Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

**nigel-harps1954** · 28/12/2015, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by northwestexile

Any word on the progress at the Brandywell?

http://www.derryjournal.com/news/bra...ests-1-7113337

It's going so well for them they have to start their season in Finn Park like the chairman predicted.

**brendy_éire** · 30/12/2015, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by northwestexile

Any word on the progress at the Brandywell?[/URL]

Council will, again, attempt to sort things out with the Greyhound fellas next month. If not, it could end up in court, so it's claimed.

**ForzaHoop** · 05/01/2016, 2:26 PM

So any progress on any of the Grounds ?

**oriel** · 05/01/2016, 10:56 PM

No news from Dundalk which means either no progress has been made between the parties on the lease or it has gone to further mediation. One thing is for sure, no improvements can take place unless the current owners get control of the lease.

**brendy_éire** · 10/01/2016, 9:09 PM

Brandywell work to begin in July. We're asking the FAI to switch our last six home matches with the corresponding away matches from earlier in the season.
We were told preseason last year it was starting May past, but I'm one hundred million percent sure happening this time.....

**Titan** · 10/01/2016, 9:21 PM

Originally Posted by brendy_éire

Brandywell work to begin in July. We're asking the FAI to switch our last six home matches with the corresponding away matches from earlier in the season.
We were told preseason last year it was starting May past, but I'm one hundred million percent sure happening this time.....

So does this mean Derry could be playing their last 11 games away? Ouch!

**Dodge** · 10/01/2016, 9:39 PM

And maybe have 12 home games in a row in midseason. No chance of FAI/clubs agreeing to that

Finn Park it is so

**oriel** · 11/01/2016, 8:04 AM

Why aren't Derry looking to use the other ground in the city? where Institute play, surely that has to be the better option? Plus they would have it to themselves from end of April if they could get agreement.

**nigel-harps1954** · 11/01/2016, 8:12 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

And maybe have 12 home games in a row in midseason. No chance of FAI/clubs agreeing to that

Finn Park it is so

More likely to be Maginn Park in Buncrana I'd suspect.

**brendy_éire** · 11/01/2016, 8:14 AM

Originally Posted by oriel

Why aren't Derry looking to use the other ground in the city? where Institute play, surely that has to be the better option?

That's easily the most sensible option, so I doubt we'll be doing that.
Meeting with Inishowen League on Friday about using Maginn Park in Buncrana. Lovely surface, but not a big ground at all. If we are choosing to play outside Derry, our season ticket sales will take a hammering.

Club press release

The options are:
Switch fixtures
Riverside
Maginn Park
Finn Park.

That'd be my order of preference too.

**seand** · 11/01/2016, 9:12 AM

1 or 2 fixtures you might have some chance of convincing the FAI and /or opposition to switch, 6 is taking the ****. Incidentally if Derry were to swtich the last 6 homes those games could only possibly be switched with games from th emiddle part of the season. They'd be in the Brandywell for 11 stragiht home games from stat of May til the end of July then away for 12 straight games from August to October. That's bat**** crazy. Have Derry thought about this at all?

Institute surely is the sensible option.

**brendy_éire** · 11/01/2016, 10:01 AM

I can't see clubs involved caring all that much really, if that's even their decision to make. The only difference for them is a possible two away matches in row, some may prefer more home games towards the end of the season even?
The only concern I'd have about Riverside is the pitch. It's bumpy at the best of times, and if it was to rain a fair bit in September/October, and with two teans playing on it, it'd be pretty brutal.

**Nesta99** · 11/01/2016, 10:34 AM

But does it have a hill? I think its really risky by the Derry board to even consider no home games for 3 months (or 8 months until the next home fixture) assuming all timing works out. A bad start to the league maybe causing reduced crowds, or poor season ticket sales due to the lack or concrete plans during the build would really hit home financially last third of the season with no income at all - all well and good having a nice done up ground but it needs a financially sound club in it too. There are too many variables with this imo. Players may not be too keen on signing if there is a risk of delayed payments come October if the club isnt flush. Then the footballing aspect too, Derry under a new manager are still in a transition, if involved in a relegation scrap it wont be nice to not have home advantage at the business end of the season - can you be safe when home games have run out? Can anyone assume no delays in building or funding that could carry over in to 2017?

**Dodge** · 11/01/2016, 10:43 AM

Don't think they have a choice to be fair. Council doing the work so DCFC have no real say at this stage. Seems ludicrous but that's politics and football here, isn't it?

**Nesta99** · 11/01/2016, 10:46 AM

Surely its at least somewhat in Derry's hands whether to seek fixture changes or prioritise a groundshare with Institute, even if they have to pay a premium as it could be cheaper in the long run!?

**Charlie Darwin** · 11/01/2016, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by brendy_éire

I can't see clubs involved caring all that much really, if that's even their decision to make. The only difference for them is a possible two away matches in row, some may prefer more home games towards the end of the season even?
The only concern I'd have about Riverside is the pitch. It's bumpy at the best of times, and if it was to rain a fair bit in September/October, and with two teans playing on it, it'd be pretty brutal.

I'd say most teams would prefer to have the home games earlier.

**Dodge** · 11/01/2016, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Surely its at least somewhat in Derry's hands whether to seek fixture changes or prioritise a groundshare with Institute, even if they have to pay a premium as it could be cheaper in the long run!?

Sorry, yeah. that's all them. I'm just saying they can't really dictate to the council about when the work is done.

There's zero chance of the FAI giving them 11/12 home games in a row

**redobit** · 11/01/2016, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by brendy_éire

I can't see clubs involved caring all that much really, if that's even their decision to make. The only difference for them is a possible two away matches in row, some may prefer more home games towards the end of the season even?
The only concern I'd have about Riverside is the pitch. It's bumpy at the best of times, and if it was to rain a fair bit in September/October, and with two teans playing on it, it'd be pretty brutal.

Ya think. Clubs plan their season and to pay their players based on the home game receipts. Which for the most part is every two weeks. I doubt teams that aren't going to be title chasing or looking for the European spots will want to play extra gams at the end of the season. More likely they want home games at the start of the season when there is something to play for and a bit more hype. Across the road to Finn Park for a season is no big deal considering you'll have a nice new shinny brandywell to play in.

**Nah Nah Nah Nah** · 11/01/2016, 11:55 AM

Why are ye only going for a 3G pitch? 4G cost that much more or is there not really that big a difference?

**brendy_éire** · 11/01/2016, 12:15 PM

3G is the standard artificial.
4G is basically a meaningless phrase companies use to sell their product (I think there's '6G' pitches these days and all). The pitch will be your usual plastic grass with sand/rubber granules.
The quality of the pitch will be decent, according to Roddy Collins it'll be "far better than that muck Dundalk play on". It'll be the same as the ones in Seaview and Solitude.