Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[Candystripe]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-38158441?SThisFB


Hopefully this goes ahead within the same time frame as the stage one plan.

Bulldozers already in and working in the Brandywell today.

[joey B]

Ah, not Riverside then.
Latest news is that it'll be Maginn Park all season, with Sligo for the European games.
Buncrana for an entire year would be utterly disastrous from an attendance POV. You'd be getting a few hundred.
Having 2 NW Derbies in Maginn will be a nightmare aswell......

[brendy_éire]

Having 2 NW Derbies in Maginn will be a nightmare aswell......

Standing space, parking and seating will be massive issues.

There's 450 seats from the Lone Moor side available to put in Maginn, but, depending on who you chat to, only 220 are going to be used. Not enough for our own supporters, never mind anyone else's. And what happens when, as it undoubtably will be, it's lashing down and you get everyone trying to get under the roof? Besides that, the capacity of Maginn Park is around 2,500, which is very small. What allocation does a club have to give away fans, 10%? Harps would get 22 seating tickets, 228 standing.

The more I think about it, the more I believe Maginn Park just isn't suitable. But we seem to be stuck with it. Maybe. There's a complete lack of information (maybe because no deal is sorted yet), but it's going to decimate season ticket sales. I'd guess we have more than 220 ST holders who phyiscally won't be able to stand for two hours, so straight away you've people unable to attend matches for an entire season. Would they even bother coming back in 2018?
Riverside is the most logical option here. So naturally it'll be ignored.

For reference, the covered area is this:
https://media.rivermedia.ie/YToyOntzOjQ6ImRhdGEiO3M6MjU2OiJhOjQ6e3M6MzoidXJsIj tzOjEyNDoiaHR0cDovL3MzLWV1LXdlc3QtMS5hbWF6b25hd3Mu Y29tL3N0b3JhZ2UucHVibGlzaGVycGx1cy5pZS9tZWRpYS5yaX Zlcm1lZGlhLmllL3VwbG9hZHMvMjAxNi8wNC8wNjEyMDg1OC9Q YWdlLTk2LTEwMjR4Njg3LmpwZyI7czo1OiJ3aWR0aCI7aTo2ND A7czo2OiJoZWlnaHQiO2k6MzczO3M6NzoiZGVmYXVsdCI7czo0 ODoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZG9uZWdhbG5vdy5jb20vYXNzZXRzL2 kvbm8taW1hZ2UucG5nIjt9IjtzOjQ6Imhhc2giO3M6NDA6ImM0 MGIzM2JhYTM4MGVjYTM1M2Q5MzU4YjRmNTZiMmU3ZmVlZWQyNz QiO30=/the-candy-stripes-are-coming-to-maginn-park.jpg

Couple of more general views of the place:
https://m0.sportsjoe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/07134838/69822_101708859898436_1933792_n-1.jpg
http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/soccer/venues/600x450/8995.jpg

[nigel-harps1954]

You'll never squeeze 2,500 into Maginn. That would be absolute carnage.

[fionnsci]

Why is Institute's ground not an option? Cultural background of the area, relationship with the club, IFA, what have you?

[brendy_éire]

Why is Institute's ground not an option? Cultural background of the area, relationship with the club, IFA, what have you?

The reasons given not for using for the last half dozen games of last season (when we thought work was starting in August) was that we couldn't get Friday nights. Apparently the FAI wouldn't let us change to Saturdays midway through the season. That wouldn't be an issue next year.
Various excuses such as the FAI not having jurisdiction and being in a unionist area have been also mentioned.
The jurisdiction thing is a non-issue, the FAI would have as much or as little jurisdiction as they do over the Brandywell.
The area is mainly middle class unionist, alongside an arterial road with no housing on the city-bound side of it. Some people, and I'll generalise by saying it seems to be the older generation, think it has the potential to attract trouble. I really don't buy that. The area is really well suited for matches, with decent car park, a main road free of housing into town. It can be very easily policed, as it is for bigger Institute matches.
There aren't any bars particularly handy to it either, so it'd be straight in and out for most people. If anything, it'd make a safer venue than the Brandywell.
Relations between the clubs are great, with many fans supporting both. The ground is owned the YMCA though, not that that should be an issue either.

IMO, it's the blindingly obvious choice over Maginn Park, in a town of 7,000 people 23km away.

[outspoken]

The reasons given not for using for the last half dozen games of last season (when we thought work was starting in August) was that we couldn't get Friday nights. Apparently the FAI wouldn't let us change to Saturdays midway through the season. That wouldn't be an issue next year.
Various excuses such as the FAI not having jurisdiction and being in a unionist area have been also mentioned.
The jurisdiction thing is a non-issue, the FAI would have as much or as little jurisdiction as they do over the Brandywell.
The area is mainly middle class unionist, alongside an arterial road with no housing on the city-bound side of it. Some people, and I'll generalise by saying it seems to be the older generation, think it has the potential to attract trouble. I really don't buy that. The area is really well suited for matches, with decent car park, a main road free of housing into town. It can be very easily policed, as it is for bigger Institute matches.
There aren't any bars particularly handy to it either, so it'd be straight in and out for most people. If anything, it'd make a safer venue than the Brandywell.
Relations between the clubs are great, with many fans supporting both. The ground is owned the YMCA though, not that that should be an issue either.

IMO, it's the blindingly obvious choice over Maginn Park, in a town of 7,000 people 23km away.

That Friday night excuse is bull. One of tony cousins genius ideas a few years ago was to switch games to Friday nights when we've always played on Saturdays. It failed miserably and we went back to Saturday's so don't see why the FAI would block ye from moving

[pineapple stu]

Other issue with Institute is that people will just stand on top of the hill and watch the game from outside the ground.

[nigel-harps1954]

Institute pitch would require serious upkeep though while both seasons are running. Maginn Park has a superb playing surface and nobody else plays club football there.

[Longfordian]

That Friday night excuse is bull. One of tony cousins genius ideas a few years ago was to switch games to Friday nights when we've always played on Saturdays. It failed miserably and we went back to Saturday's so don't see why the FAI would block ye from moving

It was mainly to upset the opposition by making them travel on a Friday as I recall. Ignoring that most of our lot had a similar journey to make.

[outspoken]

It was mainly to upset the opposition by making them travel on a Friday as I recall. Ignoring that most of our lot had a similar journey to make.

Correct

[ToberonaTornado]

Derry City will start the new season at Maginn Park in Buncrana

http://www.derrycityfc.net/2016/12/derry-to-start-season-at-maginn-park/

[brendy_éire]

No mention of what the capacity is, which surely will need to be announced before season tickets go on sale, especially with regard to the seated tickets.
Good to see that transport is being looked at though.

[ForzaHoop]

It will be a limited number as it is a small ground, wonder where they intend playing after the few games ?

[brendy_éire]

It will be a limited number as it is a small ground, wonder where they intend playing after the few games ?

Not sure what to make of that part of the statement.
Clutching at straws, but maybe it could mean a move to Riverside after Institute's season finishes in May. I won't be holding my breath though.

[nigel-harps1954]

Not sure what to make of that part of the statement.
Clutching at straws, but maybe it could mean a move to Riverside after Institute's season finishes in May. I won't be holding my breath though.

You'd have to guess that's exactly what they're aiming for. From late may - early august in Drumahoe, inclusive of European games, and back to Maginn for the remainder of the season?

[Candystripe]

Derry might be playing our "home games" on Sunday's.

[brendy_éire]

Derry might be playing our "home games" on Sunday's.

Unless it was late afternoon, that would be worse than having them on Friday nights.
Remember we tried Sundays years back? Small, hungover crowds with no atmosphere. Dreadful.

[Candystripe]

Unless it was late afternoon, that would be worse than having them on Friday nights.
Remember we tried Sundays years back? Small, hungover crowds with no atmosphere. Dreadful.

Probably thinking more of when the warmer months start though for Sunday games.

[oriel]

For the novelty of playing in Donegal, this might entice a lot more away fans to Derry matches. Will that pose a problem I wonder if the capacity is so small, is it going to be limited to 2k?

[EatYerGreens]

For the novelty of playing in Donegal, this might entice a lot more away fans to Derry matches. Will that pose a problem I wonder if the capacity is so small, is it going to be limited to 2k?

The novelty might well draw a few more souls.

Balanced against that would be the increased journey time. What would Buncrana add onto a trip - 30mins each way ?

[nigel-harps1954]

The novelty might well draw a few more souls.

Balanced against that would be the increased journey time. What would Buncrana add onto a trip - 30mins each way ?

Depends what way you're going.

If coming from Dublin, you're actually going to be going to Derry and turning off for Buncrana, around a 20 minute journey each way.

If coming from Galway/Sligo direction, there's not going to be any great difference in journey time.

[Dodge]

For the novelty of playing in Donegal, this might entice a lot more away fans to Derry matches. Will that pose a problem I wonder if the capacity is so small, is it going to be limited to 2k?
It was rare Derry got over 2k when in Derry so it's not really going to be an issue in Donegal. Might get a few more away fans but for some clubs it'll mean 40 instead of 30 so hardly a factor

[Nesta99]

2k in a smaller ground could lift the atmosphere that has been missing in the Brandywell for a while, It was always a great atmosphere so maybe the time away from the Brandywell and the return in due course will see an increase in attendances as people miss not having the choice not to go, if that makes any sense. When Dundalk were playing in Gortakeegan there was an increase in the average attendance if modest when there was a return to Oriel and then a big jump when promoted as people started to appreciate the club again after missing it during the hiatus from Oriel and obviously top flight football.

[outspoken]

2k in a smaller ground could lift the atmosphere that has been missing in the Brandywell for a while, It was always a great atmosphere so maybe the time away from the Brandywell and the return in due course will see an increase in attendances as people miss not having the choice not to go, if that makes any sense. When Dundalk were playing in Gortakeegan there was an increase in the average attendance if modest when there was a return to Oriel and then a big jump when promoted as people started to appreciate the club again after missing it during the hiatus from Oriel and obviously top flight football.

It's very open the noise will not carry unless you fill that small stand with the clubs most vocal fans.

[brendy_éire]

It's very open the noise will not carry unless you fill that small stand with the clubs most vocal fans.

Considering it'll all be seating, and thus mostly older people, there'll be virtually no singing from it.

We were getting over 2K at a fair amount of games last season, but I doubt we'll get anything like that next year. The lack of seating will exclude people, but the biggest issue will be the weather. With such a small covered area (220 people approximately), any bad weather and people just won't go. With a miserable day in April/October, you'll be lucky to get 500.
Stating the obvious, but the two Harps matches are going to be mental to organise. Officially Harps will get 200-odd tickets, of which 22 will be seated. Will they put the rest, minus season tickets, on general sale? There'll be some scramble for those.

Regarding travel time, I'd add a bit more time than suggested. Driving standards on that road (R238) are shocking, frequently there are tailbacks caused by drivers doing 20-30kmph under the limit (limit is mostly 80kmph). Traffic will take a while to filter through Buncrana too.
I'd say add 35 minutes extra each way from the A5/N2 direction, 25 from the A6, 10 from the N13. If we're playing Friday evening matches, traffic from A5/N2 would be handier using the Foyle Bridge, further north from the double-decked Craigavon Bridge they'd normally use. You'd avoid the city centre traffic that way.

Parking will be an issue too. It's small residential streets immediately around Maginn Park. There's some parking on the main street and the library has 100 or so spaces beside it. If the club were to politely ask Lidl if their car park can be used, it'd be handy, though I doubt they'd agree.
There'll have to be a designated area for buses too, they wouldn't really fit outside the ground. Drop-off/pick-up points wouldn't be at the ground, but a few minutes walk away. The bus station, or behind the old fire station on the Cockhill Road maybe.

There's mention of subsidised buses being put on, though no real information on those yet. You'd presume away fans will be sorted on those too.

On the plus side though, Buncrana is lovely a town, great for a day out. The shore front is nice, Swan Park is a lovely walk, and there's a few coastal paths about too. Malin Head is only up the road from it, there's some great beaches and golf courses around, and a decent supply for pubs and restaurants. And if we were to play Sundays, you could have the Saturday night in Derry, without having to take a day off work.

[dundalkfc10]

Considering it'll all be seating, and thus mostly older people, there'll be virtually no singing from it.

We were getting over 2K at a fair amount of games last season, but I doubt we'll get anything like that next year. The lack of seating will exclude people, but the biggest issue will be the weather. With such a small covered area (220 people approximately), any bad weather and people just won't go. With a miserable day in April/October, you'll be lucky to get 500.
Stating the obvious, but the two Harps matches are going to be mental to organise. Officially Harps will get 200-odd tickets, of which 22 will be seated. Will they put the rest, minus season tickets, on general sale? There'll be some scramble for those.

Regarding travel time, I'd add a bit more time than suggested. Driving standards on that road (R238) are shocking, frequently there are tailbacks caused by drivers doing 20-30kmph under the limit (limit is mostly 80kmph). Traffic will take a while to filter through Buncrana too.
I'd say add 35 minutes extra each way from the A5/N2 direction, 25 from the A6, 10 from the N13. If we're playing Friday evening matches, traffic from A5/N2 would be handier using the Foyle Bridge, further north from the double-decked Craigavon Bridge they'd normally use. You'd avoid the city centre traffic that way.

Parking will be an issue too. It's small residential streets immediately around Maginn Park. There's some parking on the main street and the library has 100 or so spaces beside it. If the club were to politely ask Lidl if their car park can be used, it'd be handy, though I doubt they'd agree.
There'll have be a designated area for buses too, they wouldn't really fit outside the ground. Drop-off/pick-up points wouldn't be at the ground, but a few minutes walk away. The bus station, or behind the old fire station on the Cockhill Road maybe.

There's mention of subsidised buses being put on, though no real information on those yet. You'd presume away fans will be sorted on those too.

On the plus side though, Buncrana is lovely a town, great for a day out. The shore front is nice, Swan Park is a lovely walk, and there's a few coastal paths about too. Malin Head is only up the road from it, there's some great beaches and golf courses around, and a decent supply for pubs and restaurants. And if we were to play Sundays, you could have the Saturday night in Derry, without having to take a day off work.

Will these buses for away fans be windowless on the way home?

[brendy_éire]

Will these buses for away fans be windowless on the way home?

Only for Dundalk fans.

[Mr A]

There is a very large area opposite Lidl that may be available for parking- if so that would make a big difference. The car park near the library is close enough too and even the Oratory isn't that far away. Parking should be grand once people get used to it or if the club makes a good effort to highlight arrangements to fans.

[dundalkfc10]

Only for Dundalk fans.

Excellent, was so use to coming home from Derry freezing cold that I didnt want that to change just because you are moving to the free state to play your games

[toffeejay]

Is the club doing work on the pitch this season as well? If not I can't really understand why the lonemore road side can't be just be closed off while the work is being done.

[brendy_éire]

Is the club doing work on the pitch this season as well? If not I can't really understand why the lonemore road side can't be just be closed off while the work is being done.

Aye, the pitch is being done at the same time. Initially we were told that the pitch could be done by the start of the season, and the Lone Moor side would be closed off for most of the season. Don't know what's changed.

[brendy_éire]

Derry issued a statement today, major parts being:

Many of the matches will be played on a Sunday afternoon and many families will have a chance to renew or refresh their relationship with the town and the beautiful surrounds of Buncrana.

Meanwhile our supporters will want to know that the club continues to explore the possibility of using Celtic Park for European fixtures and perhaps a few determining fixtures later in the season.

Separately, 200 seats have been installed in Maginn Park. They're looking at adding between 50-100 elsewhere in the ground.

[wonder88]

Would soccer folk in Buncranna be Derry fans rather than Harps, or does county loyalty come into it? The point in the statement about making a "day out" of it for the family to go and watch Derry is I think valid. The more of an occasion you can make a LoI game the better chance you have of getting more people to go.

[nigel-harps1954]

Buncrana is fairly split in terms of Harps/Derry, but then again, so is a lot of Donegal funnily enough.

[joey B]

Would soccer folk in Buncranna be Derry fans rather than Harps, or does county loyalty come into it? The point in the statement about making a "day out" of it for the family to go and watch Derry is I think valid. The more of an occasion you can make a LoI game the better chance you have of getting more people to go.

There's Derry fans all over east Donegal, but there would be Harps fan in Derry as well we love each other really!!!

[outspoken]

We played Cockhill up in Buncranna 2 seasons ago it's a lovely little town. Some nice puns and restaurants in it. Not sure how the locals would take to a couple hundred football fans taking over the place but I'd love see it all the same

[Charlie Darwin]

We played Cockhill up in Buncranna 2 seasons ago it's a lovely little town. Some nice puns and restaurants in it.
I think Dairy is already well-stocked for puns. Don't want to milk it too much or people will get cheesed off.

[gufct]

I see the FAI aren't putting any money into Dalymount despite attempting to Make it look like they were.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/dublin-city-council-to-seek-20m-funding-for-dalymount-park-1.2923540

[ForzaHoop]

Have the FAI put money into any new developments or redevelopments

[Finlay Harp]

Yes it was called the John Delaney redevelopment!

[ForzaHoop]

Hope Harps have some news from the meeting on Monday week with regard to work starting again on new Stadium (NOT FAI BACKED MONEY)

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Sure Delaney is too busy giving money to all the junior clubs for their grounds to ensure they keep voting for him

[gufcfan]

Sure Delaney is too busy giving money to all the junior clubs for their grounds to ensure they keep voting for him

Remember that TV programme about FIFA which alleged that Blatter basically toured the world with suitcases of money, dropping off bits as he went, keeping all the voting delegates and FAs happy, reinforcing his influence among voting members while doing nothing to help the game.

Interesting that.

[Kingdom]

I see the FAI aren't putting any money into Dalymount despite attempting to Make it look like they were.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/dublin-city-council-to-seek-20m-funding-for-dalymount-park-1.2923540

I was sure when I read that today, that I recalled a very specific reference to Dalymount Park, Euro 2020 and a legacy project....

https://www.google.ie/search?q=john+delaney+uefa+dalymount+park+legacy+e uro+2020&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=bZBtWNzkJYWDgAas7oroCw

[colonelwest]

I was sure when I read that today, that I recalled a very specific reference to Dalymount Park, Euro 2020 and a legacy project....

https://www.google.ie/search?q=john+delaney+uefa+dalymount+park+legacy+e uro+2020&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=bZBtWNzkJYWDgAas7oroCw


Yup, as a host for 2020 the FAI get a couple of million for "legacy projects" for the domestic game. Delaney outright said on plenty of occasions this would be going towards Dalyer or something similar. Question is with DCC footing it themselves will that UEFA money do the usual disappearing act/ be used for vote buying come AGM time or will it be used properly elsewhere? Think we all know the answer to that one!

[DannyInvincible]

A BBC NI video report from earlier today on the redevelopment of the Brandywell and Derry's move to Maginn Park for the next while: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38739591

[Trainee]

Galway utd have been given permission to apply for a bar license for EDP. The club are going to submit application in next few days.

[nigel-harps1954]

Question on behalf of Finn Harps posted by Padraig MacLochlainn in the Dail



Dáil Question No: 1594

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be released from his department to enable
the proposed new stadium for a football club (details supplied) to proceed.


Answered by the Minister of State for Sports and Tourism
Patrick ODonovan
REPLY

As the Deputy may be aware, officials from my Department have engaged with Finn Harps and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) on this matter.
I am advised that my Department's technical advisor is currently examining the invoices on hand for work to date and is also considering the updated
quantity surveyor's report which details the estimated cost of completing the project. This examination is anticipated to be concluded shortly and it is
then expected that a follow up meeting with Finn Harps and the FAI will be convened.

[Nesta99]

This could be ver interesting. Not necessarily that any grants could have been sidlined but more how FH stand with grants that havent been drawn down.