End of the line for Belfield Park

[Poor Student]

I thought a big gripe in the Arts dept. was the intention to split it up in to different sections. From what i could make out, only one of the proposed sections (can't rem which one) were okay with it because it meant they would see an increase in funding whereas the others would see a decrease.

You're right. It has been (?) split into the Faculty of Human Sciences, subjects like Sociology, Politics and that kind of stuff and Humanities like History, Geography, languages etc. You'll see this division if you got to the horribly laid out and confusing www.ucd.ie . I have no idea what it implies or means to be honest. I for example am taking Greek & Roman Civilization and Politics one from each and I never received any info on this division.

[Aberdonian Stu]

I don't think this has gone off topic Magoo. The future of the college has a direct bearing on the future of UCD AFC.

A lot of the modernisation plans make sense to me but I am firmly against the loss of green areas in Belfield. I acknowledge that this isn't entirely the Administration's fault as getting planning to build anything higher than Schumi's noggin is a nightmare in this country but the fact that the tallest buildings in UCD are only three or four stories high (with part of Arts being an exception) is farcical. We could make better use of the space available without destroying the natural environment of Belfield.

[fosterdollar]

This is true but i suppose the problem is that UCD encompasses a huge area with acres of green space and pressure is more than likely put on them to keep filling this before going up. I suppose, in fairness, areas like the Owenstown pitches only get token use anyway - just because they are there. even over towards Richview there is a fair bit of space, the use of which is not being maximised.

[pineapple stu]

How would the Bowl fare as regards licencing requirements, spectator facilities etc?

As far as I know, there is an agreement that our move will coincide with building the Bowl up to UEFA Licence requiments - i.e. 1,500 seater stand, changing areas, etc. There is, I imagine, some money in the club's refurbishment account from when we had intentions to build a 1,200 seater stand on the West Bank hill in Belfield Park, so I don't know if the College are gonig to build the ground for us in compensation for kicking us out of Belfield Park or if we're going to have to put money into it ourselves.

[pineapple stu]

Another issue with regards the destruction of the green areas and pitches is that the Superleague could well be forced to become much smaller. At the moment, I think there are 60 teams each year with some being turned away. The league, as far as I know, is effectively run by the club, so any reduction in teams would reduce our profits from it (after paying for rent of pitches, etc.)

[Schumi]

As far as I know, there is an agreement that our move will coincide with building the Bowl up to UEFA Licence requirements ... changing areas

They've bulit changing rooms there (they look finished but might still have work to be done on the inside). Looks pretty good from the outside anyway.

I'll go and take a few photos tomorrow and stick them up somewhere so people can get an idea of what the place is like.

[Poor Student]

My dad is a lotto retailer and he gets this monthly lotto newsletter. There's a small bit in it about the new pavillion.

UCD SPORTS PAVILLION CHANGING FACILITY

UCD's new Sports Pavillion Changing Facility has received a grant of 700,000 Euro from the National Beneficiary Fund through the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. The Sports Pavillion includes four top class international standard changing rooms, incorporating physiotherapy rooms and ice baths. This new facility will provide much needed changing accomodation for use by all UCD outdoor sports. The Irish National Hockey Association will also use the facility when hosting events in the National Hockey Stadium.

The pics indicate it is somewhere near the water tower and sports centre I think. The inside pics show only empty rooms. Sounds top class though. Still though you'd hardly get changed there and trek across to the Bowl would you?

[Schumi]

It's right beside the Bowl. I'll see if I can find a map somewhere.

[Poor Student]

I'm assuming if a grant to help alone was 700k and this is only for the building seeing as we own the land this must be a very good facility. I think we held some championships in hockey before, world or European so if they hold things on that scale they'd want a very good facility.

Does the Bowl itself have its own dressing room or is this it for the future?

Also I know very little about pitches. Why do we have such a nice one at Belfield Park and such a crap one at the Bowl? Is it something that could be rectified? Would the two sports sharing the ground wreck the pitch anway? Where are the U-21s going to play? Do the rugby and soccer seasons overlap at all?

[fosterdollar]

It's right beside the Bowl. I'll see if I can find a map somewhere.

So were they built as part of the new Astro pitches project etc.?

[Poor Student]

So were they built as part of the new Astro pitches project etc.?

From the blurry picture on the lotto newsletter it seems to be right beside them.

[fosterdollar]

You'd never know lads, sharing with the Rugby club may be to your advantage. More powerful joint lobby. Plus the potential for development at the bowl from what i can picture in my head seems to be better than Belfield Park. It would be prudent to get such plans in place before moving though, needless to say.

On the other hand, it could be a total disaster. The situation will require some good management by those involved on your 'side'.

[Schumi]

Does the Bowl itself have its own dressing room or is this it for the future?

This will be the Bowl's dressing room (they used the Sports' Centre up to now), I didn't realise that it'd be used by hockey too.

Also I know very little about pitches. Why do we have such a nice one at Belfield Park and such a crap one at the Bowl? Is it something that could be rectified?

Drainage I believe (although it's not something I know too much about either). The Bowl (as the name implies) has the pitch below the surrounding ground so water doesn't drain as easily. There could well be other factors too but I think that's the main one.

Would the two sports sharing the ground wreck the pitch anway?

Depends on the amount of maintainance it gets i'd imagine.

Where are the U-21s going to play?

Good question. I hadn't thought of that. There aren't too many decent pitches on campus.

Do the rugby and soccer seasons overlap at all?

The rugby season runs from October to the middle of April so about a month at either end of the season will overlap. The lack of a rest period could be more of a problem though.

[Poor Student]

By the way is anyone actually fighting against this on the AFC's behalf?

[CollegeTillIDie]

We have hosted a Women's Hockey World Cup (1994) and a Men's European Hockey Championships (1995) in Belfield.