Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[BonnieShels]

Deal reached with Shelbourne. Basically the same story the Sun had but 98fm had an interview with DCC to go along with it.

http://www.98fm.com/Dublin-City-Council:-Deal-Reached-With-Shelbourne-To-Move-To-Dalymount

Interesting to note though, there's an artists rendering of what the stadium will look like, although Shels have said:

"We hope to be in a position to announce our part in the project in the coming weeks."
"We expect to be relinquishing our interests in Tolka Park and moving to a revamped Dalymount as Co-Anchor Tenants with Bohemians, but as the plans for the new stadium have neither been drawn up, or discussed in detail, yet we will not be commenting further at this stage.""
http://foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=2458&stc=1


That's just Thomond Park ain't it?

[ger121]

That's just Thomond Park ain't it?

No, that's your new home. You know the one you'll be sharing with your dear neighbours

[Dodge]

To be fair, that's just the initial plan for Dalymount released by the Council a while back. It wasn't meant to be the actual plan for the ground

[ForzaHoop]

I think its great news for the league, brand new stadium, shame both teams couldn't develop one each but a Municipal stadium is perfect for them and great for the league, its up to each Club to market club to bring in the crowd now
If only other Councils would follow the idea and develop stadiums
Still no news on the 1/4 finished Harps ground

[fionnsci]

I think its great news for the league, brand new stadium, shame both teams couldn't develop one each but a Municipal stadium is perfect for them and great for the league, its up to each Club to market club to bring in the crowd now
If only other Councils would follow the idea and develop stadiums
Still no news on the 1/4 finished Harps ground

For Bohs it's a cushy deal, they get to stay in their own ground, totally rebuilt and have their debt cleared. I don't see how Shelbourne will be able to sustain themselves
t's probably better than the status quo for Shels too but it's not perfect, they're moving moved into an area that already identifies with a different club. It's going to be hard for them to distinguish themselves.

[El-Pietro]

For Bohs it's a cushy deal, they get to stay in their own ground, totally rebuilt and have their debt cleared. I don't see how Shelbourne will be able to sustain themselves
t's probably better than the status quo for Shels too but it's not perfect, they're moving moved into an area that already identifies with a different club. It's going to be hard for them to distinguish themselves.

TO be fair, they are moving a mile. It's not like the had the run of North Dublin to themselves.

[Ezeikial]

TO be fair, they are moving a mile. It's not like the had the run of North Dublin to themselves.

But there is no direct bus from Tolka

[fionnsci]

Yes and I'm sure their current fans will continue to support them as there isn't far to go. I'm talking about a generation down the line. The catchment area of both clubs has been merged. Where will the next generation of Shels fans come from? Drumcondra? Do young people in Ringsend still follow Shels?

[El-Pietro]

The catchment area was already merged. They aren't any worse off as a result of this move. Moving to an area that they could make their own would have been better off but it shouldn't be any more difficult to get new fans as a result of the move. In fact, moving to a much nicer facility can only help them. They need a plan to bring new fans in, whether that be from Drumcondra, Ringsend or wherever, but this stadium won't hurt them. The LUAS extension should be a massive benefit.

[Paddyfield]

Can't wait actually. Staying in Dalyer and a new ground. What's not to like:confused:

Here's what I wouldn't like. Renovating my home on the condition of sharing my bed with my hagged and bitter next door neighbour for the rest of my life. But hey, if it floats your boat....

[sbgawa]

its great for the league.
in a few years time with that and the work the Council are going to do in Tallaght we will have two fantastic grounds in Dublin capable of hosting European games for whatever teams qualify.

If Dundalk spend their recent windfall on a refurb of Oriel Park or a new Stadium the LOI will be looking up

[Dalymountrower]

Here's what I wouldn't like. Renovating my home on the condition of sharing my bed with my hagged and bitter next door neighbour for the rest of my life. But hey, if it floats your boat....
Didn't realise you had such bitter rivalry with Connacht rugby.?
Cant mean Bohs as there is no question of us sharing with Rovers.We have no other bitter rivals AFAIK , if you exclude ball hopping cheaters from the north east ( for a week or twp)

[Philosophizer]

its great for the league.
in a few years time with that and the work the Council are going to do in Tallaght we will have two fantastic grounds in Dublin capable of hosting European games for whatever teams qualify.

If Dundalk spend their recent windfall on a refurb of Oriel Park or a new Stadium the LOI will be looking up

Whisper it, but many LOI grounds are actually in a decent state nowadays, or else there are plans in place to improve:


Cork: Excellent ground.
Shams: Excellent ground and plans afoot to start building 3rd stand next year. Latest here (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/tallaght-stadium-to-get-third-stand-after-receiving-250000-in-funding-34130004.html)
Bohs/Shels: Will groundshare in rebuilt Dalyer by 2020 hopefully. Latest here (http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/irishfootball/7230615/Shelbourne-and-Bohemians-groundsharing-deal-moves-closer.html)
Dundalk: With their recent cash injection I’d imagine they’ll sort out the lease situation and improve Oriel greatly or start afresh on a new site.
Sligo: Fine ground.
Galway: Fine ground, and outstanding playing surface.
Longford: Outstanding all-seater ground by LOI standards.
Waterford: Outstanding ground, albeit slightly hindered by the running track.
Limerick: Moving back home to renovated MF seems to have given Limerick a real boost. I’ve never been there but it certainly looks decent on TV.
Derry: One great curved stand and the council have been allocated funding to build a new stand on opposite side.
Pats: Richmond park is decent enough by LOI standards.
UCD: Lovely little ground.
Harps: Quarter built new ground. Will be nice whenever it’s finished…
Wexford: Fine ground for the crowds they get. One nice pop-up stand. Also wine on sale.
Bray: OK ground. Outstanding location.
Athlone: One very nice stand in a relatively new ground, which more than caters for the numbers they get currently.
Drogs: Undoubtedly the most thrown together stadium in the league. Nothing really good to say about this one but apparently there is a plan in place to build a new ground somewhere in the town.
Cobh: Putting a plan in place to buy back St Colman’s park afaik.
Cabo: Lovely bar in Stradbrook. That is all.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Think that's the first time I have ever that bray was an outstanding location

[patrickccfc]

Think that's the first time I have ever that bray was an outstanding location

Bray, an outstanding location, maybe if you were a penguin. Bloody freezing every time I've been there

[Philosophizer]

Bray, an outstanding location, maybe if you were a penguin. Bloody freezing every time I've been there

Fair point, it can be Baltic. But I walked past it a couple of months ago on a random Sunday in glorious sunshine while an underage match was going on and it looked great. It's in the heart of old Bray, train station about 20m from the ground, fine little pop-up stand, fans are tight to the pitch. Fairly good IMO.

[patrickccfc]

Fair point, it can be Baltic. But I walked past it a couple of months ago on a random Sunday in glorious sunshine while an underage match was going on and it looked great. It's in the heart of old Bray, train station about 20m from the ground, fine little pop-up stand, fans are tight to the pitch. Fairly good IMO.

Couldn't comment on a sunny day in bray as I've never seen one. A roof on the away section would be a welcome addition if ever possible

[ger121]

Here's what I wouldn't like. Renovating my home on the condition of sharing my bed with my hagged and bitter next door neighbour for the rest of my life. But hey, if it floats your boat....

Don't you technically share your bed with all your neighbours though? Merve, Salthill not ring a bell? Jesus you guys have short memories. Must be all that club inbreeding:hug2:

[marinobohs]

Whisper it, but many LOI grounds are actually in a decent state nowadays, or else there are plans in place to improve:


Cork: Excellent ground.
Shams: Excellent ground and plans afoot to start building 3rd stand next year. Latest here (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/tallaght-stadium-to-get-third-stand-after-receiving-250000-in-funding-34130004.html)
Bohs/Shels: Will groundshare in rebuilt Dalyer by 2020 hopefully. Latest here (http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/irishfootball/7230615/Shelbourne-and-Bohemians-groundsharing-deal-moves-closer.html)
Dundalk: With their recent cash injection I’d imagine they’ll sort out the lease situation and improve Oriel greatly or start afresh on a new site.
Sligo: Fine ground.
Galway: Fine ground, and outstanding playing surface.
Longford: Outstanding all-seater ground by LOI standards.
Waterford: Outstanding ground, albeit slightly hindered by the running track.
Limerick: Moving back home to renovated MF seems to have given Limerick a real boost. I’ve never been there but it certainly looks decent on TV.
Derry: One great curved stand and the council have been allocated funding to build a new stand on opposite side.
Pats: Richmond park is decent enough by LOI standards.
UCD: Lovely little ground.
Harps: Quarter built new ground. Will be nice whenever it’s finished…
Wexford: Fine ground for the crowds they get. One nice pop-up stand. Also wine on sale.
Bray: OK ground. Outstanding location.
Athlone: One very nice stand in a relatively new ground, which more than caters for the numbers they get currently.
Drogs: Undoubtedly the most thrown together stadium in the league. Nothing really good to say about this one but apparently there is a plan in place to build a new ground somewhere in the town.
Cobh: Putting a plan in place to buy back St Colman’s park afaik.
Cabo: Lovely bar in Stradbrook. That is all.



......damn it, now the barstoolers will have to come up with a NEW reason not to go to matches :waving:

[Philosophizer]

......damn it, now the barstoolers will have to come up with a NEW reason not to go to matches :waving:

Oh don't worry, no matter what improvements are made they'll always have plenty of new excuses...

[marinobohs]

Oh don't worry, no matter what improvements are made they'll always have plenty of new excuses...

what ? no Jacuzzi in the away end ? when I was at Old trafford.......:rolleyes:

[redarmyfaction]

Presume that's depressing ?

Apart from the Jodi Stand, which is in half decent knick, the rest of the ground is rarely used. Not sure why we would waste time/resources on parts of the ground we don't use (and no longer own).

Almost all away fans (except on AGS advice) have access to Jodi Stand and shops, chipper, bars etc. Cant think of many grounds with better facilities for away fans and know most have less. Given the area, public transport, parking etc is all readily available and close to the ground.

what exactly do people want ? (we may ask DCC to look at incorporating an airport in the new stadium :cool:)

If you have no use for 3 sides of the ground its hard to see the point in building a new stadium.

[Philosophizer]

If you have no use for 3 sides of the ground its hard to see the point in building a new stadium.

It's not Bohs decision (or Shels for that matter) to build a 4 sided stadium. It's totally up to the DCC. Similar to how SDCC (not Rovers) decided to add a third stand in Tallaght when the current stands are never anywhere near capacity.

They must have an eye on hosting concerts or maybe using it as a venue for the Rugby world cup or something.

[nigel-harps1954]

Whisper it, but many LOI grounds are actually in a decent state nowadays, or else there are plans in place to improve:


Cork: Excellent ground.
Shams: Excellent ground and plans afoot to start building 3rd stand next year. Latest here (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/tallaght-stadium-to-get-third-stand-after-receiving-250000-in-funding-34130004.html)
Bohs/Shels: Will groundshare in rebuilt Dalyer by 2020 hopefully. Latest here (http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/irishfootball/7230615/Shelbourne-and-Bohemians-groundsharing-deal-moves-closer.html)
Dundalk: With their recent cash injection I’d imagine they’ll sort out the lease situation and improve Oriel greatly or start afresh on a new site.
Sligo: Fine ground.
Galway: Fine ground, and outstanding playing surface.
Longford: Outstanding all-seater ground by LOI standards.
Waterford: Outstanding ground, albeit slightly hindered by the running track.
Limerick: Moving back home to renovated MF seems to have given Limerick a real boost. I’ve never been there but it certainly looks decent on TV.
Derry: One great curved stand and the council have been allocated funding to build a new stand on opposite side.
Pats: Richmond park is decent enough by LOI standards.
UCD: Lovely little ground.
Harps: Quarter built new ground. Will be nice whenever it’s finished…
Wexford: Fine ground for the crowds they get. One nice pop-up stand. Also wine on sale.
Bray: OK ground. Outstanding location.
Athlone: One very nice stand in a relatively new ground, which more than caters for the numbers they get currently.
Drogs: Undoubtedly the most thrown together stadium in the league. Nothing really good to say about this one but apparently there is a plan in place to build a new ground somewhere in the town.
Cobh: Putting a plan in place to buy back St Colman’s park afaik.
Cabo: Lovely bar in Stradbrook. That is all.



I'm sorry, but the whole 'by LOI standards' is a load of sh!te. It's either a good stadium, or a poor stadium. There's no really good stadium in the LOI outside of maybe Tallaght. There's decent stadia, relatively comfortable grounds, but no 'outstanding' grounds, as you've put it.

Cork, Sligo, Galway, Waterford and the aforementioned Shamrock Rovers have all good comfortable grounds, but not without problems. Corks lack of away toilets and general facilities within the ground, Sligos old stand and no roof over the new stand really holding back the rest of the ground from being probably the best in the league, Galway needing a bit more in the way of decent toilets and general match-night facilities in the old stand, Waterford having a god awful running track and not much in the way of decent turnstiles.
There's okay grounds in Longford, Limerick, Derry, Pats, UCD, Athlone and Cobh. Longford has been let go to ruin in certain parts and feels totally unfinished, Limerick need Markets Field finished, fabulous main stand, pretty much nothing happening outside of that, Derry obviously needing the new stand, Pats having a proper old ground but a pop up stand behind the goal and needing modernisation in other parts, UCD and Athlone both just single stands, Athlone in particular having wasteland beyond their only stand, and Cobh, while a great spot for all they require, still miles away from being a really good ground.
There's so, so much wrong with the rest in my view. Bohs/Shels badly needing the new ground, Dundalk need to do up Oriel, Harps so badly needing the new ground, Wexford having the best clubhouse in the country with a pop up stand and thrown-together perimeter fencing, Brays pop up stand and a run down away side with no roof, Drogheda needing a new ground and Cabinteely having a great bar in Stradbrook and a god-awful spectator unfriendly ground.

There's not enough money in the country to fix up all the stadia here to a really good standard.

[fionnsci]

I love Richmond Park but I think it's getting off a little light above, every side needs work. Could do with a main stand with less cramped seats and no poles holding up the roof. Combined with the floodlights and dugouts, the view can be pretty bad. The stand behind the goal could do with a roof - I'd move the singing section there if it had a roof, freeing up the main stand for a proper family section away from the singers. The paving in the Shed also needs work, the bottom step of the terrace is too far away from the pitch. Camac is grand except for the floodlights blocking the view.

I'm not "in the know" but I haven't heard talk of work being done or on the St Michael's Estate stadium plan in a long time. A little disheartening when you see every other team in Dublin improving their situations (or having it improved for them).

[Paddyfield]

Didn't realise you had such bitter rivalry with Connacht rugby.?
Cant mean Bohs as there is no question of us sharing with Rovers. We have no other bitter rivals AFAIK , if you exclude ball hopping cheaters from the north east ( for a week or twp)

Connacht Rugby play a different sport to Galway United FC.. There's a clue in their name.

Soon ye will be moving to Tolka with Shels. They are the nearest other LOI club to Bohs. Good to hear that you are not bitter rivals anymore. It will make cohabitation easy.

BTW, Bohs have shared with Rovers in the past. That worked out fine.


Seriously, I love my trips to Dalymount. It's by far my favourite ground in Dublin. The potential is massive.

[Paddyfield]

Don't you technically share your bed with all your neighbours though? Merve, Salthill not ring a bell? Jesus you guys have short memories. Must be all that club inbreeding:hug2:

Mervue and Salthill have their own home grounds. Neither of them play in the League of Ireland anymore. So technically, you are incorrect. Keep up.

[Dalymountrower]

Connacht Rugby play a different sport to Galway United FC.. There's a clue in their name.

Soon ye will be moving to Tolka with Shels. They are the nearest other LOI club to Bohs. Good to hear that you are not bitter rivals anymore. It will make cohabitation easy.

BTW, Bohs have shared with Rovers in the past. That worked out fine.


Seriously, I love my trips to Dalymount. It's by far my favourite ground in Dublin. The potential is massive.

Yes Paddy, Rovers were our tenants for two periods over that last 30 years. Also shared terracing under the shed with little or no bother when we played each other during one tenancy period 29 years ago or so. Unimaginable now, unfortunately.

Anyway, any bitterness against Shels ended when Ollie died and they imploded. I can`t see Shels getting smaller crowds than they are getting now when they move to a shiny new stadium, so its not exactly a death knell for them.

[total hoofball]

Yes Paddy, Rovers were our tenants for two periods over that last 30 years. Also shared terracing under the shed with little or no bother when we played each other during one tenancy period 29 years ago or so. Unimaginable now, unfortunately.

Anyway, any bitterness against Shels ended when Ollie died and they imploded. I can`t see Shels getting smaller crowds than they are getting now when they move to a shiny new stadium, so its not exactly a death knell for them.
Shels are going to need to grow their attendances significantly from their current level (guessing 500 or so regulars) or seriously tap into lapsed supporters to have any chance of making Dalymount work, in Bohs home ground and catchment area it's very unlikely. It may help Shels to get promoted back to the top-flight before the move but they are lightyears away from that based on evidence on the pitch.

[El-Pietro]

Its a mile away from where they currently play, there is no way this move hurts them.

[Dodge]

Its a mile away from where they currently play, there is no way this move hurts them.

Of course it does. It gives plenty of people looking for an excuse not to go to have one.

Not to mention they're playing second fiddle now. Never a good look

[Longfordian]

Shels have been very quiet on the specifics of the deal which suggests they won't have much to be bragging about despite supposedly being "co-anchor tenants".

[toffeejay]

In the short term its good for Shels but long term they'll be worse off. Can't see them being able to attract future fans at Dalymount.

Where would most Shels fans be from nowadays? Around Ringsend or Drumcondra? Are they even the main supported team around Tolka or would Bohs be more popular?

[Philosophizer]

In the short term its good for Shels but long term they'll be worse off. Can't see them being able to attract future fans at Dalymount.

Where would most Shels fans be from nowadays? Around Ringsend or Drumcondra? Are they even the main supported team around Tolka or would Bohs be more popular?

I think they'll have more chance of attracting new fans at a shiny new Dalyer than they would in the crumbling ruin that is Tolka.
More of their fans would come from Drumcondra these days rather than Ringsend, and Shels would certainly be the main LOI team around Tolka park, as you'd expect.

[fionnsci]

Are they getting anything out of the Tolka deal or will the whole thing be pretty much a break even for them as with Bohs? If they got anything out of it, it might stand to them to keep some kind of presence in Drumcondra. Like a pub. A reminder to the locals that the club is still there to be supported. I hope it works out but looking 30 years down the line, I find it hard to see the "sure it's only a mile away" argument holding up. By then it'll simply be two clubs in the same location competing for the small number of LOI fans in north Dublin city.

[pineapple stu]

If they can wipe their debts from the proceeds, Shels will have done fairly well I'd say?

[Charlie Darwin]

They'll be lucky to have a fraction of it wiped. Shels are fupped.

[pateen]

Whats the actual story with Finn Harps new ground. No money, planning issues, club in fighting .... all the above + more?

[ForzaHoop]

Waiting on monies from FAI to pay builder, builder I think wants full payment up front but FAI will only pay in installments as in when stand finished they pay but he wants all the money up front
hard to know full story as Club very quiet

[Longfordian]

They'll be lucky to have a fraction of it wiped. Shels are fupped.

If that's the case, and I'm sure it is, given that they'll no longer have any assets once this goes through surely they should just do a Derry/Cork/Galway and start again with a new debt free company?

[Charlie Darwin]

If that's the case, and I'm sure it is, given that they'll no longer have any assets once this goes through surely they should just do a Derry/Cork/Galway and start again with a new debt free company?
It would depend on how the club is incorporated and lots of other stuff. Derry, as far as I know, was transferred to another company before the company that owned the club went into liquidation so it wasn't subject to a wind-up order from the courts, but Cork City and Shamrock Rovers had to be given permission to write down debts by the courts. Galway had to set up an entirely new club. I don't know what Shelbourne's precise situation would be.

[Dodge]

If that's the case, and I'm sure it is, given that they'll no longer have any assets once this goes through surely they should just do a Derry/Cork/Galway and start again with a new debt free company?

They don't have any assets now. So they're not losing much

[sbgawa]

If that's the case, and I'm sure it is, given that they'll no longer have any assets once this goes through surely they should just do a Derry/Cork/Galway and start again with a new debt free company?

They are probably just waiting until the move to Dalymount as the right time to have a Shelbourne 2018 etc reincarnation.
No point in forming a new company now and struggling along until the move.
If they did it now the chances are the "new" club would be insolvent again by the time the stadium opens (based on current crowds)

[nigel-harps1954]

Whats the actual story with Finn Harps new ground. No money, planning issues, club in fighting .... all the above + more?

Nobody really knows the exact story. A lot of people don't believe it'll ever be finished.

Was down there recently though and it's not a pretty sight at the minute.

[ger121]

Nobody really knows the exact story. A lot of people don't believe it'll ever be finished.

Was down there recently though and it's not a pretty sight at the minute.

Another Irish Football story of broken dreams....

[Nesta99]

I know there are many theories on the delays with Harps new grount but it is simply a swap of land for the build but the land is now worth damn all now in relative terms. The builder isnt going to make killing turning Finn Park in to flats so just doesnt fancy holding up his side of the 'bargain'. Harps probably cant or dont want to push the legal route assuming there was a contract signed in hope that it will be resolved. Sounds like Harps (and the rest of us) need Councils for a dig out to to finish things off.

[Dalymountrower]

I think they'll have more chance of attracting new fans at a shiny new Dalyer than they would in the crumbling ruin that is Tolka.
More of their fans would come from Drumcondra these days rather than Ringsend, and Shels would certainly be the main LOI team around Tolka park, as you'd expect.

Not too many Shels fans in Drumcondra. East Wall/ North Strand/ Ballybough and Dublin North East Suburbs is where the younger fans seem to be from ,given the direction they leave Tolka.

[legendz]

Are more developments in line for the Markets Field? AFAIK there was going to be improvements in phases.

[ger121]

Are more developments in line for the Markets Field? AFAIK there was going to be improvements in phases.

Don't mention ze war!

[JDsJocks]

Are more developments in line for the Markets Field? AFAIK there was going to be improvements in phases.

It would be nice to see a stand on the popular side. And a decent modern one like Tallaght.