BETOP - Bring Europe to Oriel Park

**passerrby** · 30/03/2010, 3:35 PM

i think its a great idea and one to be supported, am looking forward to following yous in you campaign

**Ciaran W** · 30/03/2010, 6:08 PM

That Shelbourne-deportivo game is the first time i went to see a league of ireland team

still one of my favourite ever matches

**Lamper.sffc** · 30/03/2010, 6:48 PM

Hope it work out for yous. Im sure there will be nothing better than hosting your european night/s at your own ground.
If it works, it means a ground has been improved for all and in turn helps improve standards in the league. All the best with it.

**Dillonman** · 30/03/2010, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by Lamper.sffc

Hope it work out for yous. Im sure there will be nothing better than hosting your european night/s at your own ground.
If it works, it means a ground has been improved for all and in turn helps improve standards in the league. All the best with it.

Thanks Lampers. Time is runnign out and the club issued a statement today in relation to the FAI supporting us now too.

Can be found at www.dundalkfc.com

**Ezeikial** · 30/03/2010, 10:36 PM

Heres the statements from the FAI and from the Minister for Justice and Law Reform

http://www.dundalkfc.com/news/100329_BETOP.asp

The FAI have issued the following statement in support of the BE-TOP CAMPAIGN.

"The people of Dundalk have tremendous loyalty and have shown huge support for their club. That pride and support is one of the main driving forces behind the club’s current success. Although the decision about whether a European fixture can be played in Oriel Park depends entirely on strict UEFA licensing criteria, we welcome this fan based initiative to return European football to Oriel Park and wish the club and everyone involved well in their efforts to do so."

On Monday, the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern TD was quick to pledge his full backing for the Dundalk FC campaign this morning in a press statement released by his office. The campaign appears to be gathering a fair amount of momentum with statements of support coming in from political, civic, business, commercial, sporting and cross-community groups

Ahern Backs Euro Football for Oriel
The Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern TD, has pledged hissupport to Dundalk FC's campaign to bring European football back to Oriel Park.

The Minister urged business, community and the public at large to row in behind the club's campaign to bring back the heady days of European
football to the town. "The club have been doing their homework and they believe they can transform the stadium by adding 3,000 seats which will qualify Oriel Park for the Europa League match in July. If the club don't get that support the game will have to be held outside the region with a subsequent loss of revenue to the locality," the Minister said.

"It has been 19 years since the last European game at Oriel. I personally have very fond memories of some great ties, including the visits of
Tottenham Hotspur and Red Star Belgrade. I believe a new generation should be able to see the Lilywhites play Europa league games in their home town and if enough support is secured in advance ticket sales it will be possible. Time is not on our side and people need to act now but I believe the club can achieve its goal, " the Minister added.

**Dillonman** · 31/03/2010, 9:34 AM

An update was posted on our forum, after 4 days we've only sold 175 with a handful of internet bookings to be added to that list.

**fionnsci** · 31/03/2010, 10:13 AM

Why do you need to sell the tickets now? You will easily get 3,000 for the game when it comes around. And have you not thought of waiting to sell them at your next home game? You'll sell a couple of hundred.

**pineapple stu** · 31/03/2010, 10:28 AM

Need the cash now to pay for the improvements, I assume.

**Dillonman** · 31/03/2010, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by fionnsci

Why do you need to sell the tickets now? You will easily get 3,000 for the game when it comes around. And have you not thought of waiting to sell them at your next home game? You'll sell a couple of hundred.

Money is needed now to buy the seating and materials needed to bring Oriel up to European standard. Gerry Matthews stated that he doesnt want to borrow any mroe money fromt he banks or that atm as we are paying off a loan that was used to help with the deficit we had last year, circa 200,000. He said he will go ahead with the upgrading if the response is there and this is the reason why they are taking bookings now for the tickets etc so this money can be used towards the upgrading. So far we are well off the mark. Our next home game is Friday week against UCD. There wont be as big a crowd there as there was for the Pats game last week.

**GUFCghost** · 31/03/2010, 11:07 AM

What grounds already have had euro games at them?

**pineapple stu** · 31/03/2010, 11:20 AM

Most of them. But many were before the days of UEFA requirements. There's a fair few now that wouldn't qualify to host a European game. We played in Belfield in the InterToto, but when we won the Fair Play a few years back, we got a UEFA Licence on the basis of using Richmond.

**WoodquayBoy** · 31/03/2010, 11:45 AM

Would ye 'get away' with the permanent temporary stanbd like in the Carlisle Grounds? I know that is what Salthill Devon are planning to build down here?

**Schumi** · 31/03/2010, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by WoodquayBoy

Would ye 'get away' with the permanent temporary stanbd like in the Carlisle Grounds? I know that is what Salthill Devon are planning to build down here?

Pats were able to use the seats behind the goal in Richmond last year, that's why they're there afaik. They're a different design to the Bray one though so I don't know if that makes a difference.

**Dodge** · 31/03/2010, 12:36 PM

Those seats have been in place since July 2007 Schumi (initially done for the Odense game). We did have planning permission to build a stand there though

**Schumi** · 31/03/2010, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Those seats have been in place since July 2007 Schumi (initially done for the Odense game). We did have planning permission to build a stand there though

Didn't realise they were there that long, it was for a European game at least!

**Dillonman** · 31/03/2010, 12:47 PM

The seats we'd be putting in will would be permanent.

**oriel** · 31/03/2010, 1:15 PM

Originally Posted by fionnsci

Why do you need to sell the tickets now? You will easily get 3,000 for the game when it comes around. And have you not thought of waiting to sell them at your next home game? You'll sell a couple of hundred.

We would probably exceed 3,000 but the owner has stated he needs to see 1,000 ticket sales first, then he`ll take it to the next level, be such a shame if this opportunity is passed by pure and utter laziness of fans.

**Ezeikial** · 31/03/2010, 1:36 PM

Originally Posted by fionnsci

Why do you need to sell the tickets now? You will easily get 3,000 for the game when it comes around. And have you not thought of waiting to sell them at your next home game? You'll sell a couple of hundred.

You are probably right in that it is likely that the game will be a sellout well in advance of match-day or even the draw, once the work on Oriel gets the green light.

I don't know the cost of upgrading, but it's pretty certain it exceeds the potential gate. Spending say €70/€80k in the hope or anticipation of it being a sellout does not make any sense when there is a clear alternative. The cash-flow benefits of advance selling are pretty obvious too.

Of course the advance booking desks will be in full swing at the next home game on April 9th. First 'D day' for targets to be hit is the following day, with 1000 bookings needed between now and then. This is far too important an initiative to be left to chance and whim (or to the last day!)