Or to look at it a different way we are only 299 down from last season when you look at the first three home games of the season instead of the same opposition.

2012/13
Cardiff Sat 17:00
Scarlets Sat 15:00
Leinster Fri 20:00

Total = 13,756 vs 13,457 from this season.

The charging for kids and the 3 euro surcharge at gate should not be dismissed either. That's an 8 euro increase for a father and son from last season. I wud normally have been to 2 of the 3 but haven't because of this and only intend on attending once this season.
It no longer represents value to me and I love live sport.

I think they're questions that need to be passed on to the branch. I know they probably don't have a huge say with T.V. etc but any change has to be welcome to try and get up numbers.

This wont be a popular post with everyone but were here to debate?

Shocking numbers so far down 2,542 from 3 games?
Here goes, middle of the day kickoffs are killing it for connacht rugby!
Less attendances and zero atmosphere.
I know that connacht are trying to make it a good time for people to be able to travel to games but whats the point when them people will come less and casual supporters wont show up because its not a fun night out anymore.
whats the point having a good kickoff time when less people show up.
i would of loved to know how many of the 3,888 would of shown up if the game was friday night and how many more would of came out at 7.30, dressed up, had pints in the clan bar and made the rugby game the start of there night.
5pm kick off for galway people doesnt start there night, game over at 7, usually home etc.

would love to know how many of the season tickets are sold to people 45mins away from the sportsground. game kicking of at 7.30, over 9.30 and drinking tea at home by 10.30, not bad? at least you'll be dieing to get back and have a good memory of singing etc.

gates numbers 2012-13 vs 2013-14=difference

Zebre 4856........4,084==DOWN 772
Ulster 6,463......5,485==DOWN 978
Ospreys 4680......3,888==DOWN 792
Glasgow 6081......
Scarlets 4074.....
Dragons 4958......
Leinster 5813.....
Edinburgh 4930....
Treviso 4112......
Munster 7789......
Cardiff 3869......

DOWN 2,542 from the same games last season.

So far this season 13,457 average 4,485
2012-13 total 57,625 average 5,238

Heineken Cup 2012-2013
biarritz (tier 1) ......6,583
harlequins (tier 2) .... 8,199
zebre (tier 4).......... 5,803

total 20,585 average 6,861

Heineken Cup 2013-2014
Toulouse (tier 1).....
Saracens (tier 2).....
Zebre (tier 4)........

Glasgow warriors v Leinster is sold out as of today.

just to let ye know, ill be doing this again this year. ill wait till after the ospreys game so that 4 rounds of the pro12 is over and we'll have a better picture.

Firstly I wouldn't like to see Connacht moving from Galway City(And I'm a Mayo Man). But Please do not mention moving to Salthill, to anyone from outside of Galway that would be disasterous. Mayo are playing Galway this weekend in Salthill and Mayo folk are saying all week "God love to go but that Pearse Stadium we will be lucky to be home for the Sunday Game". Anyway getting away from GAA and the inevitable Mayo beating Galway again.

Kicking out the Dogs is the best option and even by building up above the Clan Stand and a few other changes here and there as the Munster fan Rossie states below should cater to get the capacity to close enough to 10000 and that would be sufficient for the club for the next few years IMO.

But the club definitely need to develop something this summer, 2 years ago they built the clan stand, last season they made little changes here and there, they added a few more portaloos and a lick of paint here and there, would be nice this year if they made another major development to show that the club is still moving along(facility wise).

for the sake of 14 games a year i dont think its feasible to move. atm connacht are operating at an average of 67% capacity based on tickets sold and has oly required above existing capacity on one occasion(toulouse) while experiencing huge growth initially and impressive 2nd season additional growth of 11%. expect that growth to fall to single figures next season.
imo the stadium needs premium seating, standard seating, sheltered expandable end terracing, extra toilet facilities and extra connacht controlled bar+catering facilities.
1. premium seating- the plans posted early last season while very impressive are unrealistic because of road access for the doggies and the existing admin building. they cant go any further back than the existing clan terrace. My idea would be to raise the clan roof by 10-12 ft and put a steel supported structure capable of supporting 200 luxury seats above the terrace for premium customers. this could incorporate ref mike and large tv screens on roof for replays etc. initially a stairs down on bohermore side with ushers to bring to premium hospitality marquee(armed with umbrellas if necessary). eventually a permanent hospitality/conference suite could be built beside the admin building with an air bridge type thingy to access this area without having to go into the elements.
2. standard seating- imo this can be accomadated on both sides of the Main stand. 2 stands can be built in time of cap 300-400 each taking all modern planning concerns into design including solar panals, reflective panels for lighting to neighbours etc. thes should have toilets and a bar etc underneath. every effort could be made to keep b+B on board like courtesy tickets for his guests, parking and comp tickets for himself and missus etc.
3. shelter for end terraces- there is no easy way of doing this given that it has to be temporary and posssible to reverse in a short period of time. Imo the most practical and cost effective means of doing this is by timber panel fencing 8-10ft high similar to those in the back gardens of most 3,4 bed semis all over ireland. The panels could be decorated in any way club chooses and could be removed easily by simply sliding them out of their slots which would be narrow precast or steel posts set distances apart. they should not cause any obstruction to watching dog racing and could be covered with padding on the few occasions the terrace needed to be expanded to accomadate toulouse etc again.It doesnt cover for rain but how many grounds do. it does shelter from wind etc though and helps create an enclosed stadium feeling.
imo this scenario will give sportsground 8500 capacity with potential to increase to 10k+ where necessary. Maybe borders is right and i have too much time on my handsLOL!

I don't want to leave the Sportsground. As locations go its ideal but we're pretty heemed in with a road on one side, a graveyard on the other and a big drop on another side. That only leaves you the housing estate behind the main stand and that would cost a fortune to buy out. It's one of the reasons why the design was for us to move up instead of outwards as there is really nowhere to go. Not unless anyone wants to start moving graves which would be a total Public Relations disaster.

Ga1wegian wrote: To move out of the city would be a disaster imho -

I have been to the swanky new stadia in Llanelli and Swansea, and although they are beautifully appointed there is bugger all atmosphere before, during or after matches.

Those grounds are too far from the city to walk back in, so you miss the craic that we have walking to and from the Sportsground - I would HATE to see us move from there.

The city is abuzz before and after each Connacht match these days - moving out of the city would just dilute the whole matchday experience which has become an event in itself for every match.

I'm not saying they should, ideally I'd like to see the Branch and Wegian's get together to develop a new training/playing facility within the city boundaries. As you know yourself Wegian's need the space to provide more and better facilities and a purpose built clubhouse wouldn't go amiss, and having the Connacht Squads utilise it during daylight hours would be win/win, some consideration for OLBC would need to be made too. Administratively Connacht should stay at the Sportsground but the space/layout at the Sportsground rejigged to provide a proper enclosed stadium with decent parking / corporate facilities...

Now can someone just sort out about 30/40 million yo-yo please..

Have to agree with CC on this, there's been too much put into the Sportsground over the past few years for Connacht to pull up stakes. I really can't see anything happening in the next 5 years which would involve the branch or even the IRFU footing a large portion of the bill to build a new 10-15,000 seat stadium.

To move out of the city would be a disaster imho -

I have been to the swanky new stadia in Llanelli and Swansea, and although they are beautifully appointed there is bugger all atmosphere before, during or after matches.

Those grounds are too far from the city to walk back in, so you miss the craic that we have walking to and from the Sportsground - I would HATE to see us move from there.

The city is abuzz before and after each Connacht match these days - moving out of the city would just dilute the whole matchday experience which has become an event in itself for every match.

ConnachtCows wrote: Unfortunately, I think any ground/stadium, outside the city centre would see a drop in numbers.
People like to start a night out at the game, and its a perfect location for travelling fans.
I think the fact that the teams offices, new gym, and other facilities are all at the Sportsground, means we'll be staying there for quite a while, and hopefully the dogs might move elsewhere (cant see that happening either though)

Really only two option outside of the city itself (Western side is a complete non-starter), basically Oranmore or beside the Airport - Handy for N18 & M/N6

Oranmore would give you train line connectivity too, and especially if the Western Rail Corridor got back on track...

Decadence wrote:

connachtexile wrote: I always thought somewhere out near Salthill/Devon Club would work

Another Pearse Stadium? :huh: It couldn't be good for us, it'd be a nightmare to get to on a Friday evening, especially from outside the county...

Only remotely do-able if the Outer Ring road was built, hard enough to get across the city of a Friday evening as it is. Sorta why Salthill Devon Galway FC play in Terryland/Chick Deacy park...

Unfortunately, I think any ground/stadium, outside the city centre would see a drop in numbers.
People like to start a night out at the game, and its a perfect location for travelling fans.
I think the fact that the teams offices, new gym, and other facilities are all at the Sportsground, means we'll be staying there for quite a while, and hopefully the dogs might move elsewhere (cant see that happening either though)