Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[Patrickccfc84]

MFA have closed Turners Cross indefinitely. Unclear for how long or if we can use it for our next home game.
https://twitter.com/MunsterFA/status/1777416250236276824?t=ViUMV6ygEToQUoFCgMLH4g&s=19

[joey B]

MFA have closed Turners Cross indefinitely. Unclear for how long or if we can use it for our next home game.
https://twitter.com/MunsterFA/status/1777416250236276824?t=ViUMV6ygEToQUoFCgMLH4g&s=19

The wording of that statement is fairly ridiculous,like it’s the LOI club’s fault the pitch is a mess,deliberately done aswell I’m sure knowing how them kind of people operate in this country….

[Patrickccfc84]

The wording of that statement is fairly ridiculous,like it’s the LOI club’s fault the pitch is a mess,deliberately done aswell I’m sure knowing how them kind of people operate in this country….

Yeah, very poorly worded is right. Many other games played on it of late that could've been moved to another venue.

[Nesta99]

Somebody's nose has been put out of joint and are pulling rank. Money owerd? Did the MFA ever get a grant for work on Turners Cross on the basis that it would benefit Cork City FC? Could pull them on it with DoS. If the pitch is unplayabe its unplayable but 'to be closed indefintely' if that period turns out to be unreasonable it is surely a breach of agreement with CCFC - the do have an agreement in place? Timed nicely as St Colemans reopens and is an option, Im sure the additional revenue for the transfer of all the games the MFA host to Cobh will be appreciated..

[D24Saint]

The wording of that statement is fairly ridiculous,like it’s the LOI club’s fault the pitch is a mess,deliberately done aswell I’m sure knowing how them kind of people operate in this country….

Terrible statement by whoever wrote it up. I’d say most would read between the lines that there is issues between the MFA & Cork City.

[sbgawa]

The Cork womens team next home match on April 13th agaisnt DLR waves will be played in the UCD Bowl.
Surely they could have found a pitch ion Cork somewhere, its not like it had to hold a big crowd...seems strange , mind you so does everything about this

[Martinho II]

Hugely incovenient as I am planning to go that Friday week I imagine that the game will be moved to the followin day in Cobh considerin Cobh play that same night at home. I sincerely hope that they make a decision fast by this time next week otherwise I will be out of money. Didnt realise the relationship between MFA and Cork City is that poor.

[pineapple stu]

The Cork womens team next home match on April 13th agaisnt DLR waves will be played in the UCD Bowl.
Surely they could have found a pitch ion Cork somewhere, its not like it had to hold a big crowd...seems strange , mind you so does everything about this
Is it just switching the order of their home/away ties? So planning for the return game to be in Turner's Cross?

[sbgawa]

Do dlr normally play in the bowl?

[Shearer]

Do dlr normally play in the bowl?
Yes.

Is it just switching the order of their home/away ties? So planning for the return game to be in Turner's Cross?
Yes.

[sbgawa]

My knowledge of the wmens game has increased 100% TY :)

[Nesta99]

My knowledge of the wmens game has increased 100% TY :)

Dont let the side down, you must at minimum feign interest!!

[nigel-harps1954]

Yes.

Yes.

https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000299518866-jviwk7-t500x500.jpg

[culloty82]

Kerry's Eye reporting that the Munster Cup final had been tentatively planned for May until the MFA announcement, presumably if the Turners Cross surface is playable by the mid-season break, that'll be the most likely window available.

[sbgawa]

Dont let the side down, you must at minimum feign interest!!

Can i pretend to feign interest

[Nesta99]

As long as you smile and nod every 10 seconds pretending to feign interest is fine - Im saving you from being torn limb from limb for not seeming interested, its a dangerous world for exclusively followers of the mens game out there!

[sbgawa]

Rovers rent in Tallaght rising from 98k per year to 240k to play 40 matches.
Steep increase and sets the bar for the new Dalymount or any other stadium developments by council/Government.

[2 Year Contract]

Rovers rent in Tallaght rising from 98k per year to 240k to play 40 matches.
Steep increase and sets the bar for the new Dalymount or any other stadium developments by council/Government.

Good detail on it in this article: https://www.extratime.com/articles/33341/shamrock-rovers-rent-to-increase-140-at-tallaght-stadium-the-hoops-agree-240000-annual-deal-local-council/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[nr637]

Any news that Shelbourne are trying to get the West seated stand at the Drumcondra end reopened for next season?

[brendy_éire]

Good detail on it in this article: https://www.extratime.com/articles/33341/shamrock-rovers-rent-to-increase-140-at-tallaght-stadium-the-hoops-agree-240000-annual-deal-local-council/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

That seems really expensive in comparison to the Brandywell. Last year it was £750 per game, Stute charged less since they didn't use the Southend Stand. So £15k a year, maybe £30k if you assumed we did all training there (we don't).
Those are the going rates for anyone who wants to rent it.

What does the annual fee cover? Does it exclude a random team from renting the ground?

https://www.derryjournal.com/news/environment/council-releases-breakdown-of-brandywell-charges-for-derry-city-fc-and-institute-fc-3966268

[D24Saint]

Any news that Shelbourne are trying to get the West seated stand at the Drumcondra end reopened for next season?

I’ve heard several rumours , shut down by the fire officer , shut down for bad foundations , shut down for breach of planning. I’d like to know the truth it’s a decent stand by LOI standards.

[Nesta99]

For the facility it is Im not sure its that expensive. Its been negotiated with Rovers rather han billed so maybe its correlated to Rovers' attendance projections and maybe includes a % reduction clause if crowds dont materialise or remain as they are. How much do Rovers pay on maintenace? Tbh any old LoI ground would suck up that level of money just keeping it usable - Finn Harps and floodlights, Dundalk the same, but if significant things like pitch are covered under the rent then it may not be at all expensive. The headline details will be reported but net cost compared to owning and running a similar facility would be an interesting comparison.

[joey B]

https://x.com/cobhramblersfc/status/1778812780360982541?s=46

New floodlights at Cobh,I’m very jealous!

[Zico]

I would agree - 240k a year for a facility that would cost 40m to build today (North stand was 11m alone) is reasonable. Rovers average gate is over 7k right now which is probably around €80k a game on gate receipt alone and you can probably add another €40k to that with other revenue generators (food, club shop, advertising etc). At least 20 home games a year means anywhere between €2m - €2.5m is generated. That’s just from the men’s side, obviously there are 20 other games allowed, but would not generate anywhere near what the men’s team generates. Paying a rent of around 10% per annum or circa 2% of todays capital cost is decent… again though the devil is in the detail as to who pays what and what revenues go where (e.g advertisement boards, food revenues etc).

[EatYerGreens]

https://x.com/cobhramblersfc/status/1778812780360982541?s=46

New floodlights at Cobh,I’m very jealous!

St Colman's is looking like a great wee ground now. Perfect for Cobh's needs.

[Martinho II]

St Colman's is looking like a great wee ground now. Perfect for Cobh's needs.

Yeah fair play to Cobh they got a grant and got assistance from Simon Coveney and local TDs. How I know is that I bought their match program and they mentioned that fact

[culloty82]

A dumb priest never got a parish, as the saying goes - incremental, but regular improvements by all clubs would make a cumulative impact.

[Buckett]

I always enjoy going to Cobh, lovely clubhouse bar there too.
I know ye did some work before last season started Culloty, but have Kerry any plans to improve the ground?

[pateen]

Any news that Shelbourne are trying to get the West seated stand at the Drumcondra end reopened for next season?

What's the reason it's closed in the first place? Was only built around 1998 I think

[Nesta99]

Im prety sure it was to do with structural issues ie foundations subsiding as a resuld of sodden ground from the Tolka bursting its banks.

[Shinkicker]

Im prety sure it was to do with structural issues ie foundations subsiding as a resuld of sodden ground from the Tolka bursting its banks.
Subsiding foundations and they let teams in to get changed etc with probably 100 tonnes of concrete above the changing rooms??

[Nesta99]

It could have been sufficiently stable for that use but not a few hundred fans jumping up and down on it.

[nr637]

It could have been sufficiently stable for that use but not a few hundred fans jumping up and down on it.

What building regulations were followed during that build! :confused:

[Another Bohemia]

What building regulations were followed during that build! :confused:

Whatever the problem is (I've heard it is the roof) probably wasn't helped by the flooding the ground suffered a few times since the stand was built

[Nesta99]

If it was just the roof then the roof could be removed and youve added additional seats to the ground, there is also under stand facilities eg tv studio/corporate area/toilets albeit small and as good a view as you'll get from behind a goal. Not to be wasted if at all possible. But yes repeted flooding was what caused the initial issues. Foundations needed to be deeper and broader, oversized for the size of the stand to resist any ground movement due to the Tolka. That or flood defences around the preimeter of the Tolka Park land parcel if it hasnt been done already. If it hasnt then any ground improvements, especially the pitch, is alwways at risk.

[EalingGreen]

That or flood defences around the preimeter of the Tolka Park land parcel if it hasnt been done already. If it hasnt then any ground improvements, especially the pitch, is alwways at risk.They might not get permission to erect flood barriers. Afaik, when Institute FC's ground at Drumahoe flooded in 2017, they considered that but the Council wouldn't approve it, since it would only move the floodwaters further along to more residential areas and increase their risk.

As it happens, the flooding also brought in Japanese Knotweed onto the site, which was the last straw (no pun intended), meaning that the club had to move out permanently. (Currently sharing with DCFC at The Brandywell, while they build a new stadium of their own).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverside_Stadium,_Drumahoe

[Nesta99]

Tolka Park as a designated flood plain? Would surely banjax applications for funding. Knotweed....just torch the place!

[EatYerGreens]

Knotweed....just torch the place!

If only it was that easy to deal with, then it wouldn't be the massive issue it is in reality.

[Nesta99]

Ok torch the place, dig about 10ft down over the entire site and bury the rubble in some landfill, concrete it over and turn it in to a car park!

[EatYerGreens]

Ok torch the place, dig about 10ft down over the entire site and bury the rubble in some landfill, concrete it over and turn it in to a car park!

"Tell me you don't understand Japanese Knotweed without telling me....." :D

[NeverFeltBetter]

Knotweed, yeesh, that's unfortunate. There are experts in dealing with weeds of every description who will refuse to even approach that stuff for fear of spreading spores. The Guardian had a good write up on the problems last year: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/16/the-war-on-japanese-knotweed

[Nesta99]

"Tell me you don't understand Japanese Knotweed without telling me....." :D

Well it works for zombies:confused: But nope gardening and horticulture isnt a forté, unless the stuff is mate from plastic!

[EatYerGreens]

Well it works for zombies:confused: But nope gardening and horticulture isnt a forté, unless the stuff is mate from plastic!

We'd never have guessed :p

[Nesta99]

Well if Shels wanted out of their agreement with DCC on Tolka, 'finding' knotweed would be a new angle.

Youve just scared me in to selling my house just in case of a zombie knotweed invasion.....

[2 Year Contract]

Finn Park to be sold for €1.5m to help meet the funding needed for the new stadium. Hopefully this sees them over the line and they don’t get stuck in no man’s land without Finn Park or the new ground although I’d imagine that could be a condition of the sale anyways

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0418/1444374-finn-park-to-be-sold-to-help-harps-deliver-stadium/

[culloty82]

Unfortunate echoes of the Tralee Racecourse saga from circa 2008 - it was sold in the hope of a fresh site development, with Kerry GAA planning a new stadium on the site, but with the crash, all plans were halted, but Tralee's meetings were lost to Listowel and Killarney - so the Harps board would want cast-iron legal guarantees that the sale could only be completed once Stranolar becomes playable!

[Buckett]

Construction won't begin until the money is in place

[Nesta99]

Is this not similar to the original plan? The sale of Finn Park to a developer would finance a proportion of the new ground - the bottom fell out of the economy and Finn Park fell in value? Now if the developer signed an agreement shouldnt that have been his loss rather than hand back the keys due to a 'negative equity' like situation?? A turnkey agreement should factor in, sale made but handover of the asset waits until a replacement facility is usable (not complete). Is the same developer involved on any level? Recieved money for land or anyting?

[nigel-harps1954]

More details are available here.

Finn Park cannot be sold until the new ground is completed and the ownership through Finn Harps Trustees is transferred to the new ground. It's also not a guarantee that Finn Park will need to be sold at all.



https://finnharps.ie/finn-harps-new-stadium-fundraising-strategy-2024/

[Neish]

]Is this not similar to the original plan? The sale of Finn Park to a developer would finance a proportion of the new ground - the bottom fell out of the economy and Finn Park fell in value?[/B] Now if the developer signed an agreement shouldnt that have been his loss rather than hand back the keys due to a 'negative equity' like situation?? A turnkey agreement should factor in, sale made but handover of the asset waits until a replacement facility is usable (not complete). Is the same developer involved on any level? Recieved money for land or anyting?

Yeah it was and I find it odd so many Harps fans giving out about the sale of current Finn Park as if its something that has be suddenly spring from nowhere .

Way back in the dark ages when the plan of a new Harps stadium was originally mooted there had been several supermarket chains looking at locations in the town and it was thought there would be plenty of interest in the Navenny street site. But we now have Supervalu, LIDL, ALDI and Costcutter aswell as a few local family own supermarkets so probably not enough businmess inthe local area for another.

The last few years there has been talk of keeping the current Finn Park for youth games and the general plan I think was for it to be the home of a senito ladies team with the club planning to enter the senior women's setup somewhere down the line, and think many Harps fans can't look beyond that now