Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[Nesta99]

Sounds like a cohesive project rather than the old piecemeal spread the funds wide and thin, keep the politicians happy so that the can claim credit for securing funding, but nothing moves past a Phase 1. It will be some feat if its fully delivered on a reasonable timetable

To keep funding on track we just need to make sure inflation isnt through the roof - the cost of servicing national debt isnt rising, no war in Europe, keeping energy crises at bay, keeping supply chains open while avoiding a dollar/euro parity when importing and shipping costs are already high on the back of a pandemic that shut the world down, not letting housing stock fall and rents rise, and just for the heck of it the FAI not having a €63m hole in their finances and the GAA being fine with sharing a sporting centre of excellence. ;) Or the money is in a bank actually earning interest and everythings grand!

[joey B]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/0727/1312615-dublin-city-council-seek-to-scale-back-dalymount-plans/

Dublin City council say current plans for Dalymount Park are unviable cost wise,plan to revise plans and demolition of the Connaught street stand to begin in August….

[Philosophizer]

I've had a feeling this was coming for a while. The wording in the last announcement a couple of months ago was very interesting - "Such a redesign could also deliver a higher capacity facility".
I think the folks in the know at Bohs and DCC have probably known for a long time that a full redevelopment with a cost of 30-50 million was never really on the cards. A more likely outcome all along was to keep the Jodi and just rebuild the other 3 stands, which would probably bring it above 8k, with a bonus of never having to leave Dalyer at all.

[Philosophizer]

The 42 has more details on the "second option", which will end up with a capacity closer to 9-10K, rather than the "first option" that had a capacity of 6k...

"The second is ‘option 2′ from the MCA appraisal, which includes: leaving the Dalymount pitch in the same position, refurbishing the Jodi Stand, a new Main Stand with a potential capacity of 4-5,000 and community facilities, a new covered terrace with a potential capacity of around 2,000 and a small terrace at the east end of the stadium with a capacity of around 250-300."

[nigel-harps1954]

A Dalymount Park with a ~10k capacity makes far more sense.

[DCWA]

The 42 has more details on the "second option", which will end up with a capacity closer to 9-10K, rather than the "first option" that had a capacity of 6k...

"The second is ‘option 2′ from the MCA appraisal, which includes: leaving the Dalymount pitch in the same position, refurbishing the Jodi Stand, a new Main Stand with a potential capacity of 4-5,000 and community facilities, a new covered terrace with a potential capacity of around 2,000 and a small terrace at the east end of the stadium with a capacity of around 250-300."

That would be absolutely fantastic if it materialises.

Perfect surely?

[GUFCghost]

The league's unique selling point is that it's rustic. Of course rustic is a very vague word but hopefully it can be taken into account when building new grounds and redeveloping old ones.
We should be encouraging safe standing, spectators as close to the pitch as possible and stadiums that aren't bland uniform arenas. It'd be interesting if the league had it's own architectural philosophy, basically.

[ger121]

The 42 has more details on the "second option", which will end up with a capacity closer to 9-10K, rather than the "first option" that had a capacity of 6k...

"The second is ‘option 2′ from the MCA appraisal, which includes: leaving the Dalymount pitch in the same position, refurbishing the Jodi Stand, a new Main Stand with a potential capacity of 4-5,000 and community facilities, a new covered terrace with a potential capacity of around 2,000 and a small terrace at the east end of the stadium with a capacity of around 250-300."

I think most Bohs fans would be very happy if that option is the one they end up going with.

[EatYerGreens]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/0727/1312615-dublin-city-council-seek-to-scale-back-dalymount-plans/

Dublin City council say current plans for Dalymount Park are unviable cost wise,plan to revise plans and demolition of the Connaught street stand to begin in August….

No real surprise. Hopefully whatever new plan is designed has a capacity larger than 6,000, which really is too small now for North Dublin. Should be aiming for 7-8,000 absolute minimum at Dalymount (with Tolka 5-6,000 ?).

What's the story with the hospital car park at Dalymount ? How could the capacity get to 10,000 with that thing eating into one entire side ?

[Nesta99]

30-50mil? Ah here there is taking high costs in this country on the chin, and then there is taking the p!ss! FFS there are stadia of 30k knocking around for that kind of money that rejuvenate an area and a stadium as a centre piece. Sounds like a few people may have noses out of joint. maybe having lost Tolka Park (to a wink and nod) and now throwing a strop on Dalymount. SDCC should pop in to say hello!...

[Glen Of Aherlow]

The league's unique selling point is that it's rustic. Of course rustic is a very vague word but hopefully it can be taken into account when building new grounds and redeveloping old ones.
We should be encouraging safe standing, spectators as close to the pitch as possible and stadiums that aren't bland uniform arenas. It'd be interesting if the league had it's own architectural philosophy, basically.

In fairness , for the most part we can't get stadiums built in any shape or form let alone worrying about whether they're rustic or what the architectural philosophy is .

[Glen Of Aherlow]

Does anybody actually believe that Dalymount will look much different in 2026 ?

[placid casual]

If anyone actually believes there is going to be two redeveloped stadiums within a couple of miles of each other they are dreaming.
1 stadium with a capacity of 4/5k is about the best anyone can hope for, with the money from the sale of the other going to fund the project.

[Straightstory]

In fairness , for the most part we can't get stadiums built in any shape or form let alone worrying about whether they're rustic or what the architectural philosophy is .
'Rusty' rather than 'Rustic' would be a better word to describe most LOI stands and terraces. A 'bland uniform arena' sounds quite good to me in comparison.

[D24Saint]

'Rusty' rather than 'Rustic' would be a better word to describe most LOI stands and terraces. A 'bland uniform arena' sounds quite good to me in comparison.

A debate on what’s the leagues biggest kips would get heated id say.

[Shinkicker]

The 42 has more details on the "second option", which will end up with a capacity closer to 9-10K, rather than the "first option" that had a capacity of 6k...

"The second is ‘option 2′ from the MCA appraisal, which includes: leaving the Dalymount pitch in the same position, refurbishing the Jodi Stand, a new Main Stand with a potential capacity of 4-5,000 and community facilities, a new covered terrace with a potential capacity of around 2,000 and a small terrace at the east end of the stadium with a capacity of around 250-300."
I like option 2 but let's see the revamped design before making any decisions. Dalymount could with the right design hold 12,000.
Another solution would be leave the Jodi. Spend the money to build a stand running from the shopping centre end, along the connaught St side and around to the school end. 8,000-9,000. Increase membership numbers increase revenue and in good time Bohs self invest and revamp the jodi.

[Philosophizer]

I went to quite a few Dalymount matches in the past couple of years with a German mate. He loved it. When I asked him, does it not seem like a dump compared to the facilities you're used to in Germany?, He replied "Yes, but that's the beauty of it". Don't underestimate that rustic charm. Our stadia are things from a bygone era. In the age of corporate soccer domes they can actually be attractive to some people.

[Shinkicker]

I like option 2 but let's see the revamped design before making any decisions. Dalymount could with the right design hold 12,000.
Another solution would be leave the Jodi. Spend the money to build a stand running from the shopping centre end, along the connaught St side and around to the school end. 8,000-9,000. Increase membership numbers increase revenue and in good time Bohs self invest and revamp the jodi.
Forgot to add that back in the good old days at Dalymount. You could walk around from the school house en to the SC end. It was one continuous terrace before the car park.

[Glen Of Aherlow]

I went to quite a few Dalymount matches in the past couple of years with a German mate. He loved it. When I asked him, does it not seem like a dump compared to the facilities you're used to in Germany?, He replied "Yes, but that's the beauty of it". Don't underestimate that rustic charm. Our stadia are things from a bygone era. In the age of corporate soccer domes they can actually be attractive to some people.

I don't think expecting a roof over your head and decent toilet facilities is the same as expecting a corporate soccer dome.

[Calcio Jack]

I went to quite a few Dalymount matches in the past couple of years with a German mate. He loved it. When I asked him, does it not seem like a dump compared to the facilities you're used to in Germany?, He replied "Yes, but that's the beauty of it". Don't underestimate that rustic charm. Our stadia are things from a bygone era. In the age of corporate soccer domes they can actually be attractive to some people.

That’s like American tourists visiting Rural Ireland in the 1950/60s- they enjoyed the rustic novelty of seeing run down houses, barefoot children etc.and then they could return to their nice homes- However the reality of living in such dumps and the associated poverty wasn’t much fun for the locals

[Big Ears]

That’s like American tourists visiting Rural Ireland in the 1950/60s- they enjoyed the rustic novelty of seeing run down houses, barefoot children etc.and then they could return to their nice homes- However the reality of living in such dumps and the associated poverty wasn’t much fun for the locals

I have to agree. I've no issue with stadiums which aren't uniform the whole way around.
We seem to specialise in that here in Ireland; Lansdowne rd, Croke Park, even the 4th stand at Tallaght isn't going to be fully uniform.

But non uniform doesn't mean poor facilities.
Decent toilets, viewing perspectives, shelter etc are an absolute must. Ideally good quality food and easy access to it aswell, and obviously large enough to cater for decent attendances.
Having people standing in a hayshed might be fine on a one off, but not on a regular basis, particularly if that shed is leaking !

[Mr A]

I will have you know the Finn Park roof has been repaired!

[Philosophizer]

I don't think expecting a roof over your head and decent toilet facilities is the same as expecting a corporate soccer dome.
I'm not saying Dalyer in its current state is preferential to a redevelopment.
Obviously redevelopment is necessary, but the "back up" option, (4 different stands, all covered, 2 terraces, Jodi being kept, 9-10K capacity) is clearly better in every way than the full redevelopment. And with the Jodi being kept and the pitch remaining in situ the ground can maintain some of its charm.
The full redevelopment would have left us with a 6k capacity and a plastic pitch! And of course it would have went way over budget and probably taken 10 years to complete.

[bohsmug]

I find the idea of a 250 - 300 capacity terrace a bit odd as it must only be 2 or 3 steps or else something with 5 or 6 steps that covers about the width of the box or something. It's a big challenge to fit anything in at that end without changing pitch orientation so still glad if they're able to fit something in. I wonder if it'll be like the undeveloped sides of the FC United ground. Not perfect but I do wish the likes of Athlone could've boxed in their ground like that.

Connaught Street has to go obviously. It's had to for a long time but the thoughts of demolition beginning next week does make me feel very sad. I know somebody mentioned above that they don't think Dalymount will look any different in 2026 but it will look different in the next few months. Demolition started last year really with the roof coming down from the shed. As for anything going up by 2026, I'd be hopeful but who knows. The only LOI ground development you can have confidence in at the moment is the fourth stand in Tallaght.

A 2,000 covered terrace at the old shed end sounds beautiful.

[joey B]

Are Bohs still going to have to play somewhere else for a season or 2?

[D24Saint]

What’s the scenario if Tolka gets the go ahead aswell. I can’t see $hels wanting to wait for Dalymount to be completed before their redevelopment starts.

[culloty82]

From the way Option 2 is described, sounds like they could continue to play at Dalymount, and they'd sequentially work on each section of the ground, much like how the GAA redeveloped Croke Park in the Eighties/Nineties.

[pateen]

Forgot to add that back in the good old days at Dalymount. You could walk around from the school house en to the SC end. It was one continuous terrace before the car park.

What year was the stand opposite the Jodi closed off to the public. Remember going there around 2008 for Drogs champs league match so guessing it was shortly after that.

[Nesta99]

Leaving the clubs and fans involved aside for a moment. It sounds once again that elected members council or Dail want a slice of the pie to claim a self serving win for their electorate. So we'll most likely end up with 2 half baked efforts some time eventually. Doesnt make 'value for money' sense to spend a lot of public money on 2 grounds within walking distance of each other. If both developments were committed to even for say a total of 30-40mil a lot of people would go bananas - waste of money when housing is needed and hospitals overcrowded etc. The can has already been kicked own the road and there people in city hall delighted with the Save Tolka campaign and can cite such complications for delayed decisions. The only way I can see things being done sooner than later is via a PPP and capitulate to the dreaded developers and their retail units et al as part of the plans. With DCC as a partner rather than a club that can be financially bullied and taken advantage of then developers have to tow the line.

There's implications for St Pats in this too as a 3rd development added to the mix and it will be a conveniently difficult situation for DCC that they can take their time on figuring it out.

[EatYerGreens]

30-50mil? Ah here there is taking high costs in this country on the chin, and then there is taking the p!ss! FFS there are stadia of 30k knocking around for that kind of money that rejuvenate an area and a stadium as a centre piece. Sounds like a few people may have noses out of joint. maybe having lost Tolka Park (to a wink and nod) and now throwing a strop on Dalymount. SDCC should pop in to say hello!...

The very broad rule of thumb for stadia in England pre-Covid was £1,000 per seat - which would be €1,150. That will have gone up since then, but not by a factor of x5 or more.

[EatYerGreens]

If anyone actually believes there is going to be two redeveloped stadiums within a couple of miles of each other they are dreaming.
1 stadium with a capacity of 4/5k is about the best anyone can hope for, with the money from the sale of the other going to fund the project.

That was the pevious plan of Dublin City Council, which they have now publicly moved away from. They're unlikely to do a U-turn back to that original approach again, and would take a kicking if they tried. More likely that Dalymount will be prioritised, and then Tolka may or not get much investment afterwards. But the approach of getting rid of one or other of Tolka and Dalymount no longer appears to be a runner.

[EatYerGreens]

In fairness , for the most part we can't get stadiums built in any shape or form let alone worrying about whether they're rustic or what the architectural philosophy is .

I think the technical design term for Irish football stadia is 'Incomplete Chic'.

[EatYerGreens]

I went to quite a few Dalymount matches in the past couple of years with a German mate. He loved it. When I asked him, does it not seem like a dump compared to the facilities you're used to in Germany?, He replied "Yes, but that's the beauty of it". Don't underestimate that rustic charm. Our stadia are things from a bygone era. In the age of corporate soccer domes they can actually be attractive to some people.

'Poverty tourism'.

Build Dalymount Park for a top level club in Germany and see how their fans like it then.

[EatYerGreens]

Are Bohs still going to have to play somewhere else for a season or 2?

Like Berlin ?

[EatYerGreens]

What’s the scenario if Tolka gets the go ahead aswell. I can’t see $hels wanting to wait for Dalymount to be completed before their redevelopment starts.

Shels haven't got any money and can't call the shots on the priority. They were due to have Tolka erased until a few weeks ago sure. They will just have to bide their time.

[bohsmug]

Shels haven't got any money and can't call the shots on the priority. They were due to have Tolka erased until a few weeks ago sure. They will just have to bide their time.

They have investors. I'm sure Shels fans are a bit wary.

https://shelbournefc.ie/shelbourne-football-club-secures-significant-new-investment/

[Glen Of Aherlow]

" Don't worry about a thing , cos every little thing is gonna be alright "

[EalingGreen]

The very broad rule of thumb for stadia in England pre-Covid was £1,000 per seat - which would be €1,150. That will have gone up since then, but not by a factor of x5 or more.
That's either a very broad rule or a very broad thumb you have there.

For example, when the local Council in Rotherham opened the New York Stadium on an old, disused industrial site, they got 12k seats for their £20m-odd i.e. £1,666 per seat. And that was 10 years ago, in a depressed Northern English town.

Depending on the scarcity of a suitable site and local property prices, it can cost considerably more: eg Brentford spent £82m building their 17.5k seater stadium in TW8 - hardly the swishest part of West London - which works out at £4,700 per seat.

Or Spurs, who managed to spend the guts of £1bn on their 62k seater stadium = over £15k per seat. Granted that stadium is all-singing, all-dancing, but as against that, they did already own part of the site, while N17 is a right ****hole (and I say that as a Spurs fan!)

[Philosophizer]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2022/07/28/bohemians-seek-retro-terrace-redevelopment-at-dalymount-park/

Latest report from the IT is that Bohs are pushing for a big terrace as part of the scaled back redevelopment. Whether that's just terracing behind the goals or one big side terrace isn't confirmed.
They'd use Aviva when needed for European ties.
Article also states that Dalyer capacity will rise to 4500 next season due to a temporary stand on the Connaught road side. I hadn't heard about that before...

[bohsmug]

The project was never 100% a football stadium either. I don't know what the cost of the community facilities aspect of the original design was but I'd assume it was significant enough. That'll still need to be o
part of the new plan. Connaught Street side is massive by LOI standards so could fit quite a lot in there. That said, I don't really see a 5,000 seater stand being built. Just sounds like a mad idea, it'd be massive.

[bohsmug]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2022/07/28/bohemians-seek-retro-terrace-redevelopment-at-dalymount-park/

Latest report from the IT is that Bohs are pushing for a big terrace as part of the scaled back redevelopment. Whether that's just terracing behind the goals or one big side terrace isn't confirmed.


The talk is of a 2,000 capacity covered terrace at the school end of the ground. Would be class if it happened.

[Mr A]

Let's go....

https://highlandradio.com/2022/07/28/green-light-given-for-completion-of-donegal-community-stadium/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&fs=e&s=cl

[Shinkicker]

The talk is of a 2,000 capacity covered terrace at the school end of the ground. Would be class if it happened.
That's far bigger than I would have envisaged but if it came off it would be fantastic.

[Shinkicker]

That's far bigger than I would have envisaged but if it came off it would be fantastic.I have seen the school house end completely full and possibly holding 2,000 people or more if you count the headers on the roof.

[Shinkicker]

The project was never 100% a football stadium either. I don't know what the cost of the community facilities aspect of the original design was but I'd assume it was significant enough. That'll still need to be o
part of the new plan. Connaught Street side is massive by LOI standards so could fit quite a lot in there. That said, I don't really see a 5,000 seater stand being built. Just sounds like a mad idea, it'd be massive.
Nothing mad about it. "if you build it they will come"

[bohsmug]

I have seen the school house end completely full and possibly holding 2,000 people or more if you count the headers on the roof.

Would've been way more than 2,000 if you're talking about the people on the roof era. There's currently 900 seats at that end of the ground, each seat taking up 2 rows of steps. So I'd imagine it would be a similar size to that and then roofed, which will make it look much bigger. If it happens it will look great. Needs a decent bar because if you're profiling fans it's more likely to be a drinking crowd than other areas. From a purely visual point of view I think a 5,000 capacity stand on Connaught side will look odd when you drop down to nearly nothing on the Phibsboro End but then it's probably about the same height as the current structure. Just seems a bit unfathomable for a LOI ground. Riverside Stand in Tolka probably held that much so maybe it's not all that mad. I would be surprised if a stand of that size happens.

[Shinkicker]

Would've been way more than 2,000 if you're talking about the people on the roof era. There's currently 900 seats at that end of the ground, each seat taking up 2 rows of steps. So I'd imagine it would be a similar size to that and then roofed, which will make it look much bigger. If it happens it will look great. Needs a decent bar because if you're profiling fans it's more likely to be a drinking crowd than other areas. From a purely visual point of view I think a 5,000 capacity stand on Connaught side will look odd when you drop down to nearly nothing on the Phibsboro End but then it's probably about the same height as the current structure. Just seems a bit unfathomable for a LOI ground. Riverside Stand in Tolka probably held that much so maybe it's not all that mad. I would be surprised if a stand of that size happens.
Conaught St and phibsboro ends are similar in Height and there should be contiuation around that corner incorporating the existing corner entrance.

[bohsmug]

Only a tiny portion of the shopping centre end is owned by DCC. It was sold off to a developer about 20 years ago. That's why fitting anything into that end is such a challenge. It was a mess of a deal with a subsequent court case that Bohs lost.

[Nesta99]

Is there plans for the shopping centre end by the developer? If DCC had the will they could consider a compulsory purchase under some derelict site notice.

[Dermobohs]

Lads the tramway will only be a capacity 2-300 terrace with a wall behind, sold off years ago unfortunately, was my favoured spot for many years.
So, Jodi underneath refurb, which probably means a decent toilet block replacing the long bar, plus proper access points, what’s there is unworkable.
School end covered terrace or seating c 2k.
Stand with community benefits plus 5000 seats on Connaught.
After demolition of Connaught side, temporary stand to hold away fans holing 450 will go up. It’s DCC so expect this to be there as long as 10 years.