games at Croke Park the association should be seeking out more ways of exploiting the promotional benefits of the stadium.

"While drawing attention to the competition we face I do not wish to be too alarmist. But the work being done at underage level needs all the help it can get. There are also moves in train to allow for less successful teams in football to appear in Croke Park, and club involvement should also be considered."