Brandywell Stadium Development

[cousin kev]

If Eddie considered running for council on this ticket...he'd have my vote.

[KEVK]

A generation from now I believe that the recent decisions made regarding the stadium will be viewed as the biggest mistake in the history of the club and when you consider the competition that would be some achievement

Totally agree.

The fact that so many fans and those connected to the Club can't see it is what worries me. The biggest cross-roads in the history of the club, and if we get it wrong then the club won't be around for much longer.

[Keyser Soze]

NAJ, totally correct.

And yet another 'incident' last night tells me once and for all that the current location is totally wrong for the home of Derry City.

[stevebradley]

"The only show in town".

The club have been led by the nose & consistently sold a pup by the Council over the Brandywell. The only people who really benefit from us being stuck at Brandywell is the council. The club should hang their heads in shame for not thinking bigger and putting together a strong case for an alternative location e.g. a civic stadium on the Templemore Leisure Centre site.

How many away fans & their money will we loose after last night's trouble, & how many idiots in other towns will think it was Derry fans involved and that we're out looking for trouble ? Trouble outside the Brandywell is far from a rare occurence and can no longer be ignored. And of all the people for it to happen to - Cork fans, who usually have a great rapport with us. Sad times.

[shauna]

"The only show in town".

The club have been led by the nose & consistently sold a pup by the Council over the Brandywell. The only people who really benefit from us being stuck at Brandywell is the council. The club should hang their heads in shame for not thinking bigger and putting together a strong case for an alternative location e.g. a civic stadium on the Templemore Leisure Centre site.

How many away fans & their money will we loose after last night's trouble, & how many idiots in other towns will think it was Derry fans involved and that we're out looking for trouble ? Trouble outside the Brandywell is far from a rare occurence and can no longer be ignored. And of all the people for it to happen to - Cork fans, who usually have a great rapport with us. Sad times.

And to think you want to bring the rugby world cup into that area, those morons would have a field day attacking people at such an international event.

[stevebradley]

"The only show in town".

The club have been led by the nose & consistently sold a pup by the Council over the Brandywell. The only people who really benefit from us being stuck at Brandywell is the council. The club should hang their heads in shame for not thinking bigger and putting together a strong case for an alternative location e.g. a civic stadium on the Templemore Leisure Centre site.

How many away fans & their money will we loose after last night's trouble, & how many idiots in other towns will think it was Derry fans involved and that we're out looking for trouble ? Trouble outside the Brandywell is far from a rare occurence and can no longer be ignored. And of all the people for it to happen to - Cork fans, who usually have a great rapport with us. Sad times.

And to think you want to bring the rugby world cup into that area, those morons would have a field day attacking people at such an international event.

They wouldn't get near a Rugby World Cup ya WUM. It would be properly run and managed by people experienced in running major international events - not the free-for-all wild west situation that exists outside the Brandywell on some match nights

[petermccarron]

"The only show in town".

The club have been led by the nose & consistently sold a pup by the Council over the Brandywell. The only people who really benefit from us being stuck at Brandywell is the council. The club should hang their heads in shame for not thinking bigger and putting together a strong case for an alternative location e.g. a civic stadium on the Templemore Leisure Centre site.

How many away fans & their money will we loose after last night's trouble, & how many idiots in other towns will think it was Derry fans involved and that we're out looking for trouble ? Trouble outside the Brandywell is far from a rare occurence and can no longer be ignored. And of all the people for it to happen to - Cork fans, who usually have a great rapport with us. Sad times.

Steven, with due respect, there is no chance that we will get a revamped Brandywell, a revamped Celtic Park for the rugby world cup (assuming the GAA reluctantly agree to rugby being played there in return for a lot of investment in the ground) and/or a new stadium at Templemore. By far the best option is a top quality municipal stadium at Fort George that can be used by DCFC, City of Derry Rugby club, the County, U2, Garth Brookes, etc. Everything else is just the second best option.

I think the proposed work the Brandywell should go ahead, but it should not be seen as the solution to Derry's need for a proper stadium.

I dread to think what the traffic congestion around the Brandywell would be like if we got any kind of decent crowd, it was pretty bad with Friday's crowd of probably 1500 to 2000.

[stevebradley]

"The only show in town".

The club have been led by the nose & consistently sold a pup by the Council over the Brandywell. The only people who really benefit from us being stuck at Brandywell is the council. The club should hang their heads in shame for not thinking bigger and putting together a strong case for an alternative location e.g. a civic stadium on the Templemore Leisure Centre site.

How many away fans & their money will we loose after last night's trouble, & how many idiots in other towns will think it was Derry fans involved and that we're out looking for trouble ? Trouble outside the Brandywell is far from a rare occurence and can no longer be ignored. And of all the people for it to happen to - Cork fans, who usually have a great rapport with us. Sad times.

Steven, with due respect, there is no chance that we will get a revamped Brandywell, a revamped Celtic Park for the rugby world cup (assuming the GAA reluctantly agree to rugby being played there in return for a lot of investment in the ground) and/or a new stadium at Templemore. By far the best option is a top quality municipal stadium at Fort George that can be used by DCFC, City of Derry Rugby club, the County, U2, Garth Brookes, etc. Everything else is just the second best option.

I think the proposed work the Brandywell should go ahead, but it should not be seen as the solution to Derry's need for a proper stadium.

I dread to think what the traffic congestion around the Brandywell would be like if we got any kind of decent crowd, it was pretty bad with Friday's crowd of probably 1500 to 2000.

Fort George is high-value river-front land. A stadium there wouldn't be the best use of it IMO. A stadium can go anywhere & would derive no real benefit from a riverfront location, unlike housing, other leisure options etc.

I'd have a multi-use civic stadium & neighbourhood centre at the council-owned Templemore location. If that happened I personally think the best thing to happen to Brandywell would be to turn it into Housing & employment for the local area/city (with HIS covenant negotiated over to Templemore instead). Probably no chance the club or council would take a big-solution view like this.

[shauna]

Why does everyone keep slagging off the brandywell area as the wrong location for our ground, if the area is good enough for probably the biggest sporting organisation in the county ie the gaa then i cant see any reason why we should move. The brandywell is our spiritual home and i will be happy going to a revamped brandywell next year.

[paul60]

Why does everyone keep slagging off the brandywell area as the wrong location for our ground, if the area is good enough for probably the biggest sporting organisation in the county ie the gaa then i cant see any reason why we should move. The brandywell is our spiritual home and i will be happy going to a revamped brandywell next year.

Wonder why local gaa or local rugby matches are not afflicted after matches are over, while football matches seem to attract bother from time to time? The children who carry out assaults on away support are probably the type who are the scourge of galliagh, ballymagoarty and other estates. They organise sporadic trouble via mobile phones, supplied by parents who are none the wiser of what they are being used for, or are not worried what they get up to until something happens to them. The youths who have used football matches from time to time to cause disruption don't care, who, as long as they get their fix. This has manifested itself at other events in the brandywell area, such as damage to a number of cars in the Longtower youth club car park where a charity feis was being run a couple of months ago. The community is not able to control these intermittent attacks so why should those who go to football matches want to persist in attending an area where the trouble is prominent?

[supremo]

Templemore is not the right location for a new stadium - it is council owned and we have been messed around far to much already by politicians - it is too far away from the centre of town and could be seen as serving only one side of our community.

Fort George is by far the obvious choice for a municipal stadium.
- It is within reach and it is as neutral as can be for all our community.
- Road access, rail access, buses that are within a reasonable distance. Car parking could be facilitated with good planning and away from local housing.
- It could have sporting links/education links with UU Magee.
- It could facilitate city water sports clubs.
- It could be used for rugby, soccer, GAA, with a well designed stadium able to hold up to 15000 for big occasions but could be adjusted for smaller crowds so that it does not feel empty.
- If it had an indoor arena attached to it - it could facilitate a city basketball team as well as being an indoor training area. It is also close to the bay rd training facilities.
- It could host concerts and would be an ideal location for a botel, being next to the river.
- if the N. Ireland team are serious about attracting local youngsters to play for them - it could also be a venue for the odd international game
- This municipal sports hub could surely attract private investment, public business and European funding. In my opinion it should be a business venture free from the shackles of our council and politicians but attractive enough to be presented as a business case that can be self-financing, but able to attract the support that any business would get from government agencies encouraging employment for our city. Do we have a business community with the skills and drive to take this on?

My last part of this dream is that the pitch would be GRASS, GRASS and more GRASS with under soil heating.

Am I asking for too much for our City?

Dare to dream!

[Chalkie]

Anyone suggesting Fort George as a location for a new football stadium should never work in Town & Country Planning.

As someone from Derry, I would not wanted to see the river hidden from view and the riverside blighted by a monstrosity of a football stadium.

Chalkie

[Keyser Soze]

Templemore is not the right location for a new stadium - it is council owned and we have been messed around far to much already by politicians - it is too far away from the centre of town and could be seen as serving only one side of our community.

Fort George is by far the obvious choice for a municipal stadium.
- It is within reach and it is as neutral as can be for all our community.
- Road access, rail access, buses that are within a reasonable distance. Car parking could be facilitated with good planning and away from local housing.
- It could have sporting links/education links with UU Magee.
- It could facilitate city water sports clubs.
- It could be used for rugby, soccer, GAA, with a well designed stadium able to hold up to 15000 for big occasions but could be adjusted for smaller crowds so that it does not feel empty.
- If it had an indoor arena attached to it - it could facilitate a city basketball team as well as being an indoor training area. It is also close to the bay rd training facilities.
- It could host concerts and would be an ideal location for a botel, being next to the river.
- if the N. Ireland team are serious about attracting local youngsters to play for them - it could also be a venue for the odd international game
- This municipal sports hub could surely attract private investment, public business and European funding. In my opinion it should be a business venture free from the shackles of our council and politicians but attractive enough to be presented as a business case that can be self-financing, but able to attract the support that any business would get from government agencies encouraging employment for our city. Do we have a business community with the skills and drive to take this on?

My last part of this dream is that the pitch would be GRASS, GRASS and more GRASS with under soil heating.

Am I asking for too much for our City?

Dare to dream!

Is that you Eddie?

[KEVK]

Anyone suggesting Fort George as a location for a new football stadium should never work in Town & Country Planning.

As someone from Derry, I would not wanted to see the river hidden from view and the riverside blighted by a monstrosity of a football stadium.

Chalkie

A nice non-monstrous stadium lit up on match nights would do a lot more to our riverfront than Sainsburys, KFC, Tesco, a dis-used museum and carparks do at the moment

[micdaflic]

Anyone suggesting Fort George as a location for a new football stadium should never work in Town & Country Planning.

As someone from Derry, I would not wanted to see the river hidden from view and the riverside blighted by a monstrosity of a football stadium.

Chalkie

I take it then that you are quite happy with the coal yard and the oil tanks on the other bank of the Pennyburn as having architectural merit. Maybe we should campaign to have Tesco on Strand Rd given listed building ststus

[gary]

Chalkie

I take it then that you are quite happy with the coal yard and the oil tanks on the other bank of the Pennyburn as having architectural merit. Maybe we should campaign to have Tesco on Strand Rd given listed building ststus[/quote]

Those sites were NOT publically owned sites, they are private sites and can be used any way they want by the owners.

As much as I would love Fort George as a site for a brand new stadium, I cannot see how it can be
justified, versus bringing jobs to the city. (I dont believe for a second the muppets in ILEX or who
ever is in charge of the site at the minute will do right by Derry, but they should be).

As for Templemore, I dont see why people think there would be less trouble there than the Brandywell
Id bet it would attract more trouble, have lower gates, and cost way more to develop,
And simply wont happen as the council dont want us there.
(I'm not sure the club do either).

[pgdcfc]

('A nice non-monstrous stadium lit up on match nights would do a lot more to our riverfront than Sainsburys, KFC, Tesco, a dis-used museum and carparks do at the moment ').

Quite right.

[Chalkie]

Anyone suggesting Fort George as a location for a new football stadium should never work in Town & Country Planning.

As someone from Derry, I would not wanted to see the river hidden from view and the riverside blighted by a monstrosity of a football stadium.

Chalkie

A nice non-monstrous stadium lit up on match nights would do a lot more to our riverfront than Sainsburys, KFC, Tesco, a dis-used museum and carparks do at the moment

The whole Quayside complex is a disaster as is the back of the NWRC extension. Both should never have been permitted in their current format but at least they're set back from the river.

Saintsbury's is much less intrusive on the riverfront. It's as low-rise building and it's mostly set back from the river.

A football stadium in Fort George would have to run along the river and would be set right up against the current walkway so would completely hide the river from view.

People don't realise how lucky they are to be able to see the river every day. Once we build up around it, the openness of the city will be gone forever.

In addition to that, I don't believe there is room for a football stadium there.

Chalkie

[Chalkie]

Anyone suggesting Fort George as a location for a new football stadium should never work in Town & Country Planning.

As someone from Derry, I would not wanted to see the river hidden from view and the riverside blighted by a monstrosity of a football stadium.

Chalkie

I take it then that you are quite happy with the coal yard and the oil tanks on the other bank of the Pennyburn as having architectural merit. Maybe we should campaign to have Tesco on Strand Rd given listed building ststus

That argument makes no sense, micdaflic.

Because I think building a football stadium on the edge of the river blights the view of the river and the sense of space it gives to the city I must be happy with a coal yard and oil tanks on the edge of the river? No, that argument definitely doesn't make sense.

Chalkie

[johnm]

Chalkie, where do you suggest a much needed safe localised arena be situated?