Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[DannyInvincible]

Some photos taken a week ago of work on the Brandywell: http://imgur.com/gallery/ygJSQ


http://i.imgur.com/mQsgT3l.png

http://i.imgur.com/LAKKB1W.png

http://i.imgur.com/Lfrcjjy.png

[Partizan]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archibald_Leitch

No terracing left at any of those stadia so Dalymount may well be the last Terrace left but some of his architecture remains to this day.

Many of his works have since been demolished for redevelopment (especially in wake of the Taylor Report (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Report) and the move to all-seater stadiums (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-seater_stadium)), most notably the Trinity Road Stand at Villa Park (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Park), considered his masterpiece, which was demolished in 2000. The main stand and pavilion at Craven Cottage, the main stand at Tynecastle and the facade (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facade) of the main stand at Ibrox (although the stand itself has been remodelled) still survive to this day; all are now listed buildings (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listed_building).

When were the terraces built in Dalymount?

[RathfarnhamHoop]

When were the terraces built in Dalymount?

1920's I think, early 30's maybe.

[Partizan]

1920's I think, early 30's maybe.

The FAI and Bohs got their money's worth.

[Iorfa2MaccaJim]

Apologies if this has already been asked, but is the stand that runs the length of the pitch at The Brandywell being kept ?

[Nesta99]

Apologies if this has already been asked, but is the stand that runs the length of the pitch at The Brandywell being kept ?

Yes it is.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

The FAI and Bohs got their money's worth.

dont think the FAI ever paid for anything in Dalymount but Bohs certainly did.


Apologies if this has already been asked, but is the stand that runs the length of the pitch at The Brandywell being kept ?

I think it is, I heard the corners might be getting knocked down but I could be wrong.

[DannyInvincible]

I think it is, I heard the corners might be getting knocked down but I could be wrong.

The entirety of the main stand is being kept. This is how the stadium should look once the redevelopment is finished:

http://www.ostickandwilliams.com/databasethumbs/prd_5_5775371__1616_view02a.jpg

Although I think the brand new stand on the Lone Moor Road side is to be a bit shorter than what's depicted there, so maybe that's how you heard about ends of a stand getting cut off and something got miscommunicated? But, aye, it's that brand new stand and not the main stand that will be smaller, as far as I know.

[DannyInvincible]

'Legal permission to let there be light at the new Brandywell': http://www.derryjournal.com/news/legal-permission-to-let-there-be-light-at-the-new-brandywell-1-7902848'


Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Governance and Strategic Planning Committee have approved the installation of new NIE infrastructure to supply the electricity demands of the new Brandywell stadium.

The electricity firm require the local authority to provide the necessary legal permissions to allow it put in a new upgraded supply and substation for the upgraded ground - home, of course, to Derry City F.C.

[Iorfa2MaccaJim]

Thanks lads. I must say, the plans for the new Brandywell look very impressive.

[redobit]

Thanks lads. I must say, the plans for the new Brandywell look very impressive.

If we have learned anything in the LOI when it comes to ground developments over the years ... it would be never trust a 3D computer image. The reality is never the same.

[DannyInvincible]

If we have learned anything in the LOI when it comes to ground developments over the years ... it would be never trust a 3D computer image. The reality is never the same.

Ha, indeed, this is how the Brandywell will most likely look when the current work is done:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cx4md9jXEAA_WV5.jpg

A bit different from what was originally modelled... However, the current work is supposed to be "phase one" (http://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/derry-city/derry-city-stands-by-council-on-brandywell-redevelopment-1-7697455), so I assume that implies there will be future work to expand the size of the brand new stand to closer in line with what's depicted in post #5008 (http://foot.ie/threads/43132-Stadium-Updates-(All-Clubs)?p=1915737&viewfull=1#post1915737) above.

When the brand new stand will be extended, I'm not sure.

[Nesta99]

The stand in Oriel Park is phase 1 of 3....

[EatYerGreens]

Thanks lads. I must say, the plans for the new Brandywell look very impressive.

Not that impressive when you see what's actually being built, rather than the aspiration. And when you factor in that the greyhound track will overlap in front of one end of the existing stand. It's a bit of a cut-price job of improving the stadium tbh.

There will be no way the Brandywell will ever become a traditional stadium with seats/terracing on all 4 seats now. Which is a shame.

[ger121]

The stand in Oriel Park is phase 1 of 3....

We love our 'phases' in Ireland for stadium construction. We've yet to complete one fully.

[bohsmug]

The stand in Oriel Park is phase 1 of 3....

What are they planning to do? Sorry can't find any info on it.

[Nesta99]

The existing stand in Oriel Park built late '60s was stage one of a new stand of the ground improvements back then, so as Ger said.

It wouldnt even be too bad today if the additional wings were added now if it were possible.

[Duggie]

Ha, indeed, this is how the Brandywell will most likely look when the current work is done:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cx4md9jXEAA_WV5.jpg

A bit different from what was originally modelled... However, the current work is supposed to be "phase one" (http://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/derry-city/derry-city-stands-by-council-on-brandywell-redevelopment-1-7697455), so I assume that implies there will be future work to expand the size of the brand new stand to closer in line with what's depicted in post #5008 (http://foot.ie/threads/43132-Stadium-Updates-(All-Clubs)?p=1915737&viewfull=1#post1915737) above.

When the brand new stand will be extended, I'm not sure. your joking. That tiny stand. What happened the rest of it?? Pathetic

[JC_GUFC]

Not that impressive when you see what's actually being built, rather than the aspiration. And when you factor in that the greyhound track will overlap in front of one end of the existing stand. It's a bit of a cut-price job of improving the stadium tbh.

There will be no way the Brandywell will ever become a traditional stadium with seats/terracing on all 4 seats now. Which is a shame.

I thought the dog track was being gotten rid of. Whatever about the FAI, the IGB certainly won't have any money to help with paying for the stadium improvements.

[DannyInvincible]

I thought the dog track was being gotten rid of.

There'll be a dog-track within the new complex, but the new dog-track is being constructed around the second training pitch. You can see it in the model pictures and you can spot the outline in the recent photos taken from overhead. There'll be no dog-track surrounding the main stadium pitch after redevelopment is completed.

[citybone]

If we have learned anything in the LOI when it comes to ground developments over the years ... it would be never trust a 3D computer image. The reality is never the same.

In fairness Athlone town's 3D image of the new ground was fairly accurate. There were no future plans and still aren't (no need really)

[Sean South]

30 years today since the last game in Milltown. Shams vs Sligo Rovers in the 1/4 final of the FAI cup

[Martinho II]

30 years today since the last game in Milltown. Shams vs Sligo Rovers in the 1/4 final of the FAI cup

great pieces in the press today-Daniel McDonnells one in the Indo,The Sun and the Herald. Remember this happening when I was coming to be a teenager and used to listen regularly to Radio 1 regularly to Philip Greenes commentary!

[Nesta99]

great pieces in the press today-Daniel McDonnells one in the Indo,The Sun and the Herald. Remember this happening when I was coming to be a teenager and used to listen regularly to Radio 1 regularly to Philip Greenes commentary!

His completely unbiased and neutral commentary!

[Candystripe]

your joking. That tiny stand. What happened the rest of it?? Pathetic

As a Derry fan I agree.

Apparently we're getting a bar in the ground underneath the new stand which at the phase one stage will only seat 1,100.

The only good thing is the pitch will be almost up close to the current stand which should make for a better atmosphere instead of being 30ft from the edge of the pitch previously.

[ger121]

As a Derry fan I agree.

Apparently we're getting a bar in the ground underneath the new stand which at the phase one stage will only seat 1,100.

The only good thing is the pitch will be almost up close to the current stand which should make for a better atmosphere instead of being 30ft from the edge of the pitch previously.

It will be a nice tidy ground when Phase 1 is done and a big improvement on the old place. Least there is room for further expansion down the line. Looking forward to seeing it next season.

[DannyInvincible]

The only good thing is the pitch will be almost up close to the current stand which should make for a better atmosphere instead of being 30ft from the edge of the pitch previously.

The removal of the (in)famous nine-foot diagonal slope is also a positive development.

[brendy_éire]

TBF, there is another round of sports stadia funding coming in the next budget (whenever that might be!), and the club seemed fairly confident that the council will get some, so it might not be that wee stand for long.

Obviously though, I'll believe it when I see it.

[Candystripe]

Latest news is that the Brandywell will still be a grass pitch. The 4g surface will be in the showgrounds where the dog track is being moved too.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Latest news is that the Brandywell will still be a grass pitch. The 4g surface will be in the showgrounds where the dog track is being moved too.

Surely that's something that must have been decided well in advance they should really have made an announcement if they changed the plans for the type of pitch

[EatYerGreens]

As a Derry fan I agree.

Apparently we're getting a bar in the ground underneath the new stand which at the phase one stage will only seat 1,100.

The only good thing is the pitch will be almost up close to the current stand which should make for a better atmosphere instead of being 30ft from the edge of the pitch previously.

Aren't the changing rooms and club offices being built under that stand as well, plus I imagine public toilets ? In which case - will there be much room left for a bar ?

[gufcfan]

Out of curiosity, is the any inkling yet about what might be in the works for Oriel. I missed it if there has?

[jinxy lilywhite]

Out of curiosity, is the any inkling yet about what might be in the works for Oriel. I missed it if there has?

Only information so far is that the lease has been secured from GM (previous owner) along with the YDC's ownership.

When the pitch was replaced the comment was that the club does wish to return to grass in the long term but circumstances dictated it would not be possible. (No real training ground apart from Oriel)

Re redevelopment a feasibility study was being done on the best way forward (redevelopment and issues with planning, green field site)

Personally I don't see where oriel could give us 8k seater we would want without major planning objections from local residents and also being compliant for a category 2

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Only information so far is that the lease has been secured from GM (previous owner) along with the YDC's ownership.

When the pitch was replaced the comment was that the club does wish to return to grass in the long term but circumstances dictated it would not be possible. (No real training ground apart from Oriel)

Re redevelopment a feasibility study was being done on the best way forward (redevelopment and issues with planning, green field site)

Personally I don't see where oriel could give us 8k seater we would want without major planning objections from local residents and also being compliant for a category 2

Did Dundalk sell the fields around oriel to a school recently or am i getting that mixed up with something else? would be a good place for a training ground with it being beside oriel so facilities could be shared between the stadium and training ground.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Hiney park beside oriel (was owned by the club up to 06 sold to GM prior to his take over).

This went up for auction in 2014 or 2015 and snapped up by the Grammar school. They do afaik allow the club to use it

[oriel]

I cant see OP being redeveloped for 8k seating, not just the space restrictions, more so with parking and not just for uefa criteria, more standard planning.

The min seating for UEFA Cat 3 is 4,500 seats, but this rises to 8k for Cat 4, pity there is such a gap as I always thought a 6k seater for OP would be ideal. Cat 3 would still work currently for CL 2 and CL 3, prob changing to CL 1 and CL 2 next season, still two rounds. Bigger games worked ok last season in Dublin.

There is room to build a new stand behind the town goal for example, and probably something smaller behind the other goal. There is a lot more space on the shed size that people realise, but as was mentioned above a lot of this is probably already under review with the feasibility study. The timing with the take over of the lease and full settlement to Louth CC (November I think) meant the priority for 2017 was always going to be the pitch.

The club has always acknowledged that facilities are in urgent need of redevelopment so hopefully we will hear news on the next phase this season.

Dlk train for away games on the grass pitch now owned by a local school, right behind OP and train for home games on the OP pitch.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Hiney park beside oriel (was owned by the club up to 06 sold to GM prior to his take over).

This went up for auction in 2014 or 2015 and snapped up by the Grammar school. They do afaik allow the club to use it

Yeat though it was something like that.Thanks.


I cant see OP being redeveloped for 8k seating, not just the space restrictions, more so with parking and not just for uefa criteria, more standard planning.

The min seating for UEFA Cat 3 is 4,500 seats, but this rises to 8k for Cat 4, pity there is such a gap as I always thought a 6k seater for OP would be ideal. Cat 3 would still work currently for CL 2 and CL 3, prob changing to CL 1 and CL 2 next season, still two rounds. Bigger games worked ok last season in Dublin.

There is room to build a new stand behind the town goal for example, and probably something smaller behind the other goal. There is a lot more space on the shed size that people realise, but as was mentioned above a lot of this is probably already under review with the feasibility study. The timing with the take over of the lease and full settlement to Louth CC (November I think) meant the priority for 2017 was always going to be the pitch.

The club has always acknowledged that facilities are in urgent need of redevelopment so hopefully we will hear news on the next phase this season.

Dlk train for away games on the grass pitch now owned by a local school, right behind OP and train for home games on the OP pitch.

Id say access and parking will be the main problems alright since there's only the one access road.
One option i can see from looking at google earth to get the 8k would be to buy the carpark and what looks like a mechanic behind that petrol station and make a deal with the grammer school for two things, a bit of land behind the west goal and for access to the ground to go through the park from near that freight depot so youve then two roads accessing the ground. Then level the stadium and move the pitch slightly to the north west and rebuild and that should be enough space for a cat 4 but that might cost a small fortune. also personally no offence but an 8k stadium all seated will look very empth for most teams with their current average attendance so Id put in safe standing cause terraces can look more full with less people in comparison to seating.

Thats just my two cents but feel free to forward to the Dundalk board I'll just charge a small fee :D;)

[jinxy lilywhite]

Dude that is my euromilions dream and my building of the oriel arena lol. The access then to the Ardee road would be a quick access to the m1 (5km) and ideal for away supporters and fans outside of town.

My personal belief is that a greenfield site will be attained but with a partner either DKIT or LCC. Oriel Park has very nominal rent that could be retained as a training grounds especially with the ydc and underage sides and the local winter and summer leagues could use it also.

All pie in the sky

[Eminence Grise]

All pie in the sky

A time-honoured and very realistic starting point for many a club's strategic plan. Had you mentioned a DVD you would have had a lot more credibility.:D

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Dude that is my euromilions dream and my building of the oriel arena lol. The access then to the Ardee road would be a quick access to the m1 (5km) and ideal for away supporters and fans outside of town.

My personal belief is that a greenfield site will be attained but with a partner either DKIT or LCC. Oriel Park has very nominal rent that could be retained as a training grounds especially with the ydc and underage sides and the local winter and summer leagues could use it also.

All pie in the sky
how about this underground carpark under the pitch and a raised road going directly to the m1? realistic enough for LOI I think. Sure Dundalk are loaded now packet change do do all that really.


A time-honoured and very realistic starting point for many a club's strategic plan. Had you mentioned a DVD you would have had a lot more credibility.:D

Ill have the 3D graphics for it by tomorrow then itll be an official LOI stadium design

[colonelwest]

It's the niggly stuff for Cat4 which is a pain in the jocker:

150 VIP car parking spaces
Media area: 200 m2 for 75 people
TV gantries/ spots: 10 m2 for 4 cameras
Press box: 100, 50 with desks
Commentary postions: 25
2 TV studios
4 post match interview areas
1,000 m2 minimum for outside broadcast (space for RTE vans/ satellite uplinks etc)
min 75 seater press conference room

Then there's your 8000 capacity of which a couple of hundred have to be VIP, corpo hospitality areas for the bigwigs etc whether they show up or not etc. The youth development centre aka Gerry's funhouse, which the club has ownership now after the hassle with Gerry Matthews got sorted there over the close season, does have an underground car park under it, I can't remember how many spaces it has though.

My pie in the sky thinking has always been:

The shed could be extended the length of the pitch backing onto the YDC properly then something could be done behind the town end looping the shed all the way around to the main stand relatively easily. It would be a massive undertaking to do something to main stand itself though given it's size and that all the offices and the 2 bars, changing rooms etc are in there. Possibility if the YDC is taken into account access to the pitch could be done from that as there's newer changing rooms in there and a bar too. It could also be fitted for the corpo/ VIP stuff too albeit the prawn sandwich brigade would be close to the Mudja then.

Behind the Carrick road end is the access road to the YDC, could probably fit a small stand in there and still leave access ok in behind. The away end can get a new portaloo and a vending machine that sells decent crips and minerals for the away fans :p


http://talkofthetown.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/orielparksky2gavgall.png

I did this up a good few years ago for the carrick road end just for sh!ts and giggles to see what it would look like:

http://talkofthetown.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/mickaconroy.jpg

[nigel-harps1954]

I don't see any reason why they should go for an unnecessary Cat 4 stadium on the off chance they'd qualify for group stages again.

Extending the main stand and shed should be done and put whatever corporate facilities they can into those.
6,000 seats is more than enough for all they need.

[Philosophizer]

I don't see any reason why they should go for an unnecessary Cat 4 stadium on the off chance they'd qualify for group stages again.

Well said, there's no point in them blowing money unnecessarily to create a Cat4. If the reach the group stages for 3/4 years in a row and look like dominating for a long time then I'd consider it, but not now.

I'd love to see them keep the main stand and just extend the shed so that it wraps right around the pitch to the main stand. To have a ground that's fully enclosed, with seating a roofing on all sides, with some semblance of uniformity would be a real pleasure to see.

[mcgonigle]

I don't see any reason why they should go for an unnecessary Cat 4 stadium on the off chance they'd qualify for group stages again.

Extending the main stand and shed should be done and put whatever corporate facilities they can into those.
6,000 seats is more than enough for all they need.

What Dundalk have earned from last years European adventure is a fraction of what would be required for a Cat 4 stadium. This type of stadium would require years of group stage qualification and/or a partnership with the local CC, college, FAI etc.

I doubt we'll ever see a LOI team have a Cat 4 as their longterm home ground in our lifetime

[RathfarnhamHoop]

What Dundalk have earned from last years European adventure is a fraction of what would be required for a Cat 4 stadium. This type of stadium would require years of group stage qualification and/or a partnership with the local CC, college, FAI etc.

I doubt we'll ever see a LOI team have a Cat 4 as their longterm home ground in our lifetime

Won't Rovers have one next season?

[nigel-harps1954]

What Dundalk have earned from last years European adventure is a fraction of what would be required for a Cat 4 stadium. This type of stadium would require years of group stage qualification and/or a partnership with the local CC, college, FAI etc.

I doubt we'll ever see a LOI team have a Cat 4 as their longterm home ground in our lifetime

That's exactly my point. There's no problems with teams wanting to show ambition and building a big fancy stadium, but a good Cat 3 stadium should be well achievable for Dundalk on the site of Oriel with fairly small cost.

[nigel-harps1954]

Won't Rovers have one next season?

Tallaght needs special dispensation to host Cat 4 matches and it's not just seating capacity.

[Charlie Darwin]

The option will be there with the increased capacity to bring the rest of the stadium up to spec but I doubt it will be a priority. They can make temporary measures and get a dispensation should anyone reach group stages again, like Dundalk were granted.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

The option will be there with the increased capacity to bring the rest of the stadium up to spec but I doubt it will be a priority. They can make temporary measures and get a dispensation should anyone reach group stages again, like Dundalk were granted.

Yeah Tallaght would need to get all the press and TV stuff but that's not a big deal to add surely.

[nigel-harps1954]

Adding the extra VIP seating, extra commentary spaces, extra media areas and all the small pieces that are required would take up a huge amount of space. They'd probably need a whole new administration block added into any new stand.