The criterion is that the work must be finished by 2008.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pablo
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The criterion is that the work must be finished by 2008.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pablo
No different from Drogheda, I'd assume.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pablo
At the alumni dinner last night, it was stated that work would be starting in the next four or five weeks (I assume that's when the rugby season finishes), with the expectation that we'll finish this season in the Bowl.
Last rugby game is next weekend.
Has the old biddy who lodged the planning objection either a) withdrawn or b) croaked?
She was rightly told to feck off.Quote:
Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie
deadly bud! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge
What do yee recon? Should we move straight away or wait for the new season?
Quote:
UCD confident of September move
Paul O'Hehir
League of Ireland: UCD are confident of relocating to the Belfield Bowl by September as renovation to the stadium, used by the university's rugby team, is under way.
The club currently play at Belfield Park, but its location in a far pocket of the campus has meant they have struggled to attract decent crowds. However, officials believe the new site and accompanying facilities will revive attendances.
The stadium will have a capacity of 4,500 and will be located alongside the university's other sporting facilities when it is completed in three to four years.
Phase one, which began a fortnight ago, will see 900 seats added to the existing 600 in the main stand. UCD, following the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanála last October, has matched a £1.25 million Government grant towards financing that first phase. Club secretary Dick Shakespeare expects a 14-16 week construction turnaround.
Phase two will see roofing fitted over those new seats and the addition of a further 1,500 seats, bringing capacity on that main stand to 3,000. Construction of a further 750 seats at either end of the ground is scheduled in the final phase.
FAI officials will inspect the facility after phase one before awarding a licence, although plans submitted have been approved in theory.
"Moving isn't going to be the be-all and end-all," Shakespeare explained, "but it affords us the opportunity to tap into a market we haven't been able to crack before."
UCD manager Pete Mahon believes relocation will have a positive effect on attendances but suggested holding off the move until November when the season ends.
That, however, is not necessarily the club's decision. The National Institute for Bioprocessing and Training is relocating to Belfield Park and the timeframe of that operation will force the soccer club's hand.
© 2007 The Irish Times
Either way we should have "formal relocation" in the close season and organise a friendly against somebody worth watching, or failing that Sunderland:D
Did anyone else know about Phase II? Is it a vague plan to get people off our backs or a real one?
They've started actually doing something there BTW. There's a big drilling yoke set up behind the stand.
Not really pushed either way, I suppose, although we should go all out for a big ending for Belfield Park and a big start for the Bowl, like Athlone did. Free entry, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bald Student
I suppose in that regard, maybe September/October might be better. Have two big games in a row and you might encourage a few people to think of UCD games as a regular occurrence.
Maccer mentioned the possibility of a friendly with Charlton back when the plans for the improved Belfield Park were drawn up. I think it was more a case of "I know someone there" when I mentioned it to him though. Still, he didn't baulk at the idea. Worth pursuing, I reckon. Try for the biggest team knocked out in the Third Round of the FA Cup.
There was a pre-planning meeting about it in the county council about 6 months ago but it's still well over a year from starting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Poor Student
It would be best to have the first home game of the new academic year, so we can attract Freshers, in the Bowl. So that's late September right lads?
Only thing you'll attract freshers to anything with is free drink.Quote:
Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie
Which the college alcohol policy won't let us do.Quote:
Originally Posted by BohsPartisan
Free 'cola' so. I'm sure Student Mullet can sort that. :D
Or the Bald Beer Baron of Belfield.
I understand that he's taking orders for tonight and is after finding a giant bottle of coffee-stout. Any takers, you could probably mix it with some chocolate-stout to make some form of stout frappuchino?Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
Ooh, giant. :)
Must have changed since my day so. Filmsoc used to host some great bashes. One year there was free Southern Comfort.Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
Unfortunatly Nazi McDowell changed all that.Quote:
Originally Posted by BohsPartisan
You might remember there was a Prime Time special on people getting drunk in town a few years ago and the government decided that the best way to solve this was to restrict alcohol on campus so that more students would go drinking in town. It's called 'Liberal Politics'.
Shame. You needed a good bit of Alcohol inside you around UCD so as not to let the drab modernist architecture send you round the twist.
Hold on a sec - Student Mullet brews the cola? I always thought that was Bald Student!Quote:
Originally Posted by Schumi
Nice tonight actually. An aftertang of those coffee cremes you get in Roses, although a lot stronger. Probably would have had more only I was driving.
Passed the Bowl today. They seem to be doing a good bit of work right beside the stand. There's a lot of soil where once there was grass just there, and some heavy machinery. I should be passing it regularly, so I'll keep an eye on it.
Anyone seen it recently? Pics?
I saw it yesterday. There's a barrier set up around the edge and materials and heavy machinery sitting around. There's was no work taking place when I went to look (around 1pm) and I couldn't get close enough to see if anything has been actually done.
The new perimeter fence went up today and the walls of the new buildings are built but no roof yet.
Just passed by it there. As Bald Student said there's a new perimeter fence. It's runs about a yard parallel to the old one and is of a more sterner quality. It won't do much to block the game from being viewed clearly from outside the stadium's boundaries though. The work men are working away early this morning and the machinery are digging out the areas on either side of the stand to make room for the extension. Also as pointed out there are walls being built at the back of the stand to add in facilities.
Oh that's all we need. Going from having poor crowds to having people being able to watch free of charge just by standing outside the venue :(
Hooray, my new favourite away ground!
Just been down to have another look there. Not a whole lot of progress since last time per se but the site is a lot messier. I think the only identifiable work is a bit more building of the back of the stand. I presure the units and stuff are going in there.
They've laid something to the left of the main stand, though perhaps its just a work surface. They've also knocked the fence at the Cascarino (Richview) end and replaced it with a temp fence to widen the service road there slightly.
So is September looking likely or just a pipe dream? After all the rugger boys need a home ground too by the end of the Rugby World cup !
It'll be finished by September and it'll be up to the soccer club where to play 'til Belfield Park is knocked.Quote:
Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie
I heard on Friday that we still don't have a clue when it'll be finished.:confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Bald Student
There's steps added to the right of the stand as of Thursday, where the seats will added I assume.
Anybody see the UCD team/squad 2007 poster promoting giving Racism the Red Card?
Looks like it was photographed in the Bowl.
If it's of interest to anyone here is an article on the college's website about the work on the Bowl. There is also a picture of the stand from behind before work on it began, with the dressing rooms behind. Doesn't look too attractive.:(
Also here is a picture of our state of the art dressing rooms.:)