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White Elephant GAA Projects

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The upcoming redevelopment in Cork will cost €70 Million (That's just the projected cost, it could be higher when all is said and done) €40 Million of that will be coming from a combination of Irish tax payer money and GAA funding Considering the current climate with so many rural clubs struggling I for one find €40 Million to be an outrageous amount of funding to be pumped into another grand White elephant project that will sit idle for 85% of the year and lucky to be full twice a year Surely these much needed funds which are obviously available for such projects should be going into growing our games, and reinforcing clubs right across the country Imagine the good that money could do, and the difference it could be making to address the argument of fairness in the modern GAA jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 14/10/2016 15:07:15 1926271 Link
Well I'd say 2 things to that: 1. These funds would be earmarked for this type of project, not for games development. There's also the RWC factor which I'm sure would have nudged the Government into approving it as well. 2. I actually don't think it will be a white elephant at all. It's part of a wider project for the Marina in Cork I believe. From what I've read they won't have restrictions on the number of concerts it's allowed to host per year, they will just have to apply for an event license whenever a gig comes around. Cork already gets plenty of concerts through the Marquee so I'd imagine quite a few of these will move to the new, bigger stadium. Just one example of the type of event it can hold on top of the matches in the GAA calendar. Not to say I agree with the level of money involved, but I don't think it's as black and white as "it should be spent elsewhere". JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 14/10/2016 16:21:48 1926305 Link
Anyone who has ever been to Pairc Ui Chaoimh would agree that it was badly needed in a redevelopment, like most Stadiums its not just Inter-county teams that play there, it is also used for major club matches in the county as well, so i dont see it being a white elephant rebelfan (Cork) - Posts: 70 - 14/10/2016 16:32:05 1926308 Link
Replying To jimbodub: "The upcoming redevelopment in Cork will cost €70 Million (That's just the projected cost, it could be higher when all is said and done) €40 Million of that will be coming from a combination of Irish tax payer money and GAA funding Considering the current climate with so many rural clubs struggling I for one find €40 Million to be an outrageous amount of funding to be pumped into another grand White elephant project that will sit idle for 85% of the year and lucky to be full twice a year Surely these much needed funds which are obviously available for such projects should be going into growing our games, and reinforcing clubs right across the country Imagine the good that money could do, and the difference it could be making to address the argument of fairness in the modern GAA" its grand if they plan on actually using the stadiums but with the competition structure the way it is at minute they are a complete waste of money alano12 (Dublin) - Posts: 2208 - 14/10/2016 17:03:02 1926315 Link
Croke Park cost €260 million to redevelop (and millions a year to upkeep) and is only full for at most 3 games a year, is that a white elephant also? HurlingWarrior (Limerick) - Posts: 61 - 14/10/2016 17:48:09 1926320 Link
Replying To rebelfan: "Anyone who has ever been to Pairc Ui Chaoimh would agree that it was badly needed in a redevelopment, like most Stadiums its not just Inter-county teams that play there, it is also used for major club matches in the county as well, so i dont see it being a white elephant" Rebelfan I'd say the only time jimbo saw Pairc ui chaoimh was on telly or on google maps. This thread is just to take the heat off the Dublin financial doping thread. KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 14/10/2016 18:34:16 1926328 Link
gaelic ground since being redeveloped only (i think) 3 times - 2008 and 2013 musnter finals and 2014 football semi - next times its filled could be a rugby world cup game.... still though its a fine stadium janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 14/10/2016 18:34:53 1926329 Link
Bit of a silly comparison. Croke Park probably sells out on average 6 or 7 times a year when you include concerts and when it hosted soccer and rugby matches. Even then Croke Park is unique since it's the only large venue in the country, so it only needs to attract over 50'00 to prove its worth. PUC on the other hand will be in no way unique. It will join the 3 other 40'000 seater stadia in Munster alone that could host the matches it's going for. PUC will probably sell out at best once every 2 years, and even then that depends hugely on the draw and fortunes of their senior teams. There won't be crowds flocking to buy long term tickets for either team currently. It's a white elephant, plain and simple. CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1646 - 14/10/2016 18:39:14 1926330 Link
At some point in the not too distant future the championship structures will change and we will see more games and whilst these grounds might not be always full they will be in more frequent use. We are in an age where we deserve decent facilities which a lot of our county grounds can not provide. I can see ground capacities being reduced with seating replacing some terraced areas and more covered accommodation being provided. Semple Stadium, Gaelic Grounds and FitzGerald Stadium are all grounds that have huge areas of terracing that would be better served if converted to seating and covered, I'm certainly not advocating all seater stadia as I'm predominantly a terrace man myself but we need more seated and covered accommodation in all our grounds. PUC had always been a major stadium which originally held 50'000 but had become dangerously outdated, as the second city of this part of the land Cork deserves a decent stadium and whilst I think a 40'000 capacity would have sufficed its set at 45'000 and little we can do now. I can see PUC having other activities other than Gaelic Games and am confident it will be a viable investment. As for other grounds here's a wish list of works Gaelic Grounds - put a roof on uncovered stand, replace Mackey Stand with a smaller structure with better seating profile and covert one of the terraces to seating Semple Stadium - Convert one of the terraces to seating and roof it and connect to Ardan Ui Rian which needs a cantiveler roof to eliminate pillars FitzGerald Stadium - Convert terrace across from present stand to seating and cover O'Moore Park - Convert terrace across from stand to seating and cover MacHale Park - return one of the goal ends to a proper terrace and replace all concrete seating with proper seating and cover the seated goal end Pairc Tailteann - Start from scratch Gaelic Grounds Drogheda - Start from scratch St Conleths Park - New stand in the pipeline here, much welcomed news. Many others I could mention but there the ones immediately in my head, putting new seating in grounds does not necessarily mean major spending as many existing structures could be converted, PUC was beyond conversion or adapting, the bulldozer was its friend. Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 14/10/2016 19:28:03 1926337 Link
Will a club side not be playing games on it all year? Cork championship games etc? The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 14/10/2016 20:08:46 1926345 Link
Replying To jimbodub: "The upcoming redevelopment in Cork will cost €70 Million (That's just the projected cost, it could be higher when all is said and done) €40 Million of that will be coming from a combination of Irish tax payer money and GAA funding Considering the current climate with so many rural clubs struggling I for one find €40 Million to be an outrageous amount of funding to be pumped into another grand White elephant project that will sit idle for 85% of the year and lucky to be full twice a year Surely these much needed funds which are obviously available for such projects should be going into growing our games, and reinforcing clubs right across the country Imagine the good that money could do, and the difference it could be making to address the argument of fairness in the modern GAA" County centres of excellence - lying in debt and half-built. It is like everything in Ireland, money is literally thrown at capitol projects, without any thought given how they are to be utilised and financed. Yet clubs are falling apart for want of infrastructure, for maintaining the flow of young kids into the games, county teams draining county boards budgets dry. At least some counties manage their prioritise and live within their means but so many counties have lost the run of themselves. arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4897 - 14/10/2016 20:25:47 1926348 Link
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/columnists/brendan-obrien/gaas-stadium-building-boom-illogical-and-irresponsible-372204.html jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 14/10/2016 21:26:22 1926361 Link
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/gaelic-grounds-now-a-burden-warns-limerick-secretary-mike-oriordan-370981.html jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 14/10/2016 21:27:46 1926362 Link
Some very interesting articles on the topic CB's struggling to upkeep revamped stadiums thus diverting crucial funds away from more important issues like games development The same will happen in Cork soon enough, as it is happening to several counties at present Big empty vanity projects costing a fortune and dragging funds away from development structures jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 14/10/2016 21:47:13 1926365 Link
Replying To jimbodub: "The upcoming redevelopment in Cork will cost €70 Million (That's just the projected cost, it could be higher when all is said and done) €40 Million of that will be coming from a combination of Irish tax payer money and GAA funding Considering the current climate with so many rural clubs struggling I for one find €40 Million to be an outrageous amount of funding to be pumped into another grand White elephant project that will sit idle for 85% of the year and lucky to be full twice a year Surely these much needed funds which are obviously available for such projects should be going into growing our games, and reinforcing clubs right across the country Imagine the good that money could do, and the difference it could be making to address the argument of fairness in the modern GAA" My oh my, the second time in a few weeks I am agreeing with jimbothedub, I must be losing it. But in fairness to James he is spot on, capital projects eating up millions should be pumped into games & coaching in the club scene. It is beyond comprehension what is happening down in Cork, but we all know the power they hold at the upper levels. Hard to fathom & impossible to justify. Vanity projects for guys to say it was done on their watch. moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 14/10/2016 21:52:15 1926368 Link
http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2015/0225/682644-croke-park-bail-out-will-save-mayo-gaa-200k/ jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 14/10/2016 22:01:01 1926370 Link
Smaller grounds that are full have better atmosphere Eg Nolan Park, Wexford Park, Portlaoise, Cusack Park Ennis valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1890 - 14/10/2016 22:34:44 1926379 Link
Replying To moc.dna: "My oh my, the second time in a few weeks I am agreeing with jimbothedub, I must be losing it. But in fairness to James he is spot on, capital projects eating up millions should be pumped into games & coaching in the club scene. It is beyond comprehension what is happening down in Cork, but we all know the power they hold at the upper levels. Hard to fathom & impossible to justify. Vanity projects for guys to say it was done on their watch." What was the other thing you agreed with? ;) jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 14/10/2016 23:39:18 1926387 Link
Replying To rebelfan: "Anyone who has ever been to Pairc Ui Chaoimh would agree that it was badly needed in a redevelopment, like most Stadiums its not just Inter-county teams that play there, it is also used for major club matches in the county as well, so i dont see it being a white elephant" Do you see €40,000,000 tax payer/GAA investment as justifiable considering the struggles of many clubs around the country at present? Would this money not be better spent on grass root GAA people, such a colossal amount of funding could make a great impact. I just can't see the justification and I'd strongly question the granting of such a vast figure on a project that very few GAA people will benefit from, especially considering the benefits that are without doubt being squandered on yet another CB vanity project jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 15/10/2016 00:06:06 1926390 Link
Will the GAA have to step in like they had to in Mayo? McHale Park just like the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick is proving to be a huge drain on vital funds after it was revamped The GAA bought Mayos debt and offered them a much favourable interest rate, this is going to save Mayo GAA €5 Milllion over the course of the loan So the GAA have basically had to save the Mayo CB from itself and without their intervention Mayo GAA would be €5 million worse off thanks to yet another empty stadium jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 15/10/2016 08:29:09 1926406 Link