By Ciaran Woods
c.woods@gaeliclife.com
CROKE PARK will never become open to the sort of criticism Roy Keane aimed at Old Trafford's 'Prawn Sandwich Brigade' because the GAA remain steadfast in their belief that, no matter how tempting, an expansion of the corporate facilities is not on the agenda.
That's the message this week from Croke Park stadium manager Peter McKenna, who insists that despite the corporate facilities taking in a whopping ¤10.6 million last year, the GAA will resist the temptation to expand upon the number of Premium Level seats, corporate boxes and 10-year tickets.
Keane of course hit out because of the poor atmosphere at United's home games due to the high volume of corporate ticket holders at Old Trafford who, he said, were more interested in eating their prawn sandwiches than getting behind the team. Their away games, he said, had a much better atmosphere because it was the die-hard supporters who followed them on the road.
The sort of atmosphere created on a big match day at Croke Park is one of the best imaginable, with supporters determined to make the most of their day out, and McKenna is confident that it will not come to a point where the atmosphere inside the Jones' Road venue suffers.
"I don't think we'll ever reach that point, because the number of people attending all of our games at Croke Park are quite extraordinary. We have a waiting list of 2,500 people seeking to take those tickets up.
"We've kept them at a reasonable price as well, so that it's accessible to people. The market is such that we could double the price and still get them away, but that's not something which we want to do because then we really would be talking about the 'Prawn Sandwich' brigade who will only buy the seat as an asset to only go to a match or two.
"The system we have now means that it's a bit like golf club membership for example, where the tickets are being bought by real enthusiasts because of their love of the game. They see that there's great value in buying a season ticket for 10 years, enjoying the matches in good facilities."
Croke Park is of course different to any other ground because it does not have a 'home' team. That in itself makes for a much better atmosphere, because any game at the stadium is automatically a big game. One of the most special atmospheres imaginable at Croke Park is when it is packed to the rafters with the Dubs, a sea of blue and navy with waves of noise coming off Hill 16, the sort of atmosphere which McKenna is determined to keep hold of.
"I think that at the minute we've got the balance right. At any game that we have, there have to be a high number of tickets left for what you could call a 'walk-up audience.' I think if we remove that then we're in danger of losing the atmosphere in the place. That was one of the good reasons for keeping a terrace, because it provides affordable ticket prices for everybody and it creates a tremendous atmosphere in the place."
Sport is undoubtedly big business, and it would be easy for the GAA to cash in on the situation by increasing the corporate capacity of Croke Park, bumping up the prices and expanding on the size of corporate areas. There is an appreciation amongst the decision-makers that Croke Park is a very special venue, and to draw a soccer parallel they want to keep it more Anfield than Old Trafford, steeped in tradition, rich in atmosphere, and a venue for the people. That, McKenna says, is the key to the continued success of the Croke Park phenomenon.
"10-12 percent of your capacity being devoted to a corporate area is where it's happening. That's the point at which we're at and I think that we've found a good balance inside of Croke Park.
"I think it's a problem with smaller venues where the focus on corporate facilities is too large. That's where you then get the 'Man United effect,' where unless it's a big game the place is as quiet as a church. That's the one thing you want to avoid. Anfield, for example, has retained its great sense of atmosphere, which has gone through the corporatisation of Old Trafford."
