FAI press for speedy stadium decision

FAI officers will urge the Minister for Sport and Leisure John O’Donoghue, to push for an early decision from Government on the latest proposal for the re-development of Lansdowne Road at next week’s meeting.

Officers from the IRFU and the FAI will meet with the Minister and his staff to discuss the detail of the IRFU’s proposal to develop a 50,000-seat stadium on the existing stadium site at Lansdowne Road at a cost of €250m.

The FAI chief executive Fran Rooney had several meetings with the IRFU officers, including chief executive Philip Browne, in recent weeks while the new proposals were being finalised.

The partnership between the FAI and the IRFU will remain constant until the issue of the provision of a new stadium is settled for both organisations accept that it makes economic sense to share a stadium rather than go it alone.

The partnership has been a successful one now stretching back almost 30 years with the FAI leasing Lansdowne Road for all of its international matches. Neither association could afford to finance the building of a new stadium independently.

Government sources suggest the preferred option would be the building of a new stadium on a greenfield site in Abbotstown but given the vehement opposition of the PDs and the constraints of the current economic situation it is certain they will accept this latest proposal.

The technical plan for Lansdowne Road envisages the construction of a bowl in the footprints of the existing structures at Lansdowne Road with the east stand as the only structure that will not be fundamentally altered.

The issues that will have to be faced include two main obstacles ... the predictable objections to the development work from residents in the Lansdowne Road area and the financing of the development. It is understood that the IRFU and the FAI will be looking to the Government to contribute upwards of €150m to the project.

The IRFU’s financial contribution will be influenced by the fact that they will be providing the site and the FAI will probably have to commit to raising upwards of €50m.

They will hope to do this by pre-sales of corporate facilities in the modernised structure and pre-sales of match tickets, probably for a ten-year period. Mr. Rooney also has plans to enhance the commercial income of the Association through merchandising and increased contributions from the Association’s many sponsors and financial backers.

The decision to opt for Lansdowne Road will please traditionalists. It is the oldest rugby stadium in the world, rich in rugby and football history, and its city-centre location means it is close to all amenities.

It is estimated that the building work could be completed within two years so both IRFU and FAI will be pushing for an early decision from the Government.

Government commitments to both sports bodies have hugely influenced the plans of both organisations and while they would still prefer to wait for improved economic circumstances to allow a development at Abbotstown, it is certain they cannot turn down these latest proposals.

Once a decision is made the FAI will then have to address the need to provide a new administrative headquarters for their existing office accommodation in Merrion Square, Dublin, is inadequate for a staff of 70.