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.