Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

For any stadium development nerds there is some interesting reading below. Would be good if there was an upated UEFA guide for small stadia. I dont have access to a current copy of the Green Guide which is the stadium safety bible that basically guides all deveopments and deals with temporary, semi permanent structures etc- all the stuff that is most relevant to LoI. If someone wants to pay the £95 and share feel free. There is a worked example which may be of interest to people wondering why ED Park may seem like it had an unnecessary restricted capacity for the cup semi final. The last link being from 1996 I think is interesting to see how regulations change and for Harps fans get the lie of the land on how plans for their new stadium could change over the next 20-25 years and could maybe get ahead of the curve and get applying for grants for the reviewed review of the review of reviewed plans.

https://sgsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploa...-and-Rugby.pdf

https://editorial.uefa.com/resources...y_stadiums.pdf

https://laois.ie/wp-content/uploads/...ts-Grounds.pdf

The 6th edition of the Guide to safety at sports grounds aka Green guide (2018) is in the public library, if its of interest.

Everyone is looking for a slice of the pie! €35mil for 3300 regardless of ancilliary facilities and shared sports areas still seems a bit much. Its not a pressing need for the sport either imo with some modernisation of existing facilities sufficient. If this gets the go ahead in the absence of any progress on LoI facility funding then serious questions will have to be asked - trust after the old FAI regime and the faux pas by the current lot may be very hard earned. One thing of note when in Iceland, in particular. for European games is the multi sport aspect of clubs and how shared spaces seemed to cut duplication while still providing good access to sports - rather than 1 place to serve the country there could be a number of acceptable sized arenas at existing football clubs. If done properly (big shed looks aside) the YDC in Oriel is ideally suited as a regional centre/campus that could be developed up to national standard to host national events for part of €35m, the Showgrounds similar. The clubs and many other sports get side by side benefits. The YDC has already hosted international and world championship events in Badminton. Again I wish there was some attempt at joined up thinking rather than sports trying to go it alone (GAA pulled it off rooted in discrimination), resulting in funding being spread so thinly that there is a bunch of half baked efforts rather than fewer properly done facilities - 4 lane athletic track type efforts.
https://www.rte.ie/sport/basketball/...arena-planned/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Martinho II

See that Cobh Ramblers are moving to turners cross at start of next season as they are turning the pitch Astro now!

---

How many of the league's 20 clubs have an astro type pitch, I know Dundalk and I think Derry have?

:confused:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nr637

How many of the league's 20 clubs have an astro type pitch, I know Dundalk and I think Derry have?

:confused:

---

Athlone and Kerry aswell along with Cobh installing one now…..

Any update on the new proposed terrace area stand for Derry?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nr637

Any update on the new proposed terrace area stand for Derry?

---

No idea how true, but was told there was objections from residents and there's a hold up with it.

DFC have a Q+A with new owner tonight, Brian Ainscough, its on in oriel park.

Have heard plans are for new pitch and lights in 2025 and for seating behind each goal (no date) and replacement seats on the 3k that are already in, but would assume 2025 for all of that, he may allude to more detail tonight.

Then again, we have down this road many times.................

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by oriel

DFC have a Q+A with new owner tonight, Brian Ainscough, its on in oriel park.

Have heard plans are for new pitch and lights in 2025 and for seating behind each goal (no date) and replacement seats on the 3k that are already in, but would assume 2025 for all of that, he may allude to more detail tonight.

Then again, we have down this road many times.................

---

Hope someone asks him why he left Kerry FC ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nr637

Hope someone asks him why he left Kerry FC ?

---

Presumably because Dundalk have more potential than Kerry FC. It'll almost certainly be due to that harsh reality.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by oriel

DFC have a Q+A with new owner tonight, Brian Ainscough, its on in oriel park.

Have heard plans are for new pitch and lights in 2025 and for seating behind each goal (no date) and replacement seats on the 3k that are already in, but would assume 2025 for all of that, he may allude to more detail tonight.

Then again, we have down this road many times.................

---

And stuff like that is not cheap anymore

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

No idea how true, but was told there was objections from residents and there's a hold up with it.

---

It's already received planning permisison though, so that can't be an issue.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

It's already received planning permisison though, so that can't be an issue.

---

There been few stories about back and forth with NI Water over capacity to handle waste in the area. Think one suggested POD was going to pay for any remedial work.

Course now I'm looking for something to link to google is failing me, but want to say last update was shortly before Christmas.

So it might happen this side of 2025. Or once NIW have rinsed POD, he'll no longer be a billionaire, but the water network around Belfast will be able to cope with the couple extra domestic swimming pools that got installed.

Dundalk’s new owner Brian Ainscough labels club’s Oriel Park home a ‘pigsty’ | Independent.ie

Article in the Irish Independent about the recent meeting in Dundalk.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by D24Saint

Dundalk’s new owner Brian Ainscough labels club’s Oriel Park home a ‘pigsty’ | Independent.ie

Article in the Irish Independent about the recent meeting in Dundalk.

---

I wish I was at that meeting last night as ive been tokld nobody wanted to ask him a hard question.

When asked about the state of Oriel for the Longford game, he said it was bad etc and it would be resolved before the Drogheda game! but nobody thought to ask him why was it not done before Longford game, wasnt as if he wasnt around and never seen the place in the days leading upto the game.

No question on why Hoban was allowed leave (he was under contract)
No question on why we are 4 weeks away from start season and still need at least 4 players according to the manager
No question on why the bar was closed last game/no shop open for even a cup of tea (He did say he was looking get someone run bar alright but surely they could got someone behind bar pull pints for few hours before a friendly ffs)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dundalkfc10

I wish I was at that meeting last night as ive been tokld nobody wanted to ask him a hard question.

When asked about the state of Oriel for the Longford game, he said it was bad etc and it would be resolved before the Drogheda game! but nobody thought to ask him why was it not done before Longford game, wasnt as if he wasnt around and never seen the place in the days leading upto the game.

This was asked by a girl, possibly the first question.

No question on why Hoban was allowed leave (he was under contract)

Yes thought that was odd, it was not asked.

No question on why we are 4 weeks away from start season and still need at least 4 players according to the manager.

I suppose that's a Q more for the manager / recruitment.

No question on why the bar was closed last game/no shop open for even a cup of tea (He did say he was looking get someone run bar alright but surely they could got someone behind bar pull pints for few hours before a friendly ffs)

Maybe they didn't want bar open for 'boozed up fans' the last thing these gigs need is heckling / out of order. That said maybe a new crew are being put together to run the two bars, as can't imagine there would be much trade off season, but there used to be a Sunday Night club, and seems a long time ago since 21st etc were held, big loss of revenue and needs to be addressed.

---

https://x.com/DundalkFC/status/1750152966663758067?s=20

Audio here- he is not promising to fix things today, but seemingly new portable seating might go in this season and he spoke about re-location of away fans. Anyone remember the League Cup Fina 2014 v Sham Rovers and final game v Cork City same season, a portable seating structure was installed behind the goal at the away fans end, almost similar but probably more modern that what Pats have behind their home goal now, that would do the trick and would look so much better at both ends.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by D24Saint

Dundalk’s new owner Brian Ainscough labels club’s Oriel Park home a ‘pigsty’ | Independent.ie

Article in the Irish Independent about the recent meeting in Dundalk.

---

Don't think too many would disagree with that, two previous owners did almost nothing for spectator facilities, but ones before StatSports led group did spend over 2M, (P6 with Mike Tracey - before Mad Bill took over) on a new pitch, kitting out YDC and gym / players canteen etc inside / paid off council planning fees, but almost nothing for fans that you can see.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dundalkfc10

I wish I was at that meeting last night as ive been tokld nobody wanted to ask him a hard question.

When asked about the state of Oriel for the Longford game, he said it was bad etc and it would be resolved before the Drogheda game! but nobody thought to ask him why was it not done before Longford game, wasnt as if he wasnt around and never seen the place in the days leading upto the game.

No question on why Hoban was allowed leave (he was under contract)
No question on why we are 4 weeks away from start season and still need at least 4 players according to the manager
No question on why the bar was closed last game/no shop open for even a cup of tea (He did say he was looking get someone run bar alright but surely they could got someone behind bar pull pints for few hours before a friendly ffs)

---

I see here you guys need 4 players! Imagine how it feels to be a Bohs Supporter with four weeks to go and news tonight that James McManus could be off to Coventry city. It's looking grim at this point.

https://x.com/DundalkFC/status/1750194395725332606?s=20

Well we only signed a GK today, actually had zero on the books as of this am, agent fxxxed up Shepherd deal, Cherrie not offered a deal and no 3 went to Glenavon to play under former DFC player now their manager, Stephen McDonnell.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dundalkfc10

I wish I was at that meeting last night as ive been tokld nobody wanted to ask him a hard question.

When asked about the state of Oriel for the Longford game, he said it was bad etc and it would be resolved before the Drogheda game! but nobody thought to ask him why was it not done before Longford game, wasnt as if he wasnt around and never seen the place in the days leading upto the game.

No question on why Hoban was allowed leave (he was under contract)
No question on why we are 4 weeks away from start season and still need at least 4 players according to the manager
No question on why the bar was closed last game/no shop open for even a cup of tea (He did say he was looking get someone run bar alright but surely they could got someone behind bar pull pints for few hours before a friendly ffs)

---

Dundalk fans only have themselves to blame for not asking the right questions so.