I can't believe that the GAA President is talking about this nonsense again, why in the name of God do we need to build a new 40'000 stadium when existing sites in Portlaoise and Navan exist in which stadiums of 35'000 to 40'000 could be developed. Why deprive an existing county ground of redevelopment over building a brand new unnecessary stadium around the M50?? I see no sense to this at all and fear for the future of other county grounds as a result of this talk!!!

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 02/12/2014 12:29:20    1675936

If a 25,000 seater stadium was going to cost the Leinster Council €100 million what's this going to cost?

You could do up one stadium in each county in Leinster to same level as O'Connor Park for less than the cost of one new stadium.

Still though I suppose Leinster rugby are a bit hampered regarding what they can do with the RDS, and Donnybrook is no go for them as well. There's been talk of the FAI doing up Dalymount but it's hard to take anything that lot say seriously.

A three pronged approach to the new stadium might be a viable option.

Pointless but viable...

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3685 - 02/12/2014 12:47:18    1675941

Agreed Portlaoise or navan are only 30-40 mins from the M50 anyway. There is also the issue of cost. Available land along the M50 would be far more expensive than out the country a bit. Any of the satellite provincial towns with good rail and road networking would be a better idea.

jpcampion (Laois) - Posts: 194 - 02/12/2014 12:51:59    1675943

This is bonkers and only the GAA could come up with this ridiculous idea of buidling an 'M50 Stadium' that is no doubt going to cost hundreds of millions of euro that would be much better spent elsewhere.

Firstly, Croke Park is in Dublin which (A) holds 82,000+ and (B) Croke Park gets all the big games, both provincially and nationally, that only a stadium of that size will suffice.

Secondly, very few provincial games are played at provincial venues and those that are are more than capable of being held in Portlaoise, Tullamore, Nowlan Park or even Mullingar.

Thirdly, all the above have and a few more have in recent years undergone some sort of refurb, but don't get enough games to maximise the money that was put into them...would it not make more sense to give these venues more games and make them earn/repay their investment?

Fourthly, there are other county grounds around Leinster, like Newbridge, Aughrim, Navan, Drogheda that are in desperate need of a facelift, those same grounds who a few years back failed standard H+S audits carried out on behalf of Croke Park...why not invest in these places and bring them up to standard, rather than invest crazy money in a crazy idea that is another new stadium that will probably lie idle for long spells of the season once the initial buzz about it wears off?

Fifthly, there are clubs, and indeed counties, up and down the country who are crying out for a bit of financial help, some things as simple general equipment like hurls and sliotars - why not reinvest the money in the bread and butter of the game rather than in something that is probably only going to earn a pat on the back?

EndaKenny (Kildare) - Posts: 12 - 02/12/2014 13:11:24    1675951

New M50 stadium eh?.....or in other words, 'hey Kildare, Wicklow, Louth and Meath, go **** yourselves', thanks President.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 02/12/2014 13:12:44    1675952

So who will this service? Dublin NFL/NHL? Ok so a replacement for Parnell and might get Dublin out of CP at least for a Leinster QF. Although that's a way of placating people without taking them out of Dublin.
That's mostly fine but will Meath and Kildare be corralled in there for our home games? Cant say I'd be happy with that. The best way to promote the game and develop a fan base would be to have them properly playing at home close to existing fan base.
Redeveloping Navan, Newbridge, Drogheda and Aughrim should be the priority and can be done for the price of new super stadium.
Also Croke Park, Aviva, re-devolved RDS, M50 bowl, Dalymount, Tolka, Tallagh. bit overkill for Dublin I think.

RoyalBadger (Meath) - Posts: 571 - 02/12/2014 13:36:48    1675964

Happy days.I live just off the M50.Does anyone know what part of the M50 it may be?

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 02/12/2014 14:12:17    1675971

I think its a great idea personally , it's so handy for all Leinster counties to get to and seen as Dublin are the only county that can get 40 thousand plus support for Leinster games it makes a lot of sense.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 02/12/2014 14:16:06    1675974

I wouldn't be as down on the idea as others. I'm not sure about the location but as far as people going on that the money could be used to do up grounds around Leinster I think almost all of the grounds around the Country outside of croker are delapidated embarrassments to the GAA and we need stadiums at a modern level that people can attend in comfort, ie up to English championship standard. Too many grounds around the country I would see as write-offs that should be used to host club games or county league games but should never get a sniff of a championship game if things are done right.

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 02/12/2014 14:22:38    1675977

Not a good idea. What would be better is a 30000 seater stadium in Athlone, where Galway would play their rugby matches, and it would double as a gaa ground for westmeath, who are in bad need of a ground. (Roscommon could also use it). Would be a fab place to have back door matches in june and july, double headers if necessary, and would rule out arguments about fixture locations favoring certain counties over others. (most of the time at least).

A stadium off the m50 would not have the same potential gains as an athlone venue for the above reasons.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 02/12/2014 14:32:00    1675982

I like DonegalMan's thinking. I'm not impressed by O'Neill's use of words at all in this article as he says that: 'Rather than dragging them down to Longford'. This is simply unacceptable as I presume he is referring to Dublin being dragged down the country? Well why should Longford, Westmeath etc. be dragged up to Dublin for a game? If its money that is the GAA's problem then why on earth build a new stadium where it will cost them a fortune to do so? If they had a decent 30000 seater stadium in Mullingar/Athlone/Portlaois/even Kildare somewhere, the money that they would lose on tickets would probably be gained on the amount they would have to pay to get a decent sized plot along the M50 that would accommodate a stadium, parking for tens of thousands of cars etc etc...

LakemenAbu (Westmeath) - Posts: 134 - 02/12/2014 15:04:57    1675996

I understand some lads here are on the wind up and that's ok but being honest I think a stadium near the M50 would be a stupid waste of money, the surrounding counties need the money to do up their woefully dilapidated grounds because those stadiums are an insult to the fans who attended games all year round.

Ps and I'm not from Navan, Kells or Trim etc infact I'd easily be able to reach most, if not all places on the M50 well before I'd reach Navan because I live a lot closer to the M50 so it's not a proximity issue for me.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 02/12/2014 15:07:02    1675998

02/12/2014 14:12:17
cuederocket
County: Dublin
Posts: 1484

1675971 Happy days.I live just off the M50.Does anyone know what part of the M50 it may be?

------

About 3 km off it Follow the M50 to the last exit (northbound) through the port tunnel - TAke a right on East wall road until you get to clonliffe
Job done

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 02/12/2014 16:00:07    1676021

Build it in Ringsend....get Google or Facebook to sponsor it and the Dubs could us it for league games and even open training sessions for the public.
Extend the Luas line out to it. Build a big new car park this side of the M50 so all us culchies who don't know how to drive in the big shmoke can park and get the train to the new stadium. I can see it now.....so excited. Well Done Liam O Neill our leader.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11230 - 02/12/2014 16:28:04    1676027

clondalkindub do you know why only DUblin get 40k at leinster matches? it's because no other county has any hope of winning it so the support bases have massively declined. Years ago Kildare v Meath would draw 40k if not a lot more easily. Like they can down in munster for big hurling matches. A competitive province boosts attendances.

Anyway I'm really against this. Dublin will now have 3 GAA stadiums, one small, medium and one large. It's like ordering a mcdonalds for them.

So why not do a cheaper option and build a 40k in Navan or Kildare? Why not build a 20k in Kildare and upgrade Navan to 40k? Nahhh lets just give Dublin another new stadium. If the government offer to pay for this fair enough but i'm sick of the lack of funding counties like meath and kildare get from the government. A lot of tax payers in both yet dublin get funding for countless stadiums, Limerick in the past and now cork. Belfast getting loads of money up north too.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 02/12/2014 17:09:24    1676044

Jack_Goff

Let's try not to turn this into a culchies v Dublin thread, it's pointless and in anycase clondalkindub will lap that up and wind you to bits in the process, take this up with the Gaa, they're the ones who aren't on the wind up here, they seem to be actually considering this ludicrous idea.

Fact of the matter is, the Gaa are talking about wanting another 40k stadium near the M50, which is complete bull when you have Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow all in desperate need of a new stadium and at least of 2 of those locations would be in good positions near the M50.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 02/12/2014 17:29:15    1676052

It makes practical sense in terms of communications and the benefits of motorway travel to games should not be underestimated. Whether it achieves widespread support is another matter.

seany16 (Dublin) - Posts: 1658 - 02/12/2014 17:38:04    1676056

Dont be silly ruanua.It was a perfectly simple question?

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 02/12/2014 17:46:23    1676059

it'll fit in nicely with the national centre of excellence nearby, sure everyone likes traveling to Dublin. ideally suited for Dublin league matches and not much else

lillyboy (Kildare) - Posts: 429 - 02/12/2014 18:08:16    1676067

Lads this isnt a Dublin/Country thing.First i heard about it was today.I live in Lucan.Just off the M50.The M50 is very accessible to all Leinster counties.Meath.Kildare and Wicklow county bounderies are just a stones throw from M50.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 02/12/2014 18:18:35    1676073