The Daily Telegraph, Sydney
Thursday, December 18, 2003

Landsdowne upgrade

IRISH rugby and soccer chiefs urged their government yesterday to back their joint plan for a $415million redevelopment of Dublin's Lansdowne Road Stadium.

Their aim is to turn the historic venue, which still features standing room only terraces, into a modern 50,000 all-seater stadium.

Officials said that if their timetable was followed the redevelopment work would be completed in 2008.

$415 million for 50,000 people

Thats half the expense of rebuilding Wembley which is around $900

How much did Stadium Australia cost? Didnt colonial cost something around 300 million and thats a state of the art stadium

Not a very good idea me thinks.

These figures from http://www.wembleystadium.com/pressbox/presspack-39.htm

Stadium/ Capacity/ Accommodation Area (sq. m)/ Area per seat (m2)/ Total Cost/ Cost per seat
Wembley/ 90,000/ 173,000/ 1.92/ £352,603,000/ £3,918
Stade de France/ 80,000/ 70,000/ 0.88/ £266,597,067/ £3,332
Stadium Australia/ 80,000/ 100,000/ 1.25/ £278,897,627/ £3,468
Munich (new)/ 66,000/ -/ -/ £248,239,862/ £3,761
Arena Aufschalke/ 51,000/ 58,796/ 1.15/ £180,432,432/ £3,538
Sapporo Dome/ 42,122/ 53,800/ 1.28/ £245,959,091/ £5,839
Washington State/ 72,000/ -/ -/ £359,642,567/ £4,995
Denver/ 76,125/ -/ -/ £338,503,518/ £4,447
Cincinnatti/ 66,000/ -/ -/ £275,875,744/ £4,180

I'm not sure how reliable these figures are because a) they're old, and b) FIFA's website say Munich is investing €280m, whereas these figures says the total cost is £248,239,862 (nearly €354m).

Stadium Australia, according to these figures, cost AU$667,457,302. The Telstra Stadium website says AU$600+. Close enough.

I think Suncorp Stadium (52,500 seats) was budgeted at $280m, that's roughly £117m or €167m. I pretty sure it went over budget!

I guess its hard to judge these figures, as Stadium Australia was built four years ago and Landowne Rd is expected to be completed in 2008.

the costs of stadiums vary enormously and are very difficult to compare as they often seem to include different things.
The real cost ofWembley for instance is close to 1 bn pounds and not the 350 million they claim themselves because they exclude land value,removal of old stadium,infrastructure etc. which may be fair as long as its not included in the other stadiums numbers to make wembley look less expensive following controversy about the cost

the Lansdowne figures may well include the cost of demolishing the old stadium (a cost which at wembley is set a £100m, hard to believe as it is)
in fact it probably does, and then it may suddenly seem a lot cheaper, but its basically impossible to compare these figures that are just thrown around.

Its believed that Croke Park will become available for football and rugby, but only 5 times a year to be shared between the two sports, meaning Lansdowne still has to be rebuilt. strange.

Ireland may be forced to play their World Cup qualifying matches abroad. This has been prompted by delays in getting the Lansdowne Road redevelopment started and the GAA’s continued refusal to allow ‘English’ sports to be played at Croke Park.

Ireland plays its home internationals at the IRFU’s Lansdowne Road stadium. The ground’s capacity for rugby is 49,250, but for soccer it’s reduced to 33,000 with the installation of temporary seats on the terraces at either end of the ground. FIFA regulations now rule out use of the terraces, further reducing Lansdowne Road’s capacity to 22,000.

The World Cup qualifiers will feature matches against European champions, France and Switzerland. The FAI will seek to cash-in on these fixtures. Whilst they’d prefer to keep their games on home soil they realise that financially, this could be a mistake.

Celtic Park (60,000) in Glasgow is the favoured ground if the move is forced. Anfield, Old Trafford and Millennium Stadium are also under consideration. There is one grave concern however, the safety of the Irish fans. Skinhead gangs are threatening to attack the tourists. The same thugs were responsible for the riots at the Republic of Ireland-England friendly at Lansdowne Road in 1995.

The FAI wants the Government’s decision on the redevelopment before it meets with officials from the other nations in Group 4 on February 3. The meeting will discuss the qualifying fixtures, although they don't have to nominate their venue until 60 days before the qualifiers begin next autumn.

The Government will consider the two options being presented, Lansdowne Road and Abbotstown. The 65,000-seat capacity Stadium Ireland at Abbotstown, West Dublin is the brainchild of Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern.

A decision is expected before the end of the month.

IRFU & FAI Unveil Design for New Lansdowne Road Stadium
irishrugby.ie
Filed by Pat Geraghty
21 January 2004

Following a joint delegation to the Minister for Sport, Mr John O’Donoghue TD, last December, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have today unveiled the design for the proposed new world-class 50,000 seater stadium at Lansdowne Road.

A computer generated image showing the stadium set into a photograph of the surrounding area in Ballsbridge was developed by Arup Sport, a division of Arup Consulting Engineers.

The design is for a totally new stadium within the precincts of the IRFU’s property at Lansdowne Road. It is for an integrated structure comprising new three tier structures for the East and West Stands and single tier stands at the Lansdowne Road and Havelock Square ends.


Each of the four stands would be completely covered by an attractive, sweeping translucent roof that would minimise the effects of poor weather on each of the 50,000 spectators as they enjoy comfortable unobstructed views of the pitch from any vantage point in the stadium. The attractive stadium would represent a significant aesthetic improvement on the existing structure and is designed to minimise the impact on local residents.

The IRFU & FAI were able to allay fears of any disruption to public transport services along the adjoining railway line during the redevelopment phase. The construction process provides for the continued smooth running of DART and rail services without risk to passengers or staff. In fact, the new stadium would benefit from much improved and safer pedestrian access as a result of walkways under the railway line instead of the level crossing route. Spectators would have easy access to the wider stadium precincts providing for relaxed congregation around the stadium prior to and after matches.

Commenting on the plans the Chief Executive of the IRFU, Mr. Philip Browne, said: “Both Rugby and Soccer deserve this vote of confidence. Through the exploits of our respective teams and loyal fans, between us we have positively raised the profile of Ireland from Korea to Australia, from Argentina to Italy and from the United States to South Africa in the name of sporting and human achievement.”

Mr Fran Rooney of the FAI said: “We are seeking for a decision from Government to invest in two of the nation’s most popular and successful sports on the international stage. If it gets the go ahead the economic benefits to the state will more than justify the investment of public funds. More importantly, over the longer term we will improve the underlying health of this nation through taking soccer and rugby participants to new heights of achievement at every level of our respective sports.”

A rectangular mini Stadium Australia.........

thats exactly what i thought too! it even appears to have the screens in the corners like stadium australia! odd.

mike

Its got a bit of Twikenham and Parramatta Stadium aswell, the goal ends are much like the Parramatta goal ends and the sides are much like the massive Twikenham.

Not very imaginative really, a bit dissapointing for a historic venue like Lansdowne Road, now what drugs are the Gaelic Confederation on?

It seems its made them entirely stupid.

I can't imagine they looked to Parramatta Stadium for inspiration, but everyone's entitled to their own opinion!

Gaelic Confederation? eh? Do you mean the GAA? I reckon the Irish authorities are long past being imaginative; the Irish people just need a decent bloody stadium!

The only thing Lansdowne Road has going for it at the moment, is the passion of the Irish crowd. Stuff sentiment; Lansdowne Road is the oldest international rugby venue... and it shows it. The Irish deserve better!

The proposal's resemblance to Stadium Australia comes through strongly in the roof form. Kind of like a Pringles crisp in geometry! Did Arup work on Stadium Australia, perhaps that's why there is such a striking similarity? Although the redevelopment will only provide 50,000 seats, it could be said that the new Lansdowne Road will be better suited to football than Stadium Australia (i.e. spectators' proximity to pitch, intimacy etc.).

For the sake of the players and fans, let’s just hope the Irish Government pulls its finger out and makes its decision… soon!

The current Lansdowne isnt a poor venue, its just outdated. Ok same thing, but it will be sad to see it go (though it clearly must happen)as the last major venue with terracing in the british isles.
As great as new modern stadiums can be, its quite clear, that they will never create the kind of atmosphere as the old terraces with their huge number of fans in often relatively small constructions. If you could pack people in like that in todays huge constructions, I think capacities would be up to 300.000 or something like that

The Irish Government has given the go-ahead to the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road.

A little like Stadium Australia,but boxier and without the curves!

I think City of Manchester Stadium is more like Telstra Stadium's lil' brother.

Temporary seating allowed at Lansdowne
Thursday, May 27 2004 5:52
http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0527/fai.html

FIFA today confirmed they have granted the FAI a derogation to use temporary seating at Lansdowne Road for Ireland's home qualifying games for the 2006 World Cup.

FIFA said they were happy to do so after having had the opportunity again, to not only observe, but to inspect the proposed temporary seating facilities.

As a result all of Ireland's home matches for the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign can be played at Lansdowne Road. FIFA say they will give a separate derogation for each one of the five qualification matches as requested.

FIFA said they based its decision to grant the derogation on the commitment by the government to a new stadium at Lansdowne Road.

FAI CEO Fran Rooney said: "We are delighted with the decision of FIFA to grant the derogation which we note was based on the Government's commitment to the new stadium further demonstrating the urgency of proceeding with the project.

"This decision by FIFA will afford us the opportunity to play all our home matches in front of capacity crowds which will be to the benefit of Brian and the team as well as the fans and will also be of economic value to the country."

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Phew. It could've got ugly if they'd played in Britain.

Nah. There are that mnay Poms in the Ireland side it would seem like a quasi home game.