The 2013 HEC final

Leinster, one would expect to start out firm favourites to be one of the finalists based on their fine pedigree in the competition.

But is Lansdowne Park big enough? Croke Park maybe? Or is the venue set in stone?

It's Landsdowne Road and it's well you know it.

It will be big enough as the ERC have deemed it so.

I have no idea what this has to do with Leinster being favorites...

It's at the Aviva (new Landsdowne Road), i don't think it's big enough personally.

The Stadium is smaller than ideal - by quite some margin. However this is the final of a EUROPEAN club competition and as such should be held in all the countries. I would hope they would consider Rome or Milan for the 2014 final.

BoyneRFC wrote:It's Landsdowne Road and it's well you know it.

It will be big enough as the ERC have deemed it so.

I have no idea what this has to do with Leinster being favorites...

I didn't actually Boyne.

And as the final is in Dublin and Leinster are based in Dublin, it does seem relevant...

LondonTiger wrote:The Stadium is smaller than ideal - by quite some margin. However this is the final of a EUROPEAN club competition and as such should be held in all the countries. I would hope they would consider Rome or Milan for the 2014 final.

I hope they do as well. I think the San Siro in Milan would be perfect for the HC cup, the Olimpico would lack atmosphere i reckon

The San Siro would be good but it would require quite a bit of work to make it rugby friendly and you'd have to fill it which outside of a rugby hotbed could be interesting.

Yea if it was an Anglo-French or all French final it would probably be a sellout. If it was Leinster v Uster again for example there would probably be a handful of seats empty.

gowales wrote:Yea if it was an Anglo-French or all French final it would probably be a sellout. If it was Leinster v Uster again for example there would probably be a handful of seats empty.

Subtle Gowales. But 100% right

Not if Ryanair kept the prices sensible - a repeat of Saturday in Milan......yes please !

Milan is a dump.

Rome all the way.

Irish Londoner wrote:Not if Ryanair kept the prices sensible - a repeat of Saturday in Milan......yes please !

Out of interest, I'd like to know what was the average mark-up in prices from Ireland to the London area?

Portnoy wrote:

Irish Londoner wrote:Not if Ryanair kept the prices sensible - a repeat of Saturday in Milan......yes please !

Out of interest, I'd like to know what was the average mark-up in prices from Ireland to the London area?

Anecdotally the increase was massive.

Penfro reported that his train from Cardiff was full of Leinster fans, presumeably because they got cheap flights to Cardiff - which implies that a return flight to London cost more than a return to Cardiff plus the £100 or so for the Cardiff-London return train.

Just got my tickets for next years final

Portnoy wrote:

Irish Londoner wrote:Not if Ryanair kept the prices sensible - a repeat of Saturday in Milan......yes please !

Out of interest, I'd like to know what was the average mark-up in prices from Ireland to the London area?

I know that it reached the stage that return Dublin/Belfast to London flights were coming in at over €600.

A final in Rome would be amazing. I know there was talk a couple of years back of playing Italian home games in the 6nations in Florence. That would be an incredible city for a game, I visited a good few places in Italy and Florence was my favourite.

So many tickets are bought in advance that I think it would be great to move it around.

A final in Barcelona would also get a vote and a visit from me.

gowales wrote:Yea if it was an Anglo-French or all French final it would probably be a sellout. If it was Leinster v Uster again for example there would probably be a handful of seats empty.

So it's an Anglo-French final for more crowd watching potential and beautiful crowd at that? Good idea and better than the one that involved banning Irish Provinces from the competition for five years.

I agree, that Milan is a dump. One of the worst cities I've ever been in. A final in Rome would be good.

I'd love to see the final in Italy As LondonTiger pointed out so many tickets are bought in advance. We've bought tickets for the last 5 Heineken Cup finals in May / June of the preceeding year - bought "Golden" tickets for 2013 last week. Let's face it I'm not buying them in anticipation of my team being in the finals

I think if you want to go, you'd better get them quick as I would anticipate the 'public' allocation will sell-out quickly and then tickets will only be available to the 2 finalists. So unless you're Leinster or ASM fans then you'll be unlikely to get them

Stadio Olympico is too small. It's under 30,000 AFAIK.


Portnoy, you don't understand how the GAA works. They won't just hand over Croker. They would be looking for close to 2 million for it and perhaps even further proceeds of tickets. Lansdowne is fairly small though got to agree with you on that.

Thomond wrote:Stadio Olympico is too small. It's under 30,000 AFAIK. .

Thomond I think you are referring to Stadio Flaminio ?? Stadio Olimpico has a capacity of about 72,500

Thomond wrote:Stadio Olympico is too small. It's under 30,000 AFAIK.


Portnoy, you don't understand how the GAA works. They won't just hand over Croker. They would be looking for close to 2 million for it and perhaps even further proceeds of tickets. Lansdowne is fairly small though got to agree with you on that.

I think it's even more complicated than that Thomond. I think the GAA would be open to hosting an event like the HC - and I'm sure money could be negotiated to everyone's satisfaction. The point is though that there is now a kind of imperative to have rugby played at Lansdowne. Payments must be made on loans, sponsors were bought in on the promise of all rugby of any substance being played there. It's contractual and it's about making the brand new glasshouse pay its way. I don't think the IRFU could change house now even if they wanted to for a big occasion.

SecretFly wrote:

Thomond wrote:Stadio Olympico is too small. It's under 30,000 AFAIK.


Portnoy, you don't understand how the GAA works. They won't just hand over Croker. They would be looking for close to 2 million for it and perhaps even further proceeds of tickets. Lansdowne is fairly small though got to agree with you on that.

I think it's even more complicated than that Thomond. I think the GAA would be open to hosting an event like the HC - and I'm sure money could be negotiated to everyone's satisfaction. The point is though that there is now a kind of imperative to have rugby played at Lansdowne. Payments must be made on loans, sponsors were bought in on the promise of all rugby of any substance being played there. It's contractual and it's about making the brand new glasshouse pay its way. I don't think the IRFU could change house now even if they wanted to for a big occasion.

Eggactly...

Sorry folks. I thought that the ERC had nominated Dublin generally rather than Lansdowne specifically.

Wow, Heineken cup final tickets are sold out on Ticketmaster already..
Didnt take long!

tomhughesnice wrote:Wow, Heineken cup final tickets are sold out on Ticketmaster already..
Didnt take long!

Only 10k have sold so far but with 15k going to have to be reserved for the teams in the final and the stadium only holding 50k it's pretty much half sold out already.

Is anyone else really disappointed with the new Lansdowne? The capacity is to small for our national stadium. And the atmosphere is poor for internationals.

This might be because of the dross being served up by the Irish team

But it might be because the low capacity and the need to make repayments mean there's a lot more corporate types and far less average joe's in the stadium.

Or maybe I've read to many of this guys articles on the subject.

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/kevin-myers-aviva-limited-in-wisdom-size-vision-and-suitability-2540258.html

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/kevin-myers-so-under-the-shrewd-stewardship-of-the-irfu-soon-only-the-rich-or-the-thick-will-want-to-attend-a-match-at-lansdowne-road-3055092.html

It's a real same imo. They should have capitalised on rugby's rise in popularity in Ireland and built an 82-85000 seater.

gowales wrote:It's a real same imo. They should have capitalised on rugby's rise in popularity in Ireland and built an 82-85000 seater.

Not in Lansedown Rd they couldn't. They only referbished the old stadium, to make an 82-85000 seater they would have had to build it somewhere else, if you look at the one stand behind the goals it is about half a dozen rows and has a glass wall behind it, this was to prevent any sunlight being lost on the residential area that would have been in the shadow of the collosus. So no, they only built it as big as they were allowed.

Lansdowne:

Without doubt the IRFU took a very conservative view on the LR rebuild.

Only time will tell if they were right in the long-run.

But maybe a West Dublin option on a new site would have been better.

That was always my view. But Lansdowne it is and will be for many years to come - come what may.

And with virtually nothing to allow room for expansion. Is there an adjacent car park or other 'waste' land that could be potentially exploited?

True Dowlias. The temptation to stay at the traditional home of Irish rugby was too strong. But they didn't just refurbish it they demolished it and built a new one. Not sure how a bigger stadium outside the city centre would have went. But it's a pity Lansdowne has such a low capacity.

I wonder why couldn't they have lowered the pitch below ground level and made the stands steeper? I think that's what they did in the Camp Nou in Barcelona.

Maybe when Ireland become the greatest team in rugby, they can move to a new 100k stadium outside the city and Leinster can move into Lansdowne

Portnoy wrote:Lansdowne:

Without doubt the IRFU took a very conservative view on the LR rebuild.

Only time will tell if they were right in the long-run.

But maybe a West Dublin option on a new site would have been better.

That was always my view. But Lansdowne it is and will be for many years to come - come what may.

And with virtually nothing to allow room for expansion. Is there an adjacent car park or other 'waste' land that could be potentially exploited?

for a man who didnt know if it was called Lansdowne park or lansdowne road at the start of your thread you certainly have done your homework since

Portnoy wrote:Lansdowne:

Without doubt the IRFU took a very conservative view on the LR rebuild.

Only time will tell if they were right in the long-run.

But maybe a West Dublin option on a new site would have been better.

That was always my view. But Lansdowne it is and will be for many years to come - come what may.

And with virtually nothing to allow room for expansion. Is there an adjacent car park or other 'waste' land that could be potentially exploited?

There’s very little room for maneuver, there are houses all around it.

Plenty of places in west Dublin to build but the abbotstown option (the bertie bowl) would have been a disaster. I work right beside the site (it’s still a farm making superquinn spuds, bloody lovely) but the closest pub is probably a 30 minute walk and it’s completely surrounded by industrial estates. Transport links aren’t great either. I wish there was a better option than a redeveloped Lansdowne but that’s what we’ve got now and other than it being about 20% too small, it still rocks when there’s a good crowd and it’s in a great location.

LordDowlais wrote:

gowales wrote:It's a real same imo. They should have capitalised on rugby's rise in popularity in Ireland and built an 82-85000 seater.

Not in Lansedown Rd they couldn't. They only referbished the old stadium, to make an 82-85000 seater they would have had to build it somewhere else, if you look at the one stand behind the goals it is about half a dozen rows and has a glass wall behind it, this was to prevent any sunlight being lost on the residential area that would have been in the shadow of the collosus. So no, they only built it as big as they were allowed.

Put it perfectly Lord. New Lansdowne is only the size and shape it is because the residents like their gardens in South Dublin and their petunias hate cement walls blocking light

I guess it wouldn't really make sense to have two 80,000+ stadiums in Dublin as well

Feckless Rogue wrote:True Dowlias. The temptation to stay at the traditional home of Irish rugby was too strong. But they didn't just refurbish it they demolished it and built a new one. Not sure how a bigger stadium outside the city centre would have went. But it's a pity Lansdowne has such a low capacity.

I wonder why couldn't they have lowered the pitch below ground level and made the stands steeper? I think that's what they did in the Camp Nou in Barcelona.

Maybe when Ireland become the greatest team in rugby, they can move to a new 100k stadium outside the city and Leinster can move into Lansdowne

I want Lansdowne for the Six Nations (history and all that) and a new Heineken Cup Stadium (80,000 plus) for the lads (wherever they come from; Leinster, Munster, Ulster or Connacht)..and a new 80,000+ stadium for One off Internationals!! ................. I still think we might have to leave a few people outside on match days the demand is growing so much these days.

Feckless Rogue wrote:True Dowlias. The temptation to stay at the traditional home of Irish rugby was too strong. But they didn't just refurbish it they demolished it and built a new one. Not sure how a bigger stadium outside the city centre would have went. But it's a pity Lansdowne has such a low capacity.

I wonder why couldn't they have lowered the pitch below ground level and made the stands steeper? I think that's what they did in the Camp Nou in Barcelona.

Maybe when Ireland become the greatest team in rugby, they can move to a new 100k stadium outside the city and Leinster can move into Lansdowne

That is exactly what they did with the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, they turned it around 45 degress and built down so that the could build extra rows into the stand, they can still improve the capacity by about 10,000 if they put an extra level on the stand that is only two tears behind the goals (the BT stand I think).

http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/1800489EAFF88046?artistid=26999&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=225



http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/1800489EAFF88046?artistid=26999&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=225

Too late ? Have the touts snapped up all the released tickets?

You need not be too concerned though. The blazers will all be there to tell you what a wonderful occasion it will be/is/was.

May the Lord praise Ticketmaster (almost as much a LOCOG). Sanctify them all.

Portnoy, I doubt "touts" have snapped up all tickets. Rava bought 8 of them for some of us pub regs. Mickado did the same. My family have bought a large group of tickets.

As for the blazers - they are rugby fans too.

Loads of people on the Leinster fans board have bought multiple tickets. I'd say there will be a lot of Leinster fans there regardless of who's playing, it would be rude not to.

I bought 3.

red_stag wrote:Portnoy, I doubt "touts" have snapped up all tickets. Rava bought 8 of them for some of us pub regs. Mickado did the same. My family have bought a large group of tickets.

As for the blazers - they are rugby fans too.

Ticketmaster is an indiscriminate organisation. Stag.

Apparently if you are seen within five miles of the Olympic Park with a bottle of pepsi (or a healthy snack for that matter) you'll be hauled to the Tower and flayed to death.

Still I mustn't keep you from your work.

What was it? Sports tour organising operative wasn't it?

Get those inward flights booked early matey

Portnoy wrote:

red_stag wrote:Portnoy, I doubt "touts" have snapped up all tickets. Rava bought 8 of them for some of us pub regs. Mickado did the same. My family have bought a large group of tickets.

As for the blazers - they are rugby fans too.

Ticketmaster is an indiscriminate organisation. Stag.

Apparently if you are seen within five miles of the Olympic Park with a bottle of pepsi (or a healthy snack for that matter) you'll be hauled to the Tower and flayed to death.

Still I mustn't keep you from your work.

What was it? Sports tour organising operative wasn't it?

Get those inward flights booked early matey

Next year won't be good for us Portnoy in that regard. The French don't travel, the Welsh are unlikely to make it and the big English clubs have contracts with English tour operators.

The Irish are unique in the numbers they travel for Heineken Cup rugby.

red_stag wrote:

Portnoy wrote:

red_stag wrote:Portnoy, I doubt "touts" have snapped up all tickets. Rava bought 8 of them for some of us pub regs. Mickado did the same. My family have bought a large group of tickets.

As for the blazers - they are rugby fans too.

Ticketmaster is an indiscriminate organisation. Stag.

Apparently if you are seen within five miles of the Olympic Park with a bottle of pepsi (or a healthy snack for that matter) you'll be hauled to the Tower and flayed to death.

Still I mustn't keep you from your work.

What was it? Sports tour organising operative wasn't it?



Get those inward flights booked early matey

Next year won't be good for us Portnoy in that regard. The French don't travel, the Welsh are unlikely to make it and the big English clubs have contracts with English tour operators.

The Irish are unique in the numbers they travel for Heineken Cup rugby.

Does that mean your company will be dealing with legitimately sourced tickets Stag?

Block-book the hotel rooms. That's a nice earner.

https://www.606v2.com/t26004-ticket-touting-should-it-be-made-illegal?highlight=touting

This is naiive. Clubs make a profit on tickets they sell to touts. For many of them it is a large source of income and they can generate hundreds of pounds per international.

Portnoy, what the unions response would be either a slap on the wrist or is to cut off that clubs tickets that is the usual response they would have.

Guess who hasn't gone all corporate?

whats your favourite thing about compain Portnoy

It means whatever you like it to mean Portnoy

caoimhincentre wrote:whats your favourite thing about compain Portnoy

Difficult question caio (what's yours?)

I like to rage about the onslaught of commercialism, restraint of trade, slaying innocents in the name of past slained, global warming, organised religions, royalties (both presidential and monarchist), hypocrisy, career politicians, social networking etc. etc.

Just the normal stuff that stops the world progressing positively.

I'm waiting for an article on the demise of the Irish sugar beet industry.

Portnoy wrote:

caoimhincentre wrote:whats your favourite thing about compain Portnoy

Difficult question caio (what's yours?)

I like to rage about the onslaught of commercialism, restraint of trade, slaying innocents in the name of past slained, global warming, organised religions, royalties (both presidential and monarchist), hypocrisy, career politicians, social networking etc. etc.

Just the normal stuff that stops the world progressing positively.

i hate complain.

altogether.

Down with complaining!!!!!