Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[Glen Of Aherlow]

The league's unique selling point is that it's rustic. Of course rustic is a very vague word but hopefully it can be taken into account when building new grounds and redeveloping old ones.
We should be encouraging safe standing, spectators as close to the pitch as possible and stadiums that aren't bland uniform arenas. It'd be interesting if the league had it's own architectural philosophy, basically.

In fairness , for the most part we can't get stadiums built in any shape or form let alone worrying about whether they're rustic or what the architectural philosophy is .

[Glen Of Aherlow]

Does anybody actually believe that Dalymount will look much different in 2026 ?

[placid casual]

If anyone actually believes there is going to be two redeveloped stadiums within a couple of miles of each other they are dreaming.
1 stadium with a capacity of 4/5k is about the best anyone can hope for, with the money from the sale of the other going to fund the project.

[Straightstory]

In fairness , for the most part we can't get stadiums built in any shape or form let alone worrying about whether they're rustic or what the architectural philosophy is .

'Rusty' rather than 'Rustic' would be a better word to describe most LOI stands and terraces. A 'bland uniform arena' sounds quite good to me in comparison.

[D24Saint]

'Rusty' rather than 'Rustic' would be a better word to describe most LOI stands and terraces. A 'bland uniform arena' sounds quite good to me in comparison.

A debate on what’s the leagues biggest kips would get heated id say.

[Shinkicker]

The 42 has more details on the "second option", which will end up with a capacity closer to 9-10K, rather than the "first option" that had a capacity of 6k...

"The second is ‘option 2′ from the MCA appraisal, which includes: leaving the Dalymount pitch in the same position, refurbishing the Jodi Stand, a new Main Stand with a potential capacity of 4-5,000 and community facilities, a new covered terrace with a potential capacity of around 2,000 and a small terrace at the east end of the stadium with a capacity of around 250-300."

I like option 2 but let's see the revamped design before making any decisions. Dalymount could with the right design hold 12,000.
Another solution would be leave the Jodi. Spend the money to build a stand running from the shopping centre end, along the connaught St side and around to the school end. 8,000-9,000. Increase membership numbers increase revenue and in good time Bohs self invest and revamp the jodi.

[Philosophizer]

I went to quite a few Dalymount matches in the past couple of years with a German mate. He loved it. When I asked him, does it not seem like a dump compared to the facilities you're used to in Germany?, He replied "Yes, but that's the beauty of it". Don't underestimate that rustic charm. Our stadia are things from a bygone era. In the age of corporate soccer domes they can actually be attractive to some people.

[Shinkicker]

I like option 2 but let's see the revamped design before making any decisions. Dalymount could with the right design hold 12,000.
Another solution would be leave the Jodi. Spend the money to build a stand running from the shopping centre end, along the connaught St side and around to the school end. 8,000-9,000. Increase membership numbers increase revenue and in good time Bohs self invest and revamp the jodi.

Forgot to add that back in the good old days at Dalymount. You could walk around from the school house en to the SC end. It was one continuous terrace before the car park.

[Glen Of Aherlow]

I went to quite a few Dalymount matches in the past couple of years with a German mate. He loved it. When I asked him, does it not seem like a dump compared to the facilities you're used to in Germany?, He replied "Yes, but that's the beauty of it". Don't underestimate that rustic charm. Our stadia are things from a bygone era. In the age of corporate soccer domes they can actually be attractive to some people.

I don't think expecting a roof over your head and decent toilet facilities is the same as expecting a corporate soccer dome.

[Calcio Jack]

I went to quite a few Dalymount matches in the past couple of years with a German mate. He loved it. When I asked him, does it not seem like a dump compared to the facilities you're used to in Germany?, He replied "Yes, but that's the beauty of it". Don't underestimate that rustic charm. Our stadia are things from a bygone era. In the age of corporate soccer domes they can actually be attractive to some people.

That’s like American tourists visiting Rural Ireland in the 1950/60s- they enjoyed the rustic novelty of seeing run down houses, barefoot children etc.and then they could return to their nice homes- However the reality of living in such dumps and the associated poverty wasn’t much fun for the locals

[Big Ears]

That’s like American tourists visiting Rural Ireland in the 1950/60s- they enjoyed the rustic novelty of seeing run down houses, barefoot children etc.and then they could return to their nice homes- However the reality of living in such dumps and the associated poverty wasn’t much fun for the locals

I have to agree. I've no issue with stadiums which aren't uniform the whole way around.
We seem to specialise in that here in Ireland; Lansdowne rd, Croke Park, even the 4th stand at Tallaght isn't going to be fully uniform.

But non uniform doesn't mean poor facilities.
Decent toilets, viewing perspectives, shelter etc are an absolute must. Ideally good quality food and easy access to it aswell, and obviously large enough to cater for decent attendances.
Having people standing in a hayshed might be fine on a one off, but not on a regular basis, particularly if that shed is leaking !

[Mr A]

I will have you know the Finn Park roof has been repaired!

[Philosophizer]

I don't think expecting a roof over your head and decent toilet facilities is the same as expecting a corporate soccer dome.

I'm not saying Dalyer in its current state is preferential to a redevelopment.
Obviously redevelopment is necessary, but the "back up" option, (4 different stands, all covered, 2 terraces, Jodi being kept, 9-10K capacity) is clearly better in every way than the full redevelopment. And with the Jodi being kept and the pitch remaining in situ the ground can maintain some of its charm.
The full redevelopment would have left us with a 6k capacity and a plastic pitch! And of course it would have went way over budget and probably taken 10 years to complete.

[bohsmug]

I find the idea of a 250 - 300 capacity terrace a bit odd as it must only be 2 or 3 steps or else something with 5 or 6 steps that covers about the width of the box or something. It's a big challenge to fit anything in at that end without changing pitch orientation so still glad if they're able to fit something in. I wonder if it'll be like the undeveloped sides of the FC United ground. Not perfect but I do wish the likes of Athlone could've boxed in their ground like that.

Connaught Street has to go obviously. It's had to for a long time but the thoughts of demolition beginning next week does make me feel very sad. I know somebody mentioned above that they don't think Dalymount will look any different in 2026 but it will look different in the next few months. Demolition started last year really with the roof coming down from the shed. As for anything going up by 2026, I'd be hopeful but who knows. The only LOI ground development you can have confidence in at the moment is the fourth stand in Tallaght.

A 2,000 covered terrace at the old shed end sounds beautiful.

[joey B]

Are Bohs still going to have to play somewhere else for a season or 2?

[D24Saint]

What’s the scenario if Tolka gets the go ahead aswell. I can’t see $hels wanting to wait for Dalymount to be completed before their redevelopment starts.

[culloty82]

From the way Option 2 is described, sounds like they could continue to play at Dalymount, and they'd sequentially work on each section of the ground, much like how the GAA redeveloped Croke Park in the Eighties/Nineties.

[pateen]

Forgot to add that back in the good old days at Dalymount. You could walk around from the school house en to the SC end. It was one continuous terrace before the car park.

What year was the stand opposite the Jodi closed off to the public. Remember going there around 2008 for Drogs champs league match so guessing it was shortly after that.

[Nesta99]

Leaving the clubs and fans involved aside for a moment. It sounds once again that elected members council or Dail want a slice of the pie to claim a self serving win for their electorate. So we'll most likely end up with 2 half baked efforts some time eventually. Doesnt make 'value for money' sense to spend a lot of public money on 2 grounds within walking distance of each other. If both developments were committed to even for say a total of 30-40mil a lot of people would go bananas - waste of money when housing is needed and hospitals overcrowded etc. The can has already been kicked own the road and there people in city hall delighted with the Save Tolka campaign and can cite such complications for delayed decisions. The only way I can see things being done sooner than later is via a PPP and capitulate to the dreaded developers and their retail units et al as part of the plans. With DCC as a partner rather than a club that can be financially bullied and taken advantage of then developers have to tow the line.

There's implications for St Pats in this too as a 3rd development added to the mix and it will be a conveniently difficult situation for DCC that they can take their time on figuring it out.

[EatYerGreens]

30-50mil? Ah here there is taking high costs in this country on the chin, and then there is taking the p!ss! FFS there are stadia of 30k knocking around for that kind of money that rejuvenate an area and a stadium as a centre piece. Sounds like a few people may have noses out of joint. maybe having lost Tolka Park (to a wink and nod) and now throwing a strop on Dalymount. SDCC should pop in to say hello!...

The very broad rule of thumb for stadia in England pre-Covid was £1,000 per seat - which would be €1,150. That will have gone up since then, but not by a factor of x5 or more.