Belfast Giants

Have any of the Hockey fans here been to see the Belfast Giants in action in the Elite League? I was thinking of heading up to a game at some stage this season.

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Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

Have any of the Hockey fans here been to see the Belfast Giants in action in the Elite League? I was thinking of heading up to a game at some stage this season.

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My brother (non-hockey fan) went to see them with some friends led by a Canadian. He enjoyed it but the Canadian lad thought it was crap.:p Paraphenelia related to both communities in the North is banned from the arena. Might be worth an excuse to finally visit Belfast. Can't afford to wait until UCD get into the Setanta.;)

It could be an idea for the hockey fans here to head up. I would be interested in going.

Btw, ye do all know the World Championships Div III are in Dundalk next year? They're building a purpose built arena for Ice Hockey there. Perhaps a franchise might be launched out of there?:confused:

Cue competition to name them...

Go easy all you drogs ;)

Haven't been in a while but it's always good craic.

A lot of Irish League fans are resentful of the Giants. We feel they get media coverage that is out of proportion with their support as well as a lot of unfair advantages such as an ultra modern arena built for them and previous favourable treatment from the tax man when they were in financial difficulties, treatment that was not there for Irish League clubs when facing similar problems.

What would the average crowd at a game be?

I've never been to a Giants game but have been to plenty of hockey games in Sweden. If half the atmosphere is generated at a Giants game as is at a typical Swedish league game then it should be a good night out and well worth a visit.

went a few years back to watch them I have to say it just isnt my cup of tea to be brutally honest.

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

Btw, ye do all know the World Championships Div III are in Dundalk next year? They're building a purpose built arena for Ice Hockey there. Perhaps a franchise might be launched out of there?:confused:

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I heard about this alright the last time I was home. Such a random place to build an ice hockey arena...

I watch ice hockey on tv a good bit - I think it's a great sport. The Odyssey Arena is a great venue - well worth a trip to Belfast.

is it just the ROI hosting it? If it was Ireland surely they would just have headed to Belfast.

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Originally Posted by Dassa

is it just the ROI hosting it? If it was Ireland surely they would just have headed to Belfast.

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The Ireland hockey team is all island

I thought so. then belfast should have been used, save money on new build unless there have been plans all along to set up another team in Dundalk?

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Originally Posted by Dassa

I thought so. then belfast should have been used, save money on new build unless there have been plans all along to set up another team in Dundalk?

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Save who's money? I'd imagine it was funds from the Republic that paid for it. We have had no proper ice rink on this side of the border until now. From the looks of the crowds in Iceland last year the Odyssey would be way too big to host this. I think the arena in Dundalk will have 2k capacity.

Also, to the best of my knowledge, no Giants players play for Ireland, they play for the British team. I think the Irish team is mainly Irish amateurs. They're really really really bad.

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Originally Posted by Dassa

I thought so. then belfast should have been used, save money on new build unless there have been plans all along to set up another team in Dundalk?

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I think there're plans to set-up an amateur Irish league that will include a team from Dundalk (maybe somebody else can confirm this). JJB Sports also are rumoured to have plans for other ice rinks across the country.

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

Save who's money? I'd imagine it was funds from the Republic that paid for it.
Also, to the best of my knowledge, no Giants players play for Ireland, they play for the British team. I think the Irish team is mainly Irish amateurs. They're really really really bad.

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ROI tax payers money!! didnt see the sense in building something for the sake of one-off tournament. but if its only 2,000 fair enough. there used to be another amateur team up here, who played at Dundonald, which would have had capacity for 500 or so, is that the sort of amateur league your talking about. I think they were called the Knights or something.

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Originally Posted by Dassa

ROI tax payers money!! didnt see the sense in building something for the sake of one-off tournament. but if its only 2,000 fair enough. there used to be another amateur team up here, who played at Dundonald, which would have had capacity for 500 or so, is that the sort of amateur league your talking about. I think they were called the Knights or something.

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Its not being build for the tournament. Its being build and the tournament will be held there.

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Originally Posted by Dassa

ROI tax payers money!! didnt see the sense in building something for the sake of one-off tournament. but if its only 2,000 fair enough. there used to be another amateur team up here, who played at Dundonald, which would have had capacity for 500 or so, is that the sort of amateur league your talking about. I think they were called the Knights or something.

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I read somewhere that this new amateur league will consist of 6 teams, of which 3 teams will come from the North. The three teams from the North will be playing their matches at the same rink, can't remember the name but it wasn't the Odyssey.

Did you hear where the ROI teams will be based?
Dublin Vikings would be such a good name for a Hockey team doncha think?