Musgrave or Thomond Park

[Roo69]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/1124/MUNSTER.html

What are the chances of Limerick trying to get on board with this ?

[4tothefloor]

Slim and none. We have missed the boat on Thomond, we would have no use for it anyway unless we were in the premier. At that we'd still have to pay expensive rent for every game. Those new plans for Thomond include a total revamp, rotating the pitch, knocking existing stand, and building at least one massive modern stand. Out of our league!

We'd be better off now buying our own ground and building it up phase by phase. I believe that is the plan and that something will be in the offing in the new year.

[kevincronin2000]

You might be wrong about the rent as rugby is gennerally a winter sport, it would create some revenue during the summer months for them. I agree the capacity would exceed demand but if you closed some sections of the ground at least it would be comfortable for supporters and may increase attendances.

[Poor Student]

Hmmmmmm. These developments could be handy for Irish soccer. Say there was a cup semi between Waterford and Cork, or a League Cup final Thomond could be used for that. Or if Cork made it a few rounds into Europe it would avoid have to miss out on ticket sales at the X but not have to go to Dublin. And of course if Waterford, Limerick or even Cobh ever do anything meaningful it could come in useful for them.

[4tothefloor]

You might be wrong about the rent as rugby is gennerally a winter sport, it would create some revenue during the summer months for them.

Yeah, but the problem is the cost of opening the ground, on top of the rent. You would be talking about playing the games on Friday\Saturday nights, and once you enter the autumn, the lights would have to be switched on. Those babies aint cheap! The Bar at the ground would have to be open for supporters as well etc, so there's alot of hidden costs. You would have to cover all these costs, plus make it worth their while. And considering our attendances at the moment, I don't think it would be viable. You would certainly have to be doing very well, and at the top end of the premier at that.

But agreed, down the line it could be a very useful venue. Munster are looking to build a stadium similar to the ones that they play in France, so ultimately you could be looking at a 30,000 + stadium in the future. Suitable for big football games, maybe even a senior international outside of the pale Maybe if it was good enough, we might even be back in the hat for joint-hosting a European Championships someday......all thanks to Rugby!

[pete]

The GAA are a lost cause so rugby & football should be sharing facilities throughout the country. The country is too small & facilities too poor to be building separate ones!

[CollegeTillIDie]

The GAA are a lost cause so rugby & football should be sharing facilities throughout the country. The country is too small & facilities too poor to be building separate ones!

The IRFU have been good to soccer in this country down through the years, in terms of access to their facilities. Right from the use of IRFUHQ for the national team, to the use of Musgrave Park in 1991 for the visit of Bayern Munich by Cork City. Galway United had the use of Rugby ground Crowley Park while Terryland was being rebuilt in the period 1993/94, and the occasional use of the Connacht Sportsground, an IRFU/Bord Na gCon facility up to the start of the 1995/96 season. The above posting is a well made point which I would endorse totally.

[gspain]

Just to echo that in Limerick we have always had access to Thomond Park when requested back to European ties and big Cup games in the 60's.

Garryowen RFC also offered help recently.

Not exclusive to rugby though.

Same all over the world though with other sporting organisations always helping out and sharing facilities for a proper rent of course.

Apart from one obvious exception of course.

[pete]

The government should have comprehensive national training facilities programme for ALL sports instead of funding once off independent facilities for different sports.

[KR's Post]

Hmmmmmm. These developments could be handy for Irish soccer. Say there was a cup semi between Waterford and Cork, or a League Cup final Thomond could be used for that. Or if Cork made it a few rounds into Europe it would avoid have to miss out on ticket sales at the X but not have to go to Dublin. And of course if Waterford, Limerick or even Cobh ever do anything meaningful it could come in useful for them.

Very good point poor student!!!