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| Maze stadium capacity increased | Maze stadium capacity increased |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| There are plans to increase the capacity of the stadium at the site of the former Maze Prison from 30,000 to 42,000, the BBC has learned. | There are plans to increase the capacity of the stadium at the site of the former Maze Prison from 30,000 to 42,000, the BBC has learned. |
| They were changed after a meeting with officials from the three sports - GAA, soccer and rugby - who will use it. | They were changed after a meeting with officials from the three sports - GAA, soccer and rugby - who will use it. |
| The new plan will see a 35,000 seater venue for soccer and rugby, but some seats would be removed to allow up to 12,000 GAA fans to stand. | The new plan will see a 35,000 seater venue for soccer and rugby, but some seats would be removed to allow up to 12,000 GAA fans to stand. |
| The government hoped the new plans will accommodate fans from all three sports. | The government hoped the new plans will accommodate fans from all three sports. |
| The original capacity for the proposed all-seater stadium was 30,000. | The original capacity for the proposed all-seater stadium was 30,000. |
| It was then increased to 42,000 largely to accommodate the GAA, but soccer fans were outraged claiming Northern Ireland international games would rarely, if ever, attract attendances of that size. | It was then increased to 42,000 largely to accommodate the GAA, but soccer fans were outraged claiming Northern Ireland international games would rarely, if ever, attract attendances of that size. |
| They argued that the atmosphere at games would suffer from there being so many empty seats. | |
| Compromise | Compromise |
| Now, as a compromise, there will be a 35,000 seat capacity for soccer and rugby games - while the stadium will be re-configured for GAA with 5,000 seats taken out and up to 12,000 fans being allowed to stand as is the case at Croke Park. | Now, as a compromise, there will be a 35,000 seat capacity for soccer and rugby games - while the stadium will be re-configured for GAA with 5,000 seats taken out and up to 12,000 fans being allowed to stand as is the case at Croke Park. |
| When contacted by the BBC a spokesman for the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure said: "Following the recent meeting of the Maze/Long Kesh monitoring group with the three main sports all stakeholders involved in the development of the site agreed the way forward for the stadium plan. | When contacted by the BBC a spokesman for the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure said: "Following the recent meeting of the Maze/Long Kesh monitoring group with the three main sports all stakeholders involved in the development of the site agreed the way forward for the stadium plan. |
| "This included the incorporation of seating and standing flexibility into the stadium design process. The second round design bids are due back on the 28 November and government expect to appoint the preferred bidder by Christmas." | "This included the incorporation of seating and standing flexibility into the stadium design process. The second round design bids are due back on the 28 November and government expect to appoint the preferred bidder by Christmas." |
| It also hoped to seek expressions of interests for naming rights for the new stadium next month. | It also hoped to seek expressions of interests for naming rights for the new stadium next month. |
| A number of international companies are understood to be interested. | A number of international companies are understood to be interested. |
| The minister responsible for the Maze, David Hanson, said recently that a decision on whether or not the stadium would go ahead will not be made until the end of 2007. | The minister responsible for the Maze, David Hanson, said recently that a decision on whether or not the stadium would go ahead will not be made until the end of 2007. |
| Demolition of the Maze site is expected to be completed in November 2007. | Demolition of the Maze site is expected to be completed in November 2007. |
| Belfast City Council has a rival plan to build a 25,000 seat stadium at Ormeau Park. | Belfast City Council has a rival plan to build a 25,000 seat stadium at Ormeau Park. |
| Developers have been asked to submit final bids by the end of February and the Council says its hopes to be in a position to select a preferred developer by May. | Developers have been asked to submit final bids by the end of February and the Council says its hopes to be in a position to select a preferred developer by May. |