RELEASE
(19 Jun 2009)
Dublin, Friday 18th June
REAL MADRID TO PLAY SHAMROCK ROVERS IN TALLAGHT
Ticket Details Announced
PLATINUM ONE, Ireland’s premier sports management company, is pleased to confirm that it has been appointed by Real Madrid C.F. as its Official Pre Season Partner for its 2009/2010 preseason training camp. The preseason “Stage” as it is known in Spain will take place from July 13th to 22nd.
Real Madrid will be based at the magnificent Carton House Hotel in Co. Kildare which boasts an exceptional new training facility that will allow the club’s senior squad begin its preparations for the 2009/2010 season in ideal surroundings. The squad will have two training sessions each day and will play one game in Dublin towards the end of the camp.
The Head of Football at PLATINUM ONE, Eamon McLoughlin, said:
“In the past we have worked with other top European clubs on preseason tours, friendly fixtures and training camps but it is a particular thrill to bring the biggest club in the world to Ireland. A number of years ago we identified that the top clubs wanted accommodation and top class training facilities on the one site. Over the last two years we have provided that at St. Andrews in Scotland for FC Barcelona with great success but we needed someone with the appropriate facilities to establish an outstanding facility in Ireland. The Mallaghan family has done a quite exceptional job with Carton House which will quickly come to be seen as the premier such facility in Europe.”
Conor Mallaghan of Carton House said securing Real Madrid to conduct its preseason training camp at the venue in this its first summer in operation was testimony to the quality of the offering.
“Obviously we are delighted that the mighty Real Madrid has chosen Carton House for what all the top clubs consider to be one of the most important periods of any season – the get back to work phase. The quality of our Hotel, Leisure and Golf Facility and our close proximity to Dublin Airport and being just twenty minutes from Dublin City makes us an ideal venue. It is rewarding after all the planning and effort that we have put into establishing the training facility and it represents the ultimate endorsement of its quality. PLATINUM ONE’s experience of dealing with some of the biggest clubs in Europe allowed us to refine the offer so that it could meet the most demanding expectations and we look forward to welcoming Real here in July and putting what we have here to the ultimate test.”
The General Director and Presidential Advisor of Real Madrid Mr. Jorge Valdano, said:
“We are delighted to be travelling to Ireland for this important part of our pre season training. Our technical staff had considered a number of different locations but we are confident that the exceptional facilities in Carton House, Co. Kildare will provide the perfect environment for our 1st team squad to prepare for the coming season. “
On Monday July 20th Real Madrid will play a match against Shamrock Rovers at the new Tallaght Stadium in West Dublin. The match is being promoted by PLATINUM ONE and additional seating is being brought in to create a capacity of 9,000. A limited number of tickets go on sale to Shamrock Rovers FC members and season ticket holders from 9am this coming Saturday (June 20th) and will go on general release at 9am on Monday (June 22nd). All tickets are priced at €60 (excluding charges) and are available at http://platinumonegroup.ticketsolve.com or www.shamrockrovers.ie. The ticket phone lines will be open to the general public at 9am on Monday morning (June 22nd) on (01)200 3616.
Commenting, Eamon McLoughlin said:
“As Promoters, bringing top clubs to any destination involves a significant financial commitment. The friendly match is how we make our return so we are delighted to be able to bring Real to Tallaght. When we did this with Barcelona in Scotland huge crowds attended the games and we hope that the Irish soccer fans will see this as an exceptional opportunity to watch some of the world’s greatest players play in Dublin. We would like to thank Rovers for agreeing to play the match and the FAI for supporting us and sanctioning the game. We are grateful to the Department of Arts Sport and Tourism and particularly to South Dublin County Council which has made Tallaght Stadium available for what promises to be an historic evening for the people of Tallaght and South Dublin.”
Mr Valdano said:
“We have been working with PLATINUM ONE on the plans for the preseason Stage since early this year and everything is now set for a successful stay in Ireland. We look forward also to the match against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium and we know it is a club with a special history and standing in Irish football.”
The Irish Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Martin Cullen TDwelcomed the announcement by Real Madrid. Minister Cullen said:
“Real Madrid is one of the biggest and greatest football clubs in the world. Its choice of Ireland for what all football fans know is one of the most important parts of any club’s preparation for a new season is welcome. The programme developed by Irish sports management company, PLATINUM ONE based at the new world-class facility at Carton House in Co. Kildare will provide the club with the ideal summer preparation for the 2009/2010 season. Ireland will welcome the club here and we will ensure that everything is done to make it a destination of choice for the club for many years to come."
The Chairman of Shamrock Rovers FC, Jonathan Roche, said “This is a dream fixture for any club. Our fans have had a long wait to become established in a new home and now in our first season at the Tallaght Stadium we are being given the opportunity to host the biggest football club in the world. This is great news for Shamrock Rovers and the domestic game in general.”
Media accreditation:
All requests for media accreditation for Real Madrid's training Stage at Carton House, 14th - 22nd July, must be emailed to Adam Crothers at PLATINUM ONE - acrothers@platinumonegroup.com - no later than Friday 26th June 2009. Emails to be marked "Stage Accreditation".
Please note that due to the limited capacity at Tallaght Stadium media accreditation will be restricted to football correspondents/reporters only. All requests for media accreditation for Shamrock Rovers v Real Madrid at Tallaght Stadium on Monday July 20th 2009 must also be emailed to Adam Crothers at PLATINUM ONE - acrothers@platinumonegroup.com - no later than Friday 26th June 2009. Emails to be marked "Match Accreditation".
Transport:
Tallaght Stadium is well served by public transport with several bus routes (www.dublinbus.ie) all servicing the ground. The Tallaght stop on the Luas (red line) is located 500 meters from the Stadium (www.luas.ie).
The Stadium is also accessible by car with extensive public parking available around the ground (www.aaroadwatch.ie).
For all further information contact:
Adam Crothers, PLATINUM ONE, on (01) 6717760
www.platinumonegroup.com