IRFU Plan to redevelop Lansdowne

**republic** · 11/12/2003, 12:04 PM

50,000 capacity modelled along the lines of the McAlpine stadium, home of Huddersfield Town.

Does anyone know how the FAI are affected by this plan?

1. Who retains ownership of Lansdowne?

2. Does the IRFU provide the land but the government build the stadium and then own it. Or does the government pay for the redevelopment on behalf of the IRFU?

3. Does the FAI remain a tenant of the IRFU? If this is the case then we can forget about the soccer *ever* having its own stadium. The FAI will therefore always rent a stadium to play it's matches with the consequent loss of revenue.

**S�C** · 11/12/2003, 2:16 PM

I think the plan is the IRFU give the site and a bit of cash to the government to redevelop. The FAI give a bit of cash. The Government pick up the rest. It becomes the national stadium, IRFU get their offices etc there. The FAI move out of Merrion Square to a new training centre (not in landsdowne) and build their new offices there.

The FAI and IRFU become tennants to the government for the stadium.

Not sure if this is correct but it is how I had it explained to me by a member of a Dublin rugby club.

Seems that the IRFU lose out. Also there will be some real issues with the development, like the dart line running under the stand.

**republic** · 11/12/2003, 2:47 PM

This sounds quite plausible. If true this is probably the best solution the FAI can hope for.

It would probably suit the FAI to be tenants of the government rather than tenants of the IRFU as there were issues in the past with preparation of the pitch, availability of the stadium on certain dates etc. AFAIK The FAI pay the IRFU 15% of gate receipts for each game plus extras. If this was paid directly to the government it could be used for stadium upkeep rather than go directly to the IRFU bank account.

**pete** · 12/12/2003, 10:45 AM

The IRFU & FAI have had a good relationship over the years so i'm sure no party would be fleeced in negotiations.

**lopez** · 12/12/2003, 5:53 PM

Originally posted by republic
Does the FAI remain a tenant of the IRFU? If this is the case then we can forget about the soccer *ever* having its own stadium. The FAI will therefore always rent a stadium to play it's matches with the consequent loss of revenue.

This is not unlike the cases for many other European FAs, except they rent the stadiums from the clubs. While the FAI will lose part of the gate, they will also not be saddled with huge debts from a mortgage or running a stadium that would be filled maybe three times a year.

**derm** · 19/12/2003, 3:40 PM

AFAIK FAI, IRFU and Govt will own stadium, but de IRFU will own de land that it's on. Running of stadium will be passed to new company and FAI, IRFU + anyone else who wants to use it must ask this new company and pay rent/rates for each time they use it. This way, monies accrued from renting of stadium goes back into the running of stadium & it's upkeep solely.