by beano

on 23 Sep 2005 at 21:59. Categories: Northern Ireland, Sport, Business & Economy, Direct Rule

The government's plan for a Millenium Dome type project for Northern Ireland became more laughable this week as ministers announced that the 30,000 seater white elephant of a stadium that would cost £55 million was now a 42,000 seater stadium costing £85 million!!

30,000 was already too many and now they're building more?! There's a debate going on over at Our Wee Country and yours truly gave a short interview on Radio Ulster's Talkback this morning. The show can still be listened to online until Friday 30th September (the stadium debate is just over an hour into the show, to listen click "listen again" and find Friday's Talkback).

Follow up:

I won't go into, yet again, the details of exactly why the stadium should be in Belfast, but there are all sorts of arguments (economic, transport infrastructure, the atmosphere, national pride and then some). Check out Stadium For Belfast and sign the petition. If you're not convinced yet then see my previous posts:

British Champions Deserve Better - 9/9/05
Belfast Welcomes 2012 Olympics - 6/7/05
Slim-Fast Stadium Gets Green Light - 31/3/05

Henry McDonald (the Observer's Ireland correspondent) has also had a couple of articles on this topic in the Daily View and in the Observer this month - "One More Battle To Win".

Bookmark / Share | 4 comments » • Send a trackback »

Trackback address for this post

4 comments

Comment from: levee [Visitor] · http://www.theleveebreaks.co.uk

Beano - how'd you score the interview? Do you work in the industry or did you get contacted through the blog? (Levee's thinly-veiled media aspirations showing through....)

24 Sep 2005 @ 21:35

Comment from: Cahal [Visitor] · http://www.rte.ie

Perhaps 40,000 seats are required to attract big GAA games.

I agree that the NI soccer team can never hope to attract more than a few thousand spectators though.

Good job on the interview - Notice you didn't pick up on DD's point that NI is not a nation, whatever people say.

25 Sep 2005 @ 06:40

Comment from: beano [Member]

· http://www.everythingulster.com

Levee I was contacted through the Stadium For Belfast website.

Cahal, the 42,000 is clearly to placate the GAA. Rumour has it that they've agreed to play a lot more games at it now. Still gunna be shite for football though, Ulster Rugby will still play a Ravenhill with Ireland playing one minor friendly every 2 years.

DD's "point" is irrelevant. Whether or not Northern Ireland is a nation and whether or not Belfast is, strictly speaking, a capital, is neither here nor there. Also, my interview was recorded in the morning and I think that introduction was added in later on (possibly live?).