QuoteSo basically Pete's moaning that the IL clubs should improve their facilities when that's exactly what they are doing?Originally Posted by Dodge
It's only a temporary measure.
In next season's competition we will be back at Solitude with a new stand , new facilities and new UEFA standard floodlights
So basically Pete's moaning that the IL clubs should improve their facilities when that's exactly what they are doing?
Just curious......what are the attendances like for this competition? you know what with all the talk of an all Ireland league
I can only comment on the games we've been involved in.
Our home game V Pats this year we had over 3,000 and season tickets don't count. Everyone has to buy a ticket.
We brought 1,500 to Windsor and 1,200 to the Oval. Glentoran only had about 400 at that game and Linfield seemed to have slightly less than what we brought up there.
Guesstimate for tonights game would at least 3,000 in the Brandywell.......I hope!
So if you think Bohs are big read this. http://www.astronomy.ie/perpespective.html
I think we've brought more on our travels than we have had at home!
However our two home games have been Dungannon Wwifts and Cork played at Donegal Celtic
We get about a quarter of the crowds that we would get for league games but that is because the draw for the group stages is rigged and we always play the same teams(Portadown, Dungannon and this season Cliftonville replaced Ports). In our first season we got a big crowd for the Ports game although now the Cork public are just bored. Linfield would draw a big crowd in Cork, maybe Glentoran too.
IL grounds are (or soon will be) often better than you might think. Donegal C is a bit of an exception, since having only been founded in 1970, it is amongst the most recent clubs to attain senior status, and so hasn't yet had the resources or time to build a decent ground. Which effectively is why it failed to get into the IPL this this season - there were at least 10 grounds in NI which were better than Suffolk Road. (Btw, I suspect that C'ville only chose DC Park temporarily over other Belfast grounds - Windsor, Oval, Seaview - due to security/travel reasons etc for their fans)
And aside from WP and Oval, Glenavon's Mourneview Park is possibly the best ground of its size in Ireland, with Portadown due to match it, when they complete their present redevelopment. C'ville's Solitude looks as if it will be pretty good when finished, as well. Crusaders are sounding very confident of achieving their move to what will be the hugely impressive new ground which was unveiled last week.
Beyond that, Ballymena United's Showgrounds isn't too bad, either. And if Glentoran ever do leave the Oval, as mooted for several years now, it will surely only be for something modern and suited to 21st Century expectations.
Crues (first minute is gash and music throughout):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR8VN1OX9-g
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7585663.stm
Ports
http://www.portadownfc.co.uk/Ground_Plans.htm
C'ville
http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/cage.html
[quote=Dodge;1012088]We play Hertha on the Tuesday now. Absolutely no idea about the Derry game, I've asked the same question
Cheers Dodge
Spot on.
The whole idea that the competition has been a success or popular is spin. Not only have the attendances been disappointing, but its clear that the clubs aren't taking it seriously and are playing weakened teams. IMO expanding the competition will only make things worse.
By all means continue with the competition, but don't pretend that its something its not.
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