National Forum

New 40K Stadium Required In Middle Of Country

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I think the GAA need to look at having a 40-45k capacity stadium in one of the midlands towns, either in Portlaoise or Tullamore.
It could host a lot of neutral matches, and could host Leinster hurling finals when Galway are playing.
40k in a full house in Portaloise or Tullamore would be a much better atmosphere than 40k in Croke Park, and the crowd will likely be smaller given the distance from Galway on Sunday.
Either that or just get rid of the farcical situation where the Leinster hurling final has to be played in Leinster and play the game in Thurles.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1336 - 06/06/2023 15:36:05    2484459

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How do these WUM get away with those posts!!!! Leinster hurling final in Thurles

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2139 - 06/06/2023 15:48:00    2484464

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "I think the GAA need to look at having a 40-45k capacity stadium in one of the midlands towns, either in Portlaoise or Tullamore.
It could host a lot of neutral matches, and could host Leinster hurling finals when Galway are playing.
40k in a full house in Portaloise or Tullamore would be a much better atmosphere than 40k in Croke Park, and the crowd will likely be smaller given the distance from Galway on Sunday.
Either that or just get rid of the farcical situation where the Leinster hurling final has to be played in Leinster and play the game in Thurles."
Athlone. Build it now.

LongfordgaaAbú (Longford) - Posts: 611 - 06/06/2023 15:53:05    2484473

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Replying To LongfordgaaAbú:  "Athlone. Build it now."
Centre of Ireland is near Loughnavalley - build it there on the top of Uisneach

ExiledCuCu (Cavan) - Posts: 256 - 06/06/2023 16:36:25    2484490

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "I think the GAA need to look at having a 40-45k capacity stadium in one of the midlands towns, either in Portlaoise or Tullamore.
It could host a lot of neutral matches, and could host Leinster hurling finals when Galway are playing.
40k in a full house in Portaloise or Tullamore would be a much better atmosphere than 40k in Croke Park, and the crowd will likely be smaller given the distance from Galway on Sunday.
Either that or just get rid of the farcical situation where the Leinster hurling final has to be played in Leinster and play the game in Thurles."
Wouldnt money be better spent on developing stadiums and facilities in other counties that need it more.
Why not improve facilities in Portlaoise/Tullamore rather than just put in extra seating?

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3755 - 06/06/2023 17:05:00    2484500

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I'm not a fan of neutral venue games. All-Ireland group winners could be given home advantage or choice of venue. It should be an agreed list of grounds that would be up to standard for hosting provincial finals.
The Round 3 games could be luck of the draw for an extra home game in Year 1. In the following year, teams who did not get an extra home game should be given priority for an extra home game as much as possible.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8773 - 06/06/2023 17:21:27    2484510

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "I think the GAA need to look at having a 40-45k capacity stadium in one of the midlands towns, either in Portlaoise or Tullamore.
It could host a lot of neutral matches, and could host Leinster hurling finals when Galway are playing.
40k in a full house in Portaloise or Tullamore would be a much better atmosphere than 40k in Croke Park, and the crowd will likely be smaller given the distance from Galway on Sunday.
Either that or just get rid of the farcical situation where the Leinster hurling final has to be played in Leinster and play the game in Thurles."
I could go with the stadium but time to think outside the box. It needs two be a covered Stadium with a retractable roof where games could be switched to because of weather. a choice to open or close depending on conditions. It would get more use that way as well as other events to pay for it. Probably 30,000 is sufficient. It should be the first of two or three.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3035 - 06/06/2023 17:39:06    2484520

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "I think the GAA need to look at having a 40-45k capacity stadium in one of the midlands towns, either in Portlaoise or Tullamore.
It could host a lot of neutral matches, and could host Leinster hurling finals when Galway are playing.
40k in a full house in Portaloise or Tullamore would be a much better atmosphere than 40k in Croke Park, and the crowd will likely be smaller given the distance from Galway on Sunday.
Either that or just get rid of the farcical situation where the Leinster hurling final has to be played in Leinster and play the game in Thurles."
Friend of mine often makes a similar point. If Croke Park was being built now the place to build it would be in the midlands rather than Dublin. I agree with him. But since that ship sailed over 100 years ago then as you say a 40k-45k stadium in the midlands now would be the thing to do and hold provincial finals and some other big games there. Wont ever happen though.

Btw Thurles is not a loved venue for Galway hurling fans. It's quite a trek on poor roads on the most direct route and is a longer trek via Limerick if travelling by motorway.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2015 - 06/06/2023 18:56:18    2484537

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Replying To legendzxix:  "I'm not a fan of neutral venue games. All-Ireland group winners could be given home advantage or choice of venue. It should be an agreed list of grounds that would be up to standard for hosting provincial finals.
The Round 3 games could be luck of the draw for an extra home game in Year 1. In the following year, teams who did not get an extra home game should be given priority for an extra home game as much as possible."
fine for teams who are in group stage year in year out. others are not so lucky so that isnt right.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3755 - 06/06/2023 20:26:37    2484552

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We have enough white elephants such as Pairc Ui Caoimhe and Tullamore.Let us tidy up what we have.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1698 - 06/06/2023 22:12:14    2484581

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Replying To LongfordgaaAbú:  "Athlone. Build it now."
Athlone is the perfect spot

Existing sports grounds available for development - check
Train line running adjacent to it - check
Dual carriageway running adjacent to it - check

Specification:
30k capacity
4k premium level
1k corporate seats
5k safe standing area
Retractable roof
Removable pitch (like Amsterdam area)



Multipurpose facility -
1. April to July - GAA
2. September to April ,- Connacht/Leinster rugby
2. August - premier league club friendlies, US college match
3. September - international rules match, Cricket Match, Boxing event, FAI cup final
4. October - athletics event, rugby sevens event, international soccer match
5. November rugby internationals, music festival
6. December - ice skating/ hockey event, all Ireland club finals
8. January - euro basket event
9. February - six nations warm up (v Georgia), GAA intercounty league double headers
10. March - international soccer, St Patrick day festival event, gaa intercounty league double header


If its designed with the above it would become the facility of choice for most events in Ireland.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1382 - 07/06/2023 02:42:00    2484601

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Replying To KillingFields:  "fine for teams who are in group stage year in year out. others are not so lucky so that isnt right."
Counties will either be in the All-Ireland or Tailteann. Providing an extra home game as much as possible every year can apply across both groups. If Westmeath did not have an extra home game in Year 1 of the Tailteann, they also would be in line for priority of an extra home game in Year 2.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8773 - 07/06/2023 08:20:54    2484617

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "I think the GAA need to look at having a 40-45k capacity stadium in one of the midlands towns, either in Portlaoise or Tullamore.
It could host a lot of neutral matches, and could host Leinster hurling finals when Galway are playing.
40k in a full house in Portaloise or Tullamore would be a much better atmosphere than 40k in Croke Park, and the crowd will likely be smaller given the distance from Galway on Sunday.
Either that or just get rid of the farcical situation where the Leinster hurling final has to be played in Leinster and play the game in Thurles."
All good roads converge on Dublin not the Midlands. Build a stadium in Athlone for Galway? What other big draw counties would it suit? If Leinster want a smaller stadium it has to be accessible to everyone and that was the Abbotstown idea.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1959 - 07/06/2023 09:40:10    2484639

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There are more important things to be built in the country than another stadium.

There is still laughably no motor-way/train service to the north-west.
For as long as I can remember there has been a housing crisis.
Thousands of MICA-ridden homes need rebuilding.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9754 - 07/06/2023 09:48:55    2484642

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "Athlone is the perfect spot

Existing sports grounds available for development - check
Train line running adjacent to it - check
Dual carriageway running adjacent to it - check

Specification:
30k capacity
4k premium level
1k corporate seats
5k safe standing area
Retractable roof
Removable pitch (like Amsterdam area)



Multipurpose facility -
1. April to July - GAA
2. September to April ,- Connacht/Leinster rugby
2. August - premier league club friendlies, US college match
3. September - international rules match, Cricket Match, Boxing event, FAI cup final
4. October - athletics event, rugby sevens event, international soccer match
5. November rugby internationals, music festival
6. December - ice skating/ hockey event, all Ireland club finals
8. January - euro basket event
9. February - six nations warm up (v Georgia), GAA intercounty league double headers
10. March - international soccer, St Patrick day festival event, gaa intercounty league double header


If its designed with the above it would become the facility of choice for most events in Ireland."
I feel like I've gone through a timewarp back to around the year 2000 and all the talk about "the Bertie Bowl" and the separate Eircom Park that the FAI were going to build as well........

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2856 - 07/06/2023 10:03:24    2484649

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Replying To zinny:  "All good roads converge on Dublin not the Midlands. Build a stadium in Athlone for Galway? What other big draw counties would it suit? If Leinster want a smaller stadium it has to be accessible to everyone and that was the Abbotstown idea."
Agreed I think it should be around the M50. Kildare/Meath.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15673 - 07/06/2023 10:20:21    2484659

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "I think the GAA need to look at having a 40-45k capacity stadium in one of the midlands towns, either in Portlaoise or Tullamore.
It could host a lot of neutral matches, and could host Leinster hurling finals when Galway are playing.
40k in a full house in Portaloise or Tullamore would be a much better atmosphere than 40k in Croke Park, and the crowd will likely be smaller given the distance from Galway on Sunday.
Either that or just get rid of the farcical situation where the Leinster hurling final has to be played in Leinster and play the game in Thurles."
There are two fine stadiums already in Dublin, Croke Park and Aviva Stadium. Both should be available for all team sports. Croke Park for All-Ireland finals and any other games (GAA, soccer, rugby, etc.) that might exceed a 50k attendance.
The Aviva could be used for games where the attendances won't exceed 50k (it would be ideal for the Leinster Final).
This is a common sense solution, so it has no chance of happening.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2754 - 07/06/2023 10:27:40    2484664

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We live in a small island. Venues are max 3 hours drive for the majority. We've enough provincial grounds to easily find a neutral venue for two sets of supporters. We've already wasted enough money on likes of McHale Park overspend. If it wasn't full for last year's championship game v Galway it'll never be full. Don't waste the money on another stadium that'll rarely ever be filled. If we're spending money put it into improving hurling and football standards in so-called weaker counties. That's a better investment in the future than having a new stadium that might cut an hour of a journey for some supporters once a year.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7969 - 07/06/2023 10:36:38    2484670

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We don't need a new white elephant of a stadium. Lots of stadiums around the country are in dire need of work. Some I imagine are borderline cases for getting shut down for Health and Safety. Lots of games this weekend in football and I can't see the 10k mark surpassed. Carrick is the venue for Galway v Armagh and that capacity is only about 9k. Very difficult to get enough volunteers to steward at these neutral venue's. I think all games this weekend should be a toss of a coin for venue. With regard to rugby I wish you luck trying to get Munster to play outside of their province. They are well able to accommodate their own supporters

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2096 - 07/06/2023 10:40:41    2484674

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "There are more important things to be built in the country than another stadium.

There is still laughably no motor-way/train service to the north-west.
For as long as I can remember there has been a housing crisis.
Thousands of MICA-ridden homes need rebuilding."
Not that long ago we had too many houses. Drive through every single town and village in rural Ireland and even in most cities - and on the main street of all those towns and villages are multiple empty houses (and also businesses). Right on the edge of every road is a new-ish housing estate. Theres no shortages of houses. The two problems are - Irish people are too entitled and would rather complain than live in an old house and the second is that town and county councils arent forcing the owners into doing something with them.
Theres more than enough houses in Ireland.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 07/06/2023 10:44:02    2484676

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