Thoughts etc. -

Minimum capaciry for 2015 WC is Exeter (12K). Minimum capacity for 2011 WC was closer to 16K (I think).

Clan is ~95 metres long and has 11 steps. Allowing for the two exits, press box and industry standard 20 spectators per 12 metres we get ~2000 patrons. I believe the approved capacity is 2012.

20K is way too big, I expect at least half of Munster's games to be played in Musgrave (sorry, Daily Rag Park) from now on and that's 9K.

Assumptions and restrctions:
No major investment until dogs declare themselves broke.
We'd be knocking whatever's there and building from scratch.
The stadium would be directly north of the housing off bohermore which is significantly below pitch level so permanent construction this end may not be possible.

Requirements:
Goldilocks stadium (not too, big, not too small).
Easily extendable to 15K (not-HEC quarterfinal) and 18K (Pro12 final, WC) with temporary seating/ standing.

Possible solution:
~12K horseshoe shaped stadium incorporating main stand, college road, and clan sides of pitch. Bohermore end open or glass-walled so as not to deprive housing to north of light, while allowing ease addition of temporary stands when necessary.

menacethedenis wrote:

clanman wrote: 15k is probably too small to host a WC match. but yeah 20k is more than we would need even for Provinicial matches

15k would be more than enough to host some of the less well supported team's games.

Italy Romania 2015, Sandy Park, 12 300
Italy Romania 2023 The Sportsground?

menacethedenis wrote:

clanman wrote: 15k is probably too small to host a WC match. but yeah 20k is more than we would need even for Provinicial matches

15k would be more than enough to host some of the less well supported team's games and, as they said on Off The Ball recently, one of the legacies of the New Zealand world cup was the fantastic stadiums that were developed. I really hope this gathers some traction in the media as this is a great opportunity for us to really push for either a new stadium or redevelopment as we are way behind the other provinces in terms of facilities.

I'd love if the dogs were no longer an issue (i'll admit to being biased as I am completely opposed to Greyhound racing), the Irish Greyhound Board has been swimming in debt for years and is currently being heavily subsidised by the government. They were allocated around €13m in the recent budget and announced that they were selling off the Harold's Cross stadium so who knows? If a good offer came in to buy them out the Sportsground could be transformed.

If you were to build a municipal stadium in Galway as a Leaving Cert geography project, you'd end up on College Road or thereabouts. There's no way in hell we should move because it would involve losing way too many of the positives that come with the central location, therefore, I think what really Pats pushing for here is further works at the Sportsground.

I agree that 20,000 is too big. With the best will in the world, you wouldn't get anything that looks respectable in there for run-of-the-mill Pro12 games. In this respect (and in relation to massive overborrowing). In this respect, I think we can learn from Thomond and the difficulty they have in making the place look respetably attended for Pro12 games. We can also dispell any notions that people may have about being able to fill it out for gigs. That hasn't really worked out for them with the notable exception of Springsteen who will always fill anywhere he plays in this country.

There's still planning permission active for an extension to the Clan Terrace. From memory, this will be a mix of standing and seating in the upper echelons. Does anyone know what this would translate as capacity wise?

What I'd be looking at is an extended Clan Terrace, extend and expand the main stand and take over the hospitality side of it completely. Then for the goal ends, some kind of small terrace with optional (bought not rented) quickly erected (har har) seating that could be used to ensnare some sweet World Cup dollars. Grand and all as it will be to have them onside to secure the bid but I think that GAA stadiums need to be kept out as much as possible. They really have had far too much by way of capital grants.

As has been mentioned, our greyhound fancying friends are in a financial mire (again featuring overborrowing in Limerick) and aren't exactly bringing much to the table these days. They should be strongarmed.

clanman wrote: 15k is probably too small to host a WC match. but yeah 20k is more than we would need even for Provinicial matches

15k would be more than enough to host some of the less well supported team's games and, as they said on Off The Ball recently, one of the legacies of the New Zealand world cup was the fantastic stadiums that were developed. I really hope this gathers some traction in the media as this is a great opportunity for us to really push for either a new stadium or redevelopment as we are way behind the other provinces in terms of facilities.

I'd love if the dogs were no longer an issue (i'll admit to being biased as I am completely opposed to Greyhound racing), the Irish Greyhound Board has been swimming in debt for years and is currently being heavily subsidised by the government. They were allocated around €13m in the recent budget and announced that they were selling off the Harold's Cross stadium so who knows? If a good offer came in to buy them out the Sportsground could be transformed.

Two things Cows:

1. I could be wrong but I believe the Clan Stand holds 3 - 3.5 k as is
2. Getting rid of the enclosed area would be a mistake IMO, a lot of people are willing to spend a premium to enjoy the convenience/luxury it provides and I think Connacht make a lot of money from those tickets. It could be better laid out of course, but I don't see it disappearing completely.

Part of the issue with redeveloping is the height difference on both sides of the ground, and the track as well. If the pitch could be lowered and the track removed it would allow a huge amount of extra room on both stands, that is if they could get around drainage issues etc.

I think we must'nt get carried away. Huge demand for Munster allright, but 8000, and with 4 days to go, it wouldn't have exceeded 10 000 in all likelihood. Galway is a 70 000 city, Connacht have a fan base of 5000 (which is a lot improved in 3 years, but can't be much more on a regular basis).
Agree with Clan Tier-2, Ideally, the Sportsground should be 8-9000 (like Arm's Parks), 12 000 with additional capacity. And I really think we should contract with GAA just in case of HCup, when, as exceptions, 20 000 Pearse Std may be filled

Yeah, 20K seems excessive, and in Pat's defense he actually said on second captains that he had just plucked the figure from thin air.

Gerry Thornley wrote about it today: www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/gerry-tho...ons-1.2055716?page=1

Traffic issues is a good point. It was pretty bad the other day for the Munster game, but with park and rides it could be addressed. For example, there is a big car park at the Oranmore Train station which people could use and then hop on a train the rest of the way.

I agree, think the current location is great especially if you are coming in on the Dublin road.
There would be plenty of room if the greyhound track was removed. Agree as well 20k might be a tad high. 12-16 would be a great start with room them to expand in the future.

15k is probably too small to host a WC match. but yeah 20k is more than we would need even for Provinicial matches

Firstly, I dont think 20000 is required.

Ideally, the dogs can get moved out. That would help hugely. Suddenly covered seats/terraces would be a possibility behind each end. Obviously this can't happen at the moment, as any covers at either end would block part of the view of the race track.

So, imagine the dogs were gone, and 1500 seats could be placed at each end (number might be too high), we have upped the capacity to nearer 10,000 immediately.

Does anyone know the current capacity of the Clan Terrace? Extending the Clan terrace would also we fantatic. I know (think) they have approved planning permission to build seats on top of the Clan. I'm happy with that, but I really want them to keep a standing only section

What they really need to do is make the stadium more rectangular, a bit like The Stoop. Open corners, but with no one really standing there.

The main stand is probably the area which would be most difficult to improve upon.

Probably rambling here, but if they could increase the Clan Stand to 3,000 with possible additional seats above. Say 5,000 in total on the Clan Stand.
Add 3000 in total to both ends, but build the sections like they did the Clan, so additional seating can be added above easily, that gives us 8,000 before talking about the main stand or any further developments to the ends
If the dogs are gotten rid of, then the main stand will need serious redevelopment. Get rid of the enclosed area. Add covered seating either side of the main stand, and make the main stand much deeper. We could be looking at 6 to 7000 over there.

The main issue with the Sportsground (apart from the dogs) is the lack of permanent facilities. More toilets, food stalls, and bars are required. Covering the ends would help hugely.
Unfortunately, the majority of our big games are between October and January.
Fair weather fans, or those with only a passing interest end up going to the big games, and get soaked, or blown out of the ground, as they are always stuck behind the goals. If these fans could enjoy the match from a dry, comfortable area, they would be more likely come back.

Summary:
Connacht should redevelop the Sportsground
Get rid of the dogs
Extend the Clan Stand, and add additional seating above the Clan Stand
Build stands similar to the Clan Stand at both ends of the pitch
Remove the enclosure in the main stand, and hugely increase capacity in this stand
More seating at both sides of the Main Stand
Improve facilities

All of these improvements could easily see us have at least a 15,000 capacity stadium

A 20,000 stadium would be the death of the team, if fans dont enjoy the experience. Look at Edinburgh. Games in Murrayfield look ridiculous

20k, might be a tad overambitious, 15 would probably suffice given the population, last thing we want is a 3/4 empty stadium every other match. I agree that keeping it in Galway City is the way to go, I think you'd lose a huge amount of people if they couldn't head into town for a pint afterwards. Traffic is obviously the biggest problem there, making use of a Park and Ride from Ballybrit might help there. We're not too badly off for car parks nearby, with Wellpark, Moneen and City Hall usually open, but I think that Connacht Rugby should be partnering with that huge Multistorey on Forster St on matchdays as well.

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...tadium-30876786.html

In the afterglow of the Munster match, Pat spoke about how he'd like the IRFU to create a 20K capacity rugby ground in Galway for Connacht as part of their rugby world cup bid. I've heard him asked about this in two podcasts since, so I thought it was worth starting a discussion here.

What do people think? Is it feasible that the IRFU would entertain such an idea? If so, where should it be? I know this topic has been discussed at length before but no harm doing it again. Personally, I think we should stay in the current location at all costs. Walking distance to town for post game refreshments is a huge part of the appeal for a lot of fans, and I think any suburban location would fail as a result (I think the Welsh regions have found this, Cardiff in particular who moved back to the Arms park).