UEFA category 3 stadiums

**nr637** · 21/07/2016, 9:02 AM

UEFA category 3 stadiums are required to host third round European qualifying games, and unfortunately for Dundalk, Oriel Park doesn't fulfil that requirement.

Tallaght, RDS and Aviva are category 3.

What about Turners Cross & Richmond Park?

I know it probably has a lot more health & safety standards, seating capacity & floodlight lux (SI unit of illuminance and luminous) levels.

But what other league grounds or alternative grounds in Ireland are category 3 and what does it take for a ground to reach this level?

Anyone

**brendy_éire** · 21/07/2016, 9:46 AM

Thomond, Windsor and Ravenhill would be the only other ones, I'd guess.
Croke Park too, but obviously not for any of them foreign games.

**nigel-harps1954** · 21/07/2016, 10:38 AM

I doubt if any League of Ireland grounds meet category 3 outside of Tallaght which possibly only scrapes the criteria itself.
Turners Cross could meet the requirements, but does it have adequate VIP seating and media areas?

**El-Pietro** · 21/07/2016, 11:01 AM

Lots of little issues preventing Turners Cross meeting the criteria, things like Parking, Bus Access, Floodlights. I think we might just be able to hold a third round game but Playoffs would probably have to be somewhere else.

**El-Pietro** · 21/07/2016, 11:06 AM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_stadium_categories

Astadium must be category four to host games in the playoffs of the qualifying stage for the UEFA Champions League or any game in the main competition.^[2] Category four is also required to host any game in the main competition of the UEFA Europa League^[3] or the UEFA European Football Championship.^[4]

I think we must be close enough to meeting Category three going on that wiki page. Things like VIP Parking, Press Box Seats, Minimum number of TV studios would cause us difficulty. But there are some things we don't even have for Category 1 or 2.

**Dodge** · 21/07/2016, 12:34 PM

I think Turners Cross would make it. Sligo were allowed use the Showgrounds in 2011 with an early kick off time.

Tallaght (and the Aviva) are the only grounds in Dublin that qualify

**Kingdom** · 21/07/2016, 12:48 PM

Is there any alternative venue within the Cork region that would qualify? Would Musgrave Park be good enough since the "redevelopment" - I figure Flower Lodge isn't as close as TC would be at present.

**El-Pietro** · 21/07/2016, 12:55 PM

For Round 4 Musgrave would probably meet a lot of the requirements but wouldn't have the capacity. The lodge apparently has seated capacity of 8,000. I don't know if it meets the other requirements.

**Kingdom** · 21/07/2016, 1:18 PM

I didn't think the Lodge has UEFA type seating of 8000? Definitely has the GAA definition of 8000 seats (concrete and a painted number).

**El-Pietro** · 21/07/2016, 1:22 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

I didn't think the Lodge has UEFA type seating of 8000? Definitely has the GAA definition of 8000 seats (concrete and a painted number).

Possibly, I've never been there.

**Nesta99** · 21/07/2016, 1:29 PM

I'd rather play in Windsor Park than Tallaght - can we cite security risk to UEFA to allow a move for our games, whatever number that might be, to be hosted by the Irish League?

**nigel-harps1954** · 21/07/2016, 3:47 PM

Surely Cork would be given special dispensation to use Turners Cross? Musgrave Park has only 3,500 seats and the only stadium nearby even remotely capable of hosting a game. Thomond Park is nearest after that, and would be a nightmare to have to travel to Limerick for home games.

As far as Dundalk are concerned, it's a bit of a nightmare all round.

**pineapple stu** · 21/07/2016, 3:52 PM

Special dispensation from whom?

Not UEFA's fault their ground is crap (even if it's the best in the league)

Clubs in Azerbaijan and the likes have had to play their group games in the capital because their own grounds aren't up to scratch I think. Don't see why Cork should be any different.

**Yossarian** · 21/07/2016, 4:02 PM

UEFA don't really do special dispensation in these cases. As far as I know clubs have to nominate the grounds in advance of the qualifying rounds that are suitable for the relevant rounds they may get to. I know we had already nominated Tallaght as the home ground for the 3rd round onwards.

**pineapple stu** · 21/07/2016, 4:08 PM

They shouldn't give dispensation either. Some of the requirements might be a bit corporate and not overly relevant supporter-wise, but then you look at a nice tidy ground like FH's last night and realise how far behind we are some smaller leagues. The bigger clubs in particular could benefit from getting their grounds up to standard.

Qabala played the Europa League groups last year out of Baku, 150 miles away. Debrecen played their CL and EL group campaigns in 2009-2011 in Budapest, also 150+ miles away. They've since built a new 20,000 seater ground (a bit excessive maybe as they only average 3000 at a game - I don't know what the capacity requirement is for group stage games?)

**ThePrisoner** · 21/07/2016, 4:17 PM

Had a quick look at the category 3 details and I don't think OP would qualify. For starters you need 4,500 seats and then there's a load about press facilities, VIP seats................., even a jacks for the ref with a seat. Whatever next?

As Shams played their EL groups games in Tallaght then it must have met all the requirements.

**nigel-harps1954** · 21/07/2016, 4:19 PM

There is special dispensation in UEFA rules for clubs regarding stadia in certain cases. Here's the detail from UEFA Champions League Guide 2016-17.

I'd assume Cork could come under 'financial hardship' given that League of Ireland clubs aren't exactly financially secure at any time, and potentially 'reasoned request'.

**paul_oshea** · 21/07/2016, 4:24 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

They shouldn't give dispensation either. Some of the requirements might be a bit corporate and not overly relevant supporter-wise, but then you look at a nice tidy ground like FH's last night and realise how far behind we are some smaller leagues. The bigger clubs in particular could benefit from getting their grounds up to standard.

Qabala played the Europa League groups last year out of Baku, 150 miles away. Debrecen played their CL and EL group campaigns in 2009-2011 in Budapest, also 150+ miles away. They've since built a new 20,000 seater ground (a bit excessive maybe as they only average 3000 at a game - I don't know what the capacity requirement is for group stage games?)

Similar crowds to top LOI teams, but qualified for CL and EL grouup stages? Similarly Iceland team last night, couldn't even fill the ground, maybe 2000 there at most, yet they have a great stadium. I'm begining to wonder about the attendances argument in all of this. Do clubs have 5 year plans, 10 year plans etc?

**pineapple stu** · 21/07/2016, 4:27 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

There is special dispensation in UEFA rules for clubs regarding stadia in certain cases. Here's the detail from UEFA Champions League Guide 2016-17.

I'd assume Cork could come under 'financial hardship' given that League of Ireland clubs aren't exactly financially secure at any time, and potentially 'reasoned request'.

Why would Cork come under "financial hardship"? Azerbaijan and Hungary are hardly wealthy countries. (Actually, Azerbaijan might be with its oil - but Hungary still stands)

LoI grounds are crap; stop making excuses for them.

**ThePrisoner** · 21/07/2016, 4:52 PM

Part of the problem with the grounds is the fact that out of the 12 PL clubs, only one actually owns their ground - St Pat's and it's mortgaged in the sum of €22m (clearly stated in the filed accounts for the club and another group company). So there is no incentive to upgrade the grounds.

Three clubs have control of their grounds, Longford through a separate guarantee company, Sligo through the trustees and in the case of Finn H the fixed assets note to the audited accounts details three different leasehold properties. As to what the three relate to is not detailed but a guess would be the new stadium under construction, Finn Park and another property, but specified as leasehold and therefore not owned. However, the terms and conditions of the various leases may well make some of all of the properties 'as good as owned'.

In the FD I would guess UCD (the college and not the club) own the Bowl and I've no idea on the ownership of the grounds in Cabinteely. The other six clubs do not own their grounds.