Do you mean standing at the wall? Just for Europe unfortunately. People are very attached to the spot they have stood in Oriel for 986 years - if a new all seater ground is ever built i guarantee some people will moan about having to move from their usual spot!!
I think there is a platform installed in the section in front of the stand. It's usually a packed terrace for league games but with it out of action for Europe thats where the disabled support were accomodated as they couldnt be pitchside which is their preferred choice. It is disgraceful that there isnt a permanent for purpose designated area but just another item to add to the Oriel Park kip list!
The Showgrounds is only 10 minutes walk from bus train and town centre and while it may have been on the edge of Sligo in 1928 that is hardly true now, the reason it occupies such a large site is in the name and not to the foresight of the founders, however we can thank the visionaries who went door to door, week after week, in the 1960's collecting the funds to purchase the site for it's present owners The People of Sligo, for the facility that is there today.
As mentioned above, the FAI don't own any part of Lansdowne Road. Juts a medium-term lease on it. For perspective - you'd find it almost impossible to get a mortgage for a house which had only 42yrs left on its lease.
As for the FAI being substantially debt-free - are they ? Last I heard they were behind on their repayment time-scale - blaming Thierry Henry for it. Have you figures you can provide on this ? Thanks.
Delaney said yesterday they were 'on target' to remove the debt by 2020 but was very unclear about how this would be done (especially in the context of long term sponsorship deals). Yes, you are correct that the FAI only have a lease arrangement on the Aviva and it reverts in total to the IRFU after that. I don't think its anywhere near 42 years either !
Correct but I think there was a commitment that the FAI would put in some money to the Dalymount development (probably Sports Council money) into Dalymount. Tolka is to be (eventually) used by Dublin City Council for housing so nobody is going to be developing that (it will be kept on life support to home both Bohs and shels while Dalymount is redeveloped).
Oriel Park has many problems.
A few disabled people watching the game from the sidelines is not one of them.
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