Limerick Back to Markets Field

Possibly Important enough for main forum:

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Originally Posted by Limerick Leader

LIMERICK FC chairman Pat O'Sullivan will this week wrap up a deal for the purchase of the Markets Field from Bord na gCon for a figure thought to be close to €3m.


The Ballylanders native, who got involved with Limerick FC in June of last year, has been attempting for some time to put a deal together to return the club to the spiritual home of Limerick soccer, and following a recent meeting with Minister of Sport Mary Hanafin, it is understood that a deal has been agreed in principle between the parties.

A source close to the discussions between Mr O'Sullivan and the greyhound board has said that "negotiations are at an advanced stage, and both parties hope to reach an agreement this week".

www.limerickleader.ie understands that an offer in the region of €2m-3m will be agreed this week.

It is 26 years since senior soccer moved away from the Markets Field, and Limerick FC have made their return to the site a priority over the last 12 months.

Mr O'Sullivan revealed earlier this year that Bord na gCon and the FAI had "funded the preparation of a set of plans" for the site, which is located off Mulgrave Street in Garryowen. Gilroy McMahon, the firm of architects behind the redevelopment of Croke Park, were commissioned to produce plans for the 5.3 acre site.

It is thought that there is also potential for the site to become something of a community centre, as Mr O'Sullivan alluded to in a recent interview with the Limerick Leader.

"This is a really top class 8,000 seater stadium which could then incorporate the VEC and there are other sports bodies that are interested in it," he said, adding: "That corner of the city needs something so we are working along those lines".

Mayor of Limerick Kevin Kiely, who met Minister Hanafin with Mr O'Sullivan, confirmed that an offer had been made but no contracts signed as of yet, but said he wished to "commend" Mr O'Sullivan for his interest in Limerick soccer.

"Pat O'Sullivan has done more in 12 months than anyone has done in the last 100 years and I'd like to commend him for that," said Mayor Kiely.

The current owners of the Markets Field, Bord na gCon, are set for a move to a new €18 million premises on the Dock Road in September.

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Hope it works out. All the best

What's the plan for funding the development? Has Sullivan deep enough pockets to make it happen or are there sports grants promised?

That's brilliant news. Is there any pictures of the ground online? Hope they never go back to Jackman.

The best picture i can find is the one on the link.

Google Earth gives you an idea of what the ground is like. Not far from Jackman really.

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Originally Posted by Mr A

What's the plan for funding the development? Has Sullivan deep enough pockets to make it happen or are there sports grants promised?

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The VEC is backing onto it so I'm sure they'll want input.

The hands of the extremely hard working folk in Re-Generation might be forced somewhat aswell.

As it is slap a couple of temporary stands up and it's Premier standard. There's a LOT of room there.

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Originally Posted by Darkglasses

Is there any pictures of the ground online?

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As it stands it has a big massive covered terrace and two bars, making it already 4000% better than Jackman Park.

http://www.greyhound-data.com/fotos_...12024_4big.jpg

There it is, very Eastern Europe. :)

I'd say the covered bit would fit two to two and a half thousand with maybe another thousand standing at that side uncovered

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn5LATzc6PE

There's some footage of the ground as it is at the beginning and end of that video.

If you go to www.bing.com/maps, you can get an aerial photo style view of it, it's pretty good quality. The ground doesn't look bad at all

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Originally Posted by Darkglasses

Hope they never go back to Jackman.

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Johnny Cash song?

Great news. Hopefully they can develop this into a top class little ground.

The greyhounds move out to a fancy €18m facility while the soccer lads move into a €3m site.

Like a lot of things in this country, priorites are wrong.

Agreed, it really is sad to see that theres more dosh in feckin greyhound racing than there is in football. Oh how do we break this vicous cycle.

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Originally Posted by harry crumb

The greyhounds move out to a fancy €18m facility while the soccer lads move into a €3m site.

Like a lot of things in this country, priorites are wrong.

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There was probably no greyhounds on €4000 a week contracts

Best of luck to Limerick FC - how I wish our own club could sort out a ground of their own. Or even their own bloody training pitch.
Just looking at the photo above, there doesn;t appear to be room for covered stands around the pitch - would this be an issue, or is there scope to narrow the pitch and, obviously, remove the dog track

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Originally Posted by Mr A

What's the plan for funding the development? Has Sullivan deep enough pockets to make it happen or are there sports grants promised?

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Loads and loads fo friendlies v barcelona, real madrid etc etc

(Great news BTW, exciting times for Limerick fans)

Hmm maybe this should have gone into the stadium developments thread. Was going to ask about the update on our own development.

I'd say from the outside walls into the edge of the pitch you could put decent sized stands the whole way around. It would probably be similar in look to the likes of Turners Cross. Hard to know though until plans are seen. I remember a Limerick program last season had some kind of plans for the Market Field in it. Don't have the program myself so not sure the exact look. Maybe one of the other Limerick lads might know more about it. Think they are trying to get a few different groups on board too. Once the initial in roads are made i would say there would be more business people willing to back this development.

Would say a 10,000 ground would look lethal there, rather have a nice empty ground then a half full ****hole.

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Originally Posted by Riddickcule

Would say a 10,000 ground would look lethal there, rather have a nice empty ground then a half full ****hole.

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Nice grasp of economics there fellah.

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Nice grasp of economics there fellah.

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Cheers, I have a degree. (not)

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Originally Posted by Riddickcule

Would say a 10,000 ground would look lethal there, rather have a nice empty ground then a half full ****hole.

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Most LOI grounds are nice empty ****holes though!

A new stadium could be great for Limerick, as a chance for a relaunch of the club. Bill it as a fresh start, or a return to the days when Madrid were scared to visit, and try and grow a fanbase around it, like Shams have done in Tallaght.

Yeah apart from the second season syndrome thing which seems to have hit Rovers this year.

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Originally Posted by Riddickcule

Yeah apart from the second season syndrome thing which seems to have hit Rovers this year.

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yep, they're only about 1,500 ahead of most clubs now...

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Originally Posted by Dodge

yep, they're only about 1,500 ahead of most clubs now...

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yes but vitally their crowds are down an average of 13 on last year. Quite an alarming decline which i fear Rovers will not be able to arrest. (not)

Course they will. Sure Rovers fans are brilliant at getting arrested.

. . . ouch.

I'm very excited about this :) But a big stadium with no fans would be depressing and a graveyard.

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Originally Posted by ped_ped

. . . ouch.

I'm very excited about this :) But a big stadium with no fans would be depressing and a graveyard.

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No more depressin then Jackman with no fans at least there will be a bar ;)

And the fact that we'd actually OWN the place . . . happy days if it happens :)

I had some time on my hands so here's the birds eye shot from Bing:

http://i46.tinypic.com/33xvbbq.jpg

and here it is with an overlay of the Jackman Park playing surface for comparison:

http://i45.tinypic.com/9fnwwx.jpg

There appears to be plenty of space for ground development assuming the dog track can be got rid of.

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Originally Posted by Mr A

Course they will. Sure Rovers fans are brilliant at getting arrested.

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And every month I turn on Crimecall there is always one of their fans on it!

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Originally Posted by Munster Saint

I had some time on my hands so here's the birds eye shot from Bing:

http://i46.tinypic.com/33xvbbq.jpg

and here it is with an overlay of the Jackman Park playing surface for comparison:

http://i45.tinypic.com/9fnwwx.jpg

There appears to be plenty of space for ground development assuming the dog track can be got rid of.

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well done super effort. the dog track is actually gone as we speak. In your photos for those of you not familiar with Limerick the buildings with the cars (SW) is the limerick VEC. Just to the right of them is the old eircom building and this is also part of the markets field property. I dont believe the deal is done.....just yet

Good work Munster Saint.

My only reservation is that that ground is worth 3 million no more than I am.

Still, exciting times on Shannonside. :)

I am hoping the €3m is somehow inclusive of some ground development, even if its just dressing rooms & lights. Assume it cannot be a straight 3m cash going straight from Limerick/POS to IGB for the property as that would make no sense. That transaction also wouldn't need any agreement from a minister I would think. Possibly the site is worth 1.5m tops maybe. No announcement yet, so maybe its not even Limerick buying it, could be the council or something like that and as suggested by a previous poster is a way to subsidise IGB.