Thursday 27 March 2008

Maze Stadium Doubt


Who really wants a massive sports complex outside Belfast on the site of an infamous prison? This seems a fair question, since the plan is clearly controversial. The GAA, soccer and rugby governing bodies support it; do their grass-roots supporters?

I'm no zealous sports fanatic myself so I am utterly indifferent towards it all. It's inconceivable to me that I'd wish to travel to the Maze for any form of entertainment. The city of Belfast is the place for that. How much is this great stadium going to cost, and will it all be worth it? Surely the existing facilities could be improved? Where there's a will there's a way, as they say.

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Safe to assume that Timothy lives in Belfast then? It seems to escape the Belfast mindset that those who doesnt live outside of our province's capital (i.e. most of the population of Northern Ireland) will find it easier to travel to a venue which is less than a mile from the M1 and can easily be made accessible to existing railway. Anyone who has witnessed the city congestion when travelling to a match at Ravenhill may agree that a journey to the maze may be quicker even for Belfast residents! The existing facilities (I assume this refers to windsor, ravenhill or perhaps casement park?) are not viable for improvement given their locations which are quite frankly divise and the lack of building space that they provide.
Some have also mentioned Ormeau Park as a venue - why we are so determined to destroy one of the last green spaces in our city is completely beyond me.
The Maze, which has for so long represented division in our society, is , in my opinion the perfect location to unite us. The Maze is a vast area of public land currently lying idle. Flat and perfect for re-development, it is situated perhaps 20mins south of Belfast accessible from the M1 and also witin a stones throw of existing railway. Car parking one would assume, shall be unproblematic.
The maze can only make the N.I. soccer team more accessible to Nationalists many of whom are perhaps to intimidated by the location of windsor park - ditto GAA and unionists. The maze in my opinion is the only viable option for the proposed stadium