LOI games in new Lansdowne

**noby** · 13/02/2009, 11:53 AM

Sorry if it has been mentioned already.

In one of the rags this morning JD said he expects a couple of LoI games to be played in Lansdowne before the first international, as a kind of warm up. It seems a couple of the "bigger clubs" will be approached.

**crc** · 13/02/2009, 12:00 PM

Well that'll be Derry versus the Derry Reserves then :P

**Dodge** · 13/02/2009, 12:08 PM

Sorry teams from the IFA jurisdiction don't count

I'm fairly certain this was mentioned before. Seems to be standard practice. First game played in the "new" Wembley was an England u21 game

**Réiteoir** · 13/02/2009, 12:26 PM

I'll assume it has to be done to gain a safety cert for the new stadium - so they hold a couple of events prior with reduced capacities

**elroy** · 13/02/2009, 12:48 PM

Would be a great idea. Would they have a dublin derby there?

Cork or Derry against Bohs/Pats/Rovers i wouldve thought would be the most likely.

**Mr A** · 13/02/2009, 12:52 PM

Have a triple header there and christen the place with a full-on, 6 way riot for the whole 5 hours or so its on.

Obviously the whole thing should also be spiced up with some monkey knife-fighting and possibly badgers with laser beams on their heads.

You know it makes sense.

**Dodge** · 13/02/2009, 12:53 PM

If I don't see Monkey knife fights I'll be asking for my money back. Could do what the Rugby Super League do and have all 6 (or in our case 5) games in a weekend at the same venue. 3 on saturday, two on Sunday. Have merchandise stalls galore and one ticket does you for the weekend

**Sam_Heggy** · 13/02/2009, 1:14 PM

Would the gate money be split 50/50 between the sides?

I can imagine the arguements starting.
Derry against Cork originally scheduled for the Randywell, moved to Landsdowne and the FAI look to keep the gate receipts. Derry would kick up a stink looking for the gate money and rightly so. Maybe even Cork demanding a share of the spoils.

Another twist in the soap plot that is the League of Ireland

p.s. Monkey knife fights? A you will not rest until you see Delaney and Gavin in a blood battle to the death.

Keep up the good work.

**Dodge** · 13/02/2009, 1:17 PM

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

Would the gate money be split 50/50 between the sides?

As is tradition with LOI gate recipts, the gates will be split 50/50 between all 10 teams. For licensing purposes etc

**passerrby** · 13/02/2009, 1:21 PM

have it on good authority it will be monaghan v merve and we will no require the top tier.

**Sam_Heggy** · 13/02/2009, 1:23 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

As is tradition with LOI gate recipts, the gates will be split 50/50 between all 10 teams. For licensing purposes etc

I was hoping they would keep it, store it up and pay to install a new multi-story car park in the new Finn Park

As part of the new licencing requirement in 2020 of course.

Oh yes is it Sligo that do the sums for the 50/50 split 10 ways?

**Sam_Heggy** · 13/02/2009, 1:24 PM

Originally Posted by passerrby

have it on good authority it will be monaghan v merve and we will no require the top tier.

Or the bottom one either for that matter

**noby** · 13/02/2009, 1:29 PM

Originally Posted by passerrby

have it on good authority it will be monaghan v merve and we will no require the top tier.

Just a few ball boys up there to retrieve hoofed balls.

**Sam_Heggy** · 13/02/2009, 1:30 PM

Originally Posted by noby

Just a few ball boys up there to retrieve hoofed balls.

Is big Melvin still playing for Mons?

**Mr Maroon** · 13/02/2009, 2:04 PM

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

Or the bottom one either for that matter

Was just thinking that

**Réiteoir** · 13/02/2009, 2:12 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

If I don't see Monkey knife fights I'll be asking for my money back. Could do what the Rugby Super League do and have all 6 (or in our case 5) games in a weekend at the same venue. 3 on saturday, two on Sunday. Have merchandise stalls galore and one ticket does you for the weekend

I've just had an idea related to this.

As it stands - each Premier team has to play each other 3 times.

Simply have a home and away series - with gate receipts split as usual.

Then for the third batch of games - have what Dodge suggested - a "neutral" series - and split the receipts and such equally between all the teams involved...

**pineapple stu** · 13/02/2009, 2:14 PM

Four rounds in the Premier now. Three in the first.

Even with three rounds, you'd struggle to find 11 viable money-making neutral venues.

**dcfcsteve** · 13/02/2009, 2:20 PM

Originally Posted by Réiteoir

I'll assume it has to be done to gain a safety cert for the new stadium - so they hold a couple of events prior with reduced capacities

Correct.

You have to host a number of assessed pre-fixtures of increasing capacity to show that both the stadium and the match-day set-up is up to receicing a full license. If not - you'll get a license for the capacity level at which they believe it works, rathe rthan the level at which you built it.

This presents an excellent opportunity for the league btw. A lot of people will want to see the new Lansdowne stadium - and many will want to be at the first fixture in the new ground. The chosen games should be chosen wisely to ensure the most is made of this limited chance to convert curious onlookers to our game.

**holidaysong** · 13/02/2009, 3:11 PM

Rather than playing a league game there, they should begin the League Cup a bit early and have the League Cup Final in Lansdowne. It'd be a great opportunity to show off the league and also get the neutrals in.