Maze plan 'doomed' as Windsor Park gets an upgrade
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Print
Email
The prospects of a multi-sports stadium being built at the Maze appeared doomed today after a new deal between Sinn Fein and the DUP ruled it out for another four years, The Belfast Telegraph can reveal.
However, the two parties have agreed that a Conflict Resolution Centre will be built on the former prison site near Lisburn.
According to senior Stormont sources, the deal surrounding the Maze blueprint will rule out a stadium for at least another four years, casting serious doubt over whether it will ever be built. Instead, early in the New Year, Sports Minister Gregory Campbell will confirm that a major refurbishment of Windsor Park will go ahead.
The business plan for the stadium will include the building of a new 4,000 seat capacity stand.
There will be a commitment from the minister to re-visit the issue of a national stadium once the overall world and local economic situation improves.
But there will be significant additions to the overall infrastructure of the Maze site to help with the projection of a united political front between the DUP and Sinn Fein.
However, DUP Junior Minister Jeffrey Donaldson today denied that a final agreement about the development at the former Maze Prison had been reached.
“The current situation is that discussions are ongoing between departments about the development of the Maze site and while some progress has been made, no decisions have been made yet in terms of either the Conflict Transformation Centre or the Stadium,” he said.
But the Telegraph has learned that final touches to the redrawn Maze master plan were discussed during the visit to the United States earlier this month by Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.
The changes were central to talks held with potential investors.
According to the government source, part of the package will include a reappraisal of the needs of the three main sports. It will include individual deals being struck or a link up between two of the sports. The most likely option is that a smaller stadium to cope with the requirements of soccer and rugby will be developed.
As the strongest supporter of the Maze stadium the GAA continues to refuse to speculate publicly on its alternative option choice.
The funding of the controversial Conflict Resolution Centre will come from various sources including the European Community. The prospect of additional funding from the United States is also on the cards.
The agreement between the two main political blocs in relation to the Conflict Resolution Centre was a necessary marriage of convenience in order to break the long running Executive logjam and the funding from outside sources will help protect the DUP’s against allegations being directly involved with a “shrine to terrorism.”
Despite comments from Junior Minister Gerry Kelly that there would be no political deal unless the Maze Stadium went ahead at the original site, the Telegraph understands that from a Sinn Fein perspective the “building of a sports stadium was always secondary to the Conflict Resolution Centre being a pivotal part of the redevelopment programme”.
Mr Campbell will address the Department of Culture, Art and Leisure committee tomorrow morning. His agenda will be the issue of Sports Stadia Safety legislation and its implementation across the province. However, the legislation will be tied-in with a decision to go ahead with the scheme at Windsor Park. The pressing need for spectator safety at the home of international football will be used as justification for the project going ahead.
Post a comment
Limit: 500 characters
View all comments that have been posted about this article
Offensive or abusive comments will be removed and your IP address logged and may be used to prevent further submissions. In submitting a comment to the site, you agree to be bound by BelfastTelegraph.co.uk's Terms of Use.
Posts submitted in UPPERCASE letters will be rejected.
Comments
40 Comments
Aside from the political talk and general rubbish that our leaders talk about the intricate details of the plan, Northern Ireland and all its people deserve to have a world class stadium and somewhere were we can host world - class events. Windsor park never has and never will cut it. It will be well appreciated in the future and will generate lots of revenue. So stop talkin and get building!
Posted by Che Hanvey | 22.01.09, 14:59 GMT
40,00O seater stadium out in the sticks? What's the point?
I am a'block booker' at NI games and a season ticket holder at Ravenhill
Ulster have had no sell out games this season and less than 10,000 at recent Heineken Cup games
It is also only 5 years ago or so that only 5,000 were going to NI games...
The point is, supporters are a fickle bunch and the size of crowds is reflected on the success of the team
At Windsor the North Stand holds 7,000 and the Kop 4,000
Replace the South and Railway stands with similar structures and Bingo, Windsor goes up to 22,000 more than enough!!!
as for Catholics not going to Windsor.... dont give me that nonsense! Sectarianism has benn TOTALLY booted out at Norn Iron games
Sure Ulster Flags are flown .... but thats the way it is... it's our f;ag!
I have been to Croke for Ireland gamesand stood for the Soldiers Song amidst Tricolours and thought nothing of it... why would i???
Posted by Fitzy | 11.12.08, 12:11 GMT
The millions earmarked for the nonsense that was the 'Maze Stadium' can now be handed out to the sporting associations of football and rugby here to "do up" their respective international grounds. Same for GAA.
Posted by mickey | 11.12.08, 10:24 GMT
The millions earmarked for the nonsense that was the 'Maze Stadium' can now be handed out to the sporting associations of football and rugby here to "do up" their respective international grounds. Same for GAA.
Except for those who are more likely to be fans of terrorism (and shrines relating to them) than of sport, who could possibly complain?
Posted by mickey | 11.12.08, 10:20 GMT
someone should tell the GAA to pull its biggoted and sectarian head out of its rear end. they only want another "shrine" dedicated to more murdering criminals who have long since departed.
windsor park will do just fine...............it always has.
Posted by billy | 11.12.08, 01:17 GMT
Rock on Northern Irelands spiritual home. Blanchflower,Jennings,Oneill,Bingham,Peacock,Best,Armstrong,Bambrick,big Billy Hamilton oh and the Raff, legends of the park .True Irish footballs legends like Healey will continue to grace the grand old lady of Irish footballing history
Posted by Jim | 10.12.08, 22:08 GMT
Yet again another farce in the land that is Northern Ireland. Instead of making a strategic decision that could improve the facilities on offer in Northern Ireland into those comparable with other countries we decide to pour more money into the crumbling relics of our past! All because no one is prepapred to make the decision to build a stadium outside of Belfast!
In a time that the RUAS has declared that they are considering relocating due to the many contraints that they have realised because of their site in South Belfast... should we not maybe listen to an organisation who have enjoyed a fantastic location on the outskirts of the city but have now decided that their future dicates that they not only need more space but a location away from the city!
A plea to our politicians STOP limiting our future by playing the petit politics game that has been perfected in NI... its time to move on!
Posted by James | 10.12.08, 21:51 GMT
Great news!
Windsor is the world-wide recognized home of Northern Ireland. It is about time the political hacks in the country realized this and committed the funds to develop the project. Send me the bid documents please.
Posted by tommy hall | 10.12.08, 20:33 GMT
If Robinson has done a deal, a shrine at the Maze,for a stadium in Belfast,wherever the money comes from, the electorate will give him their answer.No shrine to terrorism Peter Punt.
Posted by UNIONCRUISER | 10.12.08, 20:20 GMT
Although Landsdowne Rd was less capacity the crowd generated greated noise in a more intimate stadium. At Croke Park the sound just disappears into the cloulds in the open nature of the structure. I blame the IRFU for procrasination during the last 30 years when it was obvious that restructure was necessary. What a shambles and a lack of purpose they have guided Irish rugby to. A new Landsdowne Road which will cater for less than half the demand for tickets. What a way to kill the promotion of rugby football when it is in the acendency. In a word the administration is pathetic.
Posted by Gerry | 10.12.08, 19:19 GMT
Firstly not a Republican, but I see a lot of value in the Resolution Centre at the Maze site, while many may see it as a shrine to terrorism, I think it has a role to play in explaining the history of Republicanism in years to come, and many Unionist could do with a better education of our past.
An upgraded Windsor Park is not a solution, its like fixing up Casement Park on the Glen Road and telling the Northern Ireland footie fans to go watch football there, not going to happen!
We need a new stadium for all, with no history attached, a fresh start. We don't want it in the country like the Maze, that's a ridiculous idea, sod the Resolution Centre, its just a dumb idea to build a stadium outside the major city, Belfast is the obvious choice, somewhere that is not deemed Nationalist or Loyalist, so the Titanic Quarter or the northern foreshore would be ideal?
But to do nothing is criminal, our politicians need strung up for this they are a disgrace.
Posted by Unbelieveable Mess! | 10.12.08, 17:22 GMT
Actually kenny Croke Park is for all of Ireland and not ROI as you incorrectly state.
Posted by Tom | 10.12.08, 16:50 GMT
Brilliant news, Windsor is our traditional home and should remain so, rebuilt Windsor Park completely and that will do us fine.
Posted by Dave | 10.12.08, 16:49 GMT
brilliant idea John hahaha excellent - it really wouldn't suprise me if that idea did pop up at Stormont
Posted by Michael | 10.12.08, 16:39 GMT
I certainly welcome this supposed new 4000 seater stand. In terms of International football, a new stand opposite the famous KOP Stand will get a better vocal atmosphere at all home matches and also keep football in Northern Ireland while this "Maze Stadium" concept is still being argued over in 30+ years time!
In regards to Linfield Fc though, this could prove to be a problem. over 3/4 of WP is empty on Saturday afternoons, with the exception of the "Big Two" derby game. Another Stand may prove too costly to upkeep in a league of majority part-time players and clubs.
But if it keeps Northern Ireland playing Home games in Northern Ireland, i will certainly take this, even if it is a short term fix.
Posted by Roo | 10.12.08, 16:22 GMT
What about the private sector companies who were bidding for this massive project - They have been strung along for many years on this wild goose chase - racking up huge costs while they thought they were dealing with a government which was focused on getting things done... and which were serious about this development.
After this latest debacle what incentive is there for private sector investment here for such large scale projects when the goverment has effectively told private sector investors that we are incapable of helping ourselves in this country - I for one would not wish to even consider working with the NI government after this disaster !
Posted by What a Waste | 10.12.08, 16:10 GMT
Why don't they build a huge prison on the Maze site and fill it with all the reprobates who are runing around these days.
Posted by John | 10.12.08, 16:09 GMT
I know, before Linfield supporters start saying so, that the team is successful, on an ongoing basis. However, it's actually amazing that they don't wrap up every trophy every year with this cash windfall from the IFA. Who else will ever have this amount of largesse thrust upon them? Shoud we just have a league of one, and let the others play in another league, but on an even footing?
Posted by Bongo Bailie | 10.12.08, 16:08 GMT
Dave. You could build a tiddlywinks stadium and it would be less sectarian, but what would be the point if no one was interested in it?
Posted by Richard | 10.12.08, 15:52 GMT
England - Wembley
Wales - Milennium Stadium
Scotland - Hampden
ROI - Croke
Northern Ireland - A spruced up Windsor????????
As a proud Northern Irishman can I just have a 'World Class' sports/events stadium, not associated with any politics in a top class location.
The only ideal place for this is in the Titanic Quarter where they have so much space they do not know what to do with it. This is acceptable to everybody. Money should not be an issue, plus it would only be a fraction of the cost of the stadia mentioned above.
Posted by kenny | 10.12.08, 14:37 GMT
40 Comments