About four years ago I worked for a well known sports retail chain in Ireland who were also anchor tennants with the GAA in running their sports superstore at the back of the Hogan Stand at Croke Park. During the GAA season and when the internationals were on (after Lansdowne closed for redevelopment) we were always flat out in the couple of days running up to the games in getting the retail outlets ready within the stadium for the matches but it was awesome fun at the same time. On match days, it was carnage serving thousands of fans but once the games started you'd always be able to get in to watch them.
A little known fact is at rear of the lower tier at Croker (level 3), you can actually get a small van up there and drive around the entire horseshoe which made getting stock up a lot easier (I'd love to tell you a story of a speed record up there but I wouldn't want people to get into trouble!). Access was by the walkway ramps at the back of the Cusack Stand below:
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From a young lads point of view back then, it was easily the best place you could hope to work in - grabbing a roll for lunch break and eating it out on the grandstand viewing the pitch beats any canteen any day!
Prior to Lansdowne's redevelopment, we also ran the retail outlets there (glorified port-o-cabins if I'm honest). The ground was much as everyone describes as being completely run down and dilapidated but the beauty of having the passes was how close one could get to the pitch to watch the games.
A little known fact is at rear of the lower tier at Croker (level 3), you can actually get a small van up there and drive around the entire horseshoe which made getting stock up a lot easier (I'd love to tell you a story of a speed record up there but I wouldn't want people to get into trouble!). Access was by the walkway ramps at the back of the Cusack Stand below:
From a young lads point of view back then, it was easily the best place you could hope to work in - grabbing a roll for lunch break and eating it out on the grandstand viewing the pitch beats any canteen any day!
Prior to Lansdowne's redevelopment, we also ran the retail outlets there (glorified port-o-cabins if I'm honest). The ground was much as everyone describes as being completely run down and dilapidated but the beauty of having the passes was how close one could get to the pitch to watch the games.
