Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

**Louth4sam** · 28/10/2014, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by disgruntled

Anyone who was in Oriel Park last Friday night for the League decider would have seen exactly some of the problems facing clubs.
Looks like Dundalk spent all their money on players because they had an outstanding squad but no facilities.
The way the away fans were treated was unpleasant to say the least.

Your right mate we should build up a **** load of debts like Cork and then walk away from them could probably afford a nice away section then.
Dundalk don't have an FA or county council to build them a nice stadium so things are going to take time. Hopefully a few seasons of relative success and European money can allow us to develop our inadequate facilities.

**El-Pietro** · 28/10/2014, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Louth4sam

Your right mate we should build up a **** load of debts like Cork and then walk away from them could probably afford a nice away section then.
Dundalk don't have an FA or county council to build them a nice stadium so things are going to take time. Hopefully a few seasons of relative success and European money can allow us to develop our inadequate facilities.

Been 30 years or so now since Oriel Park was updated....

edit: except for the pitch and the seats shoved into the away end and shed that don't really make much difference of course.

**White Horse** · 28/10/2014, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

Been 30 years or so now since Oriel Park was updated....

There was a lot of money spent in Oriel Park in the last 10 years. The club had to bring it up to a standard so that it could host Europa League qualifiers.

**El-Pietro** · 28/10/2014, 11:14 AM

Then why does it look like somethign out of the 70s?

**White Horse** · 28/10/2014, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

Then why does it look like somethign out of the 70s?

The stand and the terraces we constructed in the 60's and 70's. Until it is reconstructed, it will always look of that era.

**Guinney** · 28/10/2014, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

Been 30 years or so now since Oriel Park was updated....

edit: except for the pitch and the seats shoved into the away end and shed that don't really make much difference of course.

I fully agree that Oriel Park needs to be updated and the facilities in the away section are poor to say the least. As mentioned we don't have any nice local rugby teams, the FAI or county councils to help us redevelop. But at least it's ours.

That said there has been a number of updates over the past 30 years - you mentioned the pitch and new seats. The Shed side has completely changed. Behind the Carrick road goals has changed, new town end toilets. Club bars, offices and shop all redeveloped inside. Even the main stand got a facelift. Also the Youth Development Centre/Oriel Active behind the shed is now in place, even if the club doesn't own it.

Before:

**Guinney** · 28/10/2014, 11:26 AM

After:

**Charlie Darwin** · 28/10/2014, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Guinney

I fully agree that Oriel Park needs to be updated and the facilities in the away section are poor to say the least. As mentioned we don't have any nice local rugby teams, the FAI or county councils to help us redevelop. But at least it's ours.

Eh, but it's Des Casey's, not DFC's?

This is classic foot.ie. We've had it all on this page alone, "at least we didn't walk away from our debts" "at least we own our ground" "we don't have X or Y to build us a free ground"

I anxiously await the meticulous analysis of attendances.

**pineapple stu** · 28/10/2014, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

Then why does it look like somethign out of the 70s?

Do you remember what it looked like in the late 90s?

There has been a lot of money spent on Oriel in the past few years. It looks a lot tidier now, but it's still a tip. Those two don't have to be mutually exclusive.

**White Horse** · 28/10/2014, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Eh, but it's Des Casey's, not DFC's?

And thankfully so. There is nothing more dangerous to an LOI club than owning their own ground.

**Nesta99** · 28/10/2014, 1:59 PM

Originally Posted by Guinney

Before:

Pitch looks awful on camera!

**seand** · 28/10/2014, 2:51 PM

The pitch looks awful under foot to be honest. Friday was the first time I was on the pitch in several years and it looks worn away to fook. There's a huge amount of football played on it and I believe it is at or near the end of it (un)natural life. I assume it'll be cheaper to relay/upgrade the artificial surface than go back to grass though, and it is a good source of income to the club.
It'll be interesting to see if we invest much in the ground. Hard to estimate how much return you'd get on spending five figures putting a roof over the away end, and there's plenty of other ways you could spend a fortune trying to tart the old ground up with little return. On the other hand we could just pish away all the prize money/Euro money on players wages- aka League of Ireland Plan A.

**cobhlad** · 28/10/2014, 9:52 PM

I don't think anything sums up the Celtic Tiger more than this thread circa 2007/08. Great entertainment reading it

**gufcfan** · 28/10/2014, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

Drogs having problems securing a site. The second site on the southside of the town has apparently fallen through and now they are looking at a third site just off the Dublin Road. Obviously cant lodge a planning application without a site so further delays on the cards. Earliest completion date now 2008 season.

The start of this thread is gold. Not going to spam you with them. The above was one of the first posts.

**Neish** · 29/10/2014, 1:35 PM

Pictures of new Finn Park taken this morning
http://s1064.photobucket.com/user/Na...October%202014

**Martinho II** · 29/10/2014, 4:00 PM

Originally Posted by Neish

Pictures of new Finn Park taken this morning
http://s1064.photobucket.com/user/Na...October%202014

I remember seeing that crane on last day of the season when we visited.. does that river separate the two grounds?

**disgruntled** · 29/10/2014, 4:21 PM

Originally Posted by Louth4sam

Your right mate we should build up a **** load of debts like Cork and then walk away from them could probably afford a nice away section then.
Dundalk don't have an FA or county council to build them a nice stadium so things are going to take time. Hopefully a few seasons of relative success and European money can allow us to develop our inadequate facilities.

So the debts that other clubs may or not have are the reasons why Oriel Park is the way it is ?
I must remember that one the next time someone comes looking for money

Hopefully when Dundalk get all the League & European money they will spend some of it on their stadium.
But hang on a while, Dundalk don't actually own Oriel Park do they ?
Someone else built it for them.
A bit like Cork so