Future of Croke Park

[RadioGAAGAA]

Do those advocating the renting of Croke part not realise that the government will only want to rent it if they can generate an income off it?

Since the ground football and rugby will have lansdowne road back up and running in a couple of years, that'll mean the money will have to come from GAA matches, and from the same concerts/events that the GAA already rent the stadium out for.

Therefore, it'll be a net loser to the GAA in the long term.



Always think long term. That short term money in the bank attitude is a load of shite, and top reason why half the world's economies are f**ked up.

[Mike Sheehy]

Always think long term. That short term money in the bank attitude is a load of shite, and top reason why half the world's economies are f**ked up.

Live for the moment. We'll all be dead soon enough.

[Bogball XV]

By Senan Molony Deputy Political Editor


Tuesday July 01 2008

THE IRFU and FAI have been warned that they will not be getting any cash injection to plug the funding deficit for the new Lansdowne Road stadium.

The new 50,000-seater stadium is already 25pc over budget and there are fears the sporting organisations will fail to meet the financial shortfall.

The overrun comes just one month after the company commissioned to sell premium seats pulled out of the deal.

Sports Minister Martin Cullen has written to both bodies warning them that the government's original €191m contribution to the stadium will not be increased, despite the projected cost soaring by more than 25pc, from €365m to €466m.

The extra €101m will have to be borne by the sporting associations themselves, insisted the minister.

A spokeswoman for Mr Cullen said last night that both organisations involved had sought to provide enhance- ments to the original design, such as a major underground car park.

She said the secretary general at the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism had recently received assurances from the FAI and the IRFU that they would be in a position to meet their commitments.

The Government's own commitment to the project was limited, she said.

However, Fine Gael said last night that the €101m cost increase raises concerns for taxpayers, as they could be forced to shoulder the bill in the future.

Spokeswoman on sport, Olivia Mitchell, said the public must be reassured that the stadium could be completed as planned.

Mr Cullen was briefed in May that the total cost had risen to €466m, she said.But department officials played down the idea that the letter was caused by a concern that costs were spiralling out of control.

Concern

A department spokesman said such a letter would be routine procedure and "normal", but Ms Mitchell said the escalating cost of a major national project "has to be a cause of concern".

"The Government has capped its contribution at €191m, but Minister Cullen assured me that when making the commitment, the department had arranged for due diligence to be carried out in both organisations to establish their capacity to fund their contributions."

While fresh assurances from the FAI and the IRFU were welcome, questions remained unanswered, she said.

"Only last month it emerged that ISG, the company commissioned to sell premium seats and corporate-box facilities, had withdrawn from the €90m deal.

"Clearly, the view was that the sale of tickets could not realise €90m, yet this was to provide the bulk of the FAI contribution," she added.

- Senan Molony Deputy Political Editor

Looks like the gaa could have a bit of leverage over lansdowne/croker yet.