Ravenhill Redevelopment

ulster_Beef

Hello. I should really know the answer to this, doh.

Can anyone tell me what the minimum seating requirement is for a HC quarter final?

The reason I ask is Ulster are looking to make it a home QF but due to the redevelopment, Ravenhill has lost standing at the ends losing a few head counts etc etc.

Thanks

irishbucsfan

If the Harlequins could play their quarter against Leinster in the Stoop then it'd be a real shame to deprive the Heineken cup of the glory of a Ravenhill game

P_1

I think that someone posted here that the stands at the ends are due to be finished and ready to go by March.

The ERC can offer a dispensation to play the game in a ground that doesn't have the required capacity in the event of there not being a suitable ground within a certain distance too

durkadurka

I read elsewhere that it'll be end of June before the two ends are done. End of march would be incredibly quick.

Legion2008

I think the number is 15000 .... can't find a direct link to it but on the wiki page for Stadium MK it's referenced as being the reason why Northampton moved their quarter final against ulster 2 years ago.

overshoot

same as legion have about 15,000 in my head but cant find a source(stoop being 14800 so you can see why they got away with it)
im trying to think what exactly the existing old grandstand holds, if the ends are built by march (which will be serious going) the stadiums capacity will be 12,350 + the old grandstand so you would expect it to be safe enough

i would be very surprised though to see them finished by march, could be doable to open the terrace maybe? but then thats still almost 5k off the capacity so it will be definitely below 15k

ulster_Beef

I heard they would have it finished by March too. MARCH!!! Two stands in 3-4 months is some going... And if thats not done, where is there to play up here that holds that many, nowhere :S

Cookiemunster

Definately wont be ready for March. June according to this http://www.ulsterrugby.com/club/stadium_development.php

The relevant line The first phase of the redevelopment will run from November 2012 until June 2013 and will see new stands built at both the Memorial and Aquinas ends of the ground.

From the plans though there is terracing at the front of both stands. Maybe that could be opened like the like Munster did with the West terrace at Thomond Park before the stand behind it was even built.

On reading on further each stand will have terracing for 1300. Would 2600 on those terraces bring it up to 15000?

the_doctor199

ulster_Beef wrote: »

And if thats not done, where is there to play up here that holds that many, nowhere :S

Casement Park would be big enough but would bring all sorts of other questions. Windsor Park could probably work if needed. It'd be a real shame if the game has to be played in Dublin.

CIARAN_BOYLE

the_doctor199 wrote: »

Casement Park would be big enough but would bring all sorts of other questions. Windsor Park could probably work if needed. It'd be a real shame if the game has to be played in Dublin.

Isn't the capacity around 13K there

Podge_irl

I imagine unless its against Leinster that a home QF will definitely be played in Dublin. The extra income would be too appealing. If its against Leinster than things change as Ulster can justifiably point out that they shouldn't have to give up home advantage.

mfceiling

the_doctor199 wrote: »

Casement Park would be big enough but would bring all sorts of other questions. Windsor Park could probably work if needed. It'd be a real shame if the game has to be played in Dublin.

A shame if the game had to be played in Dublin? Are you for real? Did you go to the semi final in the aviva last year? 45,000 Ulster fans going mental....it was like no other game I've been to.

To be fair if they got leinster then the aviva would be a bummer...

padser

mfceiling wrote: »

To be fair if they got leinster then the aviva would be a bummer...

For some people maybe.

Not for the IRFU who would get way more money....
Not for Leinster....
Not for the 30k extra ulster fans who could get tickets for the game....

Winters

I would find it hard to believe that both new stands would be completed and open by March. Construction during winter is a lot slower and more problematic due to reduced daylight hours and lower temperatures.

It's possible that the quarter final could be held there with an ERC exception and with either the terraces completed on both ends or temporary seating over the sites.

totallegend

Sunday Times this weekend said that Ulster were aiming to have enough of the ground ready to go in time for the QFs so that Ravenhill would meet the minimum capacity of 15,000. Might involve throwing up a couple of temporary stands.

Still, if it was Leinster they were playing, it would be very hard to turn down the opportunity of 36,000 extra punters paying to get in... Chance for the IRFU to pay down another chunk of the mortgage too, tempting.

[I'm not sure where it's actually stated that minimum capacity is 15k but it's quoted here: http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/13655.php]

durkadurka

I don't see how they could throw up temporary stands in the middle of the construction site where they are building permanent ones.

the_doctor199

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Isn't the capacity around 13K there

I think I read before that they can open the terraces for rugby and that would push it over 15k.

mfceiling wrote: »

A shame if the game had to be played in Dublin? Are you for real? Did you go to the semi final in the aviva last year? 45,000 Ulster fans going mental....it was like no other game I've been to.

To be fair if they got leinster then the aviva would be a bummer...

Yes, I was there. I just think it would be a shame if it had to be moved from Belfast.

Winters

durkadurka wrote: »

I don't see how they could throw up temporary stands in the middle of the construction site where they are building permanent ones.

There is the possibility that they may only have foundations complete by then or that they may concentrate their resources on one stand. In much the same way as the bucket seats were build on scaffolding over in the old North and South terraces in Lansdowne.

If Ulster do get a home QF and wish to stage it in Ravenhill it will depend on the speed of construction from now till then as to how they accommodate the extra 3,000 supporters to make it up to 15,000 or thereabouts.

If the tie is Ulster v Leinster there may then be considerable pressure to hold it in Lansdowne.

irishbucsfan wrote: »

If the Harlequins could play their quarter against Leinster in the Stoop then it'd be a real shame to deprive the Heineken cup of the glory of a Ravenhill game

In fact the attendance at the Stoop that day was 12,638 so there is precedent for exceptions.

durkadurka

Could easily be against Munster too tbf. Lots of variables at the moment.

Cookiemunster

Winters wrote: »

If Ulster do get a home QF and wish to stage it in Ravenhill it will depend on the speed of construction from now till then as to how they accommodate the extra 3,000 supporters to make it up to 15,000 or thereabouts.

As I said earlier in the thread, each stand is due to have a 1300 capacity terrace in front of it. These could easily be thrown up by March. Munster rebuilt the west terrace at Thomond Park before they started on the stand behind it so that the ground could be used for the HEC during the redevelopment.

JustinDee

Last time this subject came up on the subject of where Munster would play a playoff game, Munster lost and all the arguing and debate was for nothing.
The Subject of Death!
Shhhh...

QwertyIII

Lol, I agree, no point worrying about it at the minute. but have to laugh, thats how you kill a thread!