Capacity & Stadium Design
The capacity of the stadium at the Maze is much too big. The 30,000 originally proposed was considered too high by many fans and then the government raised it to 42,000 which was outrageously high for all uses bar GAA. The new compromise, 35,000 all-seater for football and rugby, re-configured to 30,000 seats and 12,000 standing for GAA is still higher than the original excessive figure of 30,000. For international football, for example, even the Strategic Investment Board are don’t expect crowds of more than 27,000 to be achievable and that’s at peak levels.
The problem with all that extra capacity is that a stadium that is too big and thus half empty will not create the kind of atmosphere conducive to an enjoyable day out. From here it would be easy for a vicious circle to develop where the numbers who do turn up begin to dwindle because the experience just doesn’t live up to expectations.
There may also be logistical issues with regard to the size of the pitch. GAA rules require a minimum pitch length of 130m, which is 20 m longer than the maximum length of a football pitch and 30m longer than the longest legal rugby pitch. The problem becomes even more pronounced if the bodies involved, quite legitimately, want to deviate from these minimum/maximum lengths for tactical reasons. The average GAA pitch is 37m longer and 22m wider than a football pitch. What will that do for the atmosphere?
Football (from the FIFA laws of the game Law 1 - The Field of Play)
Length: 100 m (110 yds) - 110 m (120 yds)
Width: 64 m (70 yds) - 75 m (80 yds)
(above figures apply to international matches)
GAA (from GAA Official Playing Rules)
Length: 130m - 145m
Width: 80m - 90m
Rugby (from IRB Laws of the Game)
Length: max 100 ( + 2x max 22m)
Width: max 70m