Former Ireland player Tommy Bowe believes that holding rugby games at Croke Park, reducing ticket prices, and not allowing drinks at games would improve the atmosphere at Irish rugby matches.
Unlike football and Gaelic games, Irish rugby matches allow fans to get up and go to the concession stands during the game. There is also the issue of the high cost of tickets.
Ticket prices for Ireland's Six Nations rugby matches at Aviva Stadium typically range from €50 to €125, depending on the seating location, with premium and hospitality tickets costing more. Away game prices vary, with tickets for matches at Twickenham and Murrayfield typically ranging from €100 to €230.
Atmospheres at games have been questioned by many over the years, and some feel that the Aviva Stadium, which holds 50,000 people, isn't an adequate venue for high-profile Irish test matches.
Bowe, now a media personality after his playing career, offered his solution to the problem. He suggested that Croke Park should be the venue for the national team going forward, as other nations in the Six Nations have bigger stadiums.
"I think Ireland's home matches need to be played at Croke Park. At 50,000 capacity, the Aviva is a wonderful stadium, but it's not big enough for the Six Nations games against England and France, "said the former Ireland player on the Offload podcast this week. "When you think of the other international teams in the Six Nations, the next biggest is Murrayfield with 67,000 seats—they have 17,000 more seats."
Bowe further added that the price of tickets was driving genuine supporters away from the game. He believes that reducing ticket prices and not allowing fans to keep getting up for drinks throughout the game would also help with the atmosphere problem rugby currently faces.
"The ticket prices for these matches are €160 to go to the game. It's a lot of money, and it's driving supporters away. I was at the Autumn Internationals, and I didn't enjoy the spectacle. There were too many people there who were there for the day out, not for the rugby.
"Have it at Croke Park, 82,000 people there, reduce ticket prices, and don't allow them to drink. I know people may not like that, but for the sake of the 80 minutes of the game, get out there, enjoy it, get stuck in, and support."
Ireland's 2025 Six Nations fixtures are as follows:
They face England at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Saturday, February 1st, with a 4:45 pm kick-off.
They then take on Scotland at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, on Sunday, February 9th, at 3:00 pm.
After this, they play Wales at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday, February 22nd, at 2:15 pm, before hosting France at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Saturday, March 8th, at 2:15 pm.
They finish the tournament against Italy at Stadio Olimpico, Rome, on Saturday, March 15th, with a 2:15 pm kick-off.
