What Is It Like to See a Concert at Croke Park?

Pitch Standing (GA)

The pitch splits into zones for concerts: Pitch 1 (rear, closer to Hill 16) and Pitch 2 (front, closer to the stage at the Davin End). Some events add a Pit closest to the stage. The surface is natural grass, so conditions underfoot vary with weather. Pitch 2 puts you closest to the performers, while Pitch 1 gives you more breathing room and easier exit access, at the cost of being a full stadium-length from the stage.

The entire pitch is exposed to weather. Compression at the front of Pitch 2 can be significant for high-demand shows. Children under 14 are banned from the pitch entirely, even with an adult. No overnight or early queuing is allowed; if you arrive before the advertised gate time, you'll be turned away. Plan to be inside 45 minutes before the show starts. Pitch entry uses the Red Route via St James Avenue and Foster Terrace.

Cusack Stand (Sections 300-314, West Side)

The Cusack Stand runs along the western side with three tiers. It provides a side-on view of the stage, meaning you see the performer's profile rather than a head-on view.

Lower Cusack (centre, ~305-310): Section 307 earned "amazing seats sheltered and no obstructions". These centre sections benefit from full roof coverage and a perpendicular viewing angle that avoids the worst of the overhang problem. This is where you want to be on the Cusack side.

Lower Cusack (near stage end, ~300-304): Section 302 got "brilliant seat though Noel was obscured a bit because of the stage set up". The proximity to the stage creates a steeper side angle where the stage structure can block parts of the performer. Section 304 reviewers noted weather exposure in the lower rows, which extend beyond the roof overhang.

Upper Cusack (high rows): The roof overhang becomes a factor here. Sections 300-304 in higher rows can suffer roof obstruction when standing, because the overhang cuts into the sightline toward the elevated stage. Sections 306-310 in the centre generally avoid this because the viewing angle is more perpendicular.

Section 406 (Premium Level): "Excellent view, easy access to stairs". The Premium Level trades proximity for comfort, with its own concourse and bar facilities, plus better sound reinforcement from the NEXO house system tie-in.

The Lower Cusack Stand is also where the best accessibility infrastructure is located, with lift access and proximity to accessible toilets.

Hogan Stand (Sections 315-336, East Side)

The Hogan Stand mirrors the Cusack on the opposite (east) side. Named after Michael Hogan, the GAA player killed during Bloody Sunday in 1920, it was rebuilt in 2002 as the newest of the three main stands.

Centre Hogan (~320-326), the best concert seats in the stadium: Section 320 during Oasis: "Brilliant seat just hovering above the crowd. Sound was perfect". Section 322: "Great seat! A bit far back but you can see everything!!". These centre sections give you a balanced side-on view with good screen visibility and are consistently the highest-rated concert seats at Croke Park.

Near-stage Hogan (~315-319), good proximity but roof problems: Section 319 drew "very restricted view. When people stand you have to, then the roof blocks your view of the stage too". The closer you sit to the stage end on the Hogan side, the steeper the angle, and the more the roof overhang cuts into your view. Section 321 adds another issue: "the stanchions for the speakers blocked part of the view".

Far Hogan (~328-336), distance plus obstruction: Section 328: "restricted view, hard to see full screen, can barely see performer". Section 332 got "10/10 seats, covered from rain too", showing that experience varies even in adjacent sections depending on row height and stage configuration. Section 333 received both a 1/5 and a 5/5 from different reviewers at the same event, which strongly suggests the roof obstruction is row-dependent.

Section 335: do not buy for concerts. TripAdvisor reviews from AC/DC in August 2024 reported that attendees "couldn't see the band, stage setup, or lighting" from this section. This is the worst concert seat in the stadium.

Davin Stand (South End, Behind/Beside Stage)

The stage typically sits at the Davin End, which means Davin Stand sections are either behind the stage or at extreme side angles. Most sections are either not sold for concerts or sold as severely restricted view at deep discounts. Fan review data is sparse, which itself tells you something. One reviewer in Section 229 reported an "unbelievable view", but that likely reflects a section angled toward the stage rather than directly behind it. If you see cheap Davin Stand tickets, check the specific stage layout for your event before buying.

Hill 16 / Nally Stand (North End, Opposite Stage)

Hill 16 is Croke Park's famous standing terrace at the north end, holding approximately 13,000 fans, one of the largest standing terraces in Europe. For GAA matches, it's the legendary Dublin home end. For concerts, it's the cheapest ticket with the most energy and the worst visual experience.

The stage sits at the opposite end of the stadium (Davin End), putting Hill 16 at maximum distance. You're watching a big-screen concert from here. But there's a critical sightline problem: the Nally Stand roof overhang can obscure more than half of the main screens from a standing position on the terrace. The screens are your primary way to see performers from this distance, and if the roof blocks them, the visual experience is severely degraded.

Hill 16 is more exposed to weather than the seated stands. The upper portion has some roof coverage from the Nally Stand extension, but the lower areas are open. If you choose Hill 16, you're choosing atmosphere over visibility. Know what you're getting.

Premium Level (Sections 700+)

The Premium Level sits above the upper tiers of the Cusack and Hogan stands. These are the highest seats in the stadium, but they are the consensus best-value surprise of Croke Park concerts.

Section 709: "Great view from up here and sound was perfect". Section 713: "Sound quality was superb. Height takes time to adjust to but unless you badly struggle with vertigo it should be fine". Section 725: "brilliant seats" with "sound excellent" and quick access to bars and toilets. Section 726: "Very high up but still a good view and good sound".

The pattern is clear: the NEXO house system tie-in delivers strong sound at Premium Level height, the dedicated concourses mean shorter bar and toilet queues, and the wider seats and aisle-adjacent positions make exit easy. The main sacrifice is visual intimacy: you're relying on screens for performer detail. Row A in Premium Level sections (e.g., Section 702) is considered ideal for balancing proximity with comfort.

Even "restricted view" Premium Level tickets can be worth it. One reviewer bought discounted restricted-view tickets and reported "the view of the stage was great, could see all the band members clearly".

Accessibility Seating

Permanent wheelchair positions are on Level 4 of the Cusack and Davin Stands. For concerts, a purpose-built raised wheelchair platform is constructed on the pitch, offering much closer proximity to the stage. This platform must be booked through Ticketmaster's Special Needs Hotline (0818 903001) in advance, with limited capacity and a strict 1+1 companion policy.

The Lower Cusack Stand has the best overall accessibility infrastructure, with lift access and proximity to accessible toilets. However, one TripAdvisor reviewer titled their review "NOT DISABLED FRIENDLY," citing the complexity of pre-registration requirements and the distances involved. The gap between Croke Park's official accessibility provisions and the lived experience may be significant for some attendees.