Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[Nesta99]

I get all that and agree with it. I was just pointing out that there IS a way that clubs who own their own ground could raise significant capital if required. The idea that clubs with an asset are as a rule in some sort of weak financial position just isn't true. Clubs without a stadium own nothing except player contracts (given that most teams here don't have their own physical academies). They're the ones in the worst financial situation.

A club can be asset rich and not have a pot to pish in, for a well read fan of Irish football you only have to look as far as our beloved governing body - owned 3 LoI grounds, Abbotstown, and a % of a national stadium for a set period, you could add a prime building on Merrion Square previously.

[EatYerGreens]

A club can be asset rich and not have a pot to pish in, for a well read fan of Irish football you only have to look as far as our beloved governing body - owned 3 LoI grounds, Abbotstown, and a % of a national stadium for a set period, you could add a prime building on Merrion Square previously.

Yip - but they still own SOMETHING. It shouldn't need spelling out, but it's better to have assets and no money than to have none of either.

[Nesta99]

But owning something is a good bit away from a club with an asset meaning the idea of a weak financial position isnt true. A Bohs fan would tell you that....twice!

[ger121]

Bit late seeing this and replying to it but this is essentially what's happening on the Connaught Street side in the current plan for Dalymount:
(probably a better image somewhere)
https://i2-prod.dublinlive.ie/incoming/article27703529.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_F52F6jxW8AAHrEO-1jpeg.jpg


I was trying to explain to my sister at the Drogheda game, that the stadium would be rotated, with the goals now at the Jodi and Connaught side. Came up when we were looking at St Peter’s Church and wondering what the view would be like when the stadium is redeveloped.

[EatYerGreens]

But owning something is a good bit away from a club with an asset meaning the idea of a weak financial position isnt true. A Bohs fan would tell you that....twice!

But that just proves my point. Bohs were in a position to use their asset to raise some finance. If they hadn't had that asset, they wouldn't have got that money. So would clearly have been worse off. And if they didn't have Dalymoiunt then it's extremely unlikely that anyone would be building a stadium for them now.

Of course there are always a few exceptions, but generally in life owning something of value is always a better posiiton to be in than ownng nothing.

[Nesta99]

The idea that clubs with an asset are as a rule in some sort of weak financial position just isn't true

So to restate your claim above, clubs with an asset will not be in a weak financial position - so Longford, Athlone, even Sligo over the years all have assets so hence werent or wont be in weak financial positions? Bohs didnt end up a financial basketcase that took years to sort though using that example was more tongue in cheek where the same asset sold twice couldnt evade a weak financial position. Shels didnt have almost a couple of decades in the doldrums. Cobh tried to leverage St Colemans to no avail. I get what you are saying about having assets in general and that in theory a club could look ok in the old accounts. but owning a ground etc hasnt meant a lack of financial weakness of LoI clubs, to suggest otherwise is naive. Dundalk's sale of Hiney Park is the only example I can think of where an asset was used to bolster finances and that was a last play to fund a new pitch, ground works and clear debt but the asset itself didnt mean no weak finances. So as a rule LoI clubs with an asset just in itself not having weak finances just isnt true!

[2 Year Contract]

When is the terrace at the Brandywell due to be open now? Last I read was that the Bohs game was due to be the pilot of 50% before full capacity opening and if not the Waterford game, but both of those targets were missed

[brendy_éire]

When is the terrace at the Brandywell due to be open now? Last I read was that the Bohs game was due to be the pilot of 50% before full capacity opening and if not the Waterford game, but both of those targets were missed

Cork at home early next month looking the most likely date at this point.

[brendy_éire]

A solution for the funding application for the Brandywell looks a step closer.
Thinking is to give the club a long-term lease on that Brandywell, on the way to becoming owners.

Sounds good, though I'd ideally like the land protected by the covenant that's in place already (basically, it can't be sold/used for non-sporting purposes).

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2gp0e1pzgo

[sessylU]

It would be great to have something sorted out. The situation at The Brandywell hasn't always allowed Derry to capitalise on support and develop things (the other side of that coin is that it also wasn't sold as part of a liquidation process and turned into a carpark, which is good, I suppose).

Would be class to own it and develop it, but yeah, I'd also be keen to see it remain a community asset in some way. Fundamentally, I'm a supporter of Derry City Football Club, I'm not a doggie man nor do I have any affiliation with any other group who has used the space, but I think it would be right and proper that other interests are taken care of.

[Glen Of Aherlow]

What’s the odds that these stadium developments will go on the very long finger if our economy takes a massive hit due to the lunatic in the White House ?

[Nesta99]

Long finger odds would have been good regardless of Trump. A couple of projects and then the rest would have a struggle, even ones started.

[brendy_éire]

850 seats, not standing, will be available for the new north stand in the Brandywell for Cork on Friday.
That's half the available seats, with capacity to increase following further sign-off.

A knock-on effect of the new stand is that the away allocation is now 450 or so.

[Roones26]

Long finger odds would have been good regardless of Trump. A couple of projects and then the rest would have a struggle, even ones started.

Outside Dalyer, I would love to see someone make a case for why itll be done. Maybe Sligo Rovers because they have the capacity to drive their masterplan but for me thats it

[bohsmug]

Outside Dalyer, I would love to see someone make a case for why itll be done. Maybe Sligo Rovers because they have the capacity to drive their masterplan but for me thats it

Don't agree at all to be honest. A lot of the grounds don't function well for their current crowds, regardless of whether they need additional capacities. Drogheda, Shels, Pat's, Finn Harps and Dundalk need better facilities for fans even at their current capacities. More too I'm sure, it just requires so little effort to think of grounds that need improvement that I haven't even bothered thinking all that hard. To varying degrees many clubs will argue they have scope for capacity increases but for me there's barely an argument that so many need improvement to the overall facility.

[Glen Of Aherlow]

Don't agree at all to be honest. A lot of the grounds don't function well for their current crowds, regardless of whether they need additional capacities. Drogheda, Shels, Pat's, Finn Harps and Dundalk need better facilities for fans even at their current capacities. More too I'm sure, it just requires so little effort to think of grounds that need improvement that I haven't even bothered thinking all that hard. To varying degrees many clubs will argue they have scope for capacity increases but for me there's barely an argument that so many need improvement to the overall facility.

If our economy takes a big hit you can be sure that the issue of improving League Of Ireland stadia will be forgotten about soon enough

[bohsmug]

If our economy takes a big hit you can be sure that the issue of improving League Of Ireland stadia will be forgotten about soon enough

Well yeah, obviously. Any of our potential developments are very tentative right until the point it's complete. This thread was started 19 years ago. Bohs aren't playing in a new stadium in Diswellstown, Harristown or new Dalymount, Markets Field isn't an 8k all seater arena, Drogheda aren't in their super arena, Harps new ground got stuck in the same state that Tallaght was in back then. There've been countless plans that date back a huge number of years that don't exist here and now nearly 20 years later. Some things have happened but most haven't. I'm amazed and delighted (despite allegiances) that Tallaght happened and has had 3 phases since that actually have been completed. Whether through public money or private deals, LOI ground improvements have been thin on the ground when compared to need.

I'm talking only about necessity of development, not likelihood. Maybe I've misinterpreted the poster's point.

[Nesta99]

The vast majority of needs would be covered by single stand developments. I think Tallaght has everyone looking for complete new stadia. In an ideal world yeah for sure but a needs must bargain basics even a Jodi type stand would do most where there is room. If the stand was extended pitch length in Oriel for as old it is it would cover current need and without a 20m price tag (and concrete grass bank so people stop obsessing about it....and get people to put away training goals properly). Sligo's ambition is great but they are first out of the blocks and cant see clubs league wide getting similar funding even at 1 a year. Tallaght and Dalymount being different as local authority led. Drogheda are more likely to have an Athlone style development and a protracted effort to kick on with other phases and others could be more like Finn Harps. Ive yet to see anything that would suggest a cohesive league wide plan to improve things bar licencing or government opening he purse string to allow a catchup with the other sport.

[EatYerGreens]

850 seats, not standing, will be available for the new north stand in the Brandywell for Cork on Friday.
That's half the available seats, with capacity to increase following further sign-off.

A knock-on effect of the new stand is that the away allocation is now 450 or so.

This may be a daft question. But when you're sitting in the rail seats, presumably you have a clear/unobstructed view over the metal rail in front of you?

[EatYerGreens]

Is there any update on the Harps stadium? Seems to have gone a bit quiet in that front.

Is the government money in the bag, and it's just up to the club to fundraise for its bit now? Is there a proposed starting date for work?

[yurt]

Will be very interested to see what the official attendance in Galway is on Friday. The club have said they won't be selling tickets at the stadium so you'd assume it's going to be pretty much a sell-out.

I've read that on the GUFC forum that capacity in EDP has been increased to over 5k but I haven't seen this officially announced anywhere. Capacity of EDP was always closer to 6k from what I remember and was reduced to 4.3k when the stadium get assessed my engineers in 2020.

EDP should look great on Friday night.

[Nesta99]

Is there any update on the Harps stadium? Seems to have gone a bit quiet in that front.

Is the government money in the bag, and it's just up to the club to fundraise for its bit now? Is there a proposed starting date for work?

Shush, dont be asking such difficult questions, depends on who you ask and might still be a secret! Last I heard there was a grant application for an architect to resubmit new plans and the original builder wants the job.........well anythings possible!

[EatYerGreens]

Will be very interested to see what the official attendance in Galway is on Friday. The club have said they won't be selling tickets at the stadium so you'd assume it's going to be pretty much a sell-out.

I've read that on the GUFC forum that capacity in EDP has been increased to over 5k but I haven't seen this officially announced anywhere. Capacity of EDP was always closer to 6k from what I remember and was reduced to 4.3k when the stadium get assessed my engineers in 2020.

EDP should look great on Friday night.

The growth in attendances in Galway has been particularly impressive. It wasn't that long ago that crowds there seemed to be in the region of 1,500 on a good day. It's not a big city (86000 at the last census), with competition from both the Gah and the rugby, so to be trebling attendances in a few years is a big leap.

Is there anything specific to the town that's been driving it?

[brendy_éire]

This may be a daft question. But when you're sitting in the rail seats, presumably you have a clear/unobstructed view over the metal rail in front of you?

Presume so, unless you're small and sit back maybe.
Most people tend to sit forward and lean over the bar.

[Roones26]

Well yeah, obviously. Any of our potential developments are very tentative right until the point it's complete. This thread was started 19 years ago. Bohs aren't playing in a new stadium in Diswellstown, Harristown or new Dalymount, Markets Field isn't an 8k all seater arena, Drogheda aren't in their super arena, Harps new ground got stuck in the same state that Tallaght was in back then. There've been countless plans that date back a huge number of years that don't exist here and now nearly 20 years later. Some things have happened but most haven't. I'm amazed and delighted (despite allegiances) that Tallaght happened and has had 3 phases since that actually have been completed. Whether through public money or private deals, LOI ground improvements have been thin on the ground when compared to need.

I'm talking only about necessity of development, not likelihood. Maybe I've misinterpreted the poster's point.

I think there is a need right across the league and that there is not one club that couldnt make a reasonable case for more work to be done. Even Rovers could make a reasonable case for filing the corners.

What I would query is, even absent significant financial change, what developments will be delivered in the medium term i.e by 2030 and I come back to Dalyer, maybe the rest of the Mark Farren stand and the Sligo Rovers masterplan. Outside that I would be surprised to see meaningful shift

Fundamentally few seem to be at concept or planning stage much less shovel ready

[bohsmug]

Unfortunately you're probably right and if the track record is anything to go by you're even more likely to be right. 2030 is a very short time frame by our standards too. We're all hoping this is different. The league has a momentum I've never seen before but whether that translates to actual ground developments is another question altogether.

On the jodi thing Nesta.. yes but with caveats. You just need to have better dressing rooms and a few other things. I can live with the poles that obstruct the view, even what Bristol Rovers have built recently - although I'm sure there'd be disappointment with that. Athlone's main stand would tick a lot of boxes (maybe all?), especially in a ground that had at least 1 other stand. Most fans want toilets and a roof over their heads. Some want the option for a burger or a coffee. It really isn't much. Players and officials want reasonable dressing rooms and clubs need to have offices somewhere - onsite or in a training ground. Most of us don't want all that much really. Doesn't mean it's going to happen, hopefully it does happen all the same.

[nigel-harps1954]

Is there any update on the Harps stadium? Seems to have gone a bit quiet in that front.

Is the government money in the bag, and it's just up to the club to fundraise for its bit now? Is there a proposed starting date for work?


Shush, dont be asking such difficult questions, depends on who you ask and might still be a secret! Last I heard there was a grant application for an architect to resubmit new plans and the original builder wants the job.........well anythings possible!


It's with planning authorities again. Planning was resubmitted in December and the authorities requested more information in February. It's a list as long as your arm.

[yurt]

The growth in attendances in Galway has been particularly impressive. It wasn't that long ago that crowds there seemed to be in the region of 1,500 on a good day. It's not a big city (86000 at the last census), with competition from both the Gah and the rugby, so to be trebling attendances in a few years is a big leap.

Is there anything specific to the town that's been driving it?

I'm only back in Galway for a few weeks a year so I'm not best placed to answer. But with the post covid bounce for all clubs I don't think you can put it down to any one thing.

I think it being the best GUFC team in a generation is obviously a huge factor. I've also noticed that it feels like there's a lot more students coming to games, which has long since been a massively under-tapped market for us. Probably no coincidence that this surge in students happened in and around the same time the bar in EDP opened up.

[Nesta99]

It's with planning authorities again. Planning was resubmitted in December and the authorities requested more information in February. It's a list as long as your arm.

What info could the possibly be missing consiering all the different submissions at this stage. Unless info was ommitted in past applcatons?

[Roones26]

Unfortunately you're probably right and if the track record is anything to go by you're even more likely to be right. 2030 is a very short time frame by our standards too. We're all hoping this is different. The league has a momentum I've never seen before but whether that translates to actual ground developments is another question altogether.

On the jodi thing Nesta.. yes but with caveats. You just need to have better dressing rooms and a few other things. I can live with the poles that obstruct the view, even what Bristol Rovers have built recently - although I'm sure there'd be disappointment with that. Athlone's main stand would tick a lot of boxes (maybe all?), especially in a ground that had at least 1 other stand. Most fans want toilets and a roof over their heads. Some want the option for a burger or a coffee. It really isn't much. Players and officials want reasonable dressing rooms and clubs need to have offices somewhere - onsite or in a training ground. Most of us don't want all that much really. Doesn't mean it's going to happen, hopefully it does happen all the same.

At this juncture i think even the number of proposed redevelopments by clubs is a handful

[TVFBLOCKF]

The growth in attendances in Galway has been particularly impressive. It wasn't that long ago that crowds there seemed to be in the region of 1,500 on a good day. It's not a big city (86000 at the last census), with competition from both the Gah and the rugby, so to be trebling attendances in a few years is a big leap.

Is there anything specific to the town that's been driving it?

We pull in a lot from the county too and that's a huge catchment area of over 250k. The new bar has helped too, although this has impacted the atmosphere at games. Huge amount of kids attending games also. The return of Greg Cunningham helped as he has a big profile here. It's a lot of factors really and obviously winning games will always draw people in. The most important point to note is the huge increase in season ticket sales to from a few hundred to 1500+. This can point to people sticking around.

[brendy_éire]

Decent look at the new Brandywell Stand.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AD4FujgVW/

[nigel-harps1954]

What info could the possibly be missing consiering all the different submissions at this stage. Unless info was ommitted in past applcatons?

It's all on the Donegal county council planning website if you want to read through it. In a nutshell, the land has been reclassified as high potential in flood risk so an awful lot of extra drainage will need to take place, and flood prevention plans, that weren't all needed as part of previous plans.

There's an awful lot more to it, but that was the one that stood out to me the most.

[Nesta99]

That is not an easy fix unless its already had significant drainage work done,

[EatYerGreens]

It's all on the Donegal county council planning website if you want to read through it. In a nutshell, the land has been reclassified as high potential in flood risk so an awful lot of extra drainage will need to take place, and flood prevention plans, that weren't all needed as part of previous plans.

There's an awful lot more to it, but that was the one that stood out to me the most.

Wow. That sounds likely to be expensive.

[Elfman]

It's all on the Donegal county council planning website if you want to read through it. In a nutshell, the land has been reclassified as high potential in flood risk so an awful lot of extra drainage will need to take place, and flood prevention plans, that weren't all needed as part of previous plans.

There's an awful lot more to it, but that was the one that stood out to me the most.
Sorry to hear that Nigel. Sounds like that'll involve new designs, new cost estimates, etc. All of which will take even more time. Here's hoping for a speedy resolution for Harps.

[Kingdom]

It's all on the Donegal county council planning website if you want to read through it. In a nutshell, the land has been reclassified as high potential in flood risk so an awful lot of extra drainage will need to take place, and flood prevention plans, that weren't all needed as part of previous plans.

There's an awful lot more to it, but that was the one that stood out to me the most.

In the context of other building difficulties in the county recently, and cost of redress there, you can understand to a certain extent why the Co Co would have to pore over the application with extra care.

[redobit]

Decent look at the new Brandywell Stand.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AD4FujgVW/

It looks a tidy job.

Although front access seating does annoy me. On the railway end in the Showgies there's always people hanging around or people standing at the fence. Its the only route to the Jinks too so people walking in front of the stand.

[ForzaForth]

In Wexford, the "Rockshore" container has now arrived and presumably it'll be in use shortly. More interestingly, work is ongoing to put a new surface on the artificial training pitches which are at the far end of the carpark in Ferrycarrig for those who know the ground. It suggests that the move to the new ground in Killeens may take longer than we thought.

[Shearer]

Treaty United have announced a long term lease for the Markets Field.

Hopefully some improvements around the place following ten years of neglect from the LEDP.

[nr637]

Treaty United have announced a long term lease for the Markets Field.

Hopefully some improvements around the place following ten years of neglect from the LEDP.

What could these improvement be?

Are we talking covered proper terracing on the popular side or the cathedral end or just another plan to make a superficial tidying up look!

[Shearer]

What could these improvement be?

Are we talking covered proper terracing on the popular side or the cathedral end or just another plan to make a superficial tidying up look!
The popular side should have been stepped a long time ago, likewise something done with the cathedral end and Ball-hopper's corner.

That the, now condemned, temporary stand was there for so long speaks volumes about how arsed they were about the ground.

The only thing they bothered with is the pitch and they made sh*t of that plenty of times in the past too.

Small things like a lick of paint around the ground too, although the stadium manager did give a brilliant waffle response to criticism of same in the past.

https://x.com/marketsfield/status/1398770890993803268?t=YiWYKRRlSzMKc93vSvFOgw&s=19

It is now up to the club to do something positive with the ground. If they don't they will rightly be criticsed.

[Elfman]

I wish Treaty the best of luck and hope this news is the start of improvements but I'm genuinely confused - what's to celebrate here?

There's no timeline of the 'long-term lease' meaning it's probably not a hundred year lease with effective ownership for grants. Treaty will take on the maintenance costs of the stadium while presumably still paying rent and no improvements have been announced.

If I'm wrong here please do correct me but, apart from guarding against losing Limerick football's spiritual home, it sounds akin to a property tenant agreeing to renew their lease but this time will have to pay for home improvements because the landlord refused to. Or am I overegging this?

[Shearer]

I wish Treaty the best of luck and hope this news is the start of improvements but I'm genuinely confused - what's to celebrate here?

There's no timeline of the 'long-term lease' meaning it's probably not a hundred year lease with effective ownership for grants. Treaty will take on the maintenance costs of the stadium while presumably still paying rent and no improvements have been announced.

If I'm wrong here please do correct me but, apart from guarding against losing Limerick football's spiritual home, it sounds akin to a property tenant agreeing to renew their lease but this time will have to pay for home improvements because the landlord refused to. Or am I overegging this?
Securing the ground's future is a big thing in itself. Don't need Senior soccer in Pike, Jackman, Rathbane, etc.

No idea how long the lease is but considering the club and LEDP collaborated last year to apply for LSSIF, I'm sure there is capacity to apply for grants.

[Elfman]

Agreed and I don't want to diminish that aspect of it. Definitely need to be positive that it isn't an announcement that Treaty will on the move.

At the same time, I find it really odd that they haven't announced the length of the lease. As recently as last year, the CEO said they'd need a 25-year lease to apply for enough money to renovate the stadium: https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/i-want-treaty-united-fc-to-be-a-great-story-s7jxwc8p0?region=ie

If it's 25 years, why not say that?