Markets Field Renovations??

[mastershake]

How can this development on a whole be viewed as anything but encouraging for Limerick FC.

Yes I appreciate the plans look underwhelming especially when viewed against what was proposed a few years back, but its a huge step in the right direction. Finally Limerick football fans can say that they will be playing back at their spiritual home after years in the wilderness at places like Hogan Park. How many of you would have grabbed at that outcome if offered to you 10 years ago. I would wager that almost all of you would. Football fans can quickly become blind to the obvious realities of what a club of Limerick's size can offer especially if grand unrealistic plans are thrown at them with no accurate estimates at price. The original plans were always going to be the final vision they never gave us the steps it would take to get there. This i believe will be that first step.

The current plans submitted in my opinion will meet the clubs current needs i.e a a ground that will above all else meet the Premier Division ground licence requirements. Will allow Limerick a quick return to the Markets Field for the 2014 season and will finally be a ground for Limerick FC that will cater for a realistic attendance while offering an intimate and charged atmosphere. (Stands don't create atmosphere fans do)

This is all I realistically ever hoped for and I believe if the club is continued to be run as it has under Pat O'Sullivan and the current board then those mad plans that he proposed a few years back can actual be achieved in the coming years.

[sadloserkid]

Will allow Limerick a quick return to the Markets Field for the 2014 season.

The season that starts in two months? They'd want to get the finger out... :eek:

[dutchie]

How can this development on a whole be viewed as anything but encouraging for Limerick FC.

Yes I appreciate the plans look underwhelming especially when viewed against what was proposed a few years back, but its a huge step in the right direction. Finally Limerick football fans can say that they will be playing back at their spiritual home after years in the wilderness at places like Hogan Park. How many of you would have grabbed at that outcome if offered to you 10 years ago. I would wager that almost all of you would. Football fans can quickly become blind to the obvious realities of what a club of Limerick's size can offer especially if grand unrealistic plans are thrown at them with no accurate estimates at price. The original plans were always going to be the final vision they never gave us the steps it would take to get there. This i believe will be that first step.

The current plans submitted in my opinion will meet the clubs current needs i.e a a ground that will above all else meet the Premier Division ground licence requirements. Will allow Limerick a quick return to the Markets Field for the 2014 season and will finally be a ground for Limerick FC that will cater for a realistic attendance while offering an intimate and charged atmosphere. (Stands don't create atmosphere fans do)

This is all I realistically ever hoped for and I believe if the club is continued to be run as it has under Pat O'Sullivan and the current board then those mad plans that he proposed a few years back can actual be achieved in the coming years.

Spot on,a great move in the right direction and onwards and upwards.

[ever37]

I suppose we'll get to properly judge when we see the finished article but from the plans I can't see how 2 open air concrete steps, 10 metres from the pitch on the far side will encourage an intimate atmosphere. What it will encourage people to do on the other hand is not bother their backside going to a game. The distance from the pitch at the 2 goal ends is huge. For a fraction of the money involved Jackman or Hogan Park could've been upgraded to a ground like this, only with spectators closer to the pitch, and the club would've been still in the same position.

[Jofspring]

How can this development on a whole be viewed as anything but encouraging for Limerick FC.

Yes I appreciate the plans look underwhelming especially when viewed against what was proposed a few years back, but its a huge step in the right direction. Finally Limerick football fans can say that they will be playing back at their spiritual home after years in the wilderness at places like Hogan Park. How many of you would have grabbed at that outcome if offered to you 10 years ago. I would wager that almost all of you would. Football fans can quickly become blind to the obvious realities of what a club of Limerick's size can offer especially if grand unrealistic plans are thrown at them with no accurate estimates at price. The original plans were always going to be the final vision they never gave us the steps it would take to get there. This i believe will be that first step.

The current plans submitted in my opinion will meet the clubs current needs i.e a a ground that will above all else meet the Premier Division ground licence requirements. Will allow Limerick a quick return to the Markets Field for the 2014 season and will finally be a ground for Limerick FC that will cater for a realistic attendance while offering an intimate and charged atmosphere. (Stands don't create atmosphere fans do)

This is all I realistically ever hoped for and I believe if the club is continued to be run as it has under Pat O'Sullivan and the current board then those mad plans that he proposed a few years back can actual be achieved in the coming years.

Some good points there but I still think some of the concerns brought forward by the supporters club and other fans are genuine concerns and not just complaining for the sake of it. It will be 2015 before Limerick FC move in there.

[bluewhitearmy]

How can this development on a whole be viewed as anything but encouraging for Limerick FC.

if grand unrealistic plans are thrown at them with no accurate estimates at price.

The original plans were always going to be the final vision they never gave us the steps it would take to get there. This i believe will be that first step.

T

Its been explained over and over again why it isn't viewed that way just read back through this thread.

There was more then an estimated price of the plans that Pat O'Sullivan there was an exact price of what it would cost.

They did show the stages it would take to get to the final plans in Pats plan the first phase cost roughly the same as the current plans for the Markets Field but had 3500 seats instead of 1500 seats and an overall capacity of 3000. This is not the first step the LEDP have already said they do not have the funds for further development.

To call them mad plans is very disrespectful he put far more research into his plans then the LEDP have with theirs i guarantee you that.

Yet again someone comes on here backing the plans while completely ignoring the fact that having zero revenue from the ground will negatively effect the long term future of the club. Have you any thoughts on that or are you ok with it like the others seem to be?

I dont get how people can constantly come on and talk about how we are wrong about the ground but yet continue to ignore the main problem with have with it (lack of revenue).

[LFC Blue]

.

Yet again someone comes on here backing the plans while completely ignoring the fact that having zero revenue from the ground will negatively effect the long term future of the club. Have you any thoughts on that or are you ok with it like the others seem to be?

I dont get how people can constantly come on and talk about how we are wrong about the ground but yet continue to ignore the main problem with have with it (lack of revenue).

Would you care to detail the projected revenue loss that you keep harking on about? Time you put a bit of realism in to your arguments. What exactly do you want...the LEDP to lay on a fast food joint inside the Markets Field aswell as a bar and a club superstore to capitalise on the millions of euro revenue our average gate of 1500 people will generate. You must think people only go to football to eat burgers and drink beer.

[bluewhitearmy]

Would you care to detail the projected revenue loss that you keep harking on about? Time you put a bit of realism in to your arguments. What exactly do you want...the LEDP to lay on a fast food joint inside the Markets Field aswell as a bar and a club superstore to capitalise on the millions of euro revenue our average gate of 1500 people will generate. You must think people only go to football to eat burgers and drink beer.

Firstly the question you ask has been answered already to you actually. I don't have exact figures but i think its safe to assume that with no bar and no food outlets in the ground that is a chance for revenue lost. There is a reason that the first thing most clubs in any sport do is set up a bar.

The rest is as usual from you complete and utter nonsense. You tell me its time for realism in my arguments this coming from the man who comes on and says he cant see why people are not happy over and over again without any real arguments or points whatsoever and constantly ignores any question he is asked. Tell me this then where do Limerick get the revenue from when Pat O'Sullivan calls it a day? Do you think it makes sense that the only way they can make money from their supposed "home" is tickets sales when it would be very very easy to add other ways?

[LFC Blue]

Firstly the question you ask has been answered already to you actually. I don't have exact figures but i think its safe to assume that with no bar and no food outlets in the ground that is a chance for revenue lost. There is a reason that the first thing most clubs in any sport do is set up a bar.

The rest is as usual from you complete and utter nonsense. You tell me its time for realism in my arguments this coming from the man who comes on and says he cant see why people are not happy over and over again without any real arguments or points whatsoever and constantly ignores any question he is asked. Tell me this then where do Limerick get the revenue from when Pat O'Sullivan calls it a day? Do you think it makes sense that the only way they can make money from their supposed "home" is tickets sales when it
would be very very easy to add other ways?

Of course in an ideal world we'd own the Markets Field and have our own bar and food outlets which would be packed every second week with an average gate of 7,000 people etc but this is not an ideal world my friend. This is the world of following Limerick FC where we haven't had more than 5,000 through the gate for a home game in nearly 30 years. With our current average attendances I suspect the catering staff are just about being paid. I remember a few home games this season where it looked as if the bar at thomond park hardly broke even and you are almost suggesting that Limerick FC tell the LEDP to shove the Markets Field because they are not laying on a fully fitted bar and burger joint for us. As I said before it's time you got real mate.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I'm half convinced you're just trolling at this point.

[bluewhitearmy]

And with the question being avoided and complete nonsense yet again that is me done with n talking to him. I really hope he is a wum as its just sad if he isn't.

[Jofspring]

Going by the supporters AGM tonight most of us know very little about the ins and outs of the Markets Field i.e the clubs stance, further developments etc.... Pretty much everything here is speculation and there is probably no harm in either closing the thread or at least keeping talk about the Markets Field to a minimum until further information is given.

[Gerrard1]

If you build it they will come...

[gael353]

If you build it they will come...
They will come, see, turn around and leave

[LK37oldskool]

While both sides make good arguments over what is turning into a real fiasco, i'm would like to address the issue of revenue. Most LOI clubs do not derive the majority of income from gate receipts. The majority of income comes from sponsorship & advertising so i think its a little alarmist to say the club would be in dire trouble if the ground did not attract a certain avarage attendance for every home game. It is a terrible pity that the original plans could not be put in place but it will still be great to go back to the MF. I have great memories from there(my age been shown now!).

[bluewhitearmy]

While both sides make good arguments over what is turning into a real fiasco, i'm would like to address the issue of revenue. Most LOI clubs do not derive the majority of income from gate receipts. The majority of income comes from sponsorship & advertising so i think its a little alarmist to say the club would be in dire trouble if the ground did not attract a certain avarage attendance for every home game. It is a terrible pity that the original plans could not be put in place but it will still be great to go back to the MF. I have great memories from there(my age been shown now!).

Just in case this is about when i talk about revenue from the ground i mean if there were a bar and food outlets then the club would have revenue from that, you are 100% correct that clubs don't get the majority of their revenue from gate receipts with the current MF plans it is the only revenue we will have from the ground though.

A lot of people have said they will come back to attending games regularly if we got back there though so hopefully they stick to that and that would be a positive at least.

[Charlie Darwin]

While both sides make good arguments over what is turning into a real fiasco, i'm would like to address the issue of revenue. Most LOI clubs do not derive the majority of income from gate receipts. The majority of income comes from sponsorship & advertising so i think its a little alarmist to say the club would be in dire trouble if the ground did not attract a certain avarage attendance for every home game. It is a terrible pity that the original plans could not be put in place but it will still be great to go back to the MF. I have great memories from there(my age been shown now!).
You sure about that?

[LK37oldskool]

yes i would be very confident in that statement, i suppose i should have added benefactors in that also. There is no way that gate income alone from an average 1000 people every 2nd week would cover the cost of a 1st team and backroom staff in the Premier league. I've seen the medical bills for LFC alone and its incredible in itself. A lot of clubs have full time admin staff also and they dont come cheap either. POS has dug deep to build the club up to this level. A good marketing team if they do their job right will ease a lot of relying on POS going forward.

[osarusan]

You have to think about how better crowds in a decent stadium will allow the club to strike better deals for advertising and sponsorship though.

[LFC Blue]

Just wondering has there been anything happening at the Markets Field since the Martin O Neill visit.i know the pitch had been laid at that stage but ground works had yet to begin.with all the planning criteria met it's surely all steam ahead now.most fans will agree it is imperative we get out of thomond park ASAP and get back to the MF.

[fieldofmarkets]

Leaving TP is only a good idea if what we are going to is better. That is not the case based on the approved MF plans. Doesn't seem to have been much movement on the actual building there yet so hopefully there is a rethink going on. Otherwise i would be happy with
more time in Thomond Park.

[donnrua]

[QUOTE=fieldofmarkets;1748253]Leaving TP is only a good idea if what we are going to is better. That is not the case based on the approved MF plans. Doesn't seem to have been much movement on the actual building there yet so hopefully there is a rethink going on. Otherwise i would be happy with
more time in Thomond Park.[/


I can't see how more time in TP could be anything other than disaster for the club. TP hasn't been a success and anyone that thinks it has is in profound error. The Thomond Park affect has well and truly passed in that anyone that wanted to see a game there now has. This seasons budget is down on last seasons as are the attendances so one can only assume that the budget for next season will be reduced again unless we get out of TP. No one can say for sure the exact figures but I'd feel safe in saying that the cost of MF will be considerably lower than TP, and I'd much rather a decent side playing in MF than be struggling side in TP!

[bluewhitearmy]

Leaving TP is only a good idea if what we are going to is better. That is not the case based on the approved MF plans. Doesn't seem to have been much movement on the actual building there yet so hopefully there is a rethink going on. Otherwise i would be happy with
more time in Thomond Park.

I am against the plans for MF and have said so a lot on here but I would move in there tomorrow rather than stay in Thomond.

[LFC Blue]

We just have to get in there next season.give me 1100 fans packed into the markets field main stand any day ahead of the empty soulless morgue like atmosphere in thomond park on Friday night against athlone.Will it definitely happen in 2015 though or is it another false dawn.why no movement up there?another year in thomond park will finish the club

[gael353]

We just have to get in there next season.give me 1100 fans packed into the markets field main stand any day ahead of the empty soulless morgue like atmosphere in thomond park on Friday night against athlone.Will it definitely happen in 2015 though or is it another false dawn.why no movement up there?another year in thomond park will finish the club


and first season in MF will finish us also as the plan is muck. No woman in her right mind will go near the place as there are no facilities for any hospitality such as a restaurant or bars and never will be. The LEDP plan as led by Keith Wood only states that bars and take away vans can be "brought in from England on a match by match basis" (at a cost to whom???) similar to what hes seen at Leinster rugby and at Harlequins :hypnotized: Toilet blocks!!!! i kid you not, toilet blocks will be built in this stadium fit for a junior gaa club circa 1955. a couple of palm readers in caravans dotted around the place will bring in the revenue to finance the club

[LFC Blue]

and first season in MF will finish us also as the plan is muck. No woman in her right mind will go near the place as there are no facilities for any hospitality such as a restaurant or bars and never will be. The LEDP plan as led by Keith Wood only states that bars and take away vans can be "brought in from England on a match by match basis" (at a cost to whom???) similar to what hes seen at Leinster rugby and at Harlequins :hypnotized: Toilet blocks!!!! i kid you not, toilet blocks will be built in this stadium fit for a junior gaa club circa 1955. a couple of palm readers in caravans dotted around the place will bring in the revenue to finance the club

Is there any dialogue between the club and the ledp over the whole process.in fairness the markets field needs limerick fc to make the whole project worthwhile.its hardly rugby league that's gonna make this venture viable.why are the club so silent about everything.they are actually acting like it's not happening.i agree the murmurings from Wood are very uninspiring but at the moment I wouldn't get too hung up about bar facilities etc as it's results on the pitch and atmosphere on the terraces that will get the turnstiles turning and there's a better chance of these two factors being achieved in the MF than in TP.lets just get in there and get some momentum going and maybe the rest will follow.

[NeverFeltBetter]

The club has been very quiet about MF, presumably because they don't feel like they're in a position to air criticism of the project. The OSC is the same, and I think that's one of the reasons the ISC was set-up this season.

Results and football like we have seen this season, combined with the aforementioned problems with the MF plans, will leave us with Jackman Park-level numbers in the new ground. I really don't feel like having this discussion again though, until new details emerge.

[gael353]

There could be dialogue between the club and the ledp but we just dont know. The isc, in putting together their first copy of fanzine out on a lim asked for one contributer just one who would support the ledp plans of the MF. Maybe someone might come forward for issue 2.

[gael353]

Also....finn harps are showing up the ledp big time. Hats off to them for forward thinking

[Jofspring]

Spotted this in Pat O Sullivans notes from the Dundalk programme.


Pat O Sullivan: The LEDP have committed to involving the club and the FAI in the design team meetings which are due to start soon. This will allow the club to give an input into the final detailed plans. The LEDP were complimentary of our Official Supporters Club, who have visited the site, for their feedback and ideas that they have put forward and aspects of which will be factored into the new design teams brief. Of course we have to be mindful that the site has a fixed budget and there will be a phased approach to the development of what we hope will be a stadium of which we can all be proud

So does it look like there has been a change or at least will be a change in the design we first saw laid out?

It seems the club and the FAI will now have some kind of input into the new design or will they?

They have taken on board some of the issues raised by the supporters or there again have they really?

Opinions?

[da bishop]

my opinion going on jofsprings post is that a lot of people on here are way off the mark.the club need to exit TP and if the MF is the next stop so be it ,the sooner the better.

[NeverFeltBetter]

If the club is getting more of a say, so much the better.

[legendz]

We just have to get in there next season.give me 1100 fans packed into the markets field main stand any day ahead of the empty soulless morgue like atmosphere in thomond park on Friday night against athlone.Will it definitely happen in 2015 though or is it another false dawn.why no movement up there?another year in thomond park will finish the clubIt would seem to make sense as well to have a stand capable of the recent crowds plus a about 50% more.


Pat O Sullivan:The LEDP have committed to involving the club and the FAI in the design team meetings which are due to start soon. This will allow the club to give an input into the final detailed plans. The LEDP were complimentary of our Official Supporters Club, who have visited the site, for their feedback and ideas that they have put forward and aspects of which will be factored into the new design teams brief. Of course we have to be mindful that the site has a fixed budget and there will be a phased approach to the development of what we hope will be a stadium of which we can all be proudPhased approach makes sense as well in fairness. Cater for about 1200 first, be it one stand and take things from there both on and off the park. How are relations between ISC and the club?

[limunlim]

Is there any more development lads? If we are going in the for November than surely we should be seeing some solid progress at this point?

[Jofspring]

Is there any more development lads? If we are going in the for November than surely we should be seeing some solid progress at this point?

Have heard nothing but we wouldn't be going in there till next March anyway not November.

[limunlim]

Sorry, of course it's March. Bit of a brain fart there. I would imagine there is enough time to get things ready if things are moving. Doesn't seem to be the case though which is discouraging

[NeverFeltBetter]

Lack of word on progress is so worrying at this point. Another year in Thomond awaits, and that gives me some serious pause.

[gael353]

Was told you should see some action in july in there. Pitch was sanded recently at the start of the good weather and its being heavily watered. The old water well in the corner looks like it hasbeen renovated (no water bills)

[Acornvilla]

Hey lads, just have a quick question, and didn't want to make a new topic just for it. Would you know what days Jackman Park is open, or who I could contact about getting access to the place for a few hours any day?

[Jofspring]

It's the LDMC that you need to contact. They usually have their meetings on a Tuesday evening in Jackman Park. I don't have a contact number at the moment for them but someone might.

[Gerrard1]

Any update on the Market's Field ? I was passing there during the week and it looks like area inside the railing/gates facing Mulgrave street has been cleaned up and railing/gates look like they have been painted. It also looked like some machinery was inside the grounds also...

[gael353]

There was a tractor and spreader in there. Field heavily sanded ready for the first schools rugby match

[redron]

Any update on the Market's Field ? I was passing there during the week and it looks like area inside the railing/gates facing Mulgrave street has been cleaned up and railing/gates look like they have been painted. It also looked like some machinery was inside the grounds also...

That section of the site, adjacent to Mulgrave St, is not part of the stadium development at all. As far as I know, all access to the stadium development has been via either Markets Field Terrace or Garryowen Road.
If I was to hazard a guess, I'd say that area is earmarked for use by LCFE.

[NeverFeltBetter]

http://www.limerickpost.ie/2014/10/01/limerick-chairman-hopes-for-markets-field-move-before-march/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Pretty big commitment from POS here. He seems remarkably confident Limerick will be in the Market's Field in 6 months.

[blueblood]

I like the bits
- 'The Markets Field has been bought for senior soccer, the government has made the funding available for it'
and
-'we're in co-operation and working with the people who's job it is to bring it to a point WHERE IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO US'
Hope this is true!

[bluewhitearmy]

http://www.limerickpost.ie/2014/10/01/limerick-chairman-hopes-for-markets-field-move-before-march/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Pretty big commitment from POS here. He seems remarkably confident Limerick will be in the Market's Field in 6 months.

This is the third big commitment and the third time he was remarkably confident so it had better happen this time. They said they are expecting a formal announcement at the Sligo game then why not stay quiet until it was 100% then?

It will be great news if it happens but I'll wait til I see something actually happening before I get excited.

[Jofspring]

I'd imagine we are going to be looking at the Markets Field having the absolute basic requirements for a Premier License met and that will be the extent of work carried out. We will be told this is only a starting point to get us in there and more work will be done over the years. In 10 years time it will have had absolutely no further development.

[Charlie Darwin]

What will the arrangement be like once MF goes into operation? Will Limerick pay rent and MF run the concessions, etc.?

[faceoff]

What will the arrangement be like once MF goes into operation? Will Limerick pay rent and MF run the concessions, etc.?

Of course Limerick FC will pay rent and rumours are it could be as much as they are paying at the moment.Would be very surprised if it was that high.But who knows.Hopefully its a step forward TP didn't work out as planned.

[Mr A]

The rent being the same or more as for Thomond thing makes no sense. Sure your chairman has been quoted as saying it'd be cheaper to play all games away and Thomond being unsustainable- so why would he be keen to see a move to somewhere even less so?