Drogs new Stadium - Part 2

[iceman]

Drogheda Independent reporting today that plans for a new Drogheda United stadium are at an advanced stage and a planning application is imminent. United Park is to become a Medical Centre/Pharmacy to supplement Our Lady of Lourdes hospital across the road while the Drogs move across the River Boyne to a 3.500 seater stadium on the site of the former Coca Cola plant on Donore Road.

[White Horse]

The Lourdes is running out of space and the promised "super" hospital in north east is unlikely to be built.

United Park may be worth a bit of money in those circumstances.

Don't the FAI own it? Will Drogheda United get the proceeds of any sale? If they do, this may present a good opportunity.

[GCdfc]

Don't the Lourdes own the car park up the road? Weren't they meant to build on it? Surely a cheaper option if already owned by them.

[brendy_éire]

Don't the Lourdes own the car park up the road? Weren't they meant to build on it? Surely a cheaper option if already owned by them.

They do, but then they would need another car park sure.

[White Horse]

Don't the Lourdes own the car park up the road? Weren't they meant to build on it? Surely a cheaper option if already owned by them.

They may also want to link the new buildings to the existing hospital. If United Park was used this could be achieved through a footbridge/tunnel etc.

[Guinney]

Drogheda Independent reporting today that plans for a new Drogheda United stadium are at an advanced stage and a planning application is imminent. United Park is to become a Medical Centre/Pharmacy to supplement Our Lady of Lourdes hospital across the road while the Drogs move across the River Boyne to a 3.500 seater stadium on the site of the former Coca Cola plant on Donore Road.

With only one team in the county Dundalk FC now will truly be the pride of Louth :cool:

[White Horse]

With only one team in the county Dundalk FC now will truly be the pride of Louth :cool:

I think the old Coke plan is in Louth though, not that that makes any difference to Dundalk FC being the Pride of Louth.

[bullit]

Surely this couldn't be done in 18 weeks ?

[Quayman]

So with Meath having rejected them the last time, is it County Westmeath's time?!

[corkery]

So with Meath having rejected them the last time, is it County Westmeath's time?!
That's the most stupid thing I have ever seen on this.

[Partizan]

They can always bring out a fancy DVD in time for the licensing and Bobs your Uncle.

It worked for Galway.

[JC_GUFC]

They can always bring out a fancy DVD in time for the licensing and Bobs your Uncle.

It worked for Galway.

Wait until you see part 2 of that DVD - it will be out for Halloween 2013.

[monkey9]

How come the FAI own United Park anyhow? How did that come about?

[White Horse]

How come the FAI own United Park anyhow? How did that come about?

I recall that Drogheda were in financial trouble and the FAI bought the stadium from the club.

The FA have also carried out upgrading work (seating etc) in order for Drogheda to meet licensing criteria.

I not sure whether it has ever being explained what Drogheda pay the FAI for United Park and whether that amount is a market value rent. Also, the FAI have not explained why they have supported Drogheda in this way and not other clubs.

[adamd164]

I recall that Drogheda were in financial trouble and the FAI bought the stadium from the club.

The FA have also carried out upgrading work (seating etc) in order for Drogheda to meet licensing criteria.

I not sure whether it has ever being explained what Drogheda pay the FAI for United Park and whether that amount is a market value rent. Also, the FAI have not explained why they have supported Drogheda in this way and not other clubs.
They do very similar for Cobh, bought the ground and now financially support them to allow Cobh to field an u19 team.

[nigel-harps1954]

http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/9277/plans-revealed-for-new-drogheda-stadium/

Couple of interesting quotes in there.

I'll let you read them yourselves as I'm too lazy to quote them.

[adamd164]

So that'll be 2 artificial surfaces, both in Louth. I just hope it doesn't end up like Dundalks, an absolute disaster of a pitch for league games.

[White Horse]

The MNS boys will be delighted with another artificial surface. It means they don't have to watch the games and provide any insight into the performances, just bitch about the bounce. Easy money.

[Cuyahoga]

Hopefully the attendances will improve in a new stadium. Not having a go at Drogheda UTD but their crowds were poor this season considering the great season they had. Better facilities should bring more people through the gates.

[pateen]

http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/9277/plans-revealed-for-new-drogheda-stadium/

Couple of interesting quotes in there.

I'll let you read them yourselves as I'm too lazy to quote them.

I see Vincent Hoey mentioned. Was he not part of the trio that were behind the origonal plans 4 or 5 years ago.
If so I though those boys had walked away from Drogheda completly, who were the other two?

[Partizan]

So who is funding this proposed new stadium?

[Charlie Darwin]

So that'll be 2 artificial surfaces, both in Louth. I just hope it doesn't end up like Dundalks, an absolute disaster of a pitch for league games.
Good god. Is Louth really so far north that they can't maintain a grass pitch year-round?

[bullit]

And an All-weather racetrack at Dundalk Stadium!! No grass in Louth.

[nigel-harps1954]

Good god. Is Louth really so far north that they can't maintain a grass pitch year-round?

Imagine how bad it is in Donegal so.

[jinxy lilywhite]

word around de town is that we will be shortly returning to grass or seriously considering it

[White Horse]

Good god. Is Louth really so far north that they can't maintain a grass pitch year-round?

Great grass on our council pitches though.

Almost as good as yours.

[Partizan]

Pie.in.the.sky.

[Dodge]

I actualy thought this was a positive step until I read stuff like


The way I see things is that an All-Ireland league will come

and while Hoey says

The stadium will have an artificial playing area which will be state of the art and of the very best quality.
they article also states

The fact that it will have an artificial surface means that it will be made available to local schools and youth teams

If they're building it for 3,500 seat but it can be extended to 8,000 then it sound like it'll be just stand...

[nigel-harps1954]

If built, it's looking like an Athlone Town stadium job. One stand with a view to 3 more being put in place, which I dislike. If you're building a new stadium, just build the whole thing and be done with.

[adamd164]

If built, it's looking like an Athlone Town stadium job. One stand with a view to 3 more being put in place, which I dislike. If you're building a new stadium, just build the whole thing and be done with.

Off topic, but what's the story with new Harps stadium? It must be coming along.

[nigel-harps1954]

Off topic, but what's the story with new Harps stadium? It must be coming along.

Work is ongoing at the minute. Apparently steel structures to go in place very early in the new year. From then on, it's plain sailing.

[redobit]

Work is ongoing at the minute. Apparently steel structures to go in place very early in the new year. From then on, it's plain sailing.

Ye have been saying that fir the last 5 years ffs

[nigel-harps1954]

Ye have been saying that fir the last 5 years ffs

Quote me on that.

[redobit]

Quote me on that.

Quote you on what - 'From then on, it's plain sailing'.

Ya, thats a date to keep in your diary. Suir it's only taken a couple of years to get out of the ground.

[nigel-harps1954]

Quote you on what - 'From then on, it's plain sailing'.

Ya, thats a date to keep in your diary. Suir it's only taken a couple of years to get out of the ground.

Sligo lads are just jealous we'll have a proper stadium.

[BonnieShels]

Work is ongoing at the minute. Apparently steel structures to go in place very early in the new year. From then on, it's plain sailing.

A floating stadium? Nice!

[marinobohs]

Drogheda Independent reporting today that plans for a new Drogheda United stadium are at an advanced stage and a planning application is imminent. United Park is to become a Medical Centre/Pharmacy to supplement Our Lady of Lourdes hospital across the road while the Drogs move across the River Boyne to a 3.500 seater stadium on the site of the former Coca Cola plant on Donore Road.

Drogheda, commercial development, new stadium. What could possibly go wrong ? :o

[oriel]

word around de town is that we will be shortly returning to grass or seriously considering it

The hope is to be back on grass for the start of the 2014 season.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well there you go, Drogs are probably getting a deal on second-hand astro.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Well there you go, Drogs are probably getting a deal on second-hand astro.

In a nutshell while it is a good revenue earner the reputation of them it is somewhat prohibitive to the clubs growth. The top top players in this league who can pick and choose clubs will not sign for a club who play on it. in its time in OP i have never seen a nasty injury on it and personally i think it is fine but then again i am a rubbish footballer and luckily i dont need to earn a living from playing football.

[Charlie Darwin]

It might not be to do with injuries, I think a lot of players just hate playing on it.

[oriel]

These kind of pitches do not cause injuries (already proven) and most of our players got injured on grass. The problem is it is terrible for players returning from injury. Added to the fact that ours has decreased in quality over the years, it has to be a case of when if not how it will be replaced. My advise to Drogs on their proposed new stadium on installing this type of pitch would be to stay well clear. A lot of junior and GAA clubs have them now, rental income even decreasing.

[Ezeikial]

The hope is to be back on grass for the start of the 2014 season.

While many would prefer to be 'back to grass' in Oriel Park, I really cant see this happening in 12 months time.

As long as the pitch is meeting the licencing requirements (i.e. passing the annual UEFA test) I can't see the pitch replacement cost getting priority over team budget.



In a nutshell while it is a good revenue earner the reputation of them it is somewhat prohibitive to the clubs growth.

It is no longer a good earner and debatable if it ever really was.


The top top players in this league who can pick and choose clubs will not sign for a club who play on it.

Dundalk are not currently in contention for the "top top players" as they are not offering the sort of money to attract them.

[White Horse]

What I heard was that the club do not want the surface. However, it is not the club that is behind this stadium, it is a commercial consortium who want the additional revenue for renting the pitch out to junior clubs, other sports, and events.

To be honest the more I hear about it, the more I think the club need to be very careful. At least their current stadium is owned by the FAI. They have some security in that.

[Dodge]

The top top players in this league who can pick and choose clubs will not sign for a club who play on it.

Yeah, the pitch, thats what's stopping them joining Dundalk

[GCdfc]

It's money stopping them joining Dundalk. We can't pay top dollar compared to other clubs. Everyone knows that most LOI players are mercenaries. I don't blame them either since their career is short.

If it's the pitch that's the quoted problem then maybe they are afraid of being caught out by a fast ball that doesn't have a pool of water or sod to slow it down.

[White Horse]

It's money stopping them joining Dundalk. We can't pay top dollar compared to other clubs. Everyone knows that most LOI players are mercenaries. I don't blame them either since their career is short.

Ultimeately, it is money. Non one can blame them.

Look at Pat's players. One minute they are kissing the badge. However, if they have a decent season, they are joining Shams.

[Nesta99]

However, it is not the club that is behind this stadium, it is a commercial consortium who want the additional revenue for renting the pitch out to junior clubs, other sports, and events.
.

So Vincent Hoey and his cronies havent given up trying to recoup their money for their previous abortive plans after all. Was wondering why Hoey hung in there and didnt cut and run - or why Drog fans didnt run these guys out of the club all-together tbh. Its starting to sound a bit like the previous efforts to move out of United park albeit on a smaller scale. 3g pitches are everywhere now so can no longer see the commercial benefit as there may have been. But as i was once told by a Drogheda director, Drogs wouldnt need the revenue that may be generated by a 3G pitch like Dundalk would.

Now that GM has left Dundalk FC i wonder has he headed down the M1 for a piece of Drogheda action as it all sounds very like his rhetoric that we bought in to - almost to our demise! We have a YDC or big shed as our Louth neighbours call it out the back of Oriel if ye want to take it off our hands and get you started on becoming a proper community based club, we also might have some slightly used and scorched artificial grass ye could have too!