Its working, and its not even built yet. Now THAT'S impressive !!! :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Neish
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Its working, and its not even built yet. Now THAT'S impressive !!! :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Neish
I go to every game I can to SUPPORT my team not worry about a bit of rain or a poor viewQuote:
Originally Posted by A face
If your team was playing Limerick away last to win the league, you would still vote with your feet?
In that case it would be on TV, wont be going back to Dundalk due to the terrible conditions. Cork City brought over 500 to Limerick first game of the season this year, If 200 or more decide not to go to Markets Field then thats €2,000-€3,000 out of Limericks Pockets. Having the stand closer to the pitch wont cost any more, Making the stand bigger might cost a little but would pay for itself in a number of years. We complain that crowds in this league are small. We need to make away facilities comfortable, Dundalk, Markets field and Drogheda are the ones that come to mind. (Although i like Drogheda's section for atmosphere reasons, families would prefer a seated section with a better view)Quote:
Originally Posted by dundalkfc10
The league rumour has been going around for yonks. In fact, I believe it was LEDP who started the rumours of a Limerick Superleague franchise when all this business started. Utter pie in the sky nonsense, the team doesn't even exist for ****'s sake.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jofspring
As i said i'll try it and see, but yes if its bad then i WILL vote with my feet. Like i'll vote with my feet visiting Oriel Park. I will never set foot in there again until i know things have changed. If clubs cant get it together to look after fans, home or away then they need to realise there is the potential to lose their custom, e.g. Dundalk will find that out this year with Cork City Support. They ****ed off far too many last year and they'll pay the price for it.Quote:
Originally Posted by dundalkfc10
If anyone wants to drop a line to the LEDP and make such opinions, as away fans, known, they're publically viewable e-mail address is info@ledp.ie
Does it specify anywhere online what the plans are going to be? Just to direct them to what's been observed.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter
Just the plans that were put up on the LCC website as far as I know.
Here's the link to the planning application on Limerick City Council's website:Quote:
Originally Posted by A face
http://www.limerickcity.ie/ePlan/Fil...141&LASiteID=0
The large drawings have been re-scanned and are online since this morning (so now you can actually view the full drawings).
Final date for submissions about the planning application is 9 december.
You could pay into the Stand in Oriel (was 15 last season) Were Cork fans not allowed into the stand this season because it was raining (could be wrong)Quote:
Originally Posted by A face
So because the view and facilities are not 100% you would be willing to miss out and watch them winning the league/or a chance of winning it on TVQuote:
Originally Posted by citybone
Thats the type of LOI fans we need
I totally Dundalk's away facilities are dreadful, however I really dont think we will be budgeting too much for Cork City fans, for the first league game I think less than 10 travelled, and for the final game a party bus came up, they were in the stand and seemed to be enjoying themselves, but it seemed to be an end of season trip as opposed to specifically wanting to travel to Oriel for a match.Quote:
Originally Posted by A face
In fact our away facilities are a disgrace, nothing less. Its quite disgusting that the club continously refuses to address this. A simple plan like erecting a roof and moving the area around more to the corner would improve things immediately.
That party bus wont be coming again. We are sick of travelling a long distance to be treated like dirt. I think the 6 fans who made the journey at the start of the year is the typical crowd size to see in future. A roofed terrace behind the goal with a good toilet and we would bring more. In fairness 50-100 is the norm from us unless we were going for the league/on a bank holiday weekend/Last day of the season. We would have had more at the final game only for the facilities, we have been there before and many didnt want to go to Dundalk. Limerick would benefit from having a good away section from us, yee wouldnt benefit much from us but the Dublin clubs, Sligo,Derry would prob bring more if the facilities were better.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Quote:
Originally Posted by citybone
yawn. any upgrade of the away facilities in op is probably way down the list of priorities to accommodate 15-20 cork fans. it was only €10 in and an extra €5 for the stand.
there is also no correlation between world class away facilities and an increase in away attendances.
in an ideal world we'd offer the best out there but unfortunately its down to time and money and there isn't a lot of money out there
Facilities absolutely matter. i go to some away games and bring the family, but choose the which games based on facilities.
You are kidding right?Quote:
Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite
Fix it up, don't fix it up, that's up to your club. You're probably right that it's not a major priority for you, but it does impact the number of traveling fans, particularly over longer distances.
Does it really have an impact in the LOI? 500 Dundalk fans went to Bray for the last game of the season, it was cold and raining, and there is no shelter. If Bray had a cover, how many extra would have gone? Very few, I reckon.Quote:
Originally Posted by El-Pietro
I'm still in favour of improving toilet facilities and would like the away fans to be placed in an area of Oriel Park with a better view.
The only away ground I don't visit is Tallaght as the lack of policing and segregation is dangerous and I won't put my children is those situations.
I cant believe i've just read that !!!! :-OQuote:
Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite
It depends on the situation. 500 Dundalk fans traveled to Bray because you had just had your best season in years and wanted to see your team off. Plus the last game of the season will typically have a boost to traveling numbers as will the first.Quote:
Originally Posted by White Horse
If that game was a middle of season affair and you had little to play for then the traveling crowd would have been much smaller, and would have a lot more to do with the facilities. In a normal season I'd get to most away games, but I wouldn't bother with Bray, UCD or Dundalk (or Fahys Field or Drom). I've been to these stadia and I'm under no urge to go back unless the game is huge. UCD has more to do with the fact that they are UCD than their stadium which is of a reasonable standard in fairness.
I won't go back to Jackman Park, I'll make a decision on Markets Field when I've seen it in person. I wouldn't be in any rush to go to Finn Park again should they be promoted or we draw them in an early cup round, and I don't have an issue with traveling long distances, I'll happily go to the Brandywell.
Conversely, I love visting Longford and Athlone, no problem going to Drogheda (should we ever have a Friday game against them again!)
All I want is some cover, and maybe some hot food. Having a pub nearby is a plus. Other people will have their own limits, but they definitely exist.
I don't understand your issue with Tallaght, I've never experienced any policing or segregation issues there, I've probably been close to ten times at this point, maybe a little less.
Bray's away section is better than Dundalks. Cork City normally bring 50-100 on a normal away game and anything up too 1,000 for a big game. But you wont get more than 10 Cork City fans again anytime soon. Not a big issue but Pats, Bohs, Rovers, Drogs might have bigger crowds if facilities are better, Especially after several incidents this season.Quote:
Originally Posted by White Horse
Does this mean other clubs fans don't matter? I know a lot of people who have been put off going to Dundalk in recent years for the away facilities alone.Quote:
Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite
Surely improving the match day experience for all fans, home and away, should be priority for Dundalk when looking to increase the budget and keep fans in the turnstiles at increased prices.
Really? We have been allowed go anywhere in The Carlisle but I assume normally it's the uncovered side where they normally segregate fans? We had an option of going into the stand or terrace for Oriel park. We also had access to bar at half time.Quote:
Originally Posted by citybone
So 10 Cork fans instead of 20. Yes that is really going to hurt us financially.....Quote:
Originally Posted by A face
The away facilities in Oriel are the worst in the league. Pat's, Drogheda and Bray's are not much better. I'd love to know where other fans think Dundalk would get the money to build a new away section to facilitate a handful of fans when the rest of the stadium is a mess? Where is the return on investment when away fans apart from a few clubs don't travel in numbers in this league.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
It depends on the game. Big away followings (Shams, Pat's, Bohs) usually aren't allowed in the tent. Or teams against whom there's historically been trouble (Dundalk, apparently, although I can't remember ever personally having much of an issue). I think for the rest of the time, it's officially discouraged, but they never check (or if they do, it's a simple "are you a home supporter", and they take your word for it)Quote:
Originally Posted by Jofspring
I've been in the tent a number of times (when raining) and have never had any issue getting in. Lack of cover is made up by having a great view of the pitch in the away section.Quote:
Originally Posted by peadar1987
Every time I've been in Bray I've been able to go wherever I liked. For the Limerick game this year me and the GF switched back and forth between the terrace and the cover whenever it was raining and nobody cared. I assumed it was due to the small number present.
Always loads of Pats fans in there. Not the majority of the crowd but certainly enough to be noticeableQuote:
Originally Posted by peadar1987
I always like going to Bray. As you say, the lack of cover is more than made up by the great viewing position.Quote:
Originally Posted by Louth4sam
Cork have never brought a big crowd to Op in my memory which would go back as far as mid nineties and never more than 50 or a 100. I doubt if a complete overhaul of away facilities in OP would increase those numbers that would warrant an investment in that area.Quote:
Originally Posted by El-Pietro
Of course it matters and I am sure we would love to be in a position to offer those resources. but if you are not happy with the away section then you can go to the away section in the stand for €5 extra,Quote:
Does this mean other clubs fans don't matter? I know a lot of people who have been put off going to Dundalk in recent years for the away facilities alone.
Surely improving the match day experience for all fans, home and away, should be priority for Dundalk when looking to increase the budget and keep fans in the turnstiles at increased prices.
If money grew on trees then we would have it done and it would be state of the art but far more
areas in OP need probably greater addressing than the away section.
as the lads said our section is no worse than whats on offer at Drogheda, pats, Bray with the exception of covering. but jesus Christ lads a bit of rain never hurt anyone ;)
Realistically, Dundalk won't be able to invest in facilities unless they get a windfall or spend 2-3 years at the top of the table with increased crowds, which is what Sligo did before upgrading their facilities. It's a bit much to ask a team who've only recently steadied the ship after almost being relegated to be spending money improving the stands.
Seems fairly reasonable point Charlie, but I have noticed it has become a much more serious issue since we got promoted the last time for the start of the 2009 season.
I would dearly love a new away section in OP, but there are limits on where it could be built due to enter and exit arrangements. The only area is where it is, maybe take it around the corner a little for improved view, and of course a roof, proper toilets and better access to food and drink.
On a fine summers evening, it's actually not a bad view but only for one end, pretty poor for when your team is attacking the town end. A lot of home fans stand/sit in the new seating area on the town side of the main stand, and same applies there, no cover and really only a good view of one half.
The ideal solution would be to extend the main stand in oriel both sides, then all areas that side would have a perfect view. Then the away support could all be seated where it is now, but that's not going to happen anytime soon. Cost would probably be over 1m.
OP is an ageing ground, and has slipped very badly down the ranks, it only looks half decent with a good crowd in, and it generates an even better atmosphere then, but it needs a major revamp, we all appreciate that.
Put it this way, if Dundalk won the league they'd be 300k better off and I suspect, given the work that's been done on the pitch over the past few years, would put some of it towards ground improvements but the situation right now is that their only focus is on using their resources to put out a team that can challenge at the top of the league. As Longford have learned, having a lovely stadium doesn't mean much if your attendances are halved by playing in the First Division, so clubs realistically have to prioritise what happens on the field over the costly business of improving facilities.
I appreciate its a fine balancing act at all clubs with not enough money to go around. I wonder though if investing in facilities that are available to away fans might not be a bad bang for the buck. Clubs find it tough to draw in non LOI fans. Away fans are ready made new fans that don't have to be convinced, might be the easiest new customers to acquire.
Away fans will turn up twice a year max, maybe three with a cup game. A home fan could stay the whole season. The choice isn't a hard one to make.Quote:
Originally Posted by fieldofmarkets
Personally when I travel to away games it doesn't really bother me too much what the facilities are like. All I want is the option to be covered (seats not necessary as I don't actually like sitting at games), a toilet and to not have a big pillar in front of me. I rarely eat at the ground and I see a bar as a bonus.
It's vital to have the home fans well looked after first and then if you have the luxury to do so look after the away fans to a higher standard than currently at a lot of grounds.
But can't they turn up to every game....different groups of people obviously.
So spend hundreds of thousands on decent away facilities to get 50 away fans and gate receipts of less than a grand every second week. Yes that sounds very "bang for the buck"Quote:
Originally Posted by fieldofmarkets
Grants? Naming rights/sponsored stand? Fundraise for a few years, and save the money in a post office account until there's enough for basic facilities? Where there's a will, there's a way.
Away fans don't want corporate boxes and gold taps in the toilets - a roof, a burger, a pint and a reduced risk of contracting typhus would keep most happy.
I'd settle for somewhere safe where I can see 95% of the pitch. It's crazy how some fans get real defensive about their grounds. All of them, bar maybe Turners Cross and Tallaght could do with major upgrades. I think people know that most clubs can't afford them but at the very least you have to know that most aren't good enough
I'd add Terryland Park to that list also. Is it any coincidence that funding for these grounds have not come from the clubs that play at them? There are very few boards/CEO/Chairmen that would drop their player budget to invest significantly in infrastructure. Sligo seem to be the only club bucking the trend.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge