Brandywell Stadium Development

[marcoloco]

GAA unwillingness to assist condemned us to a season in Buncrana. Hence, i'll be in shocked if they did anything now that made our life easier should we qualify for Europe. Would love to see it but I wont expect anything.

I'm not sure that's fair or accurate Marco. Wasn't the issue that only a GAA Congress could give permission for other games at one of their stadia, and the timescales didn't make getting that possible ?

Anyways - Since then the GAA has had the PR disaster of the Liam Miller tribute match in 2018, which has changed things again on this whole issue. I'm no expert, but I think Rule 42 has since been amended to now give county boards a degree of discretion over opening their stadia up to other sports (?).

As stated on all of this anyway - nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The Club made contact. Their need was clear. The solution was obvious to everyone. The GAA didn't want to know. There is zero desire to help then or now. They made that crystal clear.

[stevebradley]

GAA unwillingness to assist condemned us to a season in Buncrana. Hence, i'll be in shocked if they did anything now that made our life easier should we qualify for Europe. Would love to see it but I wont expect anything.

I'm not sure that's fair or accurate Marco. Wasn't the issue that only a GAA Congress could give permission for other games at one of their stadia, and the timescales didn't make getting that possible ?

Anyways - Since then the GAA has had the PR disaster of the Liam Miller tribute match in 2018, which has changed things again on this whole issue. I'm no expert, but I think Rule 42 has since been amended to now give county boards a degree of discretion over opening their stadia up to other sports (?).

As stated on all of this anyway - nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The Club made contact. Their need was clear. The solution was obvious to everyone. The GAA didn't want to know. There is zero desire to help then or now. They made that crystal clear.

Can you outline the solution you're suggesting was obvious ? Thanks.

[marcoloco]

I'm not sure that's fair or accurate Marco. Wasn't the issue that only a GAA Congress could give permission for other games at one of their stadia, and the timescales didn't make getting that possible ?

Anyways - Since then the GAA has had the PR disaster of the Liam Miller tribute match in 2018, which has changed things again on this whole issue. I'm no expert, but I think Rule 42 has since been amended to now give county boards a degree of discretion over opening their stadia up to other sports (?).

As stated on all of this anyway - nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The Club made contact. Their need was clear. The solution was obvious to everyone. The GAA didn't want to know. There is zero desire to help then or now. They made that crystal clear.

Can you outline the solution you're suggesting was obvious ? Thanks.

A ground share arrangement at Celtic Park until the construction works at the Brandywell were completed. That was the obvious solution. Much the same way that Institute are ground sharing the Brandywell. DCFC would have entered into a short term lease for the use of the ground to fulfil their fixtures with provisions ensuring the GAA own usage requirements were met in full.

[danny hale]

Think I just saw a pink elephant!

[stevebradley]

The Club made contact. Their need was clear. The solution was obvious to everyone. The GAA didn't want to know. There is zero desire to help then or now. They made that crystal clear.

Can you outline the solution you're suggesting was obvious ? Thanks.

A ground share arrangement at Celtic Park until the construction works at the Brandywell were completed. That was the obvious solution. Much the same way that Institute are ground sharing the Brandywell. DCFC would have entered into a short term lease for the use of the ground to fulfil their fixtures with provisions ensuring the GAA own usage requirements were met in full.

Firstly - I'm pretty sure the club didn't enquire about the use of Celtic Park for anything other than European fixtures.

Secondly - as already outlined, the County Board was not in a position to grant that access to Derry. At that time it could only be done through GAA Congress. So how do you propose that could have happened therefore, when as far as I'm aware Derry's request came AFTER the GAA Annual Congress had already been held that year ? You seem to be ignoring the straight-jacket presented at that time by the GAA's own policies, and portraying it as the local county being deliberately unreasonable. When the decision was out of their hands, and the request made too late to be actionable anyway.

[dcfc_jp_1989]

Can you outline the solution you're suggesting was obvious ? Thanks.

A ground share arrangement at Celtic Park until the construction works at the Brandywell were completed. That was the obvious solution. Much the same way that Institute are ground sharing the Brandywell. DCFC would have entered into a short term lease for the use of the ground to fulfil their fixtures with provisions ensuring the GAA own usage requirements were met in full.

Firstly - I'm pretty sure the club didn't enquire about the use of Celtic Park for anything other than European fixtures.

Secondly - as already outlined, the County Board was not in a position to grant that access to Derry. At that time it could only be done through GAA Congress. So how do you propose that could have happened therefore, when as far as I'm aware Derry's request came AFTER the GAA Annual Congress had already been held that year ? You seem to be ignoring the straight-jacket presented at that time by the GAA's own policies, and portraying it as the local county being deliberately unreasonable. When the decision was out of their hands, and the request made too late to be actionable anyway.

They were looking to use it instead of going to Maginn Park. I remember being at a fundraising match in the Brandywell & a certain board member was being bombarded from all angles in regards to what was happening as it was widely reported that week that the County board's own congress was meeting on it. He wasn't too confident on our chances of it passing as he felt they lacked the support of the South Derry GAA clubs on the matter

[stevebradley]

They were looking to use it instead of going to Maginn Park. I remember being at a fundraising match in the Brandywell & a certain board member was being bombarded from all angles in regards to what was happening as it was widely reported that week that the County board's own congress was meeting on it. He wasn't too confident on our chances of it passing as he felt they lacked the support of the South Derry GAA clubs on the matter

The South Derry GAA clubs are the ones most keen on Owenbeg being the County ground, & who complain about having to go to Celtic Park for fixtures.

[dcfc_jp_1989]

They were looking to use it instead of going to Maginn Park. I remember being at a fundraising match in the Brandywell & a certain board member was being bombarded from all angles in regards to what was happening as it was widely reported that week that the County board's own congress was meeting on it. He wasn't too confident on our chances of it passing as he felt they lacked the support of the South Derry GAA clubs on the matter

The South Derry GAA clubs are the ones most keen on Owenbeg being the County ground, & who complain about having to go to Celtic Park for fixtures.

Yes but that doesn't mean they were keen on allowing Derry City to use Celtic Park

[stevebradley]

They were looking to use it instead of going to Maginn Park. I remember being at a fundraising match in the Brandywell & a certain board member was being bombarded from all angles in regards to what was happening as it was widely reported that week that the County board's own congress was meeting on it. He wasn't too confident on our chances of it passing as he felt they lacked the support of the South Derry GAA clubs on the matter

The South Derry GAA clubs are the ones most keen on Owenbeg being the County ground, & who complain about having to go to Celtic Park for fixtures.

Yes but that doesn't mean they were keen on allowing Derry City to use Celtic Park

Very true.

But looking forwards - if they want Owenbeg to be Derry's County Ground, that will require millions to be spent on it. Just when Croke Park is skint, and the Ulster GAA is already in a hole having to contribute at least £15m it doesn't have to Casement Park. So they could face a crunch decision at some point over what to do with Celtic Park. And whether getting the stadium they want where they want is more important than holding on to a large ground they don't really need in Derry City (and/or trying to be dicks towards Derry City).

This is about Derry City's potential stadium future btw, rather than raking over past events.

[rodgers]

Regardless of what happened in the past, even if Celtic Park did become available, I don't understand why the GAA would let the ground or the land go for anything less than market value. And short of taking out a commercial loan secured on the property itself, I can't see how the club would have the money to purchase it.

[stevebradley]

Regardless of what happened in the past, even if Celtic Park did become available, I don't understand why the GAA would let the ground or the land go for anything less than market value. And short of taking out a commercial loan secured on the property itself, I can't see how the club would have the money to purchase it.

Of course they'd look to sell it for market value - as they absolutely should. No doubt a few housing associations would be interested in the site anyway.

DCFC has no money for anything. And that includes the Academy that we're now in the early stages of developing - yet that is still happening. Fortunately we do have the financial backing of someone who could easily buy Celtic Park if they wanted to. And I believe it would do more to secure the club's future than pretty much anything else we can do (by making us masters of our own destiny for the first time).

[rodgers]

The site alone would probably be worth a few million and would also require some work to convert it into a football ground. I realise he puts in quite a lot of money on an annual basis but what you are suggesting is a figure multiples of that. Which I just don't see happening.

Who would even own the ground under this idea? I'm not sure it would be the best idea in the world putting it into the ownership of the club.

I normally try not to dismiss ideas out of hand but I just don't see this one happening along those lines.

[brandyball]

Topical piece in Derry News. Interesting quote drom Independent Councillor Paul Gallagher.

https://www.derrynow.com/news/derry-new ... pment.html

[stevebradley]

Who would even own the ground under this idea? I'm not sure it would be the best idea in the world putting it into the ownership of the club.

I normally try not to dismiss ideas out of hand but I just don't see this one happening along those lines.

Simple solution - the ground would be bought by a Trust, separate from the club. That way it would be protected if the club got into financial trouble again. It's a model that some clubs use in England (especially fan-run ones who had issues with their ground previously).

[stevebradley]

Topical piece in Derry News. Interesting quote drom Independent Councillor Paul Gallagher.

https://www.derrynow.com/news/derry-new ... pment.html

"Independent Strabane Councillor Paul Gallagher said the amendment was ‘very relevant’ for the entire district as he ‘gets the sense that Derry City Football Club thinks that local council can just bankroll their stadium, the Brandywell, and council is at the behest of them’.

If we're honest with ourselves, he's probably not wrong.

His comment touches on the challenge I think we'll face if Stormont doesn't fund completion of the Mark Farren Stand. I don't think the council will pay to complete it itself. Since 2015 the council has been expanded beyond just Derry City. So we now have councillors in places like Strabane and Castlederg who would be asking 'Why are ratepayers in my area being expected to fund even more works at Brandywell' if the Stormont funding doesn't transpire. In which case I think we'd just be left largely with what we currently have.

[brandyball]

Topical piece in Derry News. Interesting quote drom Independent Councillor Paul Gallagher.

https://www.derrynow.com/news/derry-new ... pment.html

"Independent Strabane Councillor Paul Gallagher said the amendment was ‘very relevant’ for the entire district as he ‘gets the sense that Derry City Football Club thinks that local council can just bankroll their stadium, the Brandywell, and council is at the behest of them’.

If we're honest with ourselves, he's probably not wrong.

Does " Their Stadium" refer to the Football Club or the Council?

[stevebradley]

Topical piece in Derry News. Interesting quote drom Independent Councillor Paul Gallagher.

https://www.derrynow.com/news/derry-new ... pment.html

"Independent Strabane Councillor Paul Gallagher said the amendment was ‘very relevant’ for the entire district as he ‘gets the sense that Derry City Football Club thinks that local council can just bankroll their stadium, the Brandywell, and council is at the behest of them’.

If we're honest with ourselves, he's probably not wrong.

Does " Their Stadium" refer to the Football Club or the Council?

From the quote, it refers to the Brandywell.

[brandyball]

"Independent Strabane Councillor Paul Gallagher said the amendment was ‘very relevant’ for the entire district as he ‘gets the sense that Derry City Football Club thinks that local council can just bankroll their stadium, the Brandywell, and council is at the behest of them’.

If we're honest with ourselves, he's probably not wrong.

Does " Their Stadium" refer to the Football Club or the Council?

From the quote, it refers to the Brandywell.

You would think a Councillor would know who owns the Brandywell.

[marcoloco]

Does " Their Stadium" refer to the Football Club or the Council?

From the quote, it refers to the Brandywell.

You would think a Councillor would know who owns the Brandywell.

Of course he does. But why let that get in the way of earning some browning points with your local voters. The fact remains the Brandywell is incomplete and as a sub-regional stadium is not yet up to scratch.

[eugenio]

This topic has produced many many words I am lost at the thinking but always Martin Luther King’s words knaw at me “I have a dream” that for me is that in the city we ALL.{ Derry or Londonderry } love we become all one in this . The City of CULTURE year showed the world what we could do except now to pull together within our small community over sport seems beyond us . Why oh why can’t we say “Look at us “ we love Derry and won’t divide ourselves “ We could have a beautiful stadium for ALL GAA Derry I city. nstitute. Rugby. the pride of Ireland with US ALL supporting each other A stadium where other great events could also be held and we can say “this I our Place. A place for Derry
But Martin Luther never saw his dream truly fulfilled Why we fight over a stadium, who can actually visit it , or play on it determined by anything but the love of our City and those who live there.
A pity a pity We could have set the example to the whole country
I have a dream. But just now I’m in the nightmare phase