Personally I love Clones - the tradition, the atmosphere, the past memories. It's a special place to go to a game. But lets face it it's 22 years now since the first game on the revamped pitch - the infamous 1993 Ulster Final and the place is in serious need of a re-furb. But even just a bit of a clean up, new seating throughout, new terracing, new toilets, ballstops and it wouldn't be bad. And lets not forget the location is very central for all counties.

The casement park idea is all ok in theory - but I'm just not sure it would ever be the same.

supporter (Donegal) - Posts: 205 - 31/07/2015 11:50:04    1761610

Some paces to visit when you come to Belfast for the Ulster Final weekend:
Albert Clock
Alexandra Graving Dock / HMS Caroline
The Alice Clock at Fountain Centre
Aunt Sandra's Candy Factory
Belfast Castle Estate & Cave Hill Visitor Centre
Belfast Cathedral
Belfast City Hall
Belfast Waterfront
Belfast Zoological Gardens
The Big Fish
Botanic Gardens
Botanic Inn (Culchies love the Botanic Inn)
Crumlin Road Gaol
The Dome at Victoria Square
Linen Hall Library
The MAC
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
St George's Market
Titanic Belfast
Victoria Square
W5 at Odyssey
and much much more.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 31/07/2015 12:50:27    1761662

'Personally I love Clones - the tradition, the atmosphere, the past memories. It's a special place to go to a game. But lets face it it's 22 years now since the first game on the revamped pitch - the infamous 1993 Ulster Final and the place is in serious need of a re-furb. But even just a bit of a clean up, new seating throughout, new terracing, new toilets, ballstops and it wouldn't be bad. And lets not forget the location is very central for all counties.

The casement park idea is all ok in theory - but I'm just not sure it would ever be the same.'

Supporter I dont think anyone will argue about tradition,atmosphere and past memories for those who visit Clones. However, these are the very same arguments used when Croke was being refurbished in the 90s or Lansdowne Road more recently.

I do know there is a slight difference because the venue is moving 100 miles away.
However, in 20 years time casement (hopefully) will have its own tradition,atmosphere and memories.

As for the eejit who mentioned about Antrim not playing in Ulster Finals well you'll find that they usually participate in at least one every year in Hurling or does that not count somehow as we are only catering for the ulster football supporters!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 31/07/2015 13:03:40    1761668

Long Live Clones!!

MonaghanGlory (Monaghan) - Posts: 738 - 31/07/2015 13:30:34    1761679

bumpernut you had 2 ulster finals last year......both in Derry :)

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 31/07/2015 13:48:05    1761685

Offside_Rule
County: Antrim
Posts: 2451

1761340 especially when you consider what Mayo did with €20 Million in McHale Park ( Equivalent of £14 million stg at todays exchange rate ). McHale Park has everything a Provincial GAA ground should have, a superb example to the rest of us.

GaryMc - is this the same McHale Park you are talking about which I have been in a good number of times and as recent as a few months back? Superb example - seriously?

Yes it is, an absolutely superb example of a Provincial Ground. It caters for everything a GAA fan needs when attending a GAA match, and is better than any other ground I have been in outside of Croke Park. And yes I have been in all of Ulster's Grounds and quite a few around the rest of the Country.

It's cost is exceptionally reasonable when compared to the £70 million Stadium proposed in Belfast, which will have a smaller capacity than McHale Park despite its price tag.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 31/07/2015 13:49:11    1761686

At this stage its probably more practical to St Tiernachs pk than pour money in to Casement pk.

Naysayer - Not sure masses of GAA clad folks stopping to smell the roses and see the sights in Belfast at that time of year would be a refreshing site for all!

seanfinn (Monaghan) - Posts: 360 - 31/07/2015 13:51:19    1761688

bumpernut
County: Antrim
Posts: 876

1761668

Casement Park isn't going ahead, how many times have you and the Antrim Parochial mob spouted that over the past few years.

There will be an alternative proposed in the next 12-18 months, which will be a lower cost alternative involving two different grounds getting revamped. Casement is a dead duck.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 31/07/2015 13:54:32    1761690

Is that a breaking news story Gary? if so please tell us more

As for parochial mobs have a look at the locations of the pro clones brigade!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 31/07/2015 14:12:09    1761698

GaryMc82
County: Derry
Posts: 2031

1761686 Offside_Rule
County: Antrim
Posts: 2451

1761340 especially when you consider what Mayo did with €20 Million in McHale Park ( Equivalent of £14 million stg at todays exchange rate ). McHale Park has everything a Provincial GAA ground should have, a superb example to the rest of us.

GaryMc - is this the same McHale Park you are talking about which I have been in a good number of times and as recent as a few months back? Superb example - seriously?

Yes it is, an absolutely superb example of a Provincial Ground. It caters for everything a GAA fan needs when attending a GAA match, and is better than any other ground I have been in outside of Croke Park. And yes I have been in all of Ulster's Grounds and quite a few around the rest of the Country.

It's cost is exceptionally reasonable when compared to the £70 million Stadium proposed in Belfast, which will have a smaller capacity than McHale Park despite its price tag.

'I like this bar - it smells of pish'

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 31/07/2015 14:21:45    1761701

GaryMc - have a look at McHale Park and tell me what you have got for this money or what differences do the paying spectators see? One stand and the rest concrete slabs - same as what Casement was prior to the gates closing. Toilets are of a similar standard, parking isn't great around McHale Park (everybody abandons anywhere - legal or not) and if anything is better at present around Casement. Yes the stand at McHale Park is better than the one presently in Casement but that was part of a €20m development.

I am not knocking McHale Park by the way as, like Casement, it has a bit of character about it and I enjoy going to matches in it. But for you to hold up a project which gave spectators one new stand at a cost which has left Mayo GAA with huge debts as a shining example is just madness. How much money do you think the project would have cost if they were having a ground fully surrounded by stands, have provided car-parking spaces etc etc? I guarantee you it would be a lot lot more than the £70m odd that Casement is going to cost for a 32,000 all seater stadium. And incidentally, while that might be £14m at todays exchange rate the average exchange rate over the 2-3 year build (09-11) was 0.8724 which turns that £14m in to almost £17.5m. And when you condiser that the projected cost for the new stand at Windsor Park which isn't far off the capacity of the stand at McHale Park is estimated at £8-10m in todays money then it puts things in to a bit more perspective.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 31/07/2015 14:44:58    1761714

'I like this bar - it smells of pish'

:-)

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 31/07/2015 14:49:28    1761717

Correction - 38,000 stadium for £70m - 32,000 was the capacity of present Casement.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 31/07/2015 14:57:13    1761719

Offside_Rule
County: Antrim
Posts: 2454

1761714
GaryMc - have a look at McHale Park and tell me what you have got for this money or what differences do the paying spectators see? One stand and the rest concrete slabs - same as what Casement was prior to the gates closing. Toilets are of a similar standard, parking isn't great around McHale Park (everybody abandons anywhere - legal or not) and if anything is better at present around Casement. Yes the stand at McHale Park is better than the one presently in Casement but that was part of a €20m development.

The 10,000 seated stand in McHale park is superb, If Ulster had a stadium with two such stands at each side, and open terrace at each end, we would be laughing.
Add Improved parking and plenty of toilet facilities, and you would have a absolutely stunning Provincial Stadium.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 31/07/2015 21:44:50    1761880

Naysayer
County: Antrim
Posts: 1490

1761701 'I like this bar - it smells of pish'

Thats not a bar you smell, its the Casement planning application be passed under a table in a brown envelope ;)

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 31/07/2015 21:47:34    1761882

GaryMc82
County: Derry
Posts: 2034

1761882
Naysayer
County: Antrim
Posts: 1490

1761701 'I like this bar - it smells of pish'

Thats not a bar you smell, its the Casement planning application be passed under a table in a brown envelope ;)

lol cannot fault that comeback.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 02/08/2015 09:57:55    1762258

Looks like we are waiting a little longer for our new stadium but main thing is it is going ahead and will be worth all the hassle when built.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 08/08/2015 11:10:25    1765893

Having been to grounds all over the country I think Clones is one of the worst places to go to a match. Takes ages going in and out of the town and the view from the terrace parallel to the pitch is awful. It feels like you're about a mile from the pitch!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13710 - 08/08/2015 13:16:18    1765929

The stand in McHale Park is a poor effort considering the money invested. Compare it to Leicester Rugby Club's stand which was built for similar money - proper cantilevered roof and no big support poles running up through it.

beir_bua (Kildare) - Posts: 746 - 08/08/2015 13:26:19    1765934

beir_bua
County: Kildare
Posts: 592

1765934
The stand in McHale Park is a poor effort considering the money invested. Compare it to Leicester Rugby Club's stand which was built for similar money - proper cantilevered roof and no big support poles running up through it.

The main stands in Armagh's Athletic Grounds, and Tyrone's Healy Park are excellent simplistic designs, albeit they are smaller capacity stands than the main stand in McHale Park.

I would prefer a Provincial Stadium with 2 x 10,000 all seated split level stands at each side and open terrace of around 6,000 capacity at each goal-end would be Ideal for Provincial GAA needs.

The split level single tier stands, will allow upper sections to be closed for lower attendance games, and thus lessen the empty feel and give an Improved atmosphere. This simplistic design, would probably be cheaper to build and would serve the needs of GAA fans perfectly.

But in reality, the problem is normally construction firms and the massive profits they seek from such projects, especially if Government grants are associated with them. Normally only firms who had multi million contracts or profits in recent times can tender for such projects, and this contributes to driving the overall project costs up.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 08/08/2015 16:04:36    1765982