FAI CEO JOHN Delaney was among those in attendance at the Euro 2020 Dublin City Brand Launch today.
Should they qualify, Ireland will be guaranteed to play two of their three group games on home turf, while it was confirmed that Dublin City Council (DCC) are looking into the possibility of fan zones being set up in the city.
In addition to playing, a number of teams will train and base themselves in Ireland, with Tallaght Stadium cited as one likely venue for sides to prepare ahead of games.
But regardless of whether the Boys in Green do make it through qualification, it will be a special and unprecedented occasion, probably bigger than any sporting event that’s ever taken place in Ireland, according to Delaney.
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“The Ryder Cup was great, the Special Olympics were great. These are four different games obviously. I think, for the moment, it probably would be the biggest sporting event over four matches. But if the Rugby World Cup comes in 2023, and please God it will, that would be even bigger again.”
Robbie Keane is one individual set to be involved in the process, agreeing to take on an ambassadorial role, with the FAI keen to put an emphasis on street football as part of the promotional work around the tournament.
There’s a legacy committee set-up, to look at first of all Dalymount Park. It’s a big piece that we want to see complete, in and around 2020, maybe 2021. Whenever it would be, but Robbie is going to be part of street football.
“We’ve got a lot of relations with many different local authorities, development officers. There’ll be working programmes, getting more kids playing football all around the country. That’s important.
Patrick O’Donovan (Minister of State for Sport) mentioned that in his few words, that the tournament coming to Dublin is absolutely brilliant, but part of the legacy should be Dalymount Park, and of course street football. Robbie is going to play a big part in that. When I rang him about it, he was delighted to get involved.”
The funding of Dalymount Park, at the moment, DCC have bought it, and we’re working with the Department of Sport in terms of a budget that will be put aside. Of course, Bohemians and Shelbourne are very much involved in those discussions as well.
“Whether it will be a phase development, or done over one big run at it, we’re not too sure yet. The one thing I do know is, Dalymount Park has been saved to Irish football, which is really important. The detail now has to be worked out over meetings over the next number of months, and I’m sure next year, as to what capacity, and how that development is going to take place. I’m pretty sure that by 2020, it will be well on its way to being completed.”
I think that’s a matter for the club to deal with. The club were very much supportive of moving.
“The club came to the position that they wanted to move to Dalymount Park with Bohemians, and if that’s what the club want to do, of course we’ll support the club in that.”
And asked whether he was satisfied with the League of Ireland’s progress over a year on from the Conroy Report, Delaney said: “Today is about Euros. Fran Gavin is here to talk about the league specifically, but I will say that there is an international brand report that will be put to the public in the next few weeks. The FAI Board only received that this week. That is a very good report as well.
We are working with the clubs, we are working with Michael Cush and also working on the Conway report with the clubs. I’m sure between this brand report, the Conway report and working the clubs that we will come up with some positive answers for them.”
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John Delaney on Euro 2020, unhappy Shelbourne fans and LOI progress
FAI CEO JOHN Delaney was among those in attendance at the Euro 2020 Dublin City Brand Launch today.
Should they qualify, Ireland will be guaranteed to play two of their three group games on home turf, while it was confirmed that Dublin City Council (DCC) are looking into the possibility of fan zones being set up in the city.
In addition to playing, a number of teams will train and base themselves in Ireland, with Tallaght Stadium cited as one likely venue for sides to prepare ahead of games.
But regardless of whether the Boys in Green do make it through qualification, it will be a special and unprecedented occasion, probably bigger than any sporting event that’s ever taken place in Ireland, according to Delaney.
“The Ryder Cup was great, the Special Olympics were great. These are four different games obviously. I think, for the moment, it probably would be the biggest sporting event over four matches. But if the Rugby World Cup comes in 2023, and please God it will, that would be even bigger again.”
Robbie Keane is one individual set to be involved in the process, agreeing to take on an ambassadorial role, with the FAI keen to put an emphasis on street football as part of the promotional work around the tournament.
“We’ve got a lot of relations with many different local authorities, development officers. There’ll be working programmes, getting more kids playing football all around the country. That’s important.
Delaney also discussed the recent news that Bohemians and Shelbourne are set to share a redeveloped Dalymount Park.
“Whether it will be a phase development, or done over one big run at it, we’re not too sure yet. The one thing I do know is, Dalymount Park has been saved to Irish football, which is really important. The detail now has to be worked out over meetings over the next number of months, and I’m sure next year, as to what capacity, and how that development is going to take place. I’m pretty sure that by 2020, it will be well on its way to being completed.”
Meanwhile, there have been concerns expressed that Shelbourne are unhappy about the prospect of groundsharing with Bohemians. In addition, last night, Reds Independent, a Shels fan group urged supporters not to fund the project over unanswered questions.
“The club came to the position that they wanted to move to Dalymount Park with Bohemians, and if that’s what the club want to do, of course we’ll support the club in that.”
And asked whether he was satisfied with the League of Ireland’s progress over a year on from the Conroy Report, Delaney said: “Today is about Euros. Fran Gavin is here to talk about the league specifically, but I will say that there is an international brand report that will be put to the public in the next few weeks. The FAI Board only received that this week. That is a very good report as well.
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Euro 2020 John Delaney League of Ireland looking ahead Martin O'Neill Ireland Republic Shelbourne