Croke Park is Ireland’s largest sports stadium located in Dublin. With a capacity for over 82,000 spectators, it is the fourth largest stadium in Europe. Croke Park is the home stadium for Gaelic football and hurling games. The stadium has undergone extensive renovations over the years, with the addition of roofing over certain seating areas to provide cover for fans during inclement weather. Understanding which seats are covered at Croke Park can help fans choose the best tickets for their needs.
Brief history of Croke Park
Croke Park first opened in 1913 and has served as the primary stadium for Gaelic games for over a century. The original capacity was around 50,000 spectators. Major expansions occurred in the 1990s and 2000s, bringing the capacity over 80,000 by increasing the height of the stands and constructing new ones. The most recent major renovation was the construction of the Hogan Stand on the south side of the stadium between 2007-2010. This added a three-tiered stand with a capacity of over 26,000.
Seating areas of Croke Park
Croke Park is oval-shaped with seating areas called Stands surrounding the pitch. The four main stands are:
- Hogan Stand – The largest stand located on the south side of the stadium. It has three tiers and a capacity of 26,000.
- Cusack Stand – Named after one of the GAA founders, it is located on the west side. It has a capacity of 27,000.
- Davin Stand – Found along the north side, it has a capacity of 9,500.
- Nally Stand – The smallest stand on the east side, it has a capacity of around 8,000.
There are also terraced hill 16 areas behind both goals that can hold around 18,000 standing spectators combined.
Covered Seating Areas
Not all the seats in the stadium provide cover from the elements. Here is an overview of which Croke Park stands have covered seating:
Hogan Stand
The Hogan Stand has a roof over all three tiers of seating. This provides covered seating for the entire stand’s 26,000 spectator capacity. The seats available to purchase for the Hogan Stand are in the South Upper Level or South Lower Level.
Cusack Stand
The Cusack Stand provides cover for all 27,000 of its seats across two tiers. Tickets available for the Cusack Stand are for the West Upper Level and West Lower Level sections.
Davin Stand
The 9,500 seat Davin Stand has a roof covering both tiers of seating. Tickets can be purchased in this stand for the North Upper Level and North Lower Level.
Nally Stand
The Nally Stand does not have a roof over the seating. All 8,000 seats in this stand are open-air and uncovered. Tickets are for the East Upper Level and East Lower Level sections.
Hill 16 Terraces
The Hill 16 terraces behind each goal at Croke Park are uncovered standing room areas. These end terrace locations are exposed with no cover provided.
Covered Seat Count Summary
To summarize, the following table shows the covered and uncovered seat counts in each Croke Park stand:
| Stand | Covered Seats | Uncovered Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Hogan | 26,000 | 0 |
| Cusack | 27,000 | 0 |
| Davin | 9,500 | 0 |
| Nally | 0 | 8,000 |
| Hill 16 Terraces | 0 | 18,000 |
| Totals | 62,500 | 26,000 |
As shown in the table, the Hogan, Cusack, and Davin stands have complete roof coverage over their 62,500 combined seats. The Nally Stand and Hill 16 terraces comprising 26,000 total seats are uncovered.
Choosing Covered Seating
When selecting tickets for a match in Croke Park, look for seats in the Hogan Stand, Cusack Stand or Davin Stand to ensure you have cover from rain or sun during the event. The Nally Stand and Hill 16 terraces do not provide any cover.
If covered seating is a priority, focus on purchasing tickets labeled for the South, West or North sections of the stadium. Check the specific section, row and seat number to confirm the locations are under the stand roofs based on the covered seat counts provided above. Tickets on the East side or Hill 16 end zones will be uncovered.
Keep the weather forecast in mind when choosing tickets. On clear sunny days, uncovered seats may be preferred. For potentially rainy or extremely sunny conditions, select covered seats for a more comfortable experience.
Ticketing tips
- Purchase tickets well in advance of the event as Croke Park sells out quickly for major matches.
- Scout resale sites for last minute covered seat tickets if needed.
- Higher rows generally have better views so balance cover vs. view.
- West side gets late afternoon sun, East side gets morning sun.
- Bring rain poncho or sunglasses for uncovered seats.
Conclusion
Croke Park offers covered seating in the Hogan, Cusack and Davin stands totaling over 62,000 seats. The Nally Stand and Hill 16 terraces comprising 26,000 seats are open-air and uncovered. When selecting tickets, prioritize stands on the South, West and North sides for roof coverage. Refer to the covered seat count summaries and consider the weather forecast. With the right tickets, you can enjoy Gaelic games at Ireland’s largest stadium while protected from the elements.