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Replying To StoreysTash: "No reason to not use temporary seating to extend our stadiums. It happens in cricket stadia in Australia all the time, 10-15k people could be on temporary seating.
What you need is space behind a main stand, a guarantee of a game being held there and then a contractor able to provide it and safety verify it. A friend of mine used to look after this is for a cricket ground in the UK.
Done right, it works well. It could be there May - July and then taken away for 10+ months." That would transform O'Moore Park. O'Connor Park also. But would we have enough games to make it financially viable? The cricket grounds in Oz often double up for the AFL also dont they?
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19157 - 08/04/2026 15:54:57
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Replying To StoreysTash: "No reason to not use temporary seating to extend our stadiums. It happens in cricket stadia in Australia all the time, 10-15k people could be on temporary seating.
What you need is space behind a main stand, a guarantee of a game being held there and then a contractor able to provide it and safety verify it. A friend of mine used to look after this is for a cricket ground in the UK.
Done right, it works well. It could be there May - July and then taken away for 10+ months." I'd imagine that if Leinster Council had to arrange and pay for somewhere from 10,000 to 15,000 temporary seats in Portlaoise, they'd be adding at least a tenner to the cost of every match ticket.
And every match ticket. Not just to the cost of tickets for Portlaoise.
I'm old enough to have been part of the Irish soccer bandwagon back in the 1990s and early 2000s, and used to go to most home matches in the old Lansdowne Road. I remember when they had to start using temporary seating when FIFA & UEFA declared that all soccer matches had to be in all-seater grounds. Ticket prices went up not only because of the cost of installing the seats but also because of how it reduced the capacity from something like 50,000 to only around 36,000.
Can't remember the actual prices and it would seem cheap compared to today anyway, but there was definitely what was considered a significant increase at the time.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3472 - 08/04/2026 16:27:53
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Replying To Pikeman96: "I'd imagine that if Leinster Council had to arrange and pay for somewhere from 10,000 to 15,000 temporary seats in Portlaoise, they'd be adding at least a tenner to the cost of every match ticket.
And every match ticket. Not just to the cost of tickets for Portlaoise.
I'm old enough to have been part of the Irish soccer bandwagon back in the 1990s and early 2000s, and used to go to most home matches in the old Lansdowne Road. I remember when they had to start using temporary seating when FIFA & UEFA declared that all soccer matches had to be in all-seater grounds. Ticket prices went up not only because of the cost of installing the seats but also because of how it reduced the capacity from something like 50,000 to only around 36,000.
Can't remember the actual prices and it would seem cheap compared to today anyway, but there was definitely what was considered a significant increase at the time." Why in the name of God would you go adding 10/15k seats,(behind the sideline terrace presumably?) to Tullamore/ Portlaoise when ye have loads of space in Croke Park?
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 468 - 08/04/2026 17:07:13
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Replying To Viking66: "If Dublin built themselves a 25000 capacity stadium at Hollymount or Spawell that would probably serve better. A crowd of 50000 may as well be in Jones Rd" Well if Casement is anything to go by, it would probably cost in the region of 250mil to do that. The new stand at the RDS has cost an eyewatering 59mil to construct for under 7k seats + corporate facilities. It will never happen.
Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1932 - 08/04/2026 19:14:46
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Replying To Square_B: "Well if Casement is anything to go by, it would probably cost in the region of 250mil to do that. The new stand at the RDS has cost an eyewatering 59mil to construct for under 7k seats + corporate facilities. It will never happen." Alot of that expense was for the corporate facilities. And the Casement Park project is likewise way over the top for what we need.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19157 - 09/04/2026 08:32:43
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Replying To Viking66: "Alot of that expense was for the corporate facilities. And the Casement Park project is likewise way over the top for what we need." There's zero point constructing a large scale stadium unless there's a corporate / premium element to it. In fact it wouldn't make any business sense not to. Any new stadium in the Dublin area will have to be on a municipal basis given the costs involved. That is the reality. The same could be said about a new stadium in Belfast but the people in power will never agree and so everyone looses out. A scaled down Casement could be built with corporate facilities, a 25 - 30k capacity with some standing capacity. Ulster GAA would do well to look over to Connacht Rugby and see what 40mil built them and just replicate it.
Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1932 - 09/04/2026 09:46:46
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Replying To Square_B: "There's zero point constructing a large scale stadium unless there's a corporate / premium element to it. In fact it wouldn't make any business sense not to. Any new stadium in the Dublin area will have to be on a municipal basis given the costs involved. That is the reality. The same could be said about a new stadium in Belfast but the people in power will never agree and so everyone looses out. A scaled down Casement could be built with corporate facilities, a 25 - 30k capacity with some standing capacity. Ulster GAA would do well to look over to Connacht Rugby and see what 40mil built them and just replicate it." Absolutely.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19157 - 09/04/2026 11:26:46
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Casement is a vanity project for politicians and GAA administrators with political ambitions. They are also both acutely aware that a 30,000 seater concert venue would do very well in Belfast.
Clones has the raw materials to provide Ulster GAA with everything it needs. Replace the Gerry Arthur Stand and construct a proper stand with the associated dressing room and press facilities. They have the scope there to do it, and it would cost a fraction of the price of Casement.
SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 909 - 09/04/2026 14:34:35
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Replying To SouthOfTheGap: "Casement is a vanity project for politicians and GAA administrators with political ambitions. They are also both acutely aware that a 30,000 seater concert venue would do very well in Belfast.
Clones has the raw materials to provide Ulster GAA with everything it needs. Replace the Gerry Arthur Stand and construct a proper stand with the associated dressing room and press facilities. They have the scope there to do it, and it would cost a fraction of the price of Casement." Yeah, but don't forget that Casement has £50 million pledged to it from Westminster, and I believe the £62.5 million from Stormont is still on the cards too. You wouldn't get a penny of that for work in Clones instead.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3472 - 09/04/2026 16:38:23
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Replying To Pikeman96: "I'd imagine that if Leinster Council had to arrange and pay for somewhere from 10,000 to 15,000 temporary seats in Portlaoise, they'd be adding at least a tenner to the cost of every match ticket.
And every match ticket. Not just to the cost of tickets for Portlaoise.
I'm old enough to have been part of the Irish soccer bandwagon back in the 1990s and early 2000s, and used to go to most home matches in the old Lansdowne Road. I remember when they had to start using temporary seating when FIFA & UEFA declared that all soccer matches had to be in all-seater grounds. Ticket prices went up not only because of the cost of installing the seats but also because of how it reduced the capacity from something like 50,000 to only around 36,000.
Can't remember the actual prices and it would seem cheap compared to today anyway, but there was definitely what was considered a significant increase at the time." Yes but I think he is saying this is capacity which isn't there, i.e. they construct temporary seating behind a terrace or wherever.
I'm don't know how workable it is or how much it would cost, etc but I know half of the matches played in Croke Park don't belong there. There is no point playing a Leinster Hurling final in front of 25k people when its any 3 of Galway, Dublin and Kilkenny. The only county with a bandwagon big enough to bring a good crowd are Wexford and that is why there is a need for a smaller but good capacity stadium in Leinster.
Looking at a map of Nowlan Park briefly, there is a load of space behind the main stand. Why not build a 2nd tier? Its a good neutral venue as well, remember that Wexford match v Waterford about 10-15 years ago? The place was buzzing.
ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1603 - 10/04/2026 10:32:30
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It is reported that Croke Park wants to host a Champions League Final in the future, and the United v Leeds game in August, will be used to showcase its suitability to host the biggest game in European football.
The United v Leeds game is a 82,300 Sell Out within a couple of hours of tickets going on public sale this morning.
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4871 - 10/04/2026 13:20:50
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@ExiledinWex - occurred to me afterwards that maybe that's what he meant all right. For all sorts of reasons, I don't think it would be a runner. And the cost involved would surely find its way onto ticket prices anyway.
Re. Leinster Finals, Croke Park, Nowlan Park, etc. - attendance at last year's Leinster Final (Kilkenny v Galway) was 37,500. In 2024 (Kilkenny v Dublin), it was 35,000. These were judged "disappointing" and "unsuitable for Croke Park".
Thing is, if 37,500 is "disappointing", you'd probably expect 40,000 or more if a more "suitable" venue was available. And it would be a hell of a stretch to get Nowlan Park or any other current ground in Leinster up to that.
Nowlan Park is actually my favourite place to go outside of Croke Park itself, but I just don't think a 40,000-seater is feasible there.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3472 - 10/04/2026 14:21:07
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Replying To Fionn: "It is reported that Croke Park wants to host a Champions League Final in the future, and the United v Leeds game in August, will be used to showcase its suitability to host the biggest game in European football.
The United v Leeds game is a 82,300 Sell Out within a couple of hours of tickets going on public sale this morning." They can showcase all they want, UEFA ain't going there with terracing.
RoyalBadger (Meath) - Posts: 586 - 10/04/2026 14:34:10
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Replying To ExiledInWex: " Replying To Pikeman96: "I'd imagine that if Leinster Council had to arrange and pay for somewhere from 10,000 to 15,000 temporary seats in Portlaoise, they'd be adding at least a tenner to the cost of every match ticket.
And <u>every</u> match ticket. Not just to the cost of tickets for Portlaoise.
I'm old enough to have been part of the Irish soccer bandwagon back in the 1990s and early 2000s, and used to go to most home matches in the old Lansdowne Road. I remember when they had to start using temporary seating when FIFA & UEFA declared that all soccer matches had to be in all-seater grounds. Ticket prices went up not only because of the cost of installing the seats but also because of how it reduced the capacity from something like 50,000 to only around 36,000.
Can't remember the actual prices and it would seem cheap compared to today anyway, but there was definitely what was considered a significant increase at the time."</div>Yes but I think he is saying this is capacity which isn't there, i.e. they construct temporary seating behind a terrace or wherever.
I'm don't know how workable it is or how much it would cost, etc but I know half of the matches played in Croke Park don't belong there. There is no point playing a Leinster Hurling final in front of 25k people when its any 3 of Galway, Dublin and Kilkenny. The only county with a bandwagon big enough to bring a good crowd are Wexford and that is why there is a need for a smaller but good capacity stadium in Leinster.
Looking at a map of Nowlan Park briefly, there is a load of space behind the main stand. Why not build a 2nd tier? Its a good neutral venue as well, remember that Wexford match v Waterford about 10-15 years ago? The place was buzzing." There were over 37000 at last years Leinster hurling final. Over 35000 in 2024. Less than 25000 in 2023 ok.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19157 - 10/04/2026 14:58:54
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Replying To RoyalBadger: "They can showcase all they want, UEFA ain't going there with terracing." You never hear of temporary seating.?????
https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0410/1567598-mckenna-eyes-champions-league-final-at-croke-park/
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4871 - 10/04/2026 15:24:54
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Replying To Pikeman96: "@ExiledinWex - occurred to me afterwards that maybe that's what he meant all right. For all sorts of reasons, I don't think it would be a runner. And the cost involved would surely find its way onto ticket prices anyway.
Re. Leinster Finals, Croke Park, Nowlan Park, etc. - attendance at last year's Leinster Final (Kilkenny v Galway) was 37,500. In 2024 (Kilkenny v Dublin), it was 35,000. These were judged "disappointing" and "unsuitable for Croke Park".
Thing is, if 37,500 is "disappointing", you'd probably expect 40,000 or more if a more "suitable" venue was available. And it would be a hell of a stretch to get Nowlan Park or any other current ground in Leinster up to that.
Nowlan Park is actually my favourite place to go outside of Croke Park itself, but I just don't think a 40,000-seater is feasible there." Yes I know. I'm not sure if a runner either. But to me, a Kilkenny v Galway Leinster final belongs in Thurles.
ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1603 - 10/04/2026 16:31:36
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@Pikeman96 also think its a great venue, its well located and really accessible. Good atmosphere, my kids loved that Waterford game and still talk about it as the best Wexford match they were ever at until 2019.
ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1603 - 10/04/2026 16:33:29
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