Jarlath Burns will keep pushing the development. Won't be to Uefa standards but will be much better than the majority of provincial grounds. It will do a lot for sport and communities up in the islands second largest city. It should still be entitled to a certain level of UK government funding.
Hopefully there is a way they can just build it and claim back the funding. Because waiting to get it of them first will be another big delay the way things are going.
It may take a UK Labour government to get funding moving. The current government have little or no interest despite commiting to it.
Well in good GAA news the Louth Stadium is back on track.
https://m.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/235-million-cost-set-for-louth-gaas-new-stadium-development-in-dundalk/a1484052041.html
But a provincial stadium is a very different prospect to an Antrim GAA stadium. The former would be a waste of money.
If "provincial stadium" means some huge stadium that is the one and only place to hold a final then yes fair enough I agree.
The part of the quote from JB which stood out to me is "a provincial stadium where we can play our Ulster finals”. Designing a stadium around one game a year is madness given the cost involved, particularly given that many GAA stadiums are substandard.
Depends on whether or not that government money is for Casement or GAA projects. He could be worried that the money can be spent on Belfast or nothing.
Antrim would be better off with something Ravenhill size though.
Yeah, how many GAA stadiums still have those uncomfortable benches etc? And areas with a poor view?
On the facilities. My country cousin made the error of buying a Pint of Guinness in Croke Park. One of those watery pints in a plastic cup. It was that bad he threw it away!
I think from an infrastructure standpoint slightly smaller stadiums (25K) max with with top tier facilities is the way to go. Loads of GAA grounds are way too big and hardly ever used to their full capacity.
Spend the money on the facilities instead, That is how you attract in fair weather fans and families etc. People want comfort in this day and age. Even the match itself is not any good/right result, at least it would be a nice day out.
the problem is that they are hardly ever used to their full capacity isn’t the same as never used to their full capacity. If you only have one 30+k stadium in a province then only one stadium can host big draw provincial finals and the team with that stadium always has home advantage.
Plus I’m not sure there’s that big a cost difference between a 40k stadium and a 25k one
Good job they got the Chinese money before the programme closed.
"It was confirmed by the stadium committee – which includes Louth GAA chairman Seán McClean and former GAA President John Horan – that the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) contribution of €14.8 million is secure. Though that exact sum is the subject of consultancy fees, while almost €2 million of it has already been drawn down and used for the purchase of materials for the respective stands, which are currently on site. Louth GAA must contribute €1.25 million to phase one, with the IIP and Croke Park accounting for the €12.25 million shortfall."
https://www.irishimmigration.ie/faqs-closure-of-the-immigrant-investor-programme-iip/
The Irish government money is only €60m, so half what PUC cost but factor in that Casement is a very constraint site whereas PUC had loads of space to work with. Without the Euros, UK government money will be small and NI don't have any themselves. Even if the money is available to build the planned stadium, the operating costs will be major but only one big game to cover the cost.
I seen various media reports over the weekend that no extra stadium will be added to euro 28 but instead the casement games will be spread around with the aivia getting an extra game.
You would also wonder apart from rental fees for FAI/IRFU would the tournement actually add much to dublin as at that time of year the city is a wash with tourists anyway.
I even seen one article were the peoples republic of cork are saying PUC is in with a chance!.
Well of course the lads in Cork would think that 🤣
So with the current casement plan looking dead in the water what happens next.
The UK funds that was promised to soccer, Rugby and gaa has been delivered to soccer and rugby but not the GAA.
Is the promised funds soley for a Antrim stadium in belfast to be used by Ulster GAA or is it for the gaa across the 6 countys?
I don't think the UK promised anything, it was the NI Executive writing cheques they were unlikely to be able to cash.
The absolute worst case scenario is the GAA get the money that was originally allocated to them for a stadium. So the worst case is they have to scale down their grand plans to reduce the cost, and put more money in themselves.
I have to say, IMO the GAA are displaying a bit of a brass neck refusing to put in any more money than they originally said they would when they are as culpable for the delays as any other party.
I think best case scenario is the GAA get some more money than was originally promised (which in turn will lead to extra funds being allocated to rugby and soccer), but this will still require a more realistic plan to be developed.
It is mentioned in an article this morning. We’ll see over the next few weeks I feel anyway if there’s any basis to it.
How are the GAA culpable ?
Its not happening
The GAA's original plans for Casement were too grand with a planned capacity of about 40k, and they tried to railroad the local residents.
The residents then had to launch a legal challenge, which was upheld and the original planning was deemed unlawful. The GAA were forced to come back with more realistic plans, but by the time they did this Stormont had collapsed and this compounded the delays.
The GAA are not blameless in this mess, and IMO it is unreasonable of them to expect to get their stadium without having to put in any more money of their own.
I would guess that had the GAA come in with more realistic plans originally and engaged with residents better that the new Casement would be long built.
That’s that sorted then.
There was plenty of discussion and reasons why it won't happen on this thread already so I didn't feel like having to bore people with all the reasons again.
I can think of many reasons why it won’t, but also many that it could. My bet is Edinburgh for what it’s worth.
The worst case scenario being the GAA getting the money that was originally allocated for the stadium is very wishful thinking. The money originally allocated just isn't there anymore (if it ever was). The GAA know that the stadium will operate at a loss so don't want to contribute much to the capital cost.
I suspect that Croke Park would prefer if this "provincial stadium" never happened after they had to step in on PUC. It is the Ulster Council who has been pushing this (and making a balls of it) on the basis that a £100m cheque was written for them, waiting for them to cash. When the Euros is confirmed as gone, hopefully they can pivot to an Antrim stadium which is more appropriate.
Going on Louths figures for there fully developed stadium its coming in at 25 Million on a greenfield site so thats sort of money Antrim county board would be looking for if built a simlar size stadium.
I seen thw other day Harris said the 50 million from the state is guaranted so with that and the 16 million from the GAA even if no storment/UK money comes they still have the funds to build a good smaller stadium.
the 50 million is guaranteed? He said that? Fcuking stupid in my opinion. It was arguable to heavily invest in it for a world class stadium in a prestige tournament when the UK exchequer were picking up a huge part of the tab. But it must be quite galling for the likes of bohemians to see this with the incredibly drawn out process they’ve gone through to be provided with funding for a new stadium that’s arguably planned to be way too small.
The 50 million was guaranteed for the stadium proposed. I wonder if it would still be there if the stadium plans changed. The government could say that they will pay the same percentage as before and not the same total.
well it seems the 50 million is guaranteed under a Harris led government
Article below on Harriss comments about the funding.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/casement-park-funds-guaranteed-even-if-stadium-misses-out-on-euro-games-harris-1640204.html
