Barring a slide into recession, Bohemian FC remain confident that “scaled back” plans to redevelop Dalymount Park will be completed by January 2026.
The Phibsboro club received strong support from its 1,850-strong membership at Wednesday’s agm to encourage Dublin City Council (DCC) to adopt a retro-style terrace design that could increase capacity to 10,000.
When obvious concerns about Dalymount being fit for purpose for Uefa matches, Bohs chief operating officers Daniel Lambert indicated that they would switch to the Aviva Stadium on big European nights.
“We are looking at plan B as lots of things have changed,” said Lambert. “When we were over in Union [Berlin] and there was roughly 18,000 at the game, 15,000 of them were standing. Uefa are reintroducing standing in lots of leagues.
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“If we can build a large terrace, I think it will create an atmosphere that is really special.
“If we are going to be in a group stage, I think it is highly likely that we will go to the Aviva, like we did [last season].
“We’ve been pushing for a terrace since the very start,” Lambert continued. “We want a ground with a good atmosphere that gets as many people in as possible to enjoy a game of football. It’s important that fan experience comes first.”
Uefa banned standing areas for their competitions in the 1990s, following the Hillsborough disaster, with St Patrick’s Athletic last week forced to reduce capacity from 5,340 to 2,700 for the Europa Conference League qualifier against NS Mura due to Richmond Park being a three-sided terraced venue.
“That seems to be changing quite quickly, there are a lot of directives coming from Uefa,” said Lambert. “As far as I know Union can now play their European games at home. Their ground is probably an extreme example, where you have a four-sided Bundesliga ground where three sides are terraced.
“The atmosphere is fantastic, you go there and it doesn’t feel inadequate. If anything, it feels like more of a football ground. You see it in Croke Park too, the best atmosphere is always on the Hill. We’d be delighted with terracing.”
After estimates on redeveloping Dalymount Park by 2025 soared to €52 million, Shelbourne’s decision to remain at Tolka Park and inflation in the construction industry, DCC and Bohs are moving away from demolition of the former home of Irish football.
Currently, Dalymount holds 3,640 but that will rise to 4,500 next season due to a temporary stand on the Connaught Road side of the iconic stadium.
Lambert conceded that Bohs will probably vacate Dalymount during construction but he was unwilling to suggest a two kilometre stroll over the Royal Canal to temporarily ground-share at Tolka Park.
Both stadiums are owned by DCC. Dalymount architects Idom and Gilroy-McMahon have until September 4th to submit the latest preliminary design and cost estimate, with a detailed plan for the redevelopment due by November 28th.
Completion within four years remains dependent on the Government’s ‘Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund’ supplying enough money to complete the project.
“We are number one in the group of projects that includes Glanmire, the RDS, Connacht Rugby, Finn Park, and they are all in the same position; the costs they had anticipated have all risen to a higher level,” said Lambert. “We have had lots of meetings with Ministers, TDs and councillors in the local area, and everyone wants it to happen.
“A big consideration is getting costs back towards a level they were anticipated at, but that’s outside our control.”
