Permission Granted For Harps Stadium

**Buller** · 14/03/2005, 8:15 PM

Aertel Football News

Finn Harps have been granted planning
permission to build a new stadium in
Stranorlar, less than a kilometre from
the club's existing ground in
Ballybofey.

The clubs hopes to proceed with the
construction of a stadium on a phased
basis which will have a total capacity
of 6,600 seats. There will be four
separate stands as well as a TV gantry,
and a three-storey administration
building as well as floodlights.

Harps are hoping that monies raised
from the sale of Finn Park will be used
to finance the new stadium which is
likely to cost in the region of E6m.

**thejollyrodger** · 14/03/2005, 9:04 PM

€6million for 6k seater stadium ! looks like a bargin compared to what shels are paying

**Red Army** · 14/03/2005, 9:10 PM

Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

€6million for 6k seater stadium ! looks like a bargin compared to what shels are paying

You have to remember it's in the middle of no where

**Buller** · 14/03/2005, 9:58 PM

Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

€6million for 6k seater stadium ! looks like a bargin compared to what shels are paying

Looks like a bargain considering what we've paid for one half built stand!!! (2 MILLION EURO!!!)

**A face** · 14/03/2005, 10:05 PM

What kind of a time frame is on this ? ..... obviously you'd think that with increased crowds, cash flow problems (if any) in the club should ease a bit but you shouldn't really bank it either.

Harps have always been fairly inventive as regards rasing cash and sponsorship from what i can see, so fair play to them. It'd be good to see them getting stronger.

**Mr A** · 15/03/2005, 1:29 AM

The time frame- Harps hope to be playing in the new ground for the 2007 season.

The general idea behind the move is that Finn Park is zoned commercial and the council want it to be part of a new town centre so the land is worth serious money. Just across the river, where we're moving is zoned recreatation, meaning that although the land there is still central in the twin towns, it's much cheaper. So basically the deal is that the difference in the value of the two pieces of land builds the new ground. The next step is to do a deal with a developer, who would be building the new ground for us in order to get their hands on the valuable Finn Park land, so it's in whoever wins this contract's interest to complete the stadium as quickly as possible. That's the gist of it anyway, I'll not bore yis with details.

For a look at the plans and a bit more on this click on http://finnharps.openhosts.com/latest_news/05Feb03.htm