DCU is planning on building an indoor version of Croke Park and a running track

lego

"That this venture is fronted by former GAA President Peter Quinn adds serious credence to the venture. Quinn, a brother of Ireland's wealthiest businessman, Seán, and a respected financial advisor in his own right, played an instrumental role in the crucial stages of the redevelopment of Croke Park during his term of office between 1991 and 1994."

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2008/1127/1227699548397.html

http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=sport-qqqa=sport-qqqid=78621-qqqx=1.asp

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/dcu-plans-cutting-edge-indoor-facility-1554642.html

Think it'll ever happen?

Attol

I am not impressed. So the university will be partially funding this project? There are far more worthwhile things they could spend this money on.

lego

lego wrote: »

Think it'll ever happen?

Unfortunately, yes.

AlanSparrowhawk

from what I heard on the radio what the director of this project said

it's going to be an indoor football pitch using state of the art artificial surface with some spectator space. The pitch will have sensors and cameras and all type of technological gadgets to track players and deliver real time results to the adjacent IT room. his aim was to produce a national training centre for gaelic games and sounded like he was prepared for DCU to fund it almost in its entirety but he said he wouldn't mind if the GAA chipped in.

i think this is a fantastic project but will do nothing or very little for the typical student. much in the same vein the helix is a magnificent venue but it just happens to be on our campus it's not a dcu facility as far as i am concerned.

Cy_Revenant

Certainly sounds impressive, and would be a lovely resource and a great achievement.

But with funds being tight, surely there's something better to spend money on?

No, that's just stupid. Massive stadia to house people chasing a ball around a small area are more important than hiring competent lecturers, providing free facilities such as the health, subsidising food and so on.

alexjk

it does seem as if it makes ferdie's argument about reintroducing fees seem a *bit* void.i mean how chronically underfunded can dcu be if they can go ahead with this?

Nothingcompares

Deleted User wrote: »

No, that's just stupid. Massive stadia to house people chasing a ball around a small area are more important than hiring competent lecturers, providing free facilities such as the health, subsidising food and so on.

there will be no massive stadium

Daysha

It's the sheer possible size of the project that gets me. Surely an indoor arena featuring a full size GAA pitch AND a running track surrounding would be one of the biggest indoor arenas in the world?!

Art_Wolf

I think it has some merit really - it would give the college another source of income for years to come.

Nothingcompares

For this project to be profitable they'd have to charge a hell of a lot for the GAA teams that train there once a week.

Art_Wolf

And the 10'000 seater stadium plus whatever advertising deals that they make *shrugs*

I am sure they coudl have come up with better long term alternatives though sports tend to be rather reliable

dregin

The locals dont like the noise from the freshers' ball. Ya can imagine the whinging that would go on if there was a match/gig on in this place.

AlanSparrowhawk

Ok. There is no 10000 seater stadium. This is a training pitch. Do you expect 10000 people to watch the Dublin Gaa team train? and pay 50 euro in to do so?

don't read everything you read in newspapers.