Yeah I'd heard that too, capacity without temporary stands is ~6000. Toulouse was pretty sketchy alright, the only difference between the configuration they had on Saturday and that night was the small seated stand, but they crammed 1300 more people in.

I'd pretty sure - either for the semis 12 years ago or the SA game in 2007, memory's a bit hazy - that there were large temporary seated stands either end of the pitch. The areas between the in-goal and the track are quite large, so there's no reason not to go bigger again.

RonanL wrote:

salmson wrote: So nothing official official but I'm hopeful of a record attendance (current I think was 91o0ish against Toulouse). Let's hope they sort it out.

I heard at some point that the max capacity had fallen since that night against Toulouse. I don't know the reason, but maybe health and safety? I remember that night thinking it was a bit mad, with people stuck in every nook and cranny. Anyway, For that reason, I suspect we won't be looking at a record attendance. I'm sure they'll put up a temporary stand beside the main stand, and maybe bigger stands down the ends?

I heard mention of the Fire Marshall a number of times.
Seems they never considered large crowds at the Sportsground, so there was never limits set on how many tickets were sold. That was changed quickly after the Toulouse match

An "off-the-field strategic plan" sounds very interesting.

salmson wrote: So nothing official official but I'm hopeful of a record attendance (current I think was 91o0ish against Toulouse). Let's hope they sort it out.

I heard at some point that the max capacity had fallen since that night against Toulouse. I don't know the reason, but maybe health and safety? I remember that night thinking it was a bit mad, with people stuck in every nook and cranny. Anyway, For that reason, I suspect we won't be looking at a record attendance. I'm sure they'll put up a temporary stand beside the main stand, and maybe bigger stands down the ends?

At the end they're asked about what the future holds off the pitch and what about a proper stadium?

Pat says that's Willie's side of the fence so they'll leave that to him....
....then says there is an off-the-field strategic plan to be released in the next few weeks; Mul chips in about how going to a redeveloped Pearse Stadium was mooted but they'd be mad to leave the Sportsground; at which point Bundee mentions that there'll be even more capacity at the semi ("We'll get another 2000 in, right?) and Pat seems to agree.

So nothing official official but I'm hopeful of a record attendance (current I think was 91o0ish against Toulouse). Let's hope they sort it out.

salmson wrote: The sound quality is awful (particularly the first 20 seconds), the picture if frozen for 12 of the 13 minutes, but this is simply epic. Live long format print journalism á la the craggy boys.

www.facebook.com/PRO12Rugby/videos/1313628935331911

Yeah, I gave up after six minutes. Couldn't hear a word Bundee was saying. Anyone say anything interesting?

You mentioned something about an extra 2,000 capacity for the semi. Are you sure that's correct? There were press releases sent out before the Munster and Glasgow games announcing an increase of capacity by 1,900, but this was just bringing us up to 7,800.

The sound quality is awful (particularly the first 20 seconds), the picture if frozen for 12 of the 13 minutes, but this is simply epic. Live long format print journalism á la the craggy boys.

www.facebook.com/PRO12Rugby/videos/1313628935331911

We should ask Pat how he prefers the games to be broadcast.

m.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2016/0506/786688-bu...nnacht-richie-mccaw/

Hopefully Pats comments about him being "a Connacht Man" are true.....

I'd take TG4 in Manderian over what RTE used to have.
TG4 deserve our support. They show as many Connacht games as they can, or so it feels.
Without them, we'd rarely ever be on tv

Banm wrote: I prefer TG4 all day. The commentary on Sky is cat. Talking rubbish throughout the game. You can pick up the basics on TG4 if people have zero vocal. Also follow RugbyBeo on twitter they have a word a week or something to do with rugby. Get your notebook out and chalk it down!

And while we're on about commentators. Hugh Cahill drives me bananas, he really needs to sort his cadence out. He goes from calm to ballistic in 2seconds totally out of context to the play he watching.

And don't get me started on those Aussie love-ins for the super 15's......


and breathe......

Good man. I was feeling left out. I'd prefer more games on TG4 and all as Gaeilge.

I prefer TG4 all day. The commentary on Sky is cat. Talking rubbish throughout the game. You can pick up the basics on TG4 if people have zero vocal. Also follow RugbyBeo on twitter they have a word a week or something to do with rugby. Get your notebook out and chalk it down!

And while we're on about commentators. Hugh Cahill drives me bananas, he really needs to sort his cadence out. He goes from calm to ballistic in 2seconds totally out of context to the play he watching.

And don't get me started on those Aussie love-ins for the super 15's......


and breathe......

A red button english language option would be nice, but I can understand both sides of the argument. What annoys me more about TG4 as a sky customer is the picture quality. It is one channel that doesn't even seem to be proper standard definition, despite it being available in HD on saorview if I'm not mistaken. First world problems.

Diom wrote: So what you're saying really is that Sky should also make everyone talk as Gaeilge!

It makes as much sense as making TG4 talk as Béarla

I remember that alright, I was thinking er...seriously Frankie you are not down the pub with your mates buddy :oops:

Sky talking as Gaeilge? Steady on, they've only just realised it's not pronounced Con-ought.

Seriously though the English commentators/presenters are ok, and the non-Irish pundits like Lawson et al are fine too. The Alex Shaw/Eoin McKeon interview after the Leinster game went on for about 3 minutes and completely avoided your usual "at the end of the day" sports clichés - it's included in the Craggy podcast for that game and worth a listen.

It's the Irish contingent - including Mark Robson - that make me cringe. Sheehan is unquestionably the worst. At one stage during the Leinster game he was busy explaining (during open play, in case you were wondering) that his family is large because they didn't have a TV. Dear God in heaven...