Ard ri indeed we both want what's best for Meath football and our home grounds. Just coming at it from different angles.
But we probably not that far removed in age and attitude. And sure we only rant and rave cause we care. I'd be honored to have my seat next to yours.
Stalwarts like us have to let off steam now and then. But at the end of day we all care more about Meath than most other things in our lives.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 21/10/2013 21:09:32    1504162

Castlebravo, I'm not suggesting we stick a 70,000 seater stadium on brew's hill but a state of the art 30,000 seater stadium, funded and maintainedby the German model is viable

greatwhitedope (Meath) - Posts: 50 - 22/10/2013 08:58:38    1504215

Royaldunne now that we have stopped letting off steam at each other we can leave the field to anfearbeag. I think his pressure gauge is on the second circuit so we should allow him time and space to reduce his pressure. Incidentally as I said it was a close thing for me as I was not all that well. A friend of mine couldn't go because he was looking after under twelves and couldn't get there on time. One of my sons was working. All these Meath fans would have been there if they could. What got me annoyed at first was I thought from your original post you were sitting in Navan or maybe Trim or Dunshaughlin with a can of Bud, or whatever your favorite tipple is, and watching it on TV then carping on about the place. To be honest Atlhlone is a bit of a drive when you are not involved and have no affinity with either club. It is interesting though that you were not impressed with the game as those who were there were impressed. Maybe being in the midst of the excitement puts a different complexion on the game.

Now back to the redevelopment of the old ground. First I look forward to having a seat beside you and all the other posters, including anfearbeag, in the new stand (whatever it may be named) in the revamped Páirc Táilteann (or whatever it is called at the time). Now for the big question. How many of posters on this site would be willing to pledge €1,000 for a ten year seat in the stand. How many clubs would be willing to invest say €5,000 to €10,000 depending on their size. Isn't that the sort of question the C/B should be asking. I have a feeling that if they took that approach they would get a fair amount of funds up front. The people of Meath are no different to the people of Mayo, Offaly, Tyrone etc. We are quite proud of our county and clubs and I feel the response could be quite spectacular.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 22/10/2013 09:16:49    1504222

€1000 waiting to be given here for such a seat, would certainly contribute to such an initiative

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3757 - 22/10/2013 10:40:22    1504255

Lads I think the CB plan is a good one.

1 Develop Dunganny to include Dressing Rooms, Meetings Rooms, CB Offices, Video Analysis & Gym etc.
2.Put concrete terraces in place of the grassy knolls (ah the famous grassy knoll eh...) in Pairc Tailteann
3.Put a roofed area on the present terrace in P/T
4 Develop the stand by leveling it and rebuilding with dressing rooms and a new press box.

I would do it in that order too. There is plenty of room behind the stand in PT to build a really nice new stand fully equipped.

CB could get plenty of new sponsors on board, sell the naming rights of the new stadium and indeed Dunganny, and get each club in the county to contribute. Meath fans will contribute also via raffles etc, and of course the GAA will have to donate something to the cause.
So it is definitely achieveable.

A main stand similar to that in Tullamore would fit perfect in the Meath CB plans I reckon.

Good luck with it anyway.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4547 - 22/10/2013 10:46:36    1504259

How often is Tullamore full lads?!!!! It's a big stand that's never used. A small modern stand would be what I'd like to see!!

mawmouther (Meath) - Posts: 109 - 22/10/2013 11:54:34    1504287

No the Tullamore stand would be just perfect. It would be full for all our league games and probably the county final too. Plus any leinster or qualifier games we get. And if we did the place up we'd get a lot more neutral games played there too.

I would donate 1000 for a five year seat and help in other fundraising but only if I had confidence the whole thing would be done properly. The last thing I'd want is for my hard earned money to go to waste.

And the longer this goes on the less money they will raise. Our support base gets smaller every year and we only had around 15k at the Leinster final last year which is terrible for us. Winning promotion and getting 4 home games every second year in division 1 would be massive for funds and is badly needed.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 22/10/2013 12:13:22    1504305

I think Meath would bring more supporters to games than Offaly in all fairness...

No point in building a midget stand and then have to extend it in a few years time..

Think big.... :o)

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4547 - 22/10/2013 12:18:12    1504310

They should develop it with the goal of having a fully seated stadium.in the long term, most county grounds of substance will. Something like this or one and a half times it's size
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporting_Park the cost of that is punitive but get the right builder and spread it out over ten to fifteen years and I think we could do it for half that price

greatwhitedope (Meath) - Posts: 50 - 22/10/2013 12:58:42    1504338

While the idea of ponying up 1 k for a seat seems a good idea ,how do u determine who sits where or do u pay more for centre ones or is there a raffle ? I think more of a pass for the 5/10years but this too would have to compete with the season tix ,price wise with the club + county one over the period ( which also allows you access to other grounds ).
Maybe buy a brick or flag stone with your or your family name on it ?

royalpainter (Meath) - Posts: 874 - 22/10/2013 13:13:06    1504351

I wholeheartedly agree that a stand similar to the one in Tullamore is what we should be looking towards but there is one major drawback to their stand. The press box comes out further than the seats to the back of the stand on either side of it. I'm amazed that this was allowed happen and fervently wish it won't in Navan when it is developed.

I would be very much in favour of contributing financially towards the development but hope the county board offer different rates for donation. Examples are €500 giving a pass for 10 years and €1000 giving a seat for 20 years. These are very rough examples but are to serve the point that some people who cannot financially afford to give €1000 could give a lesser sum and be rewarded for this.

jackhackett (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 22/10/2013 14:55:48    1504413

Sorry, meant to say quarter the coat. Thomond park was completed for 40 million. That's not chicken feed but roughly the stadium we need. Whilst they did it in a year or two, we could achieve the same results in a longer timeframe..but we need to be ambitious or in ten yearcs time we'll be left behind again

greatwhitedope (Meath) - Posts: 50 - 22/10/2013 14:59:33    1504416

I agree with gwd, but maybe not the 40m and we do need to develop something that will not be 'out of date' in 30 years time! If you are prudent you could develop cheaper with local expertise involved without paying huge sums for plans etc. I think that PT should be developed before Dunganny as it is in such a poor state and if we wait too long CP will have given the money to a m50 stadium or some other similar silly location resulting in lower funding for the PT project. There should be separate collection/fundraising for the two different projects.

On the issue of private contributions for seating etc. - where who sit should not be a problem as all you need to do is copy CP '10- year tickets' which are issued as numbered seats- bear in mind that lot of folk are happier watching a match on the 30m line rather than in the middle (you tend to get most of the excitement closer to either goals).

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 22/10/2013 15:29:46    1504437

Ard ri. :).
But yes there does need be funding for those of all budgets. How about big wall at back with names of those who donated 100+€ ? Something.
And reading through all of this there is one thing that stands out. We all want the same thing.
There is some excellent ideas been made here.
Can someone set up a group? And bring these proposals to cb?
I think what jack said is right. We need to know that our money is going directly to the cause. And not to someone to talk about doing it in 10 years or whatever. We could also bring the dubs for a challenge game in January or whenever. A fair few would turn up I'd say. Now OK maybe it will infringe on O'Byrne cup.
But any other ideas I'm open to.
I really do think it is us the supporters that have to run with this and lead with it. The county board will follow. The gaa will have no choice but to get behind it. I am willing to not only give the 1k but to offer my time on a committee or as a fundraiser for this.
Let's keep it going. Anyone want to set up a Facebook campaign?

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 22/10/2013 16:39:59    1504484

Lads the Dubs would gladly play Meath in a friendly game as a fundraiser I would imagine.
And you are correct, a big crowd would turn up.

Meath really should be able to play their Home League & Championship games in Navan.
It is a shame it is so long since you have had a championship game there.

But I still think get the training facilities finished before PT.
It is crazy having a fine place like Dunganny and no proper changing facilities etc there...
All county players, not matter from which county, deserve proper training facilities.

Look at the Dublin Hurlers, we have to train under lights in bloody Bray for heavens sake..
But dont get me started on that one...

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4547 - 22/10/2013 17:22:15    1504521

Royaldunne, what an amazing turnaround. From our little bunfight yesterday suggestions for fund raising for PT have been coming in thick and fast. All of these suggestions have considerable merit. Indeed a mix of these would probably be the answer. Seats at premium level could be sold on a first come first choice basis. Indeed a large plaque which contained my name long after I have gone to the great stadium in the sky would have attractions for me for €100. My great grandchildren searching and finding my name in 40 years time along side the great grandchildren of Royaldunne, An fearbeag, Jack and of course my old friend Northmeathman (what ever happened to him). Now that would have it's attraction. Fact is there are many ways we can raise the funds and if the C/B are not willing to make a move soon we should set the ball rolling ourselves. Yes I would join you in such a move. Probably be in my grave before the whole project is completed but then I could always say I died trying. Also something along the lines of Tullaghmore without some of the drawbacks would be just fine. I would of course include the catering facility which goes down a treat after a long journey to the match. Why not even include a bar facility like CP so that patrons can have a drink at H/T. The franchise on these would bring in a lot of funds. Also Terraces should be built in such a fashion so as to permit seating later because in 30 years time that might just be what is requires from the patrons then. Something I won't have to worry about.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 22/10/2013 17:22:30    1504522

One thing that I think is crucial when Pairc Tailteann is eventually developed is that it is developed with families in mind. To that end I hope there will not be a bar included in any development but that proper catering facilities and shop will be included which will in turn be set out to tender which will bring in a set amount of money to the county board with an added sum for each championship game, perhaps 15% of its takings.

As I've said the development should take families into consideration and to that extent a small playground area out where the prefabs currently are could be put in as on occasions when there are double headers on it would be somewhere for young children to be entertained rather than running between rows of seats. This would be low cost and there would be little or no maintenance costs.

On how to generate funds for developing Pairc Tailteann I believe it is imperative to try to encourage more people to attend games. To that extent the people that need to be targeted the most are children. Every child in the county in primary schools should be given a 12 month pass each September to club games throughout the county and all county league, minor and U21 games. All children are free in anyway and if a child comes home from school and tells Mammy or Daddy that they a ticket for the big game on Sunday and want to go then the chances are Mammy or Daddy will bring them. To that end schools could be given the opportunity to play at half time of league and O'Byrne Cup games while all clubs could stage Go Games exhibitions at half time of club championship games.

Then the County Board could look at the buying of a seat, buy a brick, race days, sponsorship drives, Strictly Come Dancing, 5K Road Race, securing a second sponsor for the Meath Jersey etc on top of this idea.

And by the way a capacity of 25000 would be more than enough.

jackhackett (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 22/10/2013 19:47:48    1504603

GreatWhiteDope, I was talking more about how all those stadia had sold their names to the highest bidders, the thing I'd like to avoid for PT.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1695 - 22/10/2013 20:53:50    1504642

Sorry castlebravo, I misunderstood, i'm in agreement with you there

greatwhitedope (Meath) - Posts: 50 - 22/10/2013 21:41:26    1504664

Nice to see that everyone has kissed and made up today. My pressure gauge is back out of the red after all the steam was let off. As someone who doesn't get to go to as many games as I used to, or would like to, I get somewhat tetchy when people start questioning the loyalty of those who don't atend every game played. Anyway, no more rants today.

I agree with a lot of what other prople have said about fund-raising for Pairc Tailteann. Above all I believe that it will take many different revenue streams to generate the funds required. Some funding will be available from Croke Park. Some may be available from thwe government. But nothing will be forthcoming if we don't show that we can generate funds ourselves, and we can show that our County Board is competent at dealing with finances.

I would have no problem with selling the naming rights to the ground, provided that the Pairc Tailteann part was kept. For example I see no problem with our Cavan neighbours calling their pitch Kingspan Breffni Park. I don't think it takes anything away from the grounds. So if ours was called Tayto Pairc Tailteann, or Kepak Pairc Tailteann then I for one wouldn't have a problem with that. But to call it Tayto Pairc, or Kepak Park would be a step too far for me. I don't think that selling the rights to the stands would be a runner. Firstly I can't see why any sponsor would pay to have their name on the stand, as it wouldn't get them much publicity. The whole point is that when fixtures are announced on the telly for example, or a report is in the paper, their name gets mentioned as it is the name of the stadium. Even if a game was televised from the ground, the name of the stand would probably not be mentioned. Plus I would prefer if the stands/terraces were named after people who have contributed hugely to Meath football. I would prefer to go into Tayto Pairc Tailteann and sit in the Peter McDermott Stand, than go into Pairc Tailteann and sit in the Tayto stand.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 22/10/2013 21:59:42    1504675