Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

**oriel** · 26/03/2018, 3:55 PM

I think Dundalk should be ok to host two rounds of the EL this season, obviously assuming we get through the first round!

If the owners warrant it necessary, I think you are permitted if applied for 6 weeks or so in advance, and as long as this is erected on a solid surface, to put up a temporary stand. DFC put one up twice in the past few seasons, EA Sports Cup final Sept 2014, and the final league game v Cork a month later. It’s a bit of gamble though as you probably will not know your opposition until a few weeks or less before the game, plus Dundalk will be seeded so rules out any big teams they can draw. It will still be a European game but if they don’t make any adjustment, the attendance will be limited to 3,100 I think.

There might be other permanent items to improve, but as suggested by Ezeikial, these will probably be only due to UEFA licencing, and they might be only quick fixes, but there is a long list of those in the ground !

**dundalkfc10** · 27/03/2018, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by oriel

I think Dundalk should be ok to host two rounds of the EL this season, obviously assuming we get through the first round!

If the owners warrant it necessary, I think you are permitted if applied for 6 weeks or so in advance, and as long as this is erected on a solid surface, to put up a temporary stand. DFC put one up twice in the past few seasons, EA Sports Cup final Sept 2014, and the final league game v Cork a month later. It’s a bit of gamble though as you probably will not know your opposition until a few weeks or less before the game, plus Dundalk will be seeded so rules out any big teams they can draw. It will still be a European game but if they don’t make any adjustment, the attendance will be limited to 3,100 I think.

There might be other permanent items to improve, but as suggested by Ezeikial, these will probably be only due to UEFA licencing, and they might be only quick fixes, but there is a long list of those in the ground !

Cliftonville got permission to build a temporary stand the full length of the pitch when they drew Celtic.

No reason why UEFA wouldnt allow us do the same

**redobit** · 29/03/2018, 9:55 AM

Originally Posted by dundalkfc10

Cliftonville got permission to build a temporary stand the full length of the pitch when they drew Celtic.

No reason why UEFA wouldnt allow us do the same

We had a temporary stand in the Showgrounds on the Railway End (before permanent stand was built) when we played Vorskla Poltava in 3rd round Qualifying of Europa. Its something odd like if you have a permanent structure in place you can put a temp stand on it.

**Nesta99** · 29/03/2018, 10:58 AM

A solid/permanent base so behind the Carrick Rd end of Oriel would be ok but not the town end goal with the grass bank. That was one of the reasons for hoping that that whole area of the ground would have a full bay of concrete laid rather than just the path being widened.

**RathfarnhamHoop** · 29/03/2018, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

A solid/permanent base so behind the Carrick Rd end of Oriel would be ok but not the town end goal with the grass bank. That was one of the reasons for hoping that that whole area of the ground would have a full bay of concrete laid rather than just the path being widened.

There's something romantic about a grassy bank behind a goal but from a practical pov tarmac makes more sense. Although maybe the fact they didn't do that means they've bigger plans for behind that goal in the near future? We live in hope

**Longfordian** · 29/03/2018, 4:01 PM

I saw most of their press conference. They were politely answering questions on the ground but not giving any indication that major improvements are in any way a priority for them.

**Ezeikial** · 29/03/2018, 5:38 PM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

I saw most of their press conference. They were politely answering questions on the ground but not giving any indication that major improvements are in any way a priority for them.

They were much more specific. They clearly outlined that major improvements were not a priority.

The priority outlined was footballing success; they indicated that they would consider reinvesting in infrastructure subsequently.

The only commitments made were to the Puddle Project, and "looking at" anything needed for Europa League early rounds

**Nesta99** · 29/03/2018, 6:14 PM

What sort of structure is the seating behind the goal in Richmond Park, is it a permanent structure or a temporary type structure there permanently?

**oriel** · 29/03/2018, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Ezeikial

They were much more specific. They clearly outlined that major improvements were not a priority.

The priority outlined was footballing success; they indicated that they would consider reinvesting in infrastructure subsequently.

The only commitments made were to the Puddle Project, and "looking at" anything needed for Europa League early rounds

Mal Rodgers the new CEO later said they would look at improving the away end. Another term used was any future and longer term redevelopment would likely to be comimg from earned income from Europe.

**TonyD** · 30/03/2018, 1:17 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

What sort of structure is the seating behind the goal in Richmond Park, is it a permanent structure or a temporary type structure there permanently?

It's a scaffolding type structure, but there is a concrete base beneath it. Temporary looking, but it's been there since 2007. There was some repair work carried out a few years ago. There was a grassy hill there previously which was levelled out.

**Nesta99** · 30/03/2018, 1:28 PM

I remember the advertisment hoardings on the bank all right. It also meets UEFA requirements i's sure. It would be a temporary solution that would ideal behind the Town goal after the right prep work. Dont suppose there is any guesstimate on the cost? Can it be dismantled for reuse elsewhere if say a new stand was to be bult?

**nigel-harps1954** · 04/04/2018, 9:52 AM

Contractor on site today at Harps new ground

**nr637** · 04/04/2018, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Contractor on site today at Harps new ground

Any images as this is a rare view and nobody will believe you.

**nigel-harps1954** · 04/04/2018, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by nr637

Any images as this is a rare view and nobody will believe you.

Will swing by on the way back from work and take a picture of a digger so...it's nothing overly exciting. They're clearing off some of the site behind there they've done work previously. Would assume they're getting ready to move in for building work again.

**Nesta99** · 04/04/2018, 12:24 PM

Value of housing developments recover and the contractor is back on site in Stranrolar. Land swap for Finn Park must be worth the developer's while again...

Banks offering interest only buy to let mortgages, nearly €5 a pint, its all very de ja vu!

**sidewayspasser** · 04/04/2018, 4:47 PM

Wikipedia names the new Harps stadium as one of the venues for next year's U17 Euros. No source of that information is given though. Does anyone know anything about that?

**nigel-harps1954** · 04/04/2018, 8:20 PM

Originally Posted by sidewayspasser

Wikipedia names the new Harps stadium as one of the venues for next year's U17 Euros. No source of that information is given though. Does anyone know anything about that?

Strange one that. Wouldn't expect it to be completed by then.

**Shearer** · 04/04/2018, 9:09 PM

Took a friend to his first League of Ireland game lately and when I googled the Markets Field to show him where we'd be sitting I came across this artist's rendition from a 2013 Limerick Leader article of what the grounds could potentially look like. What he have is a fair far cry!

**Eminence Grise** · 04/04/2018, 9:40 PM

Originally Posted by sidewayspasser

U17 Euros.

I think that's the amount to date spent on Harps new stadium.

**Charlie Darwin** · 04/04/2018, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by Shearer

Took a friend to his first League of Ireland game lately and when I googled the Markets Field to show him where we'd be sitting I came across this artist's rendition from a 2013 Limerick Leader article of what the grounds could potentially look like. What he have is a fair far cry!

A good rule of thumb when you look at plans for a LOI ground and want to know how it'll actually turn out is to halve the number of stands and quadruple the time needed to build it.