Maze stadium plan ‘moves closer’
28 November 2007
The prospect of a stadium being built at the Maze has been brought closer after the GAA, IFA and Ulster Rugby confirmed they would play games there.
How the Maze site could look if the plans get the go ahead
The three organisations have all signed a document estimating the minimum number of supporters they would hope to attract there annually.
Raymond Kennedy, president of the Irish Football Association, said the move made good economic sense.
“We did look at the business case - the business case stacks up,” he said.
“We agreed that we would probably play seven fixtures - three competitive, two or three friendlies, a Setanta Cup final maybe and the Irish Cup final.”
The plan is for a 35,000-seater stadium for soccer and rugby, and the provision of more seats for GAA fans.
Cost
Renting the new stadium would cost the three main sporting bodies about £1m annually.
To pay for that, the GAA has said it could bring at least 150,000 spectators to its games.
It believes the new stadium could be used to stage an All-Ireland Quarter Final or a national league decider.
The IFA said it could attract at least 80,000 fans, while Ulster Rugby estimates it could bring about 40,000 supporters through the turnstiles.
The IFA has said it would play at least six international matches there per year.
Rugby would include at least one Autumn international and all of Ulster’s home Heineken Cup matches.
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands