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

[seafoid]

Very rare you get big crowds for antrim games. 3500 probably would be a big crowd. The biggest football crowds tend to be for other ulster teams as a load of ones from other counties live in Belfast. The hurling might attract a bit more but even at that 3500 still a stretch.

So that can't be changed? Antrim is a county that can be tapped if tried. And part of that is having somewhere you can bring new fans, or returning ones.

I like the thinking. With the grace of God Antrim will require a stadium of this size and this will look like superb forward planning.
Alternatively, though, the number crunching on this stadium as a sports venue is hanging its hat on two things. Euro 2028 and Ulster finals.

Will either exist in 2029?

I'm happy for you to point at one (unlikely) future scenario but you also have to seriously consider the future of the events that we are building this for.

Casement is going to have to pay its way. It will not be reliant on Antrim club games and Ulster finals.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

If the GAA are using this funding to build a venue primarily for concerts or indeed with any non-GAA events at the heart of it, then they are letting us members down.

FWIW, Euro 2028 sticks in my craw and entirely undermines the narrative that building this stadium will massively influence GAA in the local community and across Antrim.

[6th sam]

The two are not mutually exclusive.
Of course Antrim Intercounty games  should be played there and club games. Who says they won't be ?
If running concerts and other sports helps finance a state of the art stadium, so that GAA flourishes then I'm all for it.
Croke park has hosted rugby soccer concerts conferences events , and it has promoted the GAA and brought money into our coffers . What's not to like??

[Sportacus]

The two are not mutually exclusive.
Of course Antrim Intercounty games  should be played there and club games. Who says they won't be ?
If running concerts and other sports helps finance a state of the art stadium, so that GAA flourishes then I'm all for it.
Croke park has hosted rugby soccer concerts conferences events , and it has promoted the GAA and brought money into our coffers . What's not to like??

Who says they will be?

[Armagh18]

Surely to god the second biggest city in the country will have some use for a 35k stadium. Madness that people are against this. Ulster finals, all ireland quarter finals, the neutral round of these all ireland group stage games if they last. With antrims population- Antrim home games if they ever got the finger out and got to the top level in hurling/football.

[seafoid]

If the GAA are using this funding to build a venue primarily for concerts or indeed with any non-GAA events at the heart of it, then they are letting us members down.

FWIW, Euro 2028 sticks in my craw and entirely undermines the narrative that building this stadium will massively influence GAA in the local community and across Antrim.

No GAA stadium that costs over £100m is exclusively GAA. Sin é.

[marty34]

Not sure if Antrim will ever have that correct will and culture in place within the county board to drive things on to the next level in my opinion.

[bannside]

Quite Frankly, that's the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a very long time. It's a lazy narrative going back to previous administrations, but since a group of visionaries (under the banner of Saffron Vision) got together around 7 years ago, tangible improvement is clear to see, and ambition levels are firmly intact.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

If the GAA are using this funding to build a venue primarily for concerts or indeed with any non-GAA events at the heart of it, then they are letting us members down.

FWIW, Euro 2028 sticks in my craw and entirely undermines the narrative that building this stadium will massively influence GAA in the local community and across Antrim.

No GAA stadium that costs over £100m is exclusively GAA. Sin é.

You are either misunderstanding or misrepresenting what I am saying.
I believe that GAA members deserve the balance to be hugely in favour of our games and events but I'm concerned that this is looking like a non-GAA stadium to enable us to host an Ulster final for the limited time in which one exists.

So I'm not saying that there shouldn't be concerts or other sports in it. Just that they shouldn't be the reason for building it.

[seafoid]

If the GAA are using this funding to build a venue primarily for concerts or indeed with any non-GAA events at the heart of it, then they are letting us members down.

FWIW, Euro 2028 sticks in my craw and entirely undermines the narrative that building this stadium will massively influence GAA in the local community and across Antrim.

No GAA stadium that costs over £100m is exclusively GAA. Sin é.

You are either misunderstanding or misrepresenting what I am saying.
I believe that GAA members deserve the balance to be hugely in favour of our games and events but I'm concerned that this is looking like a non-GAA stadium to enable us to host an Ulster final for the limited time in which one exists.

So I'm not saying that there shouldn't be concerts or other sports in it. Just that they shouldn't be the reason for building it.

I don't imagine that Antrim GAA will be ignored. It will still be a GAA stadium. But it won't be a white elephant.

https://www.casementpark.ie/planning-application/

[Eire90]

could they football/hurling double headers to get a bigger crowd.

[Rossfan]

If the 2 Governments,(Stormont?) and the GAA put up the money to build the Stadium will they be looking for their money back?
If not then it won't cost a lot to maintain the place?
Casement "paying its way" would only be a major issue if there were loans to be repaid e.g.

[Armagh18]

If the 2 Governments,(Stormont?) and the GAA put up the money to build the Stadium will they be looking for their money back?
If not then it won't cost a lot to maintain the place?
Casement "paying its way" would only be a major issue if there were loans to be repaid e.g.

What was the story with PUC then? All bank loans?

[Walter Cronc]

Would Ulster GAA accept if it became a municipal stadium (for all sports/events) or is that a non runner? Profits dished out on a percentage basis?

[Rossfan]

If the 2 Governments,(Stormont?) and the GAA put up the money to build the Stadium will they be looking for their money back?
If not then it won't cost a lot to maintain the place?
Casement "paying its way" would only be a major issue if there were loans to be repaid e.g.

What was the story with PUC then? All bank loans?

A lot of it obviously was as Cork CB got loans restructured/Interest holiday last year - or was it 2022?