Attendances 2018

**dundalkfc10** · 09/04/2018, 3:06 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Thats indeed true but for people who think that top facilities mean top crowds would be mistaken. I dont think that a brand new stand and away section especially would add significantly to the average attendances. That only 2 IL clubs, the big 2 in Belfast, would be in the top 10 of attendances and yet even the smaller clubs have tidy grounds would have investors question the value of ground developments in real teams ie bums on seats.

And Glentorans ground is falling apart (worse than Dundalks)

**Asterix** · 09/04/2018, 3:31 PM

The Oval is a much better ground than oriel.

**EatYerGreens** · 09/04/2018, 4:24 PM

Originally Posted by Asterix

The Oval is a much better ground than oriel.

The Oval is a sh!t hole.

I think the quality of IL grounds is being overplayed here, and is in reality very much on a par with the LOI.

Windsor doesn't count, as it's an international stadium that had a fortune of public money spent on it. Apart from them, I would argue that Crusaders have the only decent stadium in the league. It's got cover on all four sides, and actually looks like a completed stadium. Although that said, it's still small and will pale versus Tallaght once the new stand opens there IMO.

Cliftonville have one good stand behind a set of nets (i.e. in worst location), another very old stand that's essentially been closed for years, a covered away fans end and an inaccessible grass bank on the Waterworks side.

Coleraine have one decent stand, two covered sections of terrace, and the rest is like the open bits of Dalymount.

Ballymena have one good stand, and their stadium is very much on a par with the RSC IMO.

The Oval is a complete dump.

Dungannon's ground is 'tidy', but small. If Longford put a roof over one more section of their ground, it would be better than Dungannon (and Longford aren't even top level).

Ballinamallard and Warrenpoint are village teams playing in grounds fit for village teams.

Portadown and Glenavon's grounds aren't bad, but would be broadly on a par with the Markets Field (although with bigger main stands) and worse than e.g. Tallaght and Brandywell,

Carrick's ground is a relic.

Ards don't even have a ground, and play in Bangor.

In terms of who may get promoted next season - Institute are best placed at the moment, but are homeless after their ground that was built in a floodplain predictably flooded. There's talk of them having to use the Brandywell whilst they sort out a more permanent location.

All in all I can't see where this idea that the IL has good stadia is coming from. they have two, one of which doesn't count as a club ground. Tallaght (once the new stand is finished) and the Brandywell are better than any ground in the IL beyond Windsor IMO. The rest are generally no better than LOi grounds, and the Oval is what Dalymount would be like if they hadn't built the Jodi stand.

**El-Pietro** · 09/04/2018, 10:04 PM

Institutes ground is nice for what it is, or was. Sort of a model for first division and lower Premier clubs. Obviously now its more of a model for a swimming pool but you get my point.

**Nesta99** · 10/04/2018, 12:06 AM

The perception is probably that most have had one new development in recent years and done by the clubs directly, with public funding, bar Windsor. LoI grounds have probably overtaken IL grounds in the last 10 to 15 years when its broken down by EYG like that above. It was an old observation that LoI clubs put a lot more money in to their playing squads while neglecting facilities and IL clubs did the opposite and that was muted as the reason for the footballing standard here being higher (Setanta Cup dominance). Markets Field and Tallaght are relatively new additions to league infrastructure, recent significant improvements have happened at Turners Cross, Brandywell, ED Park and the Showgrounds, Richmond too behind the goal. Not that long ago Athlone built the stand at Lissywollen. Maybe its listing to the observations on Oriel that had me still thinking that we were lagging behind as a league overall compared to IL. Actually when ye think that Oriel Park has had just above €1.5million or so spent on it over the last 10 years too.

**nr637** · 14/04/2018, 11:36 AM

Close to 4,500 at the cross last night for the 1-0 win over Pats!

**micls** · 14/04/2018, 12:35 PM

Shows how lucky we are at the moment when we were looking around last night and saying that it was a small enough crowd, relatively!

**ToberonaTornado** · 14/04/2018, 12:47 PM

820 at bray v dudalk

**kevincronin2000** · 14/04/2018, 2:13 PM

4541 at the rovers v bohs, surely this fixture should be attracting more.

**D24Saint** · 14/04/2018, 2:18 PM

Originally Posted by Asterix

The Oval is a much better ground than oriel.

Ahh here the Oval is an awful kip sound folk up there but the ground is a dump.

**oriel** · 14/04/2018, 3:16 PM

Portadown built two new stands in the last 10 years, the one on the side is a perfect model for any LOI ground to follow, probably 1k seats all with perfect view. They have another behind one of the goal which although not as new as one on the side looks good, but has a strange angle from the pitch. They seem to have an unused side facing the new stand with an old type stand, not sure if that is in use for match days.

I was sad enough once to call in when I was driving past the ground !

**oriel** · 14/04/2018, 3:18 PM

Originally Posted by micls

Shows how lucky we are at the moment when we were looking around last night and saying that it was a small enough crowd, relatively!

Small ? At 4,400, was that not around your average last season, surely if you could get that for most weeks with 5k+ for the bigger games, you'd have to be happy.

**micls** · 14/04/2018, 4:54 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

Small ? At 4,400, was that not around your average last season, surely if you could get that for most weeks with 5k+ for the bigger games, you'd have to be happy.

Just relative to other games this season, it looked smaller. Considering we got higher on Monday games. But yeah, of course, absolutely delighted if that's the average. Last season was incredible to have that high an average.

**Kingswood Rover** · 14/04/2018, 10:14 PM

looked way more than that tbh

**Nesta99** · 15/04/2018, 4:55 AM

Does Turners Cross sell often? If there was another 2 or3k on top of current capacity would games push toward that too or is the 4000+ pretty much it bar the odd game of note.

**Pablo Escobar** · 15/04/2018, 5:45 AM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Does Turners Cross sell often? If there was another 2 or3k on top of current capacity would games push toward that too or is the 4000+ pretty much it bar the odd game of note.

I think improved facilities allied with increased capacity would help. Just adding seats would mean we'd pretty much stay where we are I feel. But even now, the 'safe' capacity is actually below the seating capacity of the stadium. Realistically the only way to improve facilities significantly is to move from Turners Cross and start again.

**micls** · 15/04/2018, 8:29 AM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Does Turners Cross sell often? If there was another 2 or3k on top of current capacity would games push toward that too or is the 4000+ pretty much it bar the odd game of note.

Until last year, our average was only 2500 most season. So the current boost is very new and I'd imagine dependent on the success. The average jumped to 4500 last season which is incredible.

In terms of selling out, we're probably only looking at 4/5 league games a year max, unless the title is on the line, and then the euro games. We're a long way from needing anything bigger

**White Horse** · 15/04/2018, 9:10 AM

Originally Posted by micls

Until last year, our average was only 2500 most season. So the current boost is very new and I'd imagine dependent on the success. The average jumped to 4500 last season which is incredible.

In terms of selling out, we're probably only looking at 4/5 league games a year max, unless the title is on the line, and then the euro games. We're a long way from needing anything bigger

You must be thinking of European games though. Sustained success will generate the possibility of progress in Europe. That could require a category 4 stadium.

Is Thomond the fall back option?

**micls** · 15/04/2018, 9:32 AM

Yeah, the reality is we're a hell of a long way from moving from Turners Cross, if ever. The government just gave millions for Pairc Uí Chaoimh. That was the point that could have been pushed to be a municipal stadium if the government will was there. They won't be giving that sort of money to Cork again for a stadium in the foreseeable future. We're also getting the money for the Glanmire project so it will be Turners Cross for us.

And in fairness, the Cross suits the majority of our needs, but Europe is the issue. I'm not sure if Musgrave is an option for a round beyond Turners Cross. Thomond would presumably be the next best thing for us.

**oriel** · 15/04/2018, 11:25 AM

Turners Cross is a perfect stadium for almost 100% of Cork's requirements, and this should include Europe too. Should the need arise for group stages they can look at other options, but this shouldn't be an immediate concern really, and if so only every 5 years or so. The exact same will apply for Dundalk, plus its one round extra now to get there, and better teams in the way too, Tallaght will fit the bill should arise again.

It is said that better facilities will attract more fans, but I still think anything over 3k is up there with the max that Dundalk can attract for a domestic game, maybe 4k but that would be the height given the population of the town / fanbase. I think 5k were at the final game v Cork in 2014, but this was the first league title in 19 years and a huge away support, plus they installed a temp stand also.