Why do people keep knocking the Stadium Ireland?

Xterminator

What is it about some of the people in this country that they have to knock the idea of building a stadium for sports and entertainment?

There is a time and place for everything.

Sport can play a huge part in the national pysche, see for example the Euro 88 and Italia 90 episodes are often seen as a key part of the Celtic tiger economy, when we began to believe we could be successful.

What do you think? Would you back the bulding of a stadium at a sensible cost?

X

swiss

Originally posted by Xterminator
What do you think? Would you back the bulding of a stadium at a sensible cost?

Depends what you mean really by sensible cost. For the cost of what is essentially a large ego trip, several sports grounds all thoroughout Ireland can be built, maintained and upgraded. I feel that if the Irish Government (and Bertie Ahern) are willing to spend this amount of money on sport in this country, it makes fiscal sense to spend it in a manner that maximises the benefit obtained.

I don't believe that we need to build a large stadium to promote sport in this country. If we persuaded the GAA to give up their isolationist and selfish hoarding of their own stadium grounds around the country in return for a modest sum of money, sports interests would be far better served. Similarly, if we were to encourage sport at the grassroots level, by initiating training sessions and facilities for local communities then the cause of sport would be far better furthured.

Having a large facility for sport and entertainment is a wonderful notion, but must be tempered with the reality that the monetary resourses that would be spent on such a project would be far more worthily spent elsewhere, IMO. It is all very well and good to have a large modern pitch where our veteran players can kick a ball in front of a large crowd. I'm sure it would help inspire national pride and confidence. However, I am more concerned that people at the local level are let down and are severely hampered by the lack of facilities in their areas.

As was stated in another thread, Ireland has a morbid culture of alcoholism and a deep rooted love-hate relationship with drink and pub culture. Any means that seeks to provide an alternative, particularly to the nations youth, should be welcomed, which is why I believe that sports spending in this manner is so misguided and blinkered.

JOOROWNED

i think in this day and age we should as a country have a national stadium .... not sure about the costs but still think the bertie bowl was a good idea.

Xterminator

Originally posted by swiss
As was stated in another thread, Ireland has a morbid culture of alcoholism and a deep rooted love-hate relationship with drink and pub culture. Any means that seeks to provide an alternative, particularly to the nations youth, should be welcomed, which is why I believe that sports spending in this manner is so misguided and blinkered.

You provide an agrument on why sports is good, promoting a health lifestlye choice (serious sportspeople are by there nature not going to drink heavily/smoke heavily etc) then say the spending on a staduim is misguided?

There is a place for grassroots facilities, and a place for a 'wembley' arena. The two go hand in hand. They are not mutually exclusive

You provide the young person with the facilities they need, and ALSO show them the top echelon sports people, playng in top level arenas.
The youth say "wow i want to do that," and they play regularly. The cream rise to the top, the others still benift many ways from being involved with sport.

X

swiss

Originally posted by Xterminator
There is a place for grassroots facilities, and a place for a 'wembley' arena. The two go hand in hand. They are not mutually exclusive

I disagree. What benefit will a schoolchild (for example) get from another stadium cropping up in Dublin. Even if he should go to see one match a year there, what would make the experience so infinitely superior to that when he goes to see a match in Landsdowne Road or Croke Park that merits the cost involved.

Even should the stadium encourage more and more people to take up sport, the grassroot facilites are simply not in place to cope with extra demand. I agree that money is being spent on facilites at the local level, yet even this is insufficient.

I do not believe that the bulk of our sports resources should be spend on making sure that the 'cream' have a cushy time at the top. I am sure that with top footballer salaries as well as lucrative advertising contracts those lucky and skilful enough to 'make it' will have no problem in showcasing their talents.

serious sportspeople are by there nature not going to drink heavily/smoke heavily etc

No, but we are not a nation of serious sportspeople. The average person in the street does drink or smoke, and usually both. I think it would be tremenduously more helpful to allow these people the simple opportunity to spend some of their time doing something more healthy than simply allow them watch the serious players exhibit their talents at an admittedly impressive stadium. This is why I believe the spending is misguided and blinkered.

PHB

Lets see.
I wonder how many free gyms you could build and maintain with the money from this stadium.
I'd guess a lot tbh.
I wonder how many youth sports programs could use the money that is going to be spent on this stadium.
I can think of a hell of a lot better ways to use this money.

If the government would just cut off the GAA totally until it honoured its commitments, and also let football matchs be played in Croke park then that would let us have a place where the "cream" would be able to play.

Victor

"Why do people keep knocking the Stadium Ireland?"

Because it is a political fob to three members of cabinet (Ahearn, McCreevy and the Minister for Fun) who haven't asked the people if they want this facility.

Because the procurement of said facilities would appear to be inept way (£4 companies and 100% cost over-runs come to mind).

Because for the cost providing a seat for 85,000 people for two hours on a weekend afternoon (it won't fill every time), we could provide proper full-time housing for 50,000 people.

Alternatively, it would provide 250 sports pitches, 100 swimming pools (with gym), 50 athlethics tracks and 10 regional indoor sports arenas (say to seat 2,000 each).

Because it won't pay for itself and will become an eternal millstone.