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Decision time for IFA
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
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IFA president Raymond Kennedy stated today that the Irish Football Association are facing their biggest decision in 50 years relating to where Northern Ireland will play their home games in the future.
Two options are now on the table.
1) The refurbishment of Windsor Park, the current international home, to a 20,000 capacity.
2) A brand new 25,000 stadium, costing £128 million in private and public money, based in east Belfast. This project is the brainchild of Eastonville Traders, a company based at Donegall Square in Belfast.
The Belfast Telegraph can reveal that the “Danny Blanchflower stadium” based in Sydenham would also host big Ulster rugby matches with plans to build a hotel on site as well as a £10 million training facility.
It is understood that Ulster rugby will come on board if the government invest in the project, though for the IFA there are major decisions to make.
Speaking from a UEFA congress in Copenhagen today, IFA President Kennedy said: “Already we have been involved in a number of meetings about the east Belfast project and still there is a lot of work to be done.
“We must decide what is good for the IFA, good for the game and what’s good for international football.
“Even when the Maze stadium was on the cards, there was talk about a 10,000 stadium being built at Sydenham to host the likes of Northern Ireland under-21 matches.
“Now with the Maze out of the picture the developers are keen to increase the size of the Blanchflower stadium.
“There is also the situation relating to Windsor Park and the possible refurbishment of that stadium.
“And of course Linfield have the long term contract for Northern Ireland games to be played at Windsor.
“We have big decisions to make. Indeed I would say that this is the biggest decision that we have had to make in 50 years because it will determine where Northern Ireland play in the future.
“The Sports Minister Gregory Campbell is keen that we do not delay. There are some more meetings to take place and then the IFA’s Executive board will have the final say.”
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Derek, if the stadium was built on the Falls, their wouldn't be any extra Nationalist supporters as they do not recognise Northern Ireland as a country.
It wouldn't be different if these people where willing to recognise Northern Ireland and get behind our national team.
Posted by Steve | 26.03.09, 10:33 GMT
25 k max capacity for a stadium is a joke
Posted by Ed | 25.03.09, 23:07 GMT
Dont think this is a step forward for the football for all campaign...we should be attempting more nationalists to attend games....not push them away
Posted by derek | 25.03.09, 20:50 GMT
Bring on the lovely big pay off Linfield are entitled to.
This is great news, big new stadium for NI and Ulster Rugby, Glentoran get a nice stadium with ample capacity and segregation for when Linfield come over to play and Linfield get a big wedge that can be used to redevelope Windsor into a nice compact 10-12000 seater stadium more suitable for our needs.
Everyone is a winner.
Posted by Steve | 25.03.09, 17:48 GMT
There's loads of space over in the East - go for it & play games in Windsor until we get the new stadia built - good road links etc we need to make a good effort in getting a stadia that we all can be proud off. I would really love to see Windsor fixed up but the parking & infastructure there isn't great so East Belfast it is....
Posted by Stephen | 25.03.09, 15:19 GMT