Markets Field to be sold to highest bidder

allimac

Disgraceful,the markets field which belonged to the people of Limerick through the market trustees and which Bord na gcon initially had on lease for a pittance and subsequently was allowed to buy for a pittance is now to be sold to the highest bidder.There is many a sporting organisation in this town that could really use this facility.The markets field is a historic sports ground that has hosted soccer,rugby and hurling over the years and in my opinion should be put back into public ownership or at least the people of Limerick should benefit financially from any sale.http://www.clarechampion.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3449:greyhound-landmark-to-be-sold&catid=40:greyhounds&Itemid=37Thursday, 26 August 2010 12:03 THE Irish Greyhound Board is commencing a public tender process for the sale of the historic Markets Field Stadium in Limerick.
The stadium was home to some of the finest greyhound racing in Ireland and Europe from 1932 until its closure in July of this year. Racing in the city will move to the new Limerick Stadium on the site of the old racecourse at Greenpark, in October.
The Markets Field site was first used for sport by the Irish Cycling Association in 1886. Twenty years later, it played host to Munster against the All Blacks in rugby. It was home to Garryowen Rugby Club for many years, to Limerick FC and it also hosted county hurling finals and other sporting and entertainment events.
The 5.35-acre site within the city boundary is zoned for a mixture of open space and industrial use. There have been a number of expressions of interest in the property.
“Now that we are about to commence a new era for greyhound racing in the city, it is the right time to formalise the sale process and move it forward,” said Adrian Neilan, CEO of the Irish Greyhound Board.
Copies of the Tender Information Pack will shortly be available from the Irish Greyhound Board and from Holmes O’Malley Sexton Solicitors in Limerick.

Grumpypants

Limerick FC were trying to buy it but the greyhound racing have it way over priced trying to rip off another sporting club that would use it. Im just glad the celtic tiger is over and no developer can afford to buy it and build more stupid ugly apartments we don't need or want.

wonder how many millions of tax payers money they got to build the new stadium on the dock road ??

bigpink

Im no expert on soccer but having been at the greyhounds and a match at jackman park,i think jackman park is alot better for Limerick FC its a tighter ground and your nearer the pitch?Plus all this moving round costs money and time

Aidric

bigpink wrote: »

Im no expert on soccer but having been at the greyhounds and a match at jackman park,i think jackman park is alot better for Limerick FC its a tighter ground and your nearer the pitch?Plus all this moving round costs money and time

Ah come off it, Jackman Park is a dump. At least with the markets field there are the structures in place, although work will need to be done to modernise them.

bigpink

Its a handy location and its not as open better atmostphere no?

Amazotheamazing

The Market's Field is zoned for recreational, whoever buys it will end up using it for sports of some sort. Pretty much all the councillors have spoken about the need for keeping it green space, i doubt it will be rezoned.

That means there's very few bodies who could buy it, imo.

The GAA, the IRFU, the FAI, an individual gaelic, rugby, soccer club, the University, an athletics club, a school, the city itself, imo, are about the only bodies who could buy it, unless a private individual can see a way to make a profit from a stadium.

My own preference would be for it to be turned into a smaller 7,000 to 10,000 capacity stadium, with attendant facilities. Would be ideal for soccer or rugby matches (AIL derbies/Munster A games etc) with Limerick FC as main tenant.

So far Limerick FC are the only bidders.

bigpink

Should Limerick FC just make the best of Jackman park instead of going bankrupt again

Amazotheamazing

bigpink wrote: »

Should Limerick FC just make the best of Jackman park instead of going bankrupt again

Limerick FC don't own Jackman Park, they rent it off the LDMC. It has poor facilities (no bars etc), a poor pitch, and limited scope for expansion as it's surrounded by houses and the Station, it's current capacity is 2,500 whereas the Market's Field has far more potential. If done right, Limerick FC could make money from having bars etc inside the ground.

Also, think LDMC might want Limerick FC to move on from Jackman, though I'm not sure.

Aidric

Markets Field is the natural fit. I was under the impression that it was a done deal, obviously my sources were inaccurate.
The team has a good ambitious manager in situ and the team seem to be heading in the right direction. Jackman Park hasn't a hope in hell of being up to Premier league standard.

Amazotheamazing

Aidric wrote: »

Markets Field is the natural fit. I was under the impression that it was a done deal, obviously my sources were inaccurate.
The team has a good ambitious manager in situ and the team seem to be heading in the right direction. Jackman Park hasn't a hope in hell of being up to Premier league standard.

I think there's an inevitability about the return to the Market's field at this stage, even a lot of casual football fans seem to be awaiting it. The big questions are how will Limerick FC afford it and what will they do with it? A modern Market's Field would allow things like the Barcelona friendly to go ahead (still angry and I'm not a big Limerick FC fan).

Berty

Seems to me like a good location for a Supervalu / Aldi / Lidl.

Itsdacraic

:rolleyes:

Bord na gCon have pumped millions into developing a new stadium in Limerick and creating a heap of jobs in the process and now they are being critizised for trying to extract maximum value for THEIR old ground.

Typical hand out nature of soccer where they expect everything for nothing. You even had Kevin Kiely saying Bord na gCon should gift it to L.F.C.

How a club that has been teetering on the brink of existence for the past 15 years can even consider spending millions on a stadium is beyond me. Serious development work would need to be done to it as well to make it any use for soccer.

The only hope would be the FAI come on board with Limerick to buy it and develop it into a modern small sized (7k to 10k all seated) "Munster" soccer stadium.

as mentioned above it's zoned recreational, and won't be rezoned so it's not going to covered in apartments as stated above. In my opinion Bord na gCon are dead right to go to the open market with it.

Itsdacraic

By the way I'm in no means anti-Limerick FC. I just would like to see the club continue to develop within their means with a sustainable financial model as opposed to saddling themselves in massive debt in the vain hope that just because they are playing the Markets Field that thousands of fans will suddenly return out of nowhere.

bigpink

Well said itsdacraic would going to the Markets field really bring more crowds,plus those glory days are gone their dealing with Munster and other sports plus a recession

Amazotheamazing

Itsdacraic wrote: »

By the way I'm in no means anti-Limerick FC. I just would like to see the club continue to develop within their means with a sustainable financial model as opposed to saddling themselves in massive debt in the vain hope that just because they are playing the Markets Field that thousands of fans will suddenly return out of nowhere.

Limerick FC have made a reasonably substantial bid, afaik, God knows how they'll fund it.

The FAI's decision to stop clubs (not just Limerick FC but Cork and Galway) using Thomond Park for friendlies is a bit of a disaster. A game against Barcelona (whether it was Limerick, Cork or Galway playing there) would have sold out.

However, a decent stadium would attract new fans, and having their own bars etc would bring in some cash.

Soulcrew09

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

God knows how they'll fund it.

Gate receipts, sponsorship, Bar takings, friendlys/fundraising, Pat O 'Sullivan, FAI, Regeneration......

Limerick having their own ground opposed to renting from the LDMC every week is the only option open to the club if it wants to grow. Markets field was home to Limerick during the 'glory days' but the location and room for development are also major factors as to why LFC want it.

I personally dont mind where limerick play as long as its their own ground (Prefer they got Hogan Park and developed that) people seem to forget the days in the MF when there was 150 people at the games. Public only came out when they were winning leagues and cups. (Hogan Park was getting crowds of 3/4000 before the club house was burned down)

Jofspring

Agree with Soulcrew.

Also Limerick FC are not looking for any kind of handout from Bord na gGon. Pat O Sullivan has said he has made a bid for the value of the property. The man can't afford to pay anymore and was hoping his bid would help further funding come in to help secure it.

For years Limerick have been listening to people say they need to stand on their own two feet first and then business', Council, Goverment etc... will start to back them. Limerick are now doing this and it seems no one else is willing to back them.

Limerick need to secure some kind of ground of their own or the club can never progress. Hopefully the Markets Field happens but if not somewhere else needs to be purchased a.s.a.p. Playing in a ground that is not up to premier standard and paying for it is not helping Limerick FC.

I'd love to see Limerick get on board with Munster in some way to buy it together and use it for two sporting codes but with Munster paying back for Thomond Park at the moment i can't see it.

Soulcrew09

Jofspring wrote: »

no one else is willing to back them.

As was proven during the Barca farce, one thing Limerick people are great at is running their mouths while sitting on a barstool.

allimac

Itsdacraic wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Bord na gCon have pumped millions into developing a new stadium in Limerick and creating a heap of jobs in the process and now they are being critizised for trying to extract maximum value for THEIR old ground.

Typical hand out nature of soccer where they expect everything for nothing. You even had Kevin Kiely saying Bord na gCon should gift it to L.F.C.

The whole point of the thread is that Bord ng gCon got the use of the markets field for years for practically nothing and subsequently bought what was a public amenity for a pittance.The markets field should never have been sold and Born na gCon should return it public ownership rather than making a profit from its sale.

Amazotheamazing

allimac wrote: »

The whole point of the thread is that Bord ng gCon got the use of the markets field for years for practically nothing and subsequently bought what was a public amenity for a pittance.The markets field should never have been sold and Born na gCon should return it public ownership rather than making a profit from its sale.

It was bad business to sell it alright, but it's done now and it's wishful thinking to think they'll give it back for a song.

flutered

which begs the question why did bord na gon get it for practically for nothing

Amazotheamazing

flutered wrote: »

which begs the question why did bord na gon get it for practically for nothing

It's not actually worth that much, it can't be used for anything but sport.

Anyhow, it's some location for a stadium, only 10 minute walk from Cruises street with plenty of space to expand. You could build a really great little stadium there.

Itsdacraic

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

It's not actually worth that much, it can't be used for anything but sport.

Anyhow, it's some location for a stadium, only 10 minute walk from Cruises street with plenty of space to expand. You could build a really great little stadium there.

Jackman Park is in a better location if you ask me although you are very limited in terms of development space.

Although the council have boarded up all those houses facing onto Hyde road so maybe a couple could be knocked to provide proper access. Proper covered terracing along the station side with a proper seated stand on the Careys Rd side and you would have a nice enough little ground. Obviously all would require the LDMC on board but it might be an alternative to spending millions on the markets field.

Jofspring

Thing about that is if Limerick invested in Jackman Park it would still belong to the LDMC at the end of the day so it would be wasted money in the end if Limerick where to leave Jackman park in the future.

Itsdacraic

Jofspring wrote: »

Thing about that is if Limerick invested in Jackman Park it would still belong to the LDMC at the end of the day so it would be wasted money in the end if Limerick where to leave Jackman park in the future.

Ya, I know that, it would require some serious cooperation between the FAI, Limerick FC and LDMC. I was more thinking aloud above, I know that getting those 3 sides to even agree on the time of day would be difficult.

topper75

If they let Kevin Fitz back in goal, I'll buy it for them.

Jofspring

According to yesterdays local, Pat O Sullivan has put in a new official bid through the tender process but has refused to say whether it is higher or lower than his original offer a few months ago. Fingers crossed they can come to a deal. Would love to have a decent ground to go to every Friday for matches. Councillors have also suggested there is no way the land can be re-zoned for development and it will have to be for recreational use. Also the Garryowen residents are backing Limericks bid because Pat O Sullivan has told them they will have a community centre within the ground also.

flutered

fingers crossed.

allimac

Looks like this once publicly owned amenity will now be sold to the highest bidder.Why is Limerick ciy council not getting involved and demanding that it is returned to the market trustees who btw should never have had the power to sell it to bord na gcon in the first place.Do none of our local politicians even care?http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/Sale-documents-issued-for-Limerick39s.6531289.jp

Jofspring

I really hope the Council push for Limerick FC to get it. Not only because i am a Limerick fan do i want this to happen but i feel it will be a waste if it gets knocked and used for a business.

Amazotheamazing

allimac wrote: »

Looks like this once publicly owned amenity will now be sold to the highest bidder.Why is Limerick ciy council not getting involved and demanding that it is returned to the market trustees who btw should never have had the power to sell it to bord na gcon in the first place.Do none of our local politicians even care?http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/Sale-documents-issued-for-Limerick39s.6531289.jp

I think the politicians do care, it's just their hands are tied by the bad business done by the Trustees.

It has to be kept for sports use anyway so I wouldn't panic.