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

[RadioGAAGAA]

Why was this so bad? It is not as if Ulster lacks capacity; there are many clubs who get all sorts of things built

I can only assume it was entrusted to bullshitters who can look slick with powerpoints and interview well being full of their own importance - and interviewed by people, with the best will in the world, aren't likely to be able to critically analyse any technical answers.

Why then did the interview committee not contain at least one person of a GAA background with construction experience, as mentioned above? What has been learned from this?

But its not just construction.

In Casement, the problems so far have had little to do with actual construction (we bloody wish they'd even got as far as constructing!).


Both the management of planning, and for want of a better term, the compilation of the "business case", have been shockingly bad.


The biggest problem with PUC isn't necessarily it going over budget (although that hasn't helped), its the fact that the business case has been shown to be a pile of hopelessly over-optimistic bullshit.


Yet, that hasn't triggered any kind of introspection on the part of other stadia builds ongoing.

[Baile Brigín 2]

The problem with Cork stada, its a good stadium but situated in a heavy traffic location to get out to from the North side. Then located in a former industrial area along the river with lack pubs, shops etc. What was the Business case to jusify it unless they had Multi concerts, Munster finals. Steady championship games. There no sensible business return in this project. Casement park in the same boat.

No, the problem is it ran 35% over budget and put the Cork county board 30m in debt. And Croke Park actually praised them saying that it 'wasn't necessarily a bad outcome'.

If the GAA was a private company it would have gone bust.

But it's not. Thankfully we haven't totally sold our soul for € yet although Burns is trying his best with Allianz.

Come on. Supervalue PuC has put Cork in a financial hole they can never get out of to build a concert venue nobody wants to play in. Casement is basically the same underlying problem. Too big, too expensive, idiots in charge.

[Tony Baloney]

The problem with Cork stada, its a good stadium but situated in a heavy traffic location to get out to from the North side. Then located in a former industrial area along the river with lack pubs, shops etc. What was the Business case to jusify it unless they had Multi concerts, Munster finals. Steady championship games. There no sensible business return in this project. Casement park in the same boat.

No, the problem is it ran 35% over budget and put the Cork county board 30m in debt. And Croke Park actually praised them saying that it 'wasn't necessarily a bad outcome'.

If the GAA was a private company it would have gone bust.

But it's not. Thankfully we haven't totally sold our soul for € yet although Burns is trying his best with Allianz.

Come on. Supervalue PuC has put Cork in a financial hole they can never get out of to build a concert venue nobody wants to play in. Casement is basically the same underlying problem. Too big, too expensive, idiots in charge.

Excellent summary.

[Ronnie]

The last two points might be valid but, as I've said before, it's not too big if the GAA want to host Ulster Finals in Ireland's 2nd city.  If they're going to continue hosting at Clones then bite the bullet & build Antrim a 8,000 to 10,000 stadium that would be more than adequate for them.  It will be Belfast's loss but I can't see another alternative.

[Baile Brigín 2]

The last two points might be valid but, as I've said before, it's not too big if the GAA want to host Ulster Finals in Ireland's 2nd city.  If they're going to continue hosting at Clones then bite the bullet & build Antrim a 8,000 to 10,000 stadium that would be more than adequate for them.  It will be Belfast's loss but I can't see another alternative.

But the decision to have Ulster finals in Belfast was only reached because they got giddy with funding levels, not because it was a strategic decision. If Cork doesn't need a 40k hall, nor does Belfast.

[armaghniac]

The last two points might be valid but, as I've said before, it's not too big if the GAA want to host Ulster Finals in Ireland's 2nd city.  If they're going to continue hosting at Clones then bite the bullet & build Antrim a 8,000 to 10,000 stadium that would be more than adequate for them.  It will be Belfast's loss but I can't see another alternative.

But the decision to have Ulster finals in Belfast was only reached because they got giddy with funding levels, not because it was a strategic decision. If Cork doesn't need a 40k hall, nor does Belfast.

I disagree. There was a genuine desire for have a bigger profile in the city and while these advantages are sometimes exaggerated the transport connections etc are better. In the 1960s, 7 of finals were in Casement.

[DaleCooper]

The last two points might be valid but, as I've said before, it's not too big if the GAA want to host Ulster Finals in Ireland's 2nd city.  If they're going to continue hosting at Clones then bite the bullet & build Antrim a 8,000 to 10,000 stadium that would be more than adequate for them.  It will be Belfast's loss but I can't see another alternative.

What does an annual ulster final take in?

Belfast/Ulster GAA wanted their own Croker prestige project but its hard to justfiy esp in the awful location. Worst ground to play in. Windy and cold.

Dont necessarily agree with this but a city centre stadium would be better imo. Love athletic grounds for this reason.


https://sluggerotoole.com/2026/07/29/the-case-for-a-belfast-city-centre-national-sports-stadium/

[Baile Brigín 2]

The last two points might be valid but, as I've said before, it's not too big if the GAA want to host Ulster Finals in Ireland's 2nd city.  If they're going to continue hosting at Clones then bite the bullet & build Antrim a 8,000 to 10,000 stadium that would be more than adequate for them.  It will be Belfast's loss but I can't see another alternative.

What does an annual ulster final take in?

Belfast/Ulster GAA wanted their own Croker prestige project but its hard to justfiy esp in the awful location. Worst ground to play in. Windy and cold.

Dont necessarily agree with this but a city centre stadium would be better imo. Love athletic grounds for this reason.


https://sluggerotoole.com/2026/07/29/the-case-for-a-belfast-city-centre-national-sports-stadium/

Who plays in this city centre stadium?

[RadioGAAGAA]

Dont necessarily agree with this but a city centre stadium would be better imo. Love athletic grounds for this reason.

https://sluggerotoole.com/2026/07/29/the-case-for-a-belfast-city-centre-national-sports-stadium/

Who plays in this city centre stadium?

That might have worked if proposed 25 years ago. Far too late now.