Best football stadia under 12,000 from around the world?

[Longfordian]

The old stand wasn't there in 1999 anyway, that's for sure. The Cup semi-final between Harps and Galway at Terryland in 1999 was an all open ground - it was pouring that day and I was standing where the "old stand" is now - no cover anywhere in the ground that day.

Really? I was at a Galway-LTFC league game in December 2000 I think it was and I was sitting in the stand. It was lashing down that night. It certainly didn't seem new.

[Mr A]

That's 100%.. no roof there in 1999.

[wonder88]

Story in Guardian Newspaper of the Bury FC owner, a property developer, taking a 1 million pounds loan out for one of his companies secured on the Gigg Lane ground. That is always a big danger when clubs own the grounds/stadium they play in.

[GalwayFrancis]

That's 100%.. no roof there in 1999.

The concrete terrace was there for the Finn Harps cup semi final in '99. No roof tho, I remember being sick and having to watch the game on the tele at home. It was lashing throughout.

Maybe the roof came in 2000 and the seats a couple of seasons later.

[Longfordian]

Seats were definitely in by the time we played there in 2000. I remember they were quite cramped. I'd always assumed the stand had been there a good while before that but obviously it wasn't.

[gufc2000]

The seats went in to the old stand around late Spring 2000, as far as I remember. That Harps cup game was around a year previous to that so I'm assuming the roof went up in mid to late 1999

[pineapple stu]

Few old (10 years or so) pics from Irish stadia here

http://www.ifgrounds.com/ucd.html
Seeing as you start off with Belfield Park, you can see some great older shots of it again in this video from 1998 -

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By the end (2007), it had been developed to this (which I'm linking partly because I had completely forgotten taking that video) -

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And now of course there's the Bowl, which is that bit better again. (Not in the league of some of the grounds posted, of course, but certainly much improved on 16 years ago)

Most clubs have a similar story. In fairness, there has been lots of improvements in the past two decades.

[BonnieShels]

I never realised ye wore red at one stage? What was that about?

[Titan]

Away kit;) harps had white and blue away kit which no doubt "clashed" with the UCD home kit and the ref probably made UCD change! Just a guess but I'd say I'm not a million miles away!!

[BonnieShels]

I thought that. But then you sometimes never know in the LOI. I wouldn't have been the biggest fan of the LOI at that stage so I wouldn't have known either way.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, we've worn lots of different away kits. White, green, yellow, black, red. I prefer that than having a regular away kit. Adds something (very small).

[SalvadorSanchez]

http://euro.stades.ch/Bruxelles-Schaerbeek-1.html
Lovely, Quirky little ground in Belgium, it's just 2 sided but it would fit nicely into a small space like the Carlisle grounds or maybe United Park.
Might have to rethink the trees and all that glass maybe....

[seand]

http://euro.stades.ch/Bruxelles-Schaerbeek-1.html
Lovely, Quirky little ground in Belgium, it's just 2 sided but it would fit nicely into a small space like the Carlisle grounds or maybe United Park.
Might have to rethink the trees and all that glass maybe....


You'd have to listen to a lot of whining about the artificial pitch though...

[SalvadorSanchez]

You'd have to listen to a lot of whining about the artificial pitch though...

Grassmaster pitch? excuses old boy, they're the future for our league and teams will just have to get used to them.... people blaming Oriel is nonsense, Scots, Norwegians, Swedes just get on with it...
the problem with Oriel is that it's the only one in the league and therefore an excuse, if there was 3 or 4 in the league boys would just get over it.... Teams train on them all the time, just need the right footwear.

[El-Pietro]

the problem with oriel is that is much worse than most artificial pitches.

[Charlie Darwin]

Grassmaster pitch? excuses old boy, they're the future for our league and teams will just have to get used to them.... people blaming Oriel is nonsense, Scots, Norwegians, Swedes just get on with it...
the problem with Oriel is that it's the only one in the league and therefore an excuse, if there was 3 or 4 in the league boys would just get over it.... Teams train on them all the time, just need the right footwear.
Those leagues all have the choice between rock hard ground for half the year or artificial surfaces. The artificial surface is often much softer and easier to play on. That clearly isn't the case in Ireland.

[legendz]

The University of Limerick has a number of pitches with this 3D type of artificial grass. Do any Limerick FC supporters know if that is of a higher quality than Oriel Park. UL has a number of soccer pitches with the surface and one each for rugby and gaelic-games.

[SalvadorSanchez]

Those leagues all have the choice between rock hard ground for half the year or artificial surfaces. The artificial surface is often much softer and easier to play on. That clearly isn't the case in Ireland.
of course Grass is better but it needs a lot of maintenance and has to be protected. Good artificial surfaces could allow ground sharing and pretty heavy use and you have less games called off due to water logging etc., frost is the main problem.
Did Bohs and Rovers not get called off over a missing penalty spot.?
Oriel earns money for Dundalk through rentals as well afaik. even Newcastle Rugby have gone for an artificial surface. I think more and more clubs will look at artificial pitches

[legendz]

I think more and more clubs will look at artificial pitchesThe 3D surface in UL looks the business. If that's the quality, I don't see much of issue.
Are railing seats something LoI clubs should consider. Someone was mentioning the cost of building stadia per 1000 capacity. Railing seats might be an option for some stands.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Ya I'd much prefer the atmosphere up in Oriels away section on a cold wet night. Modern is the way to go ffs.:brolly:

Some folk will never be happy.

Here is a novel idea why don't people who go to games dress according to the weather.

So if it rains or its going to rain bring a rain jacket ffs

[nigel-harps1954]

Home of former Football League club Rushden and Diamonds, Nene Park is a ground a lot of LOI clubs could aspire to. 6,500 capacity. Tight little ground, and looks fantastic, especially with corners filled in. Packed to capacity, you'd be able to generate an amazing atmosphere in a ground like that.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7f/Nenepark.jpg

[SalvadorSanchez]

Home of former Football League club Rushden and Diamonds, Nene Park is a ground a lot of LOI clubs could aspire to. 6,500 capacity. Tight little ground, and looks fantastic, especially with corners filled in. Packed to capacity, you'd be able to generate an amazing atmosphere in a ground like that.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7f/Nenepark.jpg
Nene Park is nice but I understand that they paid an awful lot for it, more that it was worth possibly. Real heart breaking story that, Great little club, great ground and well backed, they got into the league and did well enough for a time, Rushden and Diamonds are now gone and the word is that Nene park is going to be demolished soon to make way for Housing or Development, Darlington went the same way as well, established league club and brand new ground now I think they're kaputt and the ground is used by egg chasers...
I suppose they're a cautionary tale for all of us in the LOI.... nicer grounds are necessary but have to be backed up by proper chairmen, boards, sponsors, local authorities etc.... shows how close we all could be to the abyss if clubs like these can go to the wall.

[MeathDrog]

Darlington built a ridiculously big stadium. I think it's near 30k capacity.

[pineapple stu]

Yep. Bankrupted them. All while their old ground slowly decays. They're back now in the lower leagues (as are Rushden & Diamonds)

[SalvadorSanchez]

Yep. Bankrupted them. All while their old ground slowly decays. They're back now in the lower leagues (as are Rushden & Diamonds)
Both clubs have been turned out of their grounds haven't they? Real sad story if you ask me. Have to admire the people who have taken on rebuilding those clubs.

[SalvadorSanchez]

Home of former Football League club Rushden and Diamonds, Nene Park is a ground a lot of LOI clubs could aspire to. 6,500 capacity. Tight little ground, and looks fantastic, especially with corners filled in. Packed to capacity, you'd be able to generate an amazing atmosphere in a ground like that.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7f/Nenepark.jpg
On an unrelated matter. Hows new finn park coming? 6000 seater is the plan and no move until completely built i hear, is this right? Smart move if you ask me. Right size and may as well get the whole job done. or am I off the mark here?

[legendz]

Build the stadium and people will come?! Pointless having stadia over 4k or 6k unless it's going to be filled or it's required for regular enough appearances in the Europa League group stage. Limerick don't seem to require a stadium over 2k right now.

[SalvadorSanchez]

Build the stadium and people will come?! Pointless having stadia over 4k or 6k unless it's going to be filled or it's required for regular enough appearances in the Europa League group stage. Limerick don't seem to require a stadium over 2k right now.
Agreed. However harps are doing a deal with developers on a land swap for a stadium I believe. Good luck getting any builder to finish the job if you move into a half or quarter finished new ground and cough up the valueable land your old ground sits on. Harps are playing this right it seems. No finished job. No development land. Sure they'll have celtic over every year and fill it to the rafters at least once.

[pineapple stu]

Both clubs have been turned out of their grounds haven't they? Real sad story if you ask me. Have to admire the people who have taken on rebuilding those clubs.
I don't think they were turned out of their ground as much as they just went bankrupt. For Darlington, the cost of maintaining the ground sent them under. Not sure what happened Rushden, but I think they were never really popular, and may have been a case of cash being thrown at a new entity, and the dream just being stretched too far.

[nigel-harps1954]

On an unrelated matter. Hows new finn park coming? 6000 seater is the plan and no move until completely built i hear, is this right? Smart move if you ask me. Right size and may as well get the whole job done. or am I off the mark here?


Agreed. However harps are doing a deal with developers on a land swap for a stadium I believe. Good luck getting any builder to finish the job if you move into a half or quarter finished new ground and cough up the valueable land your old ground sits on. Harps are playing this right it seems. No finished job. No development land. Sure they'll have celtic over every year and fill it to the rafters at least once.

That's pretty much the deal alright. 6,700 all seater. Two stands will be finished when we move in, with the two ends to be filled in afterwards. The developer gets Finn Park in return, which is worth a whole heap of money itself. The rest is funded by grants so Harps don't pay a cent towards the new stadium, owned and operated by the co-op.

First stand and admin block is in full flow at the minute and roof is to go on it in the next two or three months.

The FAI are to have a regional office there, or so I heard at one stage anyway, so the plans are to have a few underage international games as well as a couple of high profile friendlies each season to help pay the bills.

[Charlie Darwin]

Will the new stadium be called Finn Park or will it have a new name?

[nigel-harps1954]

Will the new stadium be called Finn Park or will it have a new name?


For the right price, it could be called the Charlie Darwin Stadium.

[Charlie Darwin]

For the right price, it could be called the Charlie Darwin Stadium.
So a tenner and a battered sausage?

[Nesta99]

So a tenner and a battered sausage?

Survival of the fittest by the Tallaght Darwins...throw in a bag of chips and Philly Hughes signing on fee is sorted!

[Charlie Darwin]

That wouldn't even cover Philly's breakfast

[gufcfan]

I bid a tenner and TWO battered sausages, to call it The New Brandywell.

[Charlie Darwin]

I bid a tenner and a snack box to call it the Robbie Keane Stand.

[nigel-harps1954]

Ah here, it's not Tallaght Stadium you're bidding for.

[Nesta99]

I can see where the mix up might be after years of looking at a half built stand in tallaght...Charlie starts rocking and weeping when he sees the photo of foundations in Stranrolar.

[nr637]

Ah here, it's not Tallaght Stadium you're bidding for.

Well I suppose there is now no hope of Shams ground being named the new 'Joan Burton' Stadium :laugh:

[BonnieShels]

The Philly Cheese-Steak Hughes Stand has a ring to it.

[OwlsFan]

It's a shame for the young LoI supporters here who never saw the old Dalymount packed to the rafters and not just for internationals. Many a Cup Final had 30K plus at them. I'll never forget (dementia aside) the Rovers/Waterford Cup Final in 1968 which I travelled across town from Sandyford as a kid (44 to Burgh Quay and then walk to the ground) with my friends to almost get crushed to death and to see Mick Leech score two with the usual pitch invasion after each goal.

I am sure everyone has seen this documentary on Dalymount http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbLzvYUvcJ4

God, I thought as a kid Dalymount was the bees knees when it came to stadia.

[SalvadorSanchez]

It's a shame for the young LoI supporters here who never saw the old Dalymount packed to the rafters and not just for internationals. Many a Cup Final had 30K plus at them. I'll never forget (dementia aside) the Rovers/Waterford Cup Final in 1968 which I travelled across town from Sandyford as a kid (44 to Burgh Quay and then walk to the ground) with my friends to almost get crushed to death and to see Mick Leech score two with the usual pitch invasion after each goal.

I am sure everyone has seen this documentary on Dalymount http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbLzvYUvcJ4

God, I thought as a kid Dalymount was the bees knees when it came to stadia.

Sadly Dalyer has had its day if John Delaneys to be believed the FAI are going to redevelop the place. The place is now a shambles and possibly another Heysel waiting to happen. (no offence Bohs fans)
The grand old home of Irish football has to be torn down and rebuilt... I just hope that it's rebuilt at the right size with modern facilities but i hope there's some style to it as well, not like some boring box. I heard whispers of a big capacity which would be expensive and mental....

[gufcfan]

Ah here, it's not Tallaght Stadium you're bidding for.
I thought it was his lifelong ambition to play in the luminous green of Finn Harps.