i may be wrong, but O CONNOR PARK in Tullamore, built a beautiful stand, and didnt hVE TO RESORT TO CALLING THEIR GROUNDS AFTER ANY SPONSOR, so a little foresight may go along way.. and i didnt hear what the budget or costs would be?

sob (Meath) - Posts: 492 - 13/10/2013 19:06:34    1500263

13/10/2013 18:57:11
Htaem
County: Meath
Posts: 4452

1500260
browncows

Pairc Tailteann was once the best pitch in Leinster!

I have to call you on that browncows, comments like that make me cringe, WAS is the only word in that little empty sentence which has any relevance in the year 2013AD. We can all look back and smile but how does that help the current situation??? the past is there to be enjoyed NOT lived in!!


Anyway, I'd love if we had the calibre of people in our CB to do the job aswell but we don't, that's the sad reality, and reality is the most important thing. We'd all love Croker to come in with the money or someone to make a massive donation without wanting to change the name of PT or better still it'd be great if money grew on trees but reality dictates the shots, always has and always will.

We have to explore the possibility of changing the name of Pairc Tailteann to have a stadium we can be proud of or at least a stadium which is up to standard. If we shut the door on reason for the sake of nostalgia then be prepared to watch PT crumble to the ground, I don't believe one word the CB says about PT anymore, they've let us down for long enough.

What a excellent post. Put far more eloquently than I could have.
Htaem I 100%agree with everything you say. We can live in lala land or we can take a piece of reality.
Anyway with a post like that no one in right mind could disagree with your point.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 13/10/2013 19:40:26    1500293

Páirc Esler, O'Connor Park, Fitzgerald stadium have all been redone without the need to discard their names.

Usually I am the one sick and tired of hearing stuff about tradition and why we shouldnt change like:
-"Meath traditionaly dont play hurling, so lets not bother trying to improve",
-"Meath men are traditionaly better than Mayo/Monaghan/Cavan men so despite their underage success, overall better performances, the fact they actually win titles and the way they advance further in the championship, we'd beat them",
-"Meath traditionaly play this tacticaly inept, crude brand of losing football, so we neednt adapt". (not so much anymore)
-"Traditionaly, Meath/Dublin matches are always 50/50 and thats why we've won 1 out of our last 8 matches against them"

It's infuriating to see people deny reality like this.Despite all that I don't think selling the name is the way to go though, for practical reasons aswell as sentimental.

-The total redevelopment of Páirc Tailteann will cost a few million I'd imagine, how much do you think Largo's advertising budget stretches to?
-They'd pay this to be associated with what? A GAA grounds for at a team a level beneath the top teams? A grounds that hasnt hosted a division 1 football match in years, and at best hosts a qualifier match or 2 every 2nd or 3rd year. Maybe we will get a Leinter quarter final with the new home/away system but that's still a poor return for their money.
-On a smaller note, if I were an advertising head on Largo's board I wouldnt want a second Tayto Páirc/Park to be out there, they'd want a monopoly on the name, and Tayto Park to only be associated with the place in Ashbourne.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1695 - 13/10/2013 20:01:32    1500310

What's happened to people being able to debate on this board and give but also accept opinions?

People are entitled to their views on the topic, but it's very childish to see people discard people'. Opinion just because they hint fit in with their own personal ideals.

It only weakens your own arguments by doing tha.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6347 - 13/10/2013 20:23:40    1500326

Cheers royaldunne, we're certainly on the same page regarding PT anyway.


CastleBravo

You make very fair points about whether Largo Foods would even be interested and just to clarify all I'm saying is we have to look at the possibility of selling the name to an advertiser. I'm not necessarily saying it has to be Largo although they are the obvious choice and also I'm not putting all my eggs in this one basket but I think the County Board should at least look and see if there is any interest. Then if we are lucky enough to find someone interested then why not run with, it's a long shot but I'd hate to see progress blocked over a name.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 13/10/2013 21:00:50    1500360

Jinxie

What's happened to people being able to debate on this board and give but also accept opinions?


Nothing at all Jinxie, that's what this board is all about, all I did was react to browncows over what I consider to be a ludacris comment. PT was no doubt a great pitch years ago, but if we want to talk about that then lets start a new thread and talk about how great it was, but those sort of unconstructive comments are very unwelcome on a thread discussing the future of PT.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 13/10/2013 21:19:12    1500378

CastleBravo

I opened up my laptop with the intention on replying to a few posts which have appeared in relation to this matter since my last one only to discover that you have pretty much said what I was going to say. Don't exactly agree with you about tradition but we can let that go and look at the practicalities. The first practicality has to be the cost of a new stand. It was stated at a meeting in Trim dealing the issue that a new stand will cost €1500 per seat or thereabouts. Let's pretend that we build a stand catering for 8,000 fans. That comes to €12,000,000. Seems a bit pricy. However I know that Portlaois cost £4m (Punts) which is €5m and that was 12 years ago before prices went nuclear. Yes I know they have come back a bit but not all that much and they are creeping up again. I have no figures for O'Connor, McHale or Carlow which would give us a more recent comparison. However I would hazard a guess that it couldn't be done for less than €10. Add to that the cost of new dressing rooms, toilets and terracing at each end and the bill will be in excess of the €12 million. I can hear plenty at this stage shouting at their laptops, PC.s and smart phones that this just proves the point that we need to sell the name to some commercial company and take their loot. Great if they pay the complete bill but that's not going to happen. I can see some room for investment from a commercial company but the most of the money will come from:
1. Fund raising
2. Croke Park
3. Leinster Council
4. Lotto (fat chance I hear you say)
5. Bank loan

I would think that Croke Park or/and the Leinster council would stipulate that the name of a commercial concern could not go on the stadium when GAA bodies are contributing the loins share of funds.

Whether Páirc Táilteann was once the best stadium in Leinster outside of Croke Páirc or not, I don't know. However I was in many of the other stadiums before they were done up and can say that they were in much worst condition than Páirc Táilteann is in now. However we have fallen badly behind and must do something and fast. But make no mistake, depending on commercial bodies to finance the project in return for the naming rights just won't work.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 14/10/2013 12:49:12    1500571

The real Árd Rí

1. Fund raising
2. Croke Park
3. Leinster Council
4. Lotto (fat chance I hear you say)
5. Bank loan


If all that works Ard Ri then great lets go for it, I really don't mind which route we go down to be honest, my only concern is getting the job done and I would be open to all suggestions. But as I've said before I have serious reservations about the County Board, PT needs to be priority number one and needs to start re-development at the earliest possible date, I have basically no trust in our CB to competently carry out this task.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 14/10/2013 17:28:04    1500737

People getting caught up in name changing here...I like Pairc Tailteann. It is relevant andpersonally would not like it cjanged. As I mentioned earlier however if we sell name rights on the stands then what about it??

Money can be raised. Ruislip made a connacht final last year and have got a monetary reward from HQ to redevelop its ''pitch"...

Iwould never endorse a shared stadium on the M50.
Planning permission is there on PT but it means very little.

Need to make this a priority. Dunganny can wait it can only better but PT is collapsing around us and is a disgrace. A day will come where the health and safety crowd will look up the gates for good

Royalio11 (Meath) - Posts: 805 - 18/10/2013 13:26:02    1502820

Personally i thought PT would have got immediate priority, but seemly its down the pecking order, and i didnt hear a time frame or budget !

sob (Meath) - Posts: 492 - 18/10/2013 14:57:43    1502878

There's no time frame or budget because the county board have no money to do the job and don't appear to be competent enough to get a real plan together either. They might aswell have said 'we'll start redeveloping PT when we finish Dunganny, but we don't have enough money for either project so here's a date of completion for Dunganny to keep the wolves from the door....emmmmmm.....how does september 2014 sound? good? great september 2014 it is then'.

Mark my words lads, I don't get any pleasure in saying this but PT will crumble, our County Board is going to be made walk the plank on health and safety grounds. I've lost all confidence in our CB over the last 5 years or so having travelled around other counties watching our lads play, granted PT isn't the only ground to fall apart but it is one of the worst I've been in!

Our only hope is for Croke Park to step in with a plan and of course a dump truck full of money.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 18/10/2013 16:01:37    1502911

Hteam , this is a new CB that have made significant changes since the last crew who have upset you for the last 4 years ,give em a chance .

royalpainter (Meath) - Posts: 874 - 18/10/2013 16:32:45    1502927

That's a fair point royalpainter, I accept that, the old crew were a disaster and my anger is basically directed at them, only time will tell how the new lads will get on.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 18/10/2013 16:45:34    1502939

A savage amount of mistrust was plied upon the meath supporter ,I like you watch a wait for the new regime to make progress. Year one is coming to a close in December ,another year we should see what direction if any we are going

royalpainter (Meath) - Posts: 874 - 18/10/2013 16:57:57    1502946

The fact that Páirc Táilteann is crumbling is something I was posting about on this site a number of years ago and in don't remember much support from some of those now venting their anger about it. Certain facts need to be acknowledged at this point in time. First is that C.B. don't have any money at present. Second the last administration, much like the last Gov. only left an overdraft. Next we should acknowledge that even if we are about ten years late this C/B has decided to get the finger out. We should also realise that there is nothing new about starting a project without any money. There was no money in GAA HQ when they started Croke Park. Most clubs don't have the seed capital to start any development. However fundraisers are initiated and genuine supporters rally to the cause when they see that a serious effort is being made. I wouldn't want to praise the current CB too much but it strikes me that there are some good people there and maybe Htaem and others could organise their clubs to get rid of the remaining hangers on who have not delivered in some years. The replacement of the main stand is the largest item of expenditure. However there is much that can be done in the interim that will cost just a fraction of replacing the stand. Also Dunganny is a fine project but we do need dressing rooms, toilets and ancillary accommodation out there. So this should be seen to without delay.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 18/10/2013 17:28:32    1502956

The last regime has alot to answer for,they didnt seem to make any progression in regards development of PT... the new regime seem to be making an effort with ticket box etc.. so its a start..a small step in a very long journey!

sob (Meath) - Posts: 492 - 18/10/2013 17:36:47    1502959

The fact that Páirc Táilteann is crumbling is something I was posting about on this site a number of years ago and in don't remember much support from some of those now venting their anger about it. Certain facts need to be acknowledged at this point in time. First is that C.B. don't have any money at present. Second the last administration, much like the last Gov. only left an overdraft. Next we should acknowledge that even if we are about ten years late this C/B has decided to get the finger out. We should also realise that there is nothing new about starting a project without any money. There was no money in GAA HQ when they started Croke Park. Most clubs don't have the seed capital to start any development. However fundraisers are initiated and genuine supporters rally to the cause when they see that a serious effort is being made. I wouldn't want to praise the current CB too much but it strikes me that there are some good people there and maybe Htaem and others could organise their clubs to get rid of the remaining hangers on who have not delivered in some years. The replacement of the main stand is the largest item of expenditure. However there is much that can be done in the interim that will cost just a fraction of replacing the stand. Also Dunganny is a fine project but we do need dressing rooms, toilets and ancillary accommodation out there. So this should be seen to without delay.

Agreed, proper terracing with facilities at both ends and a renovation of the existing terrace by possibly seating and roofing it with new toilets would cost a fraction of the replacement of the existing stand, and at least by renovating the existing terrace to that standard we would have a decent stand as we wait for replacing the old one. I agree too that Dunganny needs facilities too ASAP, it will be a fine facility when competed in fairness

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3757 - 18/10/2013 17:40:18    1502963

The real Árd Rí


I agree with your post and just want to reiterate that the vast majority of my anger is aimed at our previous CB who seemed to just continuously sweep the issue of PT under the carpet. Now my mistake and I hold my hand up to it is lumping the current CB into the same stagnant boat as the previous lot, their current financial situation is of course not their fault.

So far they've talked about what they plan to do and that's fine, now over the next year or so I want to see development, I want to see them act on their words. Even if that just amounts to fund raising and looking for help from Croker etc I want to see a clear plan for the future of PT.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 18/10/2013 17:59:26    1502968

Htaem in the long run we are probably of a similar mind.

Richieq I suspect you were at the C/B meeting with the clubs in Trim about a month or so ago because your proposal is more or less what was agreed. Now let's quit the moaning and put our shoulder to the wheel. I understand there is a fundraiser race day on Dec 1 in Fairyhouse. Lets see you all there.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 18/10/2013 20:32:00    1503034

RichieQ would it not be best to start with 2 terraces behind each goal or the stand before closing the existing terrace? If we closed the stand first then the terrace would hold the attendances but if we closed the big terrace first then we would lose out on serious money for games.

BettystownRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 3353 - 19/10/2013 09:50:28    1503084