Replying To reffingmad:  "Not so sure there is, plenty of people are still wondering where all the money has gone from previous memberships and big draws?"

Replying To The_analyser:  "Money on those draws will used on the two captain projects. Your guess when either of those projects starts will be a good as mine and another big draw has been earmarked."

Replying To The_analyser:  "Money on those draws will used on the two captain projects. Your guess when either of those projects starts will be a good as mine and another big draw has been earmarked."

Replying To letsgetgoing:  "I presume (The_analyser) that the two capital projects are;

* Development of Hyde Park
* Centre of Excellence (I have already commented on where I think it should be and given my reasons)

With the proposed changes in the design of the senior championship, it looks like that there will be many more championship games. When there are new groups of four, each team will have one game at home, one away and one at a neutral venue. As a result many more games will be played at neutral venues. As most of the main grounds in Connacht are very near the coast line (Pearse Stadium/Galway, Markievicz Park/Sligo, MacHale Park/Castlebar I believe that there is a huge opportunity for Croke Park and Roscommon GAA to seriously consider a major re-development of Hyde Park. A whole range of potential championship fixtures could be facilitated in order to reduce travelling costs for supporters for example;

Kerry/Cork v Donegal/Tyrone
Mayo v Kildare/Meath/Monaghan/Armagh
Galway v Cavan/Monaghan/Meath
Sligo v Dublin/Offaly/Meath/Clare
Leitrim v Galway/Limerick/Offaly etc etc. (Plus many more possible match-ups which would be great for businesses in the town and for Roscommon GAA)

I know that some county boards are in serious debt but I see no reason why Croke Park, Roscommon County Board, Club Rossie, Connacht Council, Business People in Roscommon town and Local Politicians can't put their heads together and at least consider the basic idea/concept.
Obviously Roscommon county board have some essential things that must be implemented at Hyde Park as per previous reports. (Dressing rooms / Toilets / Turn styles etc)
Some additional things that I think should be considered in the medium to long term in order to make it more attractive to attend a championship match or a concert in Hyde Park are;

* Take out 50% of the terrible concreate seats under the stand and move the pitch closer to the main stand. With good project management techniques, this could be done without disturbing the existing "new" pitch and may not cost too much.

* Remove the tiny stand on the Athlone Road side and replace it with a new covered stand in order to cover 80% - 100% of people in the terrace. I personally would have no objection to leaving it as a terrace rather than the additional expense of putting in new seating.

* Put in a seated stand behind the town goals, with the seating high enough for supporters to get some perspective on the play. Maybe even consider putting the new dressing under the new stand, while also considering a room at a high level for a TV panel. Similar to the stand behind the goal posts in Tolka Park in Dublin. (I live in hope!)

I do not expect everyone to agree with me and I am only proposing that some of the above ideas get some consideration at least by those who make the decisions. Maybe I am living in cloud cuckoo land but sometimes you have to go for it if you want to achieve anything. However it critically important that whatever project is implemented that it has been fully critically evaluated from a range of short/medium/long term perspectives and that it does not put undue pressure on the Roscommon county board, as we are a very small county. Major support from Croke Park, Connacht Council and the Government would be needed for a couple of ideas that I have outlined.

Great to hear that Club Rossie might be getting going again and that another major draw might be in the pipeline. Really looking forward to the New Year and to see how the team will perform under the new management team."

Replying To MachaireConnacht:  "I'm not just saying it because I'm from Roscommon but why in God's name did the Hyde get demoted as the main Connacht stadium after the big works in the 90s? The location is the best in Connacht apart from Tuam. Either develop Tuam or the Hyde. To be fair Castlebar isn't too bad of a location either. Pearse stadium should never have got promoted as the main or second Connacht stadium."

Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "Mayo and Galway didn't want the Hyde to be the major Connacht Stadium and what the "big2" want they get"

Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "Mayo and Galway didn't want the Hyde to be the major Connacht Stadium and what the "big2" want they get"

Replying To The_analyser:  "@Letsgetgoing yes those are the capital projects.

In other news we look set to now have 16 teams in the senior championship with 4 divisional teans joining and having 4 groups of 4. Two of the divisional teams to reach the last 8 so some big teams could miss out. Pearses last year and Strokestown this year would miss out on that format."

Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "Mayo and Galway didn't want the Hyde to be the major Connacht Stadium and what the "big2" want they get"

Replying To Rossie14:  "I think it is totally unfair to automatically give the divisional teams 2 places in the quarter finals, this means only 6 places for our senior teams and the 3rd place teams being knocked out after 3 championship games.. we have a competitive championship in roscommon and the fact that our last 2 winners have finished 3rd in their groups only cements that fact... if they wanted to include divisional sides then they must be included in the open draw like everybody else to make things fair... I understand that this would impact the inter and junior start dates but something has to give in order for this to work... I just think only 6 quarter final places on offer for our 12 senior teams is not the right way to go about it"

Replying To yew_tree:  "Why would Mayo and Galway want their games between each other moved to Hyde Park? It would also mean a loss in revenue for businesses in Galway and Castlebar. Lots of mistakes made in MacHale Parks redevelopment but it's done now and there."

Replying To The_analyser:  "From what I understand It was Connacht GAA chiefs that wanted Hyde Park to become the Clones of Connacht. Money that was allocated for the Hyde couldn't be used due to the ownership issues with Roscommon Gaels therefore that money was used on Pearse Stadium and MacHale Park instead."

Replying To The_analyser:  "Doesn't seem right as at the moment we have at least 8 teams well capable of reaching the final If the format allows.

I'd say the Junior, Intermediate teams probably needed something so they buy into it and quarter final spots for two of them is likely that. As with any change it needs to be seen in operation before giving full judgement."

Replying To The_analyser:  "From what I understand It was Connacht GAA chiefs that wanted Hyde Park to become the Clones of Connacht. Money that was allocated for the Hyde couldn't be used due to the ownership issues with Roscommon Gaels therefore that money was used on Pearse Stadium and MacHale Park instead."

Replying To yew_tree:  "Mayo CB got into huge difficulty financially with our redevelopment so much so all our clubs are paying yearly levy's for the long green future like a noose around our necks."

Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "Half the teams being eliminated in the Group stages in any Competition is exactly what's needed to make it Competitive.
If you want a whole scatter of teams in knock out stages just make it a knock out Championship."

Replying To Gaa_lover:  "HQ think the way to go for All-Ireland series at inter County level is to have a group stage for the last 16 to eliminate 4 teams."