Casement Park in line for major overhaul - 40,000 all seater Stadium.

[ONeill]

Big field in Glenavy unused. It's sort of greater West Belfast too.

[Throw It Up Ref]

It would probably be wise to announce how the build is being funded and providing details of financial guarantees before asking people to tender.
I mean, who is going to take the project on without that minor detail in place?
Any ideas on why Heron Bros have pulled the plug at this stage seeing how they've waited patiently on this project for 10 years?

They wouldn't have pulled the plug. Legally the Ulster Council wouldn't have been able to proceed with them as the main contractor due to the massive increase in cost. There are strict regulations on procurement where public money is involved to ensure it's spent correctly. They would have signed a contract 10+ years ago at the cost of £70m. As the new cost is now more than 150% that contract can't legally be modified to suit the existing contractor.

It now goes back out to tender on a pre approved framework of contractors which will speed up the tender process slightly. Not sure what frameworks being used and which contractors are on it but would imagine it'll be the usual big players in infrastructure projects such as Graham, Farrans etc.

There'll be a fairly lengthy design period on the back of an appointment as well. I'd imagine they might try and run the demolition and enabling works either concurrently with the design period or as a separate contract all together.

[Armagh18]

Bureaucracy is a ****.

[Sportacus]

Casement is beyond embarrassing at this stage for Ulster GAA.  In the private sector they would be long gone.    Completely butchered at every stage. Not to mention the historic disaster it has been for Antrim.

[twohands!!!]

They wouldn't have pulled the plug. Legally the Ulster Council wouldn't have been able to proceed with them as the main contractor due to the massive increase in cost. There are strict regulations on procurement where public money is involved to ensure it's spent correctly. They would have signed a contract 10+ years ago at the cost of £70m. As the new cost is now more than 150% that contract can't legally be modified to suit the existing contractor.

Given the Ulster Council are the ones going to be signing the contract, I wonder what assurances/promises they have in place from the other bodies (specifically the UK government) who are providing funds, especially as regards going over budget and/or delays.

[clarshack]

Casement is beyond embarrassing at this stage for Ulster GAA.  In the private sector they would be long gone.    Completely butchered at every stage. Not to mention the historic disaster it has been for Antrim.

Absolutely

[trailer]

Casement is beyond embarrassing at this stage for Ulster GAA.  In the private sector they would be long gone.    Completely butchered at every stage. Not to mention the historic disaster it has been for Antrim.

Absolutely

We need another photo shoot from McGeehan

[Throw It Up Ref]

They wouldn't have pulled the plug. Legally the Ulster Council wouldn't have been able to proceed with them as the main contractor due to the massive increase in cost. There are strict regulations on procurement where public money is involved to ensure it's spent correctly. They would have signed a contract 10+ years ago at the cost of £70m. As the new cost is now more than 150% that contract can't legally be modified to suit the existing contractor.

Given the Ulster Council are the ones going to be signing the contract, I wonder what assurances/promises they have in place from the other bodies (specifically the UK government) who are providing funds, especially as regards going over budget and/or delays.

Wouldn't imagine there's anything other than general commitment currently as they still have no idea what the projected completion cost will be. They have an updated cost but it's from a contractor that they can't use. Once they have retendered the scheme and have more accurate costs there'll then be a commitment based on the value.

Can't know for certain but Casement will likely use a project bank account arrangement where the funding money is ring fenced in a separate account for draw downs to the supply chain.

[seafoid]

Will it ever happen? In 2010 the UK economy was far stronger than it is now.

[AustinPowers]

Will it ever happen? In 2010 the UK economy was far stronger than it is now.

Casement will get built , but I  don't think it will be ready for the Euros.

But it would be  funny if NI qualified  and they had to  travel to  Birmingham  or Liverpool or somewhere, given their opposition to Casement

It would be even  funnier if NI  didn't qualify ,  Casement was built in time, and West Belfast  benefits hugely

It's a win-win really

[imtommygunn]

I have my doubts on whether it will ever happen. The euros changed that doubt a bit but I don't think it'll ever get the money unless it's for something like the euros. It has honestly been a debacle since day one and the people behind it don't deserve to get it built - though some of the rest of us do!

If it doesn't get built for the euros it'll have to be a lot more modest I would think.

[seafoid]

The Euros are a bit of a distraction to cover up the delays I think. Ireland is strange in that the 3 main sports all have to build their own infrastructure.  One reason is because all the power is centralised. There is also the history of non cooperation between sports and the ban.  In other countries like France the city builds the infrastructure and different teams use it . If this was in Cork or Belfast  for example there would be one 50,000 stadium built by the city and used by hurling, football, rugby and soccer. This model is much better. It would work very well in Belfast. The city would get concert profits to support other projects. In Ireland the GAA builds its own stadia. Páirc Uí Chaoimh does not get enough matches... It is the problem child of Irish stadia .

[trailer]

The Euros are a bit of a distraction to cover up the delays I think. Ireland is strange in that the 3 main sports all have to build their own infrastructure.  One reason is because all the power is centralised. There is also the history of non cooperation between sports and the ban.  In other countries like France the city builds the infrastructure and different teams use it . If this was in Cork or Belfast  for example there would be one 50,000 stadium built by the city and used by hurling, football, rugby and soccer. This model is much better. It would work very well in Belfast. The city would get concert profits to support other projects. In Ireland the GAA builds its own stadia. Páirc Uí Chaoimh does not get enough matches... It is the problem child of Irish stadia .

It happens in Uk, it happens in Italy, It happens in USA. It happens in loads of countries the world over. The idea that it's an Irish problem is nonsense.

[Walter Cronc]

The Euros are a bit of a distraction to cover up the delays I think. Ireland is strange in that the 3 main sports all have to build their own infrastructure.  One reason is because all the power is centralised. There is also the history of non cooperation between sports and the ban.  In other countries like France the city builds the infrastructure and different teams use it . If this was in Cork or Belfast  for example there would be one 50,000 stadium built by the city and used by hurling, football, rugby and soccer. This model is much better. It would work very well in Belfast. The city would get concert profits to support other projects. In Ireland the GAA builds its own stadia. Páirc Uí Chaoimh does not get enough matches... It is the problem child of Irish stadia .

It happens in Uk, it happens in Italy, It happens in USA. It happens in loads of countries the world over. The idea that it's an Irish problem is nonsense.

Are those Italian stadiums not owned by the city councils? hence the ground sharing - albeit AC Milan looking to move from San Siro. Pretty sure Stade de France is city owned too hence useable for range of sports from rugby to moto cross etc.

[trailer]

The Euros are a bit of a distraction to cover up the delays I think. Ireland is strange in that the 3 main sports all have to build their own infrastructure.  One reason is because all the power is centralised. There is also the history of non cooperation between sports and the ban.  In other countries like France the city builds the infrastructure and different teams use it . If this was in Cork or Belfast  for example there would be one 50,000 stadium built by the city and used by hurling, football, rugby and soccer. This model is much better. It would work very well in Belfast. The city would get concert profits to support other projects. In Ireland the GAA builds its own stadia. Páirc Uí Chaoimh does not get enough matches... It is the problem child of Irish stadia .

It happens in Uk, it happens in Italy, It happens in USA. It happens in loads of countries the world over. The idea that it's an Irish problem is nonsense.

Are those Italian stadiums not owned by the city councils? hence the ground sharing - albeit AC Milan looking to move from San Siro. Pretty sure Stade de France is city owned too hence useable for range of sports from rugby to moto cross etc.

Yeah and they both want out. Juventus redeveloped the Sadio delle Alpi and Torino moved to the Olympic stadium.
I agree that we do have far too many stadia and many could be doubled up, but it happens all over the world. It's not unique to here.