Brandywell Stadium Development

[martinbradleey]

No need to worry about contractors, this development will never see the light of day now.

[johnm]

A few weeks back word had come back that the Council was putting it back to tender as the 3 contractors in for the job was over budget. I believe this was already in the Journal in the last few weeks (according to Greengo on Monday). Has anyone seen this re-advertised?

Some contractors have inflated prices for work, so even though I want the development to go ahead I don't want to be held to ransom for it. These council lists of contractors should be widen to get the best deal for us while at the same time cut out the brown envelope brigade.

Surely if you put it out to tender, those interested put in their bid and you go with the lowest price from a competent contractor ? So if some others inflate their tender prices it doesn't matter - you still go with the lowest competent price.

Unless there's collusion between those tendering in order to rig the prices. Very hard to prove if it happens, very serious if it does.

It's easy done, have you seen Petrol prices at Bridgend.

[Treble89]

Would our stadium be in the top 10 worst in Ireland? Even the YMCA looks more professional ffs.

Will there be an official announcement regarding progress or will the board or council just let the noise die down and brush the ''development'' under the carpet for another decade?

[KEVK]

Would our stadium be in the top 10 worst in Ireland? Even the YMCA looks more professional ffs.

Will there be an official announcement regarding progress or will the board or council just let the noise die down and brush the ''development'' under the carpet for another decade?

Depends on your criteria and how much you value each one. Some people would value a bar greater than clean toilets

I would hazzard a guess and say we have the worst changing room facilities for players and officials in all of Ireland.

[shauna]

Would our stadium be in the top 10 worst in Ireland? Even the YMCA looks more professional ffs.

Will there be an official announcement regarding progress or will the board or council just let the noise die down and brush the ''development'' under the carpet for another decade?

Hopefully if we get into europe next year and arnt allowed to play at the brandywell it will bring more shame on the council.

[KEVK]

Would our stadium be in the top 10 worst in Ireland? Even the YMCA looks more professional ffs.

Will there be an official announcement regarding progress or will the board or council just let the noise die down and brush the ''development'' under the carpet for another decade?

Hopefully if we get into europe next year and arnt allowed to play at the brandywell it will bring more shame on the council.

We have been saying this since 2006.

In fact, I think in 2003 for our home leg against APOEL the match officials refused to get changed in our changing rooms and had to change in Long Tower Center. Surely that should have kicked the Council into action back then, but it didn't.

[shauna]

Psg players didnt change at the brandywell as well.

[paul60]

With Dundalk now going for a grass pitch to allow them to play at home in European games, will the council still push for an artificial pitch in fear of political correctness. If Derry could muster a growing return to the terraces then the council would have to make mature decisions on the brandywell, but again they may gamble on sitting on its hands.

[davy_g]

With Dundalk now going for a grass pitch to allow them to play at home in European games, will the council still push for an artificial pitch in fear of political correctness. If Derry could muster a growing return to the terraces then the council would have to make mature decisions on the brandywell, but again they may gamble on sitting on its hands.

Can ANYBODY tell me exactly where we are in terms of the development of the Brandywell? I have heard so many different opinions and I started this thread with a slightly "tongue in cheek" statement.

[dcfc_jp_1989]

With Dundalk now going for a grass pitch to allow them to play at home in European games, will the council still push for an artificial pitch in fear of political correctness. If Derry could muster a growing return to the terraces then the council would have to make mature decisions on the brandywell, but again they may gamble on sitting on its hands.

A grass pitch has absolutely nothing to do with it, sure Young Boys (Switzerland) & CSKA Moscow use plastic pitches in the Group Stages. Oriel Park lacked the car parking, capacity, facilities, floodlights, hospitality areas etc etc

[johnm]

With Dundalk now going for a grass pitch to allow them to play at home in European games, will the council still push for an artificial pitch in fear of political correctness. If Derry could muster a growing return to the terraces then the council would have to make mature decisions on the brandywell, but again they may gamble on sitting on its hands.

A grass pitch has absolutely nothing to do with it, sure Young Boys (Switzerland) & CSKA Moscow use plastic pitches in the Group Stages. Oriel Park lacked the car parking, capacity, facilities, floodlights, hospitality areas etc etc

So why are they going for grass?

[KEVK]

With Dundalk now going for a grass pitch to allow them to play at home in European games, will the council still push for an artificial pitch in fear of political correctness. If Derry could muster a growing return to the terraces then the council would have to make mature decisions on the brandywell, but again they may gamble on sitting on its hands.

A grass pitch has absolutely nothing to do with it, sure Young Boys (Switzerland) & CSKA Moscow use plastic pitches in the Group Stages. Oriel Park lacked the car parking, capacity, facilities, floodlights, hospitality areas etc etc

So why are they going for grass?

Probably a demand from Stephen Kenny and their Board probably realise that astro-turf is overrated.

[city till i die 89]

With Dundalk now going for a grass pitch to allow them to play at home in European games, will the council still push for an artificial pitch in fear of political correctness. If Derry could muster a growing return to the terraces then the council would have to make mature decisions on the brandywell, but again they may gamble on sitting on its hands.

Council are a joke, they can't even maintain the Astro turf over in Foyle Arena it is in a bad state, would not put much hope on them to do anything that means they have to work.

[Andy Bernard]

Funny reading the first few pages of this thread. The club told us the redevelopment would begin in May 2015. Part of the ground was knocked down near halloween. Season tickets were affected because nobody knew where the games would be played. No info from the club the whole time.

[shauna]

Funny reading the first few pages of this thread. The club told us the redevelopment would begin in May 2015. Part of the ground was knocked down near halloween. Season tickets were affected because nobody knew where the games would be played. No info from the club the whole time.

Nail on head andy

[stevebradley]

I can't see why the council would drop the astroturf aspect of the plan.

They want to hire the Brandywell pitch out as much as they can. And as it's their stadium they have every right to do so. Derry City pay them very little in rent, so have no grounds to demand a pitch that would reduce the council's income from the stadium in fairness.

If we want to choose the type of pitch we play on, we'll need to either pay more rent or make plans for our own stadium.

[rodgers]

I can't see why the council would drop the astroturf aspect of the plan.

They want to hire the Brandywell pitch out as much as they can. And as it's their stadium they have every right to do so. Derry City pay them very little in rent, so have no grounds to demand a pitch that would reduce the council's income from the stadium in fairness.

If we want to choose the type of pitch we play on, we'll need to either pay more rent or make plans for our own stadium.

Because there is nothing to suggest than an astrotruf pitch will always generate any more revenue (or profit given the maintenance costs) for the council than a grass pitch. While it works for some local authorities and clubs, for others it is not as lucrative as is commonly made out (often by the people who make money from installing such pitches in the first place).

Some of the council made a big play about how an astroturf Brandywell would be open '24/7'. People are not exactly banging down the council door at the moment looking to play there and I am not quite sure why they would suddenly be looking to book it at 11am on a Wednesday morning just because it is astroturf.

South Dublin County Council seem to be capable of making a decent enough fist of extracting revenue from their grass pitch.

Realistically, Derry would be the club using the facility most of the time. On other occasions, it could be used for underage internationals or the finals of local league games. Or certain other sports (in the way South Dublin County Council does). These do not amount to a huge amount more and there would be ample time in which the grass pitch could be used, especially, given the 40 week nature of LOI seasons, which would leave the pitch unused (and presumably unrented) for around 12 weeks per year.

Any increase in demand for the Brandywell could be accommodated on a grass pitch.

Who exactly wants to hire an astroturf pitch with empty stands? This is in addition to the numerous such pitches across the city. If someone wanted access to any new changing facilities, there is no reason why the council cannot develop the Showgrounds as the astroturf pitch but allow whoever is renting to use the facilities under the new stand.

The sad reality is the local authorities are under enormous pressure to give priority to anything that contains the magic words 'community use', as it much easier to obtain or provide funding for those types of projects. And at the moment, many people are taken in by the supposed 'community' benefits of astroturf. If this really is so important, make the Showgrounds astroturf. There is also no reason why a grass Brandywell cannot also be of at least as much benefit to the community

The worst part of all of this is that, as far as I am aware, the Showgrounds is actually going to get a new GRASS pitch.

As you have said yourself Steve in relation to the location of any new stadium, the council need Derry City just as much as Derry City need the council, so the club do have some leverage as regards the nature of any redevelopment. It's not as if there are any other viable anchor tenants around.

Finally, if given an ideal choice, I'm pretty sure nearly everyone would rather choose to watch Derry play on grass rather than astroturf.

[davy_g]

The worst part of all of this is that, as far as I am aware, the Showgrounds is actually going to get a new GRASS pitch.

As you have said yourself Steve in relation to the location of any new stadium, the council need Derry City just as much as Derry City need the council, so the club do have some leverage as regards the nature of any redevelopment. It's not as if there are any other viable anchor tenants around.

Finally, if given an ideal choice, I'm pretty sure nearly everyone would rather choose to watch Derry play on grass rather than astroturf.

The whole thing is complete Madness and ill thought out. I have not met one person yet who favours a synthetic pitch over a grass one. It's still not too late to change this if what we are hearing about "only going out to tender now" is true.

[paul60]

I can't see why the council would drop the astroturf aspect of the plan.

They want to hire the Brandywell pitch out as much as they can. And as it's their stadium they have every right to do so. Derry City pay them very little in rent, so have no grounds to demand a pitch that would reduce the council's income from the stadium in fairness.

If we want to choose the type of pitch we play on, we'll need to either pay more rent or make plans for our own stadium.

There are museums and other facilities managed by the council that have never turned a profit and not a word about them costing us in rates.

[Greengo]

I can't see why the council would drop the astroturf aspect of the plan.

They want to hire the Brandywell pitch out as much as they can. And as it's their stadium they have every right to do so. Derry City pay them very little in rent, so have no grounds to demand a pitch that would reduce the council's income from the stadium in fairness.

If we want to choose the type of pitch we play on, we'll need to either pay more rent or make plans for our own stadium.

Geesis you talk some shite too hi...

It seems you are supporting the council with your post... And do you know how much rent the club pays the council on a yearly basis ?
The club are the highest paying tennants so why should they not have a bigger say than the D&D or the doggymen ? I bet you the D&D dont pay as much per annum for use of the stadium yet cry foul if DCFC have a fixture change that might interrupt one of their league games... yes they cry and can do nothing about it but its the crying part that annoys me... there is a dislike between those who operate within the D&D and DCFC itself... everyone knows it...

We dont have the money to make plans for our own stadium or havent you heard ???