FAI unveil €863 million wishlist of facility improvements.

**Kiki Balboa** · 10/06/2023, 1:25 PM

https://www.the42.ie/fai-investment-..._d=1&jrnl_lg=1

Think this deserves its own thread.

It is a pretty big plan by the Fai, and for me, really shows that there is a significant change between the new Fai and the previous regime.

I do feel this is unlikely though. The Gaa will probably mobilise all of its resources to fight against it. If I was the Fai, I would be trying to partner with all the other possible sporting bodies in the country (IRFU, Tennis Ireland, Basketball Ireland etc etc) to push it and keep a focus on multisport facilities.

**Philosophizer** · 10/06/2023, 2:47 PM

A key part of the proposal is to develop multi sport venues though, which makes sense.
The fai know that there just isn’t infinite resources to create this amount of facilities purely for football.
You can bet your bottom dollar the gaa will do whatever they can to undermine progress for football. Their worst nightmare is the fai becoming a well run organisation and finally getting its act together and properly running football. It’s the most popular game in the world and still Ireland’s most popular game by participation so if the fai properly get their sh!t together it will be a massive threat to Gaelic games.
Agreed that the post JD fai is a far better run org.

**nr637** · 11/06/2023, 9:13 AM

I think the FAI are correct with this inititive. Now they have a plan in place and get it out there!

**cláirseach** · 30/07/2023, 1:06 PM

Not sure if this is the right thread to ask this in but does anyone with a good understanding of such matters know if the standard of artificial pitch installed here is lower than elsewhere? To the untrained eye it appears to be particularly poor, and the bounce and run of the ball seems quite different in say Mounthawk and Oriel. It may be though that I am just seeing examples elsewhere that have had more money spent on them.

**outspoken** · 30/07/2023, 2:05 PM

Originally Posted by cláirseach

Not sure if this is the right thread to ask this in but does anyone with a good understanding of such matters know if the standard of artificial pitch installed here is lower than elsewhere? To the untrained eye it appears to be particularly poor, and the bounce and run of the ball seems quite different in say Mounthawk and Oriel. It may be though that I am just seeing examples elsewhere that have had more money spent on them.

It's how they are maintained and the big diff between here and Europe is the euro clubs install very good watering systems whereas weve a lad with a hose, may as well be p*ssing on it.

**Philosophizer** · 30/07/2023, 5:15 PM

Originally Posted by outspoken

It's how they are maintained and the big diff between here and Europe is the euro clubs install very good watering systems whereas weve a lad with a hose, may as well be p*ssing on it.

Pat Fenlon spoke about this on LOI central while ago. The continental clubs have an underground sprinkler system so the pitch is completely soaked. In that scenario the pitch is actually pretty good but it seems neither Dundalk or Derry have installed the sufficient sprinkler system necessary.

**outspoken** · 30/07/2023, 9:43 PM

It would probably cost as much as the pitch itself

**wonder88** · 31/07/2023, 4:57 PM

Is Morton Stadium lost to soccer now that DCU have taken ownership of it? Would it not be a good idea for the FAI to keep and maintain the facilities they have as a first step.

**cláirseach** · 31/07/2023, 8:05 PM

Originally Posted by wonder88

Is Morton Stadium lost to soccer now that DCU have taken ownership of it? Would it not be a good idea for the FAI to keep and maintain the facilities they have as a first step.

Morton Stadium was owned by Fingal County Council prior to DCU. They took it over from Clonliffe Harriers in 1994.