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425 Posts
I know that the majority of the NI public have zero interest in the local Carling Premiership and most will never have visited an Irish League ground, and prefer to favour the dazzling lights of English Premiership/Championship, and to a far lesser extent of dazzling lights...... Scotland's SPL.
However over the past few seasons, stadia in Northern Ireland has been starting to move slowly into the 21st century with the financial aids of UEFA and Sport NI now available.
Various clubs have recently installed brand new high power floodlights provided with funding by the IFA and UEFA. Such clubs that have benefitted from this are;- Coleraine, Institute, Glenavon, Cliftonville, Glentoran, Crusaders, Ballymena, Portadown and during the 2010 summer Newry City should be having their new floodlights installed.
Spectator seating areas in various grounds are beginning to be either completely rebuilt, upgraded, or built to replace terracing.
A few examples include;
Newry City - Family Stand with Media room, opened last month.
Newry City FC have outlined plans to build a 650 seat stand for visiting supporters.
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Portadown - new South and MET stands (new floodlights not in picture)
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Ballymena United - Home supporter's stand already completed
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Glenavon - new all-seater stand for away fans constructed in recent years
New UEFA-standard floodlights included above
Glenavon now plan to have their turnstiles completely rebuilt, their covered terracing remodelled to an all-seater stand with toilets and food dispensary.
Terracing behid goal is planned to have a new all-seater stand constructed, currently it looks like
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Cliftonville have rebuilt the Cage into a 1400 seat stand with the aid of Sport NI funding - along with high powered UEFA-funded Lux floodlights which were erected in September 2009(not included in picture).
Recently built stand for visiting fans, known as the Bowling Green End, due to the Cliftonville bowling club based at the rear of the stand.
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Institute have had new UEFA funded 800 watt Lux lights installed at the Riverside Stadium last summer
Crusaders and Coleraine have also benefitted from the above UEFA-granted floodlights.
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Crusaders FC have also recently released ambitious new plans for a new ultra modern 4000 seater stadium to be based within the proposed Belfast City Council sports complex on the site of the North Foreshore:
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As i have said at the start, extremely few people will have any such interest in such a thread, but i feel it is important to highlight how our own local game's facilities are improving over the coming months.
When more photos and information of stadium upgrades are available i will post on here.
However over the past few seasons, stadia in Northern Ireland has been starting to move slowly into the 21st century with the financial aids of UEFA and Sport NI now available.
Various clubs have recently installed brand new high power floodlights provided with funding by the IFA and UEFA. Such clubs that have benefitted from this are;- Coleraine, Institute, Glenavon, Cliftonville, Glentoran, Crusaders, Ballymena, Portadown and during the 2010 summer Newry City should be having their new floodlights installed.
Spectator seating areas in various grounds are beginning to be either completely rebuilt, upgraded, or built to replace terracing.
A few examples include;
Newry City - Family Stand with Media room, opened last month.

Newry City FC have outlined plans to build a 650 seat stand for visiting supporters.
===========================================================================
Portadown - new South and MET stands (new floodlights not in picture)

===========================================================================
Ballymena United - Home supporter's stand already completed
===========================================================================
Glenavon - new all-seater stand for away fans constructed in recent years
New UEFA-standard floodlights included above
Glenavon now plan to have their turnstiles completely rebuilt, their covered terracing remodelled to an all-seater stand with toilets and food dispensary.
Terracing behid goal is planned to have a new all-seater stand constructed, currently it looks like
===========================================================================
Cliftonville have rebuilt the Cage into a 1400 seat stand with the aid of Sport NI funding - along with high powered UEFA-funded Lux floodlights which were erected in September 2009(not included in picture).
Recently built stand for visiting fans, known as the Bowling Green End, due to the Cliftonville bowling club based at the rear of the stand.

===========================================================================
Institute have had new UEFA funded 800 watt Lux lights installed at the Riverside Stadium last summer

Crusaders and Coleraine have also benefitted from the above UEFA-granted floodlights.
===========================================================================
Crusaders FC have also recently released ambitious new plans for a new ultra modern 4000 seater stadium to be based within the proposed Belfast City Council sports complex on the site of the North Foreshore:

===========================================================================
As i have said at the start, extremely few people will have any such interest in such a thread, but i feel it is important to highlight how our own local game's facilities are improving over the coming months.
When more photos and information of stadium upgrades are available i will post on here.