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Topic: Why Ireland Must Bid for Euro 2016...
aierlan1000
(1 Posts)
Posted: 15-Jan-2009 23:50
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This article appeared on my blog:

http://thegreatestsportsshowonearth.blogspot.com
and
http://www.eleven-a-side.com/blogs/viewblog.asp?bid=323

Let me know what you think.

I see that Poland and the Ukraine are hosting Euro 2012. That ought to be fun if they ever get the stadia finished. Mind you I wouldn`t fancy the drive between a game Gdansk and another one in Donetsk or Odessa. Then there is the issue of changing currencies and languages. Could either the Ukraine or Poland not have just hosted the competition themselves? I would have thought either of them would be big enough to have managed it on their own.

How hard can it be to host such a tournament. Surely the will would be there politically and economically to make sure it`s a success. The European Championships are such a wonderful occasion and I`m sure any country snap your arm off for the oppertunity of hosting it.

Which brings me along to the year of 2016. To cut to the chase I think Ireland should make a bid to host the tournament by themselves. Yes, I believe that it makes complete sense that the Republic of Ireland in the guise of the FAI make the bid to host Euro 2016 all by their lonesomes. I actually think it would be foolish not to and a successful bid would represent our salvation from this nasty recession we find ourselves in.

I`ll let you in on the plan. Croke Park and the new Landsdowne Road would be the two main Stadia obviously enough. One of them would host the final and the opening game and whatever other matches in between. The same as Wembley was used in Euro 96.

After that you can take your pick from the following stadia.

In Limerick you have the Gaelic Grounds  (Cap. 50,000 )  and the famous Thomand Park  (about 27,000 I think ) . The Gaelic Grounds is terribly underused. It has only been close to full once  (last year`s Munster Hurling Final )  and Thomand is obviously top class.

Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork would be available, Semple Stadium in Thurles  (both can take between 50,000 and 60,000 people ) , Pearse Stadium in Galway, Clones, Castlebar, Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, Portlaoise, Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney. There are 8 stadia in this paragraph alone each comfortably able to hold over 30,000 spectators. To my mind there are 12 grounds  (I hate the word stadia )  capable of hosting a game in the Eurpean football Championships.

A certain amount of work would need to be done on each of course but not as much as you`d think either. In Croke Park, temporary seating is already put in for the International soccer games without any hassle. In fact there is hardly ever anyone even sitting on them. Borrussia Dortmund used to have temporary seating in the Nord Tribune, the biggest terrace in Europe when they used to play in the Champions League.  (I had the privilege of being there myself one night when they played Real Madrid but that`s another post ) .

Who knows, by 2016 UEFA might have rolled back on their anti terracing stance. They can surely be made safe. In fact they are already safe and are used in many grounds without incident or fear of it. Managing crowds properly is the key to safety and surely that can be done in this day and age.

The stadiums might not all be up to scratch. So what, improve them. Renovate them, do whatever it takes. We have 7 years to do it for God`s sake and it`s not like there aren`t any builders out there scratching their arses just now.

The second point is that we might not have the infrastructure to handle such an event. Of course we do and again whatever improvements need to be made, we have still have 7 years to do them. If we need more hotels, a better road or rail network we should build them and when the tournament is over and the whole country has gotten rich off the back of it, we would still have all this fantastic infrasture in place which would attract investment into the country for years to come. The Olympic effect they might call it.

The GAA can`t possibly have any argument against it. First of all, they have already opened Croke Park to other sports so any moral objections have already long gone out the window. It`s only for about six weeks anyway so it`s not going to make that much difference. Secondly and much more importantly though is the fact that the country is on it`s knees economically and let`s face it, there is no prospect of a recovery in sight.

People are already emigrating in their droves and it`s about to get a whole lot worse, it`s in the national interest that the GAA throw their full support behind this proposal. It would save us from recession and make the GAA a lot of money as well. On a practical level, it would undoubtedly disrupt the GAA championships of 2016 but you know what disrupted the championships of 1916, a couple of little things called the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme so it could be worse. The championships could just be postponed during the Euro`s, they could start them earlier and finish a little later. The off season in the GAA is long enough to handle such disruption.

As a venue, Ireland would be an amazing place to hold the tournament. It is actually a beautiful country with very friendly people who love having a laugh. Essentially this is true even if we forget it sometimes. I`m sure our European cousins would be totally psyched at the idea of spending their summer holidays roadtripping around Ireland following the footy. Plus Ireland is so small that once you get here it wouldn`t involve too many long trips. The towns and cities could handle the crowds. They are used to it. Thurles is tiny yet it regularly caters for over 50,000 people entirely without incident on glorious championship Sundays.

Scotland are already bidding for the tournament. We are a far more attractive proposition than they are and we already have much better stadiums in situ. We are the logical choice to host this tournament. It has already been given to Austria/ Switzerland, Belguim/Holland but I think we could actually handle it on our own and I can`t think of a single reason why not. There would be a lot of work involved but isn`t that exactly what we are looking for right now.
dubliner 2
(10,823 Posts)
Posted: 15-Jan-2009 23:57
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No thanks. We don`t want that amount of soccer hooligans in our stadiums. And as for comparing the Easter Rising to the Euopean Championships let`s just say you`re analogy is lunatic at best.
This message has been edited - 15-jan-2009 @ 23:58
miller1910
(1,725 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 00:15
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you conveniently ignore the recession the country is going through. Your reference to the positive effects "olympic effect" is hilarious - would that be the olympic effect of Montreal or Athens. London, one of the richest cities in the world, is already deeply regretting securing the olympics in 2012.

You`re not in the real world unfortunately.
Salle Man
(81 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 00:15
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three words, WILL NEVER HAPPEN

Cant start to point holes in the logic, firstly looking at GAA pitches to be used, one not enough of them and two they wont be allowed, and far more importantly the tournament happens in the middle of the GAA championship, if you try take a munster hurling final away from Thurles?cork on the 2nd sunday in July its about the same level to me as takin the final from Croker in Sept. The off season of the GAA is long enough for a reason because the best times to play GAA are between May and September, what about the club championship structures??? Waterfords championship finished in November in the current state of play.
Also the FAI would not take only one stadium to be used thats in their control, they`d never live it down, bring Europe and the World soccer into ireland to show off the GAA??

Next, you say improve the stadia, i point you to the biggest white elephant ever that is Limericks pitch, you could use one hand to count major games played there, they just look desolite when used for league games in mid feb in p!issin rain, bad image for GAA. Nowlan park, really?? grand for league and club but in the name of jaysus they hold less games than limerick

I get the idea of infrastructure needing improvement, i will not argue against that but have you witnessed the efficiency of getting jobs completed? Arguments sake the decision of wher to host is taken middle of this year, government not back til september, tenders put out, 6 months to make a decision, world events allowing, then have objections to deal with  (same with stadiums )  another 6 months to two years, 5 year projects give or take?? be great if it could happen but not within an arses roar of realistic.

I do admire that your looking for ways to get out of the recession but i dont think this is one.
osceola
(1,857 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 00:18
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Originally posted by aierlan1000:
Why Ireland Must Bid for Euro 2016...
Your too ambitious aierlan1000,and dare I say we`re not even worthy.When these foreigners start to query us on the stance of the beautiful game here what will we say..and at the height of summer surely no GAA pitch would be made available to promote what can only be described as a reminder of our colinial past??Mind ya, the couple of extra bob might come in handy .
long danny
(4,403 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 00:45
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This will never happen. Aside of any objections no-one will give up the big pitch during the summer. On a side-note there was an article on something similar in the Independant about ten years ago, comparing what the GAA had to what was being used to host that years Euro whotsits. I will try to dig it out if I can it made interesting reading.
Babe Ruth '47
(393 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 01:20
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Is it soccer he`s on about?
slow hands
(871 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 03:04
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Originally posted by osceola:
Your too ambitious aierlan1000,and dare I say we`re not even worthy.When these foreigners start to query us on the stance of the beautiful game here what will we say..and at the height of summer surely no GAA pitch would be made available to promote what can only be described as a reminder of our colinial past??Mind ya, the couple of extra bob might come in handy .

Great to see all the positive feedback!!!!. I think its a great idea aierlan. Ireland is an easy country to travel around and something like the European championships would prove this. If the stadiums used were, say, Croke park, Lansdowne Rd, Thomond park, Pairc Ui Caoimh, Pearse stadium, Clones & 1 in waterford it would be fantastic. Think of the revenue it would generate for the airports in these cities, transport companies, hotels, shops, pubs etc.

All of the GAA grounds that I have named above are in need of repair and they also hold alot of big games each year. I agree with you that there is not a lot of infrastructure work to be done, and in my mind hosting a tournament like this would fasttrack the remaing works that need to be done. Something like this could be the kick that Ireland needs to generate some good feeling again. Everybody would benefit and its not like we would be left with a whole load of infrastructure that will never be used.

It might be possible to simultaneously keep the championship going aswell, depending on what GAA grounds were used.

I dont get peoples negativity!! The GAA would get some grounds developed for free, we get one of the biggest sporting events in the world here for 6 weeks and we get an improved infrastructure and more money in peoples pockets.

Id swear some people are determined to keep the country in a hole just so they can have something to complain about and be able to say ..`I told you so" Its time to try and do something about instead of knocking back any good suggestion that comes along. Plus, it means that Ireland qualify automatically which is always a bonus.
Gershwin
(481 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 10:57
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Most GAA grounds are of a low standard.
Croke Park aside, the rest of them have high capacity in theory, but are low quality venues -
terracing, open wooden bench seating, no facilities worth speaking of.

They wouldn`t be suitable  for such a blue riband event like the European championships.
ollscoil
(2,616 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 11:03
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The point was made that they would have to be ungraded, did you not read the article?
Gershwin
(481 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 11:08
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Originally posted by ollscoil:
The point was made that they would have to be ungraded, did you not read the article?

Almost completely rebuilt in most cases, and never to be fully utilsed ever again.
4 All Irelands
(1,993 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 11:11
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I nominate aierlan1000 as WUM of the year, with an excellent effort on his first (? )  post.
abadref
(1,610 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 11:13
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Sure Fcuk it ..We`ll go for the Olympics aswell
slow hands
(871 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 11:14
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Originally posted by Gershwin:

Almost completely rebuilt in most cases, and never to be fully utilsed ever again.


Of course they would be utilised again. There is a organisation called the GAA to use them!!
sam
(8,946 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 11:16
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Originally posted by aierlan1000:
I see that Poland and the Ukraine are hosting Euro 2012. That ought to be fun if they ever get the stadia finished.

Christ that`s patronising.
ollscoil
(2,616 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 11:25
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Originally posted by Gershwin:

Almost completely rebuilt in most cases, and never to be fully utilsed ever again.


Really, I`ve been to Thurles, Killarney, Pearse Stadium, McHale Park, Clones, PUC and Croke Park when they were all full, most of them on more than one occasion so I rekon they`ll be used alright.
This message has been edited - 16-jan-2009 @ 11:26
The Premier One
(544 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 11:41
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Gas these days how some fella create s a `blog` and suddenly fancies himself as some sort of socio economic genius with all the answers to the worlds problems proudly publishing his sh1te on the Internet for everybody and nobody to read.

The chap clearly knows nothing about any of these grounds, has no grasp of economics, and lives in a fairyland with his understanding of the resources and current infrastructure available to this country of circa 4 million people. "Just build whatever we need" Brilliant. You couldn`t make it up.
Bog_Bhoy
(460 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 11:45
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Originally posted by The Premier One:
Gas these days how some fella create  s a `blog` and suddenly fancies himself as some sort of socio economic genius with all the answers to the worlds problems proudly publishing his sh1te on the Internet for everybody and nobody to read.

The chap clearly knows nothing about any of these grounds, has no grasp of economics, and lives in a fairyland with his understanding of the resources and current infrastructure available to this country of circa 4 million people. "Just build whatever we need" Brilliant. You couldn`t make it up.

is this not a message board to express views/opinions?

Gershwin
(481 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 12:09
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Originally posted by ollscoil:

Really, I`ve been to Thurles, Killarney, Pearse Stadium, McHale Park, Clones, PUC and Croke Park when they were all full, most of them on more than one occasion so I rekon they`ll be used alright.

Being filled once every couple of years does not make a stadium viable.

I`m talking about proper stadium mind you, which most GAA county grounds are certainly not.
Stadiums with seating for 40k +, stands with roofs, media centres, proper access, proper toilet and refreshment facilities.
J New
(588 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 12:29
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As of this morning, London estimate that it will cost £9bn to host the Olympics. Most of this cost is associated the construction of all the venues that will be used! If you ask me, they already have a huge amount of facilities as it is but yet they need to fork out that much to upgrade and build the necessary venues.
jebus
(2 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 12:32
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you could still host it without disturbing the championship sure games that are set for the weekend could be set up as double headers soccer/ hurling. it would be a great way to show off the sport to the migrating masses from the continent. plus it would guarantee full houses.
disgusted at the no can do attitude on here  (some may say objective/practical attitude ) 
i think its a great idea and people should think positive

pma people P. M. A. !!!
long danny
(4,403 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 12:37
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A soccer/hurling double header, you couldn`t make it up. This is a non-runner. The pitches are too big and the association football lad tell me it destroys the atmosphere.

Can we wait until the fai at least come up with a proposal to host it before we end up debating something that will never happen.
criodain
(785 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 12:40
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Originally posted by osceola:
Your too ambitious aierlan1000,and dare I say we`re not even worthy.When these foreigners start to query us on the stance of the beautiful game here what will we say..and at the height of summer surely no GAA pitch would be made available to promote what can only be described as a reminder of our colinial past??Mind ya, the couple of extra bob might come in handy .

football = a reminder of our colonial past. Will you ever get over yourself. You also write in English, a reminder of our colonial past as well.
aierlan1000
(49 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 12:42
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Thanks for the comments and views first of all. I got absolutely slaughtered on eleven a side, worth checking out if only for the vitriol and consequential humour attached.

Cost would be a factor. As you say it`s costing London a packet, Montrael and I`ve since found out the Olympic Effect was coined as a negative term.

Nevertheless it`s something we should look into because the economy is going down the tubes and the country needs some sort of a project to get the thing up and running again. If there`s an oppertunity out there to bring jobs and money into the country, we have to be in the mix.

As for writing articles, having opinions and setting up the blog, it stems purely from my desire to be a sports writer.
This message has been edited - 17-jan-2009 @ 15:47
criodain
(785 Posts)
Posted: 16-Jan-2009 12:48
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There`s too much baggage  (foreign game, Brits out etc etc )  for it to ever happen I`d say, and definitely not during the summer anyways, and rightly so when the championship is on..
This message has been edited - 16-jan-2009 @ 12:48

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