Brandywell Stadium Development

[stevebradley]

The Club to meet with the Council about proposals for the Temple more site.

Shame we couldn't have had a new stadium there instead, with the Academy then housed at the Brandywell. The club would then be master of its own destiny for the first time ever - re playing surface, revenue-generation etc. In an area with a better roads network, parking etc. Plus we wouldn't have to worry about the risk of issues around the stadium.

But the Board insisted on making Brandywell 'the only show in town'. Even though we're now buying land to develop at templemore anyway. #MakeItMakeSense

[IfYouTolerateThis]

The first seats going into the new stand today

[Greengo]

Plus we wouldn't have to worry about the risk of issues around the stadium.

Have you ever been to Galliagh, Leafair or Slievemore ? Theres also a home for wayward children on the edge of Templemores grounds and its no nursery school...

The finger of blame is usually pointed at the surrounding area to the Brandywell but there are other parts of our city that leave a lot to be desired...

I'm not getting at you here Steve but those areas I've mentioned above do have their own issues akin to those around the Lone Moor Rd and surrounding areas

[marcoloco]

The Brandywell could accommodate 1 plastic and 1 grass pitch. Max. Plus it’s a public facility so do you take it away from other user groups in the process?

The opportunity to deliver multiple pitches at templemore exists. And build a state of the art complex (excuse the pun) in the process.

I personally think we should stay in our spiritual home if it can deliver all our needs. Whilst painful at times we are making good progress on that front.

[stevebradley]

Plus we wouldn't have to worry about the risk of issues around the stadium.

Have you ever been to Galliagh, Leafair or Slievemore ? Theres also a home for wayward children on the edge of Templemores grounds and its no nursery school...

The finger of blame is usually pointed at the surrounding area to the Brandywell but there are other parts of our city that leave a lot to be desired...

I'm not getting at you here Steve but those areas I've mentioned above do have their own issues akin to those around the Lone Moor Rd and surrounding areas

I'm afraid I disagree strongly on this for a number of reasons Greengo (we'll ingore the fact I play fotball at the Leafair pitches, so it's hardly an alien part of the world ) :

1) The Brandywell is a rabbit warren, with fairly high density terraced housing packed up close to the stadium, dark laneways running along the back of one side of the ground etc. That makes it a difficult area to 'police' (in the broadest sense of the word), not to mention for parking and traffic. In contrast Templemore literally looks and feels very wide open. How are we going to accomodate 8,000 supporters and all the traffic and parking that involves whern the Brandywell si fully built out? You'd have few issues like that at Templemore (or to a much reduced extent anyway).

2) Templemore Sports Complex is NEAR those areas you mention, but crucially it is not slap bang in the middle of them and tightly surrounded by them. Which is a huge difference. And the main access to the Compy is/would be via Buncrana Road, which is a fairly leafy part of the city really. It's also a road that is due to be dualled at some point (eventually !) with a park and ride facility planned in the area as well. All good for people to get to and from the facility. There is honestly no comparison between the environs of the Brandywell and the Compy.

3) Brandywell Stadium is also surrounded by a load of IRA paraphernalia. I suspect a lot of people just don't even notice it. From large cut out 'IRA' letters on lampposts along the Lone Moor Road, to a volunteer shrine right outside the Southend Stand entrance. All, of which, whether we like it or not, makes it an unwelcoming area for a lot of people. And as NI moves on (painfully) slowly and surely, the fact that our ground isn;t is a negative and something that can be used against us. I cantl think of any Irish League clubs which have a similar situation, for example? There used to be a loyalist mural outsidneSeaview, for example, but it was removed years ago and replaced with a Crusaders-themed one. There is nothing at all like any of that at the Compy. It's essentially neutral territory in how it is presented. There are no flags etc on the Buncrana Road, and I honestly can't remember there ever being (I was born in Shandon Park and lived there for the early part of my life during the Troubles) ?

So the Compy and the Brandywell are just 2 very different areas on essentially all fronts in my view, and I honestly don't see how an objective assessment could conclude otherwise.

Leaving all that aside btw - we still have other fundamental issues with the Brandywell due to the fact that we don't own it e.g. the pitch.

[marcoloco]

Steve you’ve been to the Brandywell back in it’s hay day. When it was rocking with supporter in the old jungle and all around the ground. Av attendance back then were often 6 to 8 k with the odd 10k fixture. Going further back in time crowds were similar in size so it’s really only recent history that numbers dwindled. Apologies but that’s a long winded prelude to asking you where did the folk park back then? When there was no public transport or greenways. It’s on that basis (previous attendance figures) that the new stand was considered. So whilst capacity is once again increasing it’s still well short of historical figures.

[kitwe]

Simple answer, we walked to the Brandywell

[Keyser Soze]

Simple answer, we walked to the Brandywell

People definitely weren't as glued to their cars back in those days as they are now.

There isn't enough parking spaces around the ground as it stands now, or even in the recent past, let alone before we open the new stand, and then the expanded Mark Farren Stand.

Park & Rides to various parts of the town specifically for football fans would be something worth looking at.

[marcoloco]

I strongly disagree with this idea that every fan or group of fans should be accommodated with a car parking space. It’s nonsense and only panders to cars and drivers who expect to park round the corner and have minimal disruption for their fortnightly visit to the area.

There’s an average of 20 home games per season. If you over provide car parking then that parking space (for 7.5k capacity stadium) is likely to be used for 2 hours every two to three weeks. Do people really want their public space turned into car parking that’s only getting minimal use? I’m pretty sure the residents of the Brandywell would prefer open green spaces, parks or recreation facilities. Theirs a cost benefit to providing car parking as it requires lots of land.

People need to stop and think is this realistic? Does Aviva provide 45k parking spaces? Of course it doesn’t. Most grounds don’t deliver many parking spaces. .

There’s a multitude of solutions from park and ride, park and walk, walk, cycle etc etc Whilst the ground is not well served by public transport maybe our local politicians could explore something with service providers for these 20 off occurrences per year.

[adydcfc]

Now hearing there's been an issue with the sewage system for new stand. Water board and council are delaying the works or something so stand might not be ready until April ffs.

[marcoloco]

Now hearing there's been an issue with the sewage system for new stand. Water board and council are delaying the works or something so stand might not be ready until April ffs.

The issue existed since day 1. Think a decision was taken to crack on with the work and sort it our during the process rather than waiting then starts works which would potentially lose another season.

[adydcfc]

Now hearing there's been an issue with the sewage system for new stand. Water board and council are delaying the works or something so stand might not be ready until April ffs.

The issue existed since day 1. Think a decision was taken to crack on with the work and sort it our during the process rather than waiting then starts works which would potentially lose another season.

Wonder could we go with Portable loos in the meantime

[marcoloco]

Now hearing there's been an issue with the sewage system for new stand. Water board and council are delaying the works or something so stand might not be ready until April ffs.

The issue existed since day 1. Think a decision was taken to crack on with the work and sort it our during the process rather than waiting then starts works which would potentially lose another season.

Wonder could we go with Portable loos in the meantime

That's a very good question. There may be localalised capacity issues but if the waste is transported elsewhere then it's conceivable that it could be discharged safely. As a temporary solution that's not bad.

[stevebradley]

Steve you’ve been to the Brandywell back in it’s hay day. When it was rocking with supporter in the old jungle and all around the ground. Av attendance back then were often 6 to 8 k with the odd 10k fixture. Going further back in time crowds were similar in size so it’s really only recent history that numbers dwindled. Apologies but that’s a long winded prelude to asking you where did the folk park back then? When there was no public transport or greenways. It’s on that basis (previous attendance figures) that the new stand was considered. So whilst capacity is once again increasing it’s still well short of historical figures.

Two key differences between then and now though Marco, which make them incomparable. Firstlly the level of car ownership and usage in the city is significantly higher now (as also is the level of laziness. With people prepared to walk far less now than they did back then). So the same sized crowd now would mean a hell of a lot more cars. That's just a fact. You can see noticeably higher traffic levels in Derry now compared to even 10 years ago, nevermind 30-40yrs.

Second is the fact that the size of the city has expanded greatly since the late 80s - so there is a significant portion of fans travelling to games from the edge of town and from areas which didnt even exist back then (e.g. Skeoge, Crescent Link, parts of Culmore) who have to get to the games. With there being no bus service there and as it's too far to walk, you can guess how those journeys are being made.

As the old saying goes, the past is a foreign country. Though that said - as any fans who were aroud in the late 80s can attest, there were cars parked for a long distance from the ground on match days then, and if you didnt get there with your car early you were in for a bit of a treasure hunt and a walk. So that would be significantly worse now with the same crowd.

[stevebradley]

Now hearing there's been an issue with the sewage system for new stand. Water board and council are delaying the works or something so stand might not be ready until April ffs.

The issue existed since day 1. Think a decision was taken to crack on with the work and sort it our during the process rather than waiting then starts works which would potentially lose another season.

Wonder could we go with Portable loos in the meantime

Colostomy bags? Just colour them blue and people can bring their carryout in them too.

[kitwe]

Steve, not funny. I though you knew better.

[da-gama]

So are we saying season tickets for the new stand won't be on sale next week?!

[stevebradley]

Steve, not funny. I though you knew better.

Was just having the craic, Kitwe. Apologies for any offence.

[magspat]

Dry since of humor Steve truth be told.

[stevebradley]

Dry since of humor Steve truth be told.

I see what you did there...