THE DECISION by the GAA annual congress to allow Central Council permanently police the use of Croke Park for other sports appears to have given the stadium an opportunity to retain the financial stability it has experienced since the arrival of international rugby and soccer in 2007.
Croke Park earned €13 million from rugby and soccer in 2009 bringing the total to €32.7 million from February 2007 when they temporarily allowed the FAI and IRFU switch their matches to the ground while Lansdowne Road was being demolished and rebuilt as the Aviva Stadium.
Despite the substantial loss of earnings, the GAA president, Christy Cooney, stated over the weekend that the GAA would not be actively seeking other sports to use Croke Park.
“We are not looking for anything to host potentially – it’s a matter for people to make requests to us and a matter for Central Council to decide whether it wishes to do so or not.
“It’s not a question that we are going out touting for business. We’re not.”
Both FAI chief executive John Delaney and his IRFU counterpart, Philip Browne, have stated the contractual commitment to play all their international and other major sporting events at the Aviva.
Due to several long-term agreements they are not in a position to consider occasional switches to Croke Park despite the 30,000 greater capacity at the GAA stadium.
However, should Munster be drawn against Leinster in the Magners League semi-final on the weekend of May 14th-16th or match up in the final on May 29th the Leinster chief executive, Mick Dawson, recently informed this newspaper that the switch would be considered.
“It would depend on how both teams are going in Europe, agreement with the GAA and the Croke Park rental, and how the receipts would be divided,” said Dawson.
“We would be looking at everything on merit,” said Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna yesterday. “That we can take the decision in between congress is useful from a decision-making point of view.”
Cooney’s comments, however, appear to indicate Croke Park will not be getting involved in the tendering process for major sporting events like the Uefa Champions League final or Heineken Cup.
The Aviva Stadium has already won the right to stage the Europa League final in 2011. Normally major national stadiums miss out on these big soccer finals as clubs begin the tender process years in advance.
With rugby and soccer no longer requiring Croke Park there has been no approach from any other major sporting bodies.
Concerts are another significant financial outlet for Croke Park but just one date – Westlife on June 5th – is being set aside this summer. McKenna is unconcerned by this development despite the ideal annual hosting of three concerts.
“There are problems with the global downturn and remember it is a World Cup year. That means it is not a great opportunity for bands to be touring countries in Europe.”
