Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[wonder88]

Agree, access would not be a major problem for 10-15k crowds as pointed out by marinobohs. I would say a lot still has to be worked out before any deal is made. Dublin property prices may not go much higher than at present, so there is a gamble involved for Zurich Bank, Bohs members, etc on the bargain they are likely to strike.

[redobit]

Not at the ground they don't??

In fairness we did have to leave the ground at half time to get a pint in the bar. But the bar backs onto the ground and the entrance to the pub is spitting distance from the turnstile.

[brendy_éire]

In fairness we did have to leave the ground at half time to get a pint in the bar. But the bar backs onto the ground and the entrance to the pub is spitting distance from the turnstile.

There's a door into the bar from the ground too.

[Nesta99]

Cliftonville fans not having the chance to verify the existance of a bar at Seaview not too surprising. They certainly are in no doubts of the whereabouts of the bars in Oriel and looked right at home when in town! Shamrock Rovers fans could probably question the existance of the Lilywhite Lounge having not been let within an ass's roar of the place but also looking right at home in their chosen place of libation when in town!

[Charlie Darwin]

Don't lump Cliftonville in with a horrible bunch of *******s like us.

[Nesta99]

Lol! No chance, Rovers fans are ... unique in their own special ways!

[SalvadorSanchez]

Would love to see Dalymount return to it's former glory. Fix up the existing stands, re-open the railway end, and fill in the horrible big gap left by demolishing half a stand and have a proper 15,000 all-seater that could be a secondary international ground as well as the flagship LOI ground. It's nothing less than a ground like Dalymount deserves.
15000 is not going to happen, access routes, inadequate public transport, residents concerns, existing crowd averages and safety concerns etc. will put a stop to a 15000 seater, if you think about it you'd have Shels with a crowd of 950 and Bohs with 2500 playing in a 15000 seater, you could put the entire attendance in just one end and still not fill the end!
Best chance to get it done is to build a small tidy modern ground that will IMPROVE the lot of the residents living around the ground, no way will they accept a 15000 seater at their back door and the potential for big crowds.
If you offer to replace Dalymount with a small modern ground that is on a smaller footprint than the existing Dalymount and isn't a crumbling, death trap, eyesore then the residents will back the idea. Getting planning for a 5000 seater in such an enclosed site would probably be impossible if you weren't trying to get rid of the existing ground....
There is no way it will ever serve as a second international ground or a venue for a cup final at 15000 it would be too small for the national team and too big for Clubs...

[nigel-harps1954]

Jesus...you're so negative..

[Nesta99]

You are very definite in what is essentially just your own personal conjecture sanchez. Residents in Phibsborough might be ok with a mere 15000 stadium compared to the historical capacity of the old place. The ground could also be designed to have sections closed unless needed as is currently the case at Dalymount anyway.

[toffeejay]

......strange, as the only part currently in use is the 'narrow alleys behind the Jodi'

Thus my point being that there is a big differnce between 1,500 using it and 15,000.

Ignoring the woeful NI vs Wales match infront of 529. The lowest Ireland figure at the Aviva I know of is 14k. With the top tear closed off it's what, 22-23k capacity? Is an alternative really needed? If a fairer price structure was in place or tickets given out to schools etc you could get 20k for even meaningless fixtures.
Hell 35,000 attended vs Gibralta, I just don't why spend more massive amounts of money on a 15,000 staduim for maybe one or two friendlies a year - if you are worried about the crowd maybe you shouldn't be arranging the fixture at home against such a small country like Oman.

6-7,000 would be more than adequete for Bohs vs Rovers and Ireland U21 games. It could also work alongside Tallaght as the neutral venue for League Cup and Setanta Finals, being switched depending on if Bohs/Rovers are playing in it.

Wondering what Shels fans think of this potential move? It needs to happen for them to survive financially but is another move and one to Bohs territory going to damage their already maligned support?

[nigel-harps1954]

Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but if the structure as it stands was all cleaned up and fixed, along with re-opening and renovating the old railway end, the capacity would already stand around 10-12,000? Doesn't the ground already have around 9,000 seats in it along with the closed stand?

[Acornvilla]

Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but if the structure as it stands was all cleaned up and fixed, along with re-opening and renovating the old railway end, the capacity would already stand around 10-12,000? Doesn't the ground already have around 9,000 seats in it along with the closed stand?

I wouldn't call anything outside the Jody a seat at this stage.

[SalvadorSanchez]

Jesus...you're so negative..

I'm not Jesus.....

[SalvadorSanchez]

I wouldn't call anything outside the Jody a seat at this stage.

Most of Dalyer is closed as a rule? they just use the Jodi now and the schoolend when the have to?
what with safety concerns over the stands and seating and the fact that the Tramway end is no longer owned by Bohs...

[Dodge]

Doesn't the ground already have around 9,000 seats in it along with the closed stand?

It's nowhere near that

[SalvadorSanchez]

You are very definite in what is essentially just your own personal conjecture sanchez. Residents in Phibsborough might be ok with a mere 15000 stadium compared to the historical capacity of the old place. The ground could also be designed to have sections closed unless needed as is currently the case at Dalymount anyway.

I accept that it is conjecture but major construction projects and (ahem) country music concerts seem to rile up people... Can't see the justification for 15,000 tbh....

[SalvadorSanchez]

Thus my point being that there is a big differnce between 1,500 using it and 15,000.

Ignoring the woeful NI vs Wales match infront of 529. The lowest Ireland figure at the Aviva I know of is 14k. With the top tear closed off it's what, 22-23k capacity? Is an alternative really needed? If a fairer price structure was in place or tickets given out to schools etc you could get 20k for even meaningless fixtures.
Hell 35,000 attended vs Gibralta, I just don't why spend more massive amounts of money on a 15,000 staduim for maybe one or two friendlies a year - if you are worried about the crowd maybe you shouldn't be arranging the fixture at home against such a small country like Oman.

6-7,000 would be more than adequete for Bohs vs Rovers and Ireland U21 games. It could also work alongside Tallaght as the neutral venue for League Cup and Setanta Finals, being switched depending on if Bohs/Rovers are playing in it.

Wondering what Shels fans think of this potential move? It needs to happen for them to survive financially but is another move and one to Bohs territory going to damage their already maligned support?

He's right you know......

Best build a proper, appropriate sized ground and spread some of the cash around to Pats/Drogs/Bray etc.....
St Mirrens ground cost £8million (€10.5 million) and that just holds 8000... I shudder to think what 15000 would cost

[gufcfan]

I'm not Jesus.....
That's a very negative attitude.

[nigel-harps1954]

I'm not Jesus.....

And you never will be with an attitude like that.


It's nowhere near that

A google search has come up with the figure of 7,947 seats between Jodi, Des Kelly stand and the closed side with the TV gantry. With a redeveloped Tramway end or Railway end or whatever it's called, surely that'd take it to at least 10,000. Perfect size for finals of League Cup, Setanta, Presidents Cup, and a couple of glamour friendlies each year.

[ger121]

And you never will be with an attitude like that.



A google search has come up with the figure of 7,947 seats between Jodi, Des Kelly stand and the closed side with the TV gantry. With a redeveloped Tramway end or Railway end or whatever it's called, surely that'd take it to at least 10,000. Perfect size for finals of League Cup, Setanta, Presidents Cup, and a couple of glamour friendlies each year.

Stop that talking sense nonsense! 10k is definitely possible in terms of size. Just depends on the cost to redevelop, as this is always the primary factor when it comes to building a new ground here.

[Nesta99]

He's right you know......

St Mirrens ground cost £8million (€10.5 million) and that just holds 8000... I shudder to think what 15000 would cost

Id hazzard a guess at £15m or about €18m?

[Mr_Parker]

Cliftonville fans not having the chance to verify the existance of a bar at Seaview not too surprising. They certainly are in no doubts of the whereabouts of the bars in Oriel and looked right at home when in town! Shamrock Rovers fans could probably question the existance of the Lilywhite Lounge having not been let within an ass's roar of the place but also looking right at home in their chosen place of libation when in town!

Many a reds fan enjoys a pint when at Seaview.

[SalvadorSanchez]

fair hazzarding(?)
Does €18million not sound like a lot for a ground that stands to draw a crowd of 1000 one week and 2500 every other week?

[nigel-harps1954]

fair hazzarding(?)
Does €18million not sound like a lot for a ground that stands to draw a crowd of 1000 one week and 2500 every other week?

Aviva Stadium. 51,000 all seater. Costs €400m, and gets used maybe 15-20 times a year between football and rugby. Most of the time it's only around half full, especially for the football.

Your argument is invalid.

[outspoken]

fair hazzarding(?)
Does €18million not sound like a lot for a ground that stands to draw a crowd of 1000 one week and 2500 every other week?

That argument is the one that has been holding back Irish football for years, we really don't help ourselves in that regard. Yes ambition costs money and we've seen when over ambitious what can happen in this league but without proper facilities we are only wasting our time.

[SalvadorSanchez]

Aviva Stadium. 51,000 all seater. Costs €400m, and gets used maybe 15-20 times a year between football and rugby. Most of the time it's only around half full, especially for the football.

Your argument is invalid.

I disagree, I believe my argument to be entirely valid.

Do you think that a 15,000 seater club ground that would operate at 6.6% capacity for Shels (1000) and 16.6% (2500) capacity for Bohs (average = 11.66%) would be good value and comparable to a national stadium for two professional sports being played at international level? As for fans' enjoyment.. just ask the Limerick boys about playing in Thomond Park... nice ground and facilities and all but total buzz kill when you have a couple of thousand in big empty ground.
€18 million would go a long way to bringing a number of league grounds up to standard rather than a just a single ground that would somehow manage to be too big (Clubs) and too small (Natl. Team/ Cup final) all at the same time....
New Finn Park is slated at what 6,000? That's about the right size for new club grounds in my opinion even if it isn't full all that often it's still not that much dearer than a really small ground and can generate money at big games or other events etc. it'll still be a lot cheaper than a 15,000 seater in Dublin. Just look at Turners Cross and Tallaght, they're our best grounds and they're nowhere near full as a rule...
Look I'm not negative but what I'd love to see is Drogs getting help with a new ground, Bray and Pats to get redevelopment money and clubs like Wexford, Longford, Dundalk and Athlone and other clubs to get some money towards improving facilities further rather than the FAI spunking away all it's Euros money building an "Aviva 2" in Phibsborough...
Based on the Aviva figures provided (51,000 capacity @ €400million)
A 15000 seat Dalymount could cost (15,000/51,000 = 0.294, €400million x .294 = €117million!)

[SalvadorSanchez]

That argument is the one that has been holding back Irish football for years, we really don't help ourselves in that regard. Yes ambition costs money and we've seen when over ambitious what can happen in this league but without proper facilities we are only wasting our time.

I agree, I'm all for ambition and I fully support the redevelopment of Dalymount Park into a modern first class facility for players and fans and local residents I believe that the project would be worthy of a spend of maybe €8-12 million, however, I also hope that a number of league grounds could be partially re-developed at the same time which would benefit the league more than a mini Aviva stadium that could cost north of €25million
If Shels and Bohs can make a fist of matching Rovers and Cork for crowds then great... more power to them, I humbly suggest that 6,000 may be an appropriate size...
Eibar in the Spanish Primera Liga play in a 6000 seater ground and will host Real/Barca/Valencia etc.
The Cross is 7500, Tallaght 6,000(?) I just don't believe that a big capacity ground is the right thing for Dalymount...

[nigel-harps1954]

While I disagree whole-heartedly with Dalymount only holding around 6,000, as technically, the ground would be made smaller after redevelopment, I agree that any substantial amounts of money would be better spent across the league as a whole in improving all the grounds. There are too many unfinished and unfit for use grounds across the League of Ireland and a huge step forward for the league would be to see everyone in top class facilities.

[SalvadorSanchez]

While I disagree whole-heartedly with Dalymount only holding around 6,000, as technically, the ground would be made smaller after redevelopment, I agree that any substantial amounts of money would be better spent across the league as a whole in improving all the grounds. There are too many unfinished and unfit for use grounds across the League of Ireland and a huge step forward for the league would be to see everyone in top class facilities.
fair enough, redevelopment will be a big bonus for the league.....
Speaking of grounds, hows new finn park coming? are ye going to complete the place this year?

[littlebray]

Perfect size for finals of League Cup, Setanta, Presidents Cup, and a couple of glamour friendlies each year.

Setanta? Setanta? Anyone here for Cúchulainn?? Who's he signed for, anyway?

[White Horse]

There would be a sizeable improvement in the standard of stadium facilities if €18m was spread over all clubs in the premier division.

[nigel-harps1954]

There would be a sizeable improvement in the standard of stadium facilities if €18m was spread over all clubs in the premier division.

The likes of Wexford, Cobh, Athlone and a few other First Division clubs may have something to say about that, especially seeing as a few Premier Division clubs don't particularly need anything done with their grounds.

[Dodge]

The likes of Wexford, Cobh, Athlone and a few other First Division clubs may have something to say about that, especially seeing as a few Premier Division clubs don't particularly need anything done with their grounds.

Every ground needs work on it. The best, Turners Cross, has no toilets for away fans for example.

It's all pie in the sky nonsense as regards €18m but you can't argue that circa €1m to each of the current LOI grounds wouldn't make a hugely positive impact

[Charlie Darwin]

It would certainly have a positive impact on the players' wage packets.

[nigel-harps1954]

Every ground needs work on it. The best, Turners Cross, has no toilets for away fans for example.

It's all pie in the sky nonsense as regards €18m but you can't argue that circa €1m to each of the current LOI grounds wouldn't make a hugely positive impact

I agree 100%. But only picking at White Horses point €18m could be spread amongst Premier Division clubs rather than around the League clubs who need it the most.

For instance, the likes of Tallaght doesn't particularly need it, Finn Harps are having a new ground built, so I'm not sure where that extra €1m would go. Markets Field is being redone with money already there, and funding is apparently already going to the likes of Turners Cross and Terryland. Any €18m extra would be better served bringing Ferrycarraig Park, United Park, Dalymount Park, and wherever else needed it up to scratch, as well as tidying up places like Lissywollen, City Calling etc.

[Acornvilla]

I'll take a roof for the section 0 side of the ground if anyone wants to grant us one :P

[Dodge]

I agree 100%. But only picking at White Horses point €18m could be spread amongst Premier Division clubs rather than around the League clubs who need it the most.

For instance, the likes of Tallaght doesn't particularly need it, Finn Harps are having a new ground built, so I'm not sure where that extra €1m would go. Markets Field is being redone with money already there, and funding is apparently already going to the likes of Turners Cross and Terryland. Any €18m extra would be better served bringing Ferrycarraig Park, United Park, Dalymount Park, and wherever else needed it up to scratch, as well as tidying up places like Lissywollen, City Calling etc.
Maybe but I wouldn't have a problem with a few grounds getting prioritised, nor do I think the better grounds here should be punished by missing out here (if it was an option)

[Longfordian]

I'll take a roof for the section 0 side of the ground if anyone wants to grant us one :P

A roof over the far side, upgrade the lights, and maybe tidy up the far end. If (when!) we ever get back into Europe I think we'd have to extend the pitch so the plan would to be extend it into the far end. Maybe put a few rows of seats above it. €2m should do it thanks John.

[punkrocket]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/dublin-city-council-close-to-finalising-a-deal-to-buy-dalymount-park-1.2063377

tick tock Tolka

[Longfordian]

Artificial pitch? Uh oh.

[Ezeikial]

Artificial pitch? Uh oh.

Outrageous idea.

[disgruntled]

Artificial pitch.
Great idea.
No need for a groundsman.
Would you get potholes in an artificial pitch I wonder ?

[nigel-harps1954]

(Obligatory council house jibe)

[oriel]

As per Dundalk Democrat today, the club chairman indicates they will make a decision at the end of this season whether to return to grass or completely relay it with another artifical surface.

Also said the owners need to sort out some lease issues before they can press ahead with any rebuilding/improvements of the ground, saying they can only apply at that point for capital sports grant.

Hopefully in time all of this will see a much overdue face lift of Oriel Park.

[Charlie Darwin]

If DCC time this one right they can buy Dundalk's pitch to save money on developing Dalymount.

[SalvadorSanchez]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/dublin-city-council-close-to-finalising-a-deal-to-buy-dalymount-park-1.2063377

tick tock Tolka

Great news... looks like JD and Co. lit the fire before Dublin property prices start to go really mad again
Anyone else uneasy about the "other sports" element that DCC want included at the new Dalymount...
that could be much more trouble than anything to do with the artificial pitch (which if done right would probably be ok)
Over all looks like good news...more power to ye lads!

[Charlie Darwin]

Any Dundalk fans know what the issue with the lease is?

“We still have the issue of the lease at Oriel Park not being resolved which prevents us at this moment in time from getting a Sports Capital Grant. That’s an issue that is in the pipeline to be resolved please God. If that is, then we will try and go from there."

[White Horse]

Any Dundalk fans know what the issue with the lease is?

“We still have the issue of the lease at Oriel Park not being resolved which prevents us at this moment in time from getting a Sports Capital Grant. That’s an issue that is in the pipeline to be resolved please God. If that is, then we will try and go from there."

I suspect it relates to the ownership of Youth Development Centre (Oriel Active). It wasn't taken over by the new shareholders and is still owned by the previous owner. However, Oriel Park is leased to Dundalk FC with strict conditions as it's use.

[vinnie]

I'd say it'd be like Tallaght, they've played American football and Rugby there, the National archery championships were held there too If I'm not mistaken


Great news... looks like JD and Co. lit the fire before Dublin property prices start to go really mad again
Anyone else uneasy about the "other sports" element that DCC want included at the new Dalymount...
that could be much more trouble than anything to do with the artificial pitch (which if done right would probably be ok)
Over all looks like good news...more power to ye lads!

[Mr A]

They asked to have the national archery championships in Finn Park but we pointedly refused and after we said no to the American football they looked a touch down.