NI football chiefs urged to rethink stadium site

Belfast councillors today launched a last-ditch bid to persuade football chiefs to defer any decision on a new stadium for Northern Ireland’s international team.

As members of the Irish Football Association (IFA) faced a crucial vote tonight on British government plans for a 42,500-seater multi-purpose stadium on the site of the Maze Prison, they were warned not to be swayed by scaremongering.

Ulster Unionist councillor Bob Stoker, chairman of the council’s community and recreation committee, claimed Belfast instead of the Maze Prison, which is located outside Lisburn, was the right location for the new stadium.

He challenged claims by senior IFA figures that there was no alternative to the Maze.

“It would not be in the best interests of anyone to be forced into taking a decision at this time when there are alternatives on the table,” he said.

“The fact is that the council is inviting representatives of the IFA to attend presentations on January 30 on proposals for Ormeau Park and Maysfield.

“These are not rival bids. Everyone involved will work together to ensure we get what is best for Northern Ireland as a whole.

“All the evidence from around the world, including some examples closer to home like the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and Croke Park in Dublin, clearly shows that major stadia work best in cities and not in the countryside.”

The British government is advocating an £85m (€123.7m) stadium should be built on the site of the former prison, which housed some of the North’s most infamous paramilitaries.

They want the stadium to be used for major football, rugby and Gaelic games matches as well as rock concerts.

Two alternatives have been put forward by private interests – one at the old Maysfield Leisure Centre site near Belfast’s Albert Bridge and another in the city‘s Ormeau Park.

With Northern Ireland Office sports minister David Hanson insisting there is no plan B, the governing bodies of football, rugby and GAA in the North have been told they must all give their backing to the Maze project before the end of this month if it is to go ahead.

IFA chief executive Howard Wells and president Jim Boyce have told members in the run-up to tonight‘s meeting the Maze is the only option.

Councillor Stoker said public opinion was in favour of Belfast as the location, yet their views were being ignored.

“I would urge those discussing this issue at tonight’s IFA meeting to not allow themselves to be railroaded into a decision until they hear what else is on offer,” he said.

“It is the only sensible approach. I hope they realise that postponing their decision is no threat to international football, and there are alternatives to the plans for the Maze.”