Antrim Football Thread

[johnnycool]

Planning permission isn't really an issue within the city for lights that just a crude assumption.

Often we see that its restrictions in terms of time which negate the issue of light pollution

Milton would fail to get lights due to the potential bio issues
St John's don't have the space
Nor gort/st Paul's the likes
Paddies and Enda's would as would Musgrave
St Ts would be wouldn't be on their agenda and ofcourse LD


But the biggest issue is cost for proper functional match lights! Upwards of £150k

County won't look to support any club outside of St John's on this type of development

There is ofcourse
Falls park
QUB
UU
Woodlands
SallyGardens
Criky

All with lights but I'm assuming these were well booked in advance.

Buttom line is, it's another "we need casement" argument.

A few things you lads are forgetting.

Casement park if it ever gets developed will be owned and controlled by the Ulster Council.

Antrim may well be the sitting tenant in such a scenario but if Antrim want access they will need to apply and ultimately pay for the use of it.

Is that viable for an U18 B minor football game?

Secondly, any divvying up of the funds for the redevelopment of Casement will mean Antrim get a sixth (or a ninth) of the pot, not the whole lot.

[Spike]

we love a shortcut in antrim and casement redevelopment was always one

it has been so long i have nearly forgot the details but if Casement does get built, who will actually own or run it?

it sounds highly dubious it will solve antrim's problems with facilities if ulster run it as they will have different priorities and wont be letting it out for random minor matches.

In saying that i wouldn't trust Antrim GAA with the sole running of a large stadium. there appears to be large issues with many of the projects they turn their hand to.

are we down to the stage where the ringfenced money will only pay for a new stand? nothing else appears to be moving so if thats what we have then just go for it.  repair the concrete stands, fix the pitch and get the floodlights on.

the fact that we are using casement at all would be a huge poke in the eye to all the naysayers than them driving past it and laughing year on year at the state of it

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

The only people that scenario would really be a poke in the eye to is the current owners of Casement Park - Ulster GAA. I'm not sure who the naysayers you refer to are but anyone I can think of has been screaming at them to cut their cloth to suit and get on with it for years now.

[bannside]

Correct me where I am wrong.

The original £67m from NI govt was for an upgrade for Casement Park, larger than Windsor Pk and Ravenhill upgrade received.

Thats still ringfenced - for Casement Park redevelopment.

So worst case scenario, Ulster Council (lead partner on the project) take whole thing back to the drawing board and tidy up/rebuild Casement Pk for whatever you get for £67m.

Croke Park would probably make a contribution and with right representation you would expect Irish Govt to chip in too.

Maybe £80/£90M combined to go back to drawing board as WORST CASE scenario.

Yes/No....or does anybody actually know!

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

To my knowledge - £62.5m Stormont money, £15m GAA contribution & €50m Irish govt contribution is all still currently at the disposal of Ulster GAA to deliver a stadium at Casement Park.

There is plenty of money to deliver a quality stadium.

[bannside]

Thanks Duine. That would be my understanding and hope.

We could end up with something not too shabby for that, An Athletic Grounds or posdibly better??

Not in construction so open to correction from those who know more about these things...