BOHEMIANS could use the Aviva Stadium on an occasional basis whilst the rebuilding of Dalymount Park takes place.
That is according to League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon, who revealed ticket sales for their February 16 clash against Shamrock Rovers have surpassed the 20,000 mark.
At a media briefing, Scanlon also confirmed there would be no increase to the League’s prize fund, despite its four-year TV deal with Virgin Media.
The Gypsies switched their opening game of the league campaign from Dalymount to Lansdowne Road.
But Scanlon admitted that – whilst a full-time relocation to the Aviva Stadium for the 2026 and 2027 seasons would not be practical – Bohs could use it for some fixtures alongside another temporary home.
Scanlon said: “With the amount of games the club would have to play, I don’t think there would be the space in the Aviva Stadium to play there all the time.
“They are playing here in a few weeks’ time and the club will have the opportunity to negotiate with the Aviva Stadium the same way Leinster Rugby have. If it’s something the club wants to look at, it will be an option.
“Any of the venues the club use would have to meet the club licensing standards.
“In the main that is a club in one single venue, but given the significance of the upgrades going on, there’s going to be some flexibility required and Bohemians have a request to potentially play in a second venue then that is a possibility.”
Bohs – who have already ruled out Parnell Park as an option – have limited options for the two years they are due to be out of Dalymount during construction work.
Scanlon admitted: “There are not many options with stadiums in general across the country but it’s a massively positive thing that Dalymount Park is being upgraded.”
A healthy gate next month could tempt clubs to use Lansdowne Road more often.
Scanlon said: “We are in and around 20,000. It’s been really strong. It’s pretty much five times what Dalymount can hold and we’re still two-and-a-half weeks away so it’s positive.
“The club has done a huge amount of work to get the fixture here in the first place and the two clubs have co-operated positively.”
Sales to date could point to a crowd of 30,000 on the day but Scanlon said: “There was never really a direct figure on it, it was very much a trial game.
“It’s more a question for Bohemians than us but we’re very encouraged by the ticket sales to date.”
Scanlon said other clubs could look to use the stadium if they wanted but added:
“It’s an expensive venue to use. It wouldn’t be the case that a regular fixture here would be financially viable.
“It has to be a big jump for that to happen. This fixture has already seen that.”
Scanlon said that, with Drogheda United installing around 300 new seats and rebuilding their dressing rooms, there would be no derogations issued for grounds which do not meet club licensing requirements.
He said it was too early to say if damage done to Bishopsgate and Finn Park by Storm Éowyn could result in Longford Town and Finn Harps being unable to play games there in the early part of the season.
Scanlon said: “There is the visible damage which we could all see, the wall which has fallen down in Longford but there could be other damage done too. The clubs will have to redo their safety certs.
“But if there is a stand which has to be closed, the work Longford have done to make it a 5,000 seater stadium means there is plenty of other space.”
Whilst there will be no increase in the €125,000 the Premier Division winners receive this year, Scanlon pointed out that club funding – including the removal of affiliation fees – by the FAI had increased by 205 percent from 2019 to 2025.
And he highlighted how clubs – bar Shamrock Rovers – who were in the Premier Division last season will receive a core payment of €288,622 in core solidarity funding from Uefa, plus at least another €77,777 based on the Hoops’ progress in Europe.
First Division clubs will get €45,840 after top-flight clubs agreed to give the maximum 15 percent of the increased kitty to the second tier.
But it means newly-promoted Cork City will receive significantly less than those they are in competition with this season.
Scanlon said: “It’s not ideal, but that is how Uefa structure it.”
