When I first heard about plans to build a modest cricket stadium at Abnotstown, one thing I didn't think would be a problem would be permission, as it is a national sports centre, I assumed (I know) that future development would have built into the original planning permission for the site
A lot of the application seems to involve infrastructure and I am curious as to what other sporting events happen there, and anything with similar projected attendance, I was imagining a double sided stand similar to Headingly's cricket and Rugby league stand.
Transport/ parking problems do not surprise me, it appears to be an out of town site lacking naturally developed transport links, don't imagine the Dart running to Malahide was anything but coincidence. The Rose bowl in Southampton was a one road in and out 20k stadium and it took years to get adequate park and ride scheme
Southampton is a great example for this. They still get good attendances at games but it is a town in which cricket is the biggest attraction in the summer, needless to say that's not the case in Dublin. Planning permission is always a necessity, the local council is king! Because it's on a huge campus tho - ie no neighbours - one would assume the likelihood of NIMBY objections dramatically decreases
I was fearful that Abbotstown could end up a white elephant or an unloved venue compared unfavorably with Malahide
But a few things have aligned that may avoid this
Firstly the 2030 T20 world cup, it might just take a famous victory for the venue to enter folklore and a place, dispute it's clear connectivity problems, a place where Irish fans want to go, especially if some games are under lights
Secondly, I think (or is it I hope) there is a growing likelihood of a 2 division test structure
And cherry picking others peoples' ideas, if it is over a 4 year cycle Ireland could host a 3 test series every summer against each of their rivals (similarly a 3 test series over the winter)
Play 2 in Abbotstown 1 in Stormont
If they were 4 day tests then this would allow 3 Fri-Mon matches
When I first heard about plans to build a modest cricket stadium at Abnotstown, one thing I didn't think would be a problem would be permission, as it is a national sports centre, I assumed (I know) that future development would have built into the original planning permission for the site
A lot of the application seems to involve infrastructure and I am curious as to what other sporting events happen there, and anything with similar projected attendance, I was imagining a double sided stand similar to Headingly's cricket and Rugby league stand.
Transport/ parking problems do not surprise me, it appears to be an out of town site lacking naturally developed transport links, don't imagine the Dart running to Malahide was anything but coincidence. The Rose bowl in Southampton was a one road in and out 20k stadium and it took years to get adequate park and ride scheme
Southampton is a great example for this. They still get good attendances at games but it is a town in which cricket is the biggest attraction in the summer, needless to say that's not the case in Dublin. Planning permission is always a necessity, the local council is king! Because it's on a huge campus tho - ie no neighbours - one would assume the likelihood of NIMBY objections dramatically decreases
I was fearful that Abbotstown could end up a white elephant or an unloved venue compared unfavorably with Malahide
But a few things have aligned that may avoid this
Firstly the 2030 T20 world cup, it might just take a famous victory for the venue to enter folklore and a place, dispute it's clear connectivity problems, a place where Irish fans want to go, especially if some games are under lights
Secondly, I think (or is it I hope) there is a growing likelihood of a 2 division test structure
And cherry picking others peoples' ideas, if it is over a 4 year cycle Ireland could host a 3 test series every summer against each of their rivals (similarly a 3 test series over the winter)
Play 2 in Abbotstown 1 in Stormont
If they were 4 day tests then this would allow 3 Fri-Mon matches