New Stadium

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Originally Posted by Ash

According to the stadium committee its still on track for a September opening :)

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In all likelihood this date will be put back again.

Would it not be a better idea to open the stadium for next season? Because if you open it in sep/oct you will have only a 2 or 3 home games and then the season is over. And with it the momentum.

If it was to be opened in March you could hype it up during the off season plus you would get better players signing for the club if they see the stadium. Also with all the hype you could do a great deal of business with increased season ticket sales, merchandising and sponsorship etc.

Just doesnt make sense to open a new stadium at the end of a season.


KOH

It will be the second week in October now as the work will be finished mid september and then there is a bit of tidying up to do. Seats are being installed in the next week or two.

Next season would probably be a better option.

Is the roof on yet?

They are putting the roof on at the moment

Floodlights going up today apparently

Photos up on http://www.athlonetownfc.com but dont see any floodlights. Looks well when is it ment 2 be finished?

Apparently they're on site but havent been put up yet.
New date is now 2nd week in October

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Originally Posted by Ash

Apparently they're on site but havent been put up yet.
New date is now 2nd week in October

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Four big pylons in four sections each are on site. No sign of them going up yet unfortunately, but it shouldn't be long.

Then when the seats go in, it is going to look absolutely class.

Looks like it is really starting to take shape, am I right in assuming its 2,000 seats in the stand that's going up now and will be 6,000 when the whole thing is finished?

Yeah 2000 seats on either side of the pitch and 1000 at each end. When all is finished it will be EUFA compliant as well.

What I have been trying to find out though is are our floodlights EUFA 1st round proper compliant as if they were we could rent out to teams who make that far. Fair bit off before its finished anyways so not too important now.

Are there any plans to let the egg chasers use it? Could be worth a few quid too, I know they've been playing some Ireland U21 6Nations games in Athlone.
When is it all going to be finished is it still 2008 or has that been put bact too?

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Originally Posted by endabob1

Are there any plans to let the egg chasers use it? Could be worth a few quid too, I know they've been playing some Ireland U21 6Nations games in Athlone.

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Those games are played in Buccaneers ground, it which is fairly near our new
stadium.

Surely Buccs ground wouldn't hold 6,000? Not that I've any idea what sort of attendances they'd get, just a moneymaking thought!

Holds around 4000 I've been told.
Never been to a game there though so dont know if thats accurate.

What's happening with Mels when you move out, is the site being sold or what?
Also whats the likelihood of De Town getting a side worthy of the stadium? I haven't been for over 10 years, I used to go when I was in the RTC in the early '90's but I'm based in the UK now so it's a bit of a commute! I still keep my eye on their progress but the results have been fairly poor recently.

Mels will be owned by the council. There was a bit of a swap of Mels for the
land on which the new staduim is built. Council have been asked to keep it
for sporting purposes and as far as I know they said they'll do their best.

Probably more to it than that, but thats the general gist of it.

IMHO, it'll end up with houses/appartments on it as the rest of the area is
planned to be redeveloped.

Heard at the match on Tuesday night that the seats are being delivered this week ready for installation

great new picture on the website, looks like it's really coming on,

Heard over the weekend that they've scrapped
plans to move into the new ground this season
and put the big opening off till next season!

Makes more sense, they should try to get a decent European Club over for a grand opening, really push the boat out. Ideally someone who is a summer league too so they will be in pre-season and bring a strong squad, if you get a UK team they'll be mid season and only send a reserve side over.

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Originally Posted by Ash

IMHO, it'll end up with houses/appartments on it as the rest of the area is
planned to be redeveloped.

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Thank f**k for that. Does that mean the slums are going?

Would be a shame to see Mels being torn down for flats though

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Originally Posted by Ash

Heard over the weekend that they've scrapped
plans to move into the new ground this season
and put the big opening off till next season!

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Common sense prevails! See my earlier post............

KOH

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Originally Posted by Ash

Heard over the weekend that they've scrapped
plans to move into the new ground this season
and put the big opening off till next season!

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i went out for a quick spin myself when coming back from waterford a few weeks ago! its cumin on very well!

Seats now being installed. Clink on link

http://www.iol.ie/~eganwd/atfc/newst...ium-031006.png

that stand looks bigger then 2000!! it looks like it'll hold 3000.... looks amazing!! fair play....

fair play to all involved, hope we get the town in the cup next year cause its the only way well be playing ye next year and cant wait to see this new stadium in person

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Originally Posted by GalwayFrancis

fair play to all involved, hope we get the town in the cup next year cause its the only way well be playing ye next year and cant wait to see this new stadium in person

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I hope we get ye as well. Easy passage for The Town into the next round:D :p

Stand looks well. Good to see yee lot are looking ahead and all that....

See yee in the cup next year!!!

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Originally Posted by gufcfan

Stand looks well. Good to see yee lot are looking ahead and all that....

See yee in the cup next year!!!

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Or in dubarry park in 2 weeks.

Looks damn fine! And the pitch is flat too! Looks very much like Sligo's stand. Shame that the crowds are so small though. No offence but I think a grant of that size could have been shared out better to benefit other clubs that may attract 2-2500k to a home league game. Fair play none the less and cant wait to visit next year...... in the cup as was said before!

New picture up on the website. Can't wait for the new season to start there even though I will miss St Mels as bad as it is.

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Shame that the crowds are so small though. No offence but I think a grant of that size could have been shared out better to benefit other clubs that may attract 2-2500k to a home league game.

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As you are aware soccer in this country as with many others is full of sunshine supporters. Once this ground is open finances can be spent on players and we will fill it with the success that will come with that. Along with that better facilities will attract more people as you will see at the match in Dubarry Saturday night.

Its coming along nicely indeed.
There have been a couple of recent pictures on the front page of the website that they haven't put into the 'New Stadium' section. It would be nice if the webmaster could put all of the recent pictures into that section so we can track the whole development.
FWIW, I think you will get more fans out to games with better facilities.

Looks super. Fair play with the blue and black and the ATFC too. Am a firm believer in the "Build it and they will come" mantra.

It's all about facilities.

Will there be terracing around the rest of the ground cos it would be a shame if you are looking out on mud.

Wonder will TG4 do a feature on it on saturday?

KOH

The rest of the ground is being developed as well. Stage two announcement might arrive after we open the first stage. A stand with the exact same capacity and size going across the other side of the pitch and then a stand both ends of the pitch. €2.7 million I believe all raised through grants and fundraising spent so far.

It will take time we have to raise the money as we arent lucky enough to have a council that will build ours:) :p

When is the hearing regarding Tallaght?

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Originally Posted by Battery Rover

The rest of the ground is being developed as well. Stage two announcement might arrive after we open the first stage. A stand with the exact same capacity and size going across the other side of the pitch and then a stand both ends of the pitch. €2.7 million I believe all raised through grants and fundraising spent so far.

It will take time we have to raise the money as we arent lucky enough to have a council that will build ours:) :p

When is the hearing regarding Tallaght?

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23 November with a decision by Christmas. We are only "lucky" enough for the council to build a stadium because our previous incompetent owners squandered grants. We should have been in Tallaght years ago.............

Hope you put a tv gantry opposite the new stand.

KOH

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Hope you put a tv gantry opposite the new stand.

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Spoke to one of the stadium committee at the seat sale launch on Wednesday night and he confirmed to me that the TV gantry and box will be positioned on the far side of the pitch facing into the stand,

TG4 came down and looked and made recommendations of what was needed and these are being followed. Wiring and everything is in place already.

Fair play. Looked great on the box last night. If only other clubs would follow suit. It's all about image.


KOH

Can someone tell me will the prices for adults,schoolboys and OAPs go up or is that against the rules or something:ball:

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Originally Posted by garyh06

Can someone tell me will the prices for adults,schoolboys and OAPs go up or is that against the rules or something:ball:

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Hasn't been fully decided yet a.f.a.i.k. but there's talk of €15 Adults
next season.

If you sponsor a seat in the new stadium (€200) you can get season
ticket at the discounted price of €75.

Also, the Mad As Cootes Supporters Club members will get a discount
on season tickets.

Any name for the new stadium yet?