Evil_g wrote: demanding that someone build us a state of the art facility when on a clear day you can almost see the floodlights from an empty Thomand Park is a bit much.

Don't think many on here are demanding that. Cheap and cheerful, a mixture of standing and seating, and most importantly club and box seats to increase our income, in 2 stands either side of a pitch for a total of say 8000 would be more than sufficient for our needs for the foreseeable future. No need to develop the end: temporary stands either end would cover us for WC or Champions Cup QFs, if needed. Doesn't matter if that happens where we are or down the docks. We'd be looking for something barely half the size of Scarlets' ground, not some NFL pleasure dome.

Just because Munster built the Debt Star at the height of their (and, in their defence, the entire nation's) hubris, is no reason for Connacht to be content with sub-standard spectator facilities. We don't accept substandard players, coaches, or training facilities any more, and our crowds, though the lowest amongst the provinces, are the highest as a percentage of population and about 3 times what they were prior to the Clan Stand being built.

I've heard a lot of nonsense about the Sportsground (more in the media than here to be fair) recently. If teams are afraid of coming to the Sportsground it's because of the all-guns-blazing team. If the atmosphere is electric that's not due to the fact that it's an old-school dump; we should rather credit that to the crowd ("rowdy, raucous, and not afraid to ask for everything", as a Newcastle scribe said earlier this season). Nobody was afraid of the Sportsground when Bradley's Boobs were playing in front of 1200.

We need a modest but fit-for-purpose stadium asap.

Speaking as someone who has lived through the greatest property bubble the world has ever seen (yet)....and is currently witnessing the effects of our neighbours to the south adopting a "build it and they will appear from nowhere" policy....I'd politely suggest ye all calm down and have a read of this excellent article from last Saturday's examiner:

Philip Browne Interview: Trying to spread the jam evenly

Placating the clubs and provinces is one thing. Convincing World Rugby to award the World Cup to Ireland another. IRFU chief executive Philip Browne is caught somewhere in the middle. And that’s before we get to a disappointing Six Nations and today’s must-not-lose clash with Italy. He spoke the business of rugby with our sports editor.

Before I hear anymore about a new stadium*, I'd expect to see consistent (like three years in a row) qualification for the Champion's Cup, I'd expect to see evidence that the Champions Cup (or equivalent) will exist in three years time, and I'd expect Connacht to prove that they can consistently fill out their existing ground (for at least three years).

Until then, an interim three year plan to achieve the required increase in attendances by investing the bare minimum in the existing rented facilities is more in order. The very best we can hope for is seated tier on the Clan side....and even that might be a bridge too far.



*only joking....I like daydreaming too....but sincerely banging the table and demanding that someone build us a state of the art facility when on a clear day you can almost see the floodlights from an empty Thomand Park is a bit much.

RonanL wrote: There are many who won't buy tickets for the exposed end terraces

This is the big problem for me- anytime there is a big game and I can convince people to come to the game with me you end up stood on a cold, windy, exposed step with an awful view begging for the end of the game. That is not an experience I can sell to anyone, I can tell them as many times as I like that it's a completely different experience in the clan stand all they remember is being cold and miserable.

Fourdogs wrote: I am loving the enthusiasm and the "build it and they will come" attitude on the Forum these days. Great also to see that there has been over 200 new sign ups since the start of the 15/16 season.

We need to keep an eye on reality however. The revenue from match day ticket sales (including ST) is only somewhere in the region of €2m - €2.5m

I would love to see Galway City Council, Connacht Rugby / IRFU, Galway United / IFA and the Sports Council come together with a proposed plan for a modern municipal 10,000 seat stadium / sports complex for the City but until we are filling the Sportsground with 6,000 plus for every game (including the Zebre and Triviso matches in the cold and rain of a Fri in mid December), no one is going to take the idea forward.

If we want the idea of Connacht Rugby playing in a modern 10,000 seater stadium to be taken seriously we have to show both the need for, and the ability to fill that stadium on a regular basis. It just won't happen because we wish it.

I hear you, but the feeling is that we have a glass ceiling at present because of the poor facilities in the sportsground. There are many who won't buy tickets for the exposed end terraces, especially for the likes of the zebre games. Also, do we necessarily need 10000 seats? I don't think so. 10K capacity yes, but with a lot of those standing. I think that is reasonable. If we had a 10k venue, and there's 6k at is for the standard pro 12 games, with 8/10 for bigger games, I think that would be success.

I am loving the enthusiasm and the "build it and they will come" attitude on the Forum these days. Great also to see that there has been over 200 new sign ups since the start of the 15/16 season.

We need to keep an eye on reality however. The revenue from match day ticket sales (including ST) is only somewhere in the region of €2m - €2.5m

I would love to see Galway City Council, Connacht Rugby / IRFU, Galway United / IFA and the Sports Council come together with a proposed plan for a modern municipal 10,000 seat stadium / sports complex for the City but until we are filling the Sportsground with 6,000 plus for every game (including the Zebre and Triviso matches in the cold and rain of a Fri in mid December), no one is going to take the idea forward.

If we want the idea of Connacht Rugby playing in a modern 10,000 seater stadium to be taken seriously we have to show both the need for, and the ability to fill that stadium on a regular basis. It just won't happen because we wish it.

Would many take their kids to what you and I know will be quick, rush job second rate stand with little or no quality view. The views are bad enough at the sports ground without spending money on a stand with even less quality for viewing rugby. Not a
good strategy.
We need to plan for a proper stand providing quality viewing that will better crowds to watch rugby in a little more comfort. Or a new stadium.

Think the Connacht supporters are now a voice to be reckoned with we need to continue to amp up the pressure on the IRFU through social media etc to invest in a large new structure stadium along with connacht rugby especially with the world cup bid in the pipeline. A pre existing advertising deal with the biggest companies or business men for Connacht & Galway Utd should be hammered out with Connacht Rugby&Galway Utd stadium and stand naming rights. Merchandise store for both. Limerick university style gym facilities for the players but that could be open to membership also. It is very important we strike while the iron is hot and cement our current well earned provincial dominace and get all the strands working in unison. Bring in exhibition game days for other sports make it a massive hub rather than any small scale idea

Evil_g wrote: Those seats are for sitting on until the place fills up....or perhaps for sitting on when the terrace is half empty.

That reminds me.
There are a whole load of seats scattered around the Main Stand terrace that are completely useless, except for maybe taking a load off at half time. If they just unscrewed all those and put them in one section of the terrace, you'd have a reasonable seated section for almost zero cost.

Hmm you're right salmson - i definitely read that you can sit and not be obstructed by person standing infront of you but the wiki page says:
"For domestic games the seats remain locked flush between the uprights of each frame, thus providing accommodation and maximum space for standing fans between rows of the waist-high rails. Prior to UEFA games, the seats are unlocked, thus transforming the area into all-seater configuration. After the UEFA game, the seats are locked again in the upright position ready for use by standing fans at the next domestic match."

Kinda looses the appeal now I gotta say

Lads that's not how safe standing works, it's all *either* seated or standing, not both, on a per match basis.

UEFA rules are that for later (group and knockout rather than premlininary qualification knockouts) stages of the Champions League you need to have all seater stadiums. But there is a tradition of standing in the German league, so safe standing solutions were invented. For European (and international) games the seats work as seats. For league games the seats are locked in the upright position and you now have 2 (safe) standing places for every seat. If the seats were left unlocked in the standing scenario (1) they'd get broken and (2) it'd be incredibly dangerous.

For a Galway scenario, they'd have huge merit if either (1) we were sharing with Galway Utd. or (2) we were intending to hold longer events where standing isn't realistic e.g. Women/U20s 6 nations double headers or 7s tournaments.

sea_point wrote:

Evil_g wrote:

wp_rathead wrote: I like the theory behind them where instead of a segregated "standing area" or "seated area" people can choose to stand or sit

Eh....until the person in front of you stands up?

Not so, the design allows for in vast majority of cases that someone in the row below standing up won't block the view of the person in the row behind even if sitting down.

I don't think that photograph demonstrates that at all. Those seats are for sitting on until the place fills up....or perhaps for sitting on when the terrace is half empty.

Evil_g wrote:

wp_rathead wrote: I like the theory behind them where instead of a segregated "standing area" or "seated area" people can choose to stand or sit

Eh....until the person in front of you stands up?

Their primary purpose seems to be to prevent crush on very large terraces. Not something we need to concern ourselves with.

If they were installed in the clan they'd just reduce capacity for no good reason.

Not so, the design allows for in vast majority of cases that someone in the row below standing up won't block the view of the person in the row behind even if sitting down. Each row has two levels, one for standing on nearest the barrier in front of you, the other at a higher where your feet rest if sitting.





Really only if you've got say Charles Barkely or Shaquille O'Neal in front of you, there might be an issue. But are you going to complain...

They are designed so person infront can stand up and you can still see if you are sitting - probably need to be steep enough

I agree that they'd reduce capacity in Clan and would get rid of the "roaming" element of the terrace that I love

They not going to happen anyway

wp_rathead wrote: I like the theory behind them where instead of a segregated "standing area" or "seated area" people can choose to stand or sit

Eh....until the person in front of you stands up?

Their primary purpose seems to be to prevent crush on very large terraces. Not something we need to concern ourselves with.

If they were installed in the clan they'd just reduce capacity for no good reason.

Donal Connolly wrote: Can't see a Bohermore stand being of much value, better improve the Clann or a stand beside the main stand. Unless you have a quality stand behind a goalpost it isn't much good - and a quality stand isn't going to happen at the Bohermore end. The vast majority want to see rugby from the sidelines - better vantage point - not behind a goal

The Main stand side is a no go'er unless they are planning complete redevelopment; and even then it will be a 'mare due to resident proximity.
Clan side would require complete redevelopment due to access road and existing clubhouse. Depending what's in mind Bohermore is logical particularly if a family stand is envisaged.

The Blue Chip areas of the ground are the areas to the side of the pitch (Main Stand & Clan Terrace), and Connacht has to gain maximum financial reward from ticket sales there.
Also in most other grounds going back generations the Family enclosure is generally located in lower value areas, which is the price point that most people purchasing tickets for their kids require. (Anyone old enough to remember the Schoolboy Terrace at Lansdowne Road (back and right hand side South (Lansdowne) Terrace)...)

If the Clan side can only accommodate 3-4k max, which is better 3k at €20-30.00, or 2K at €20-30.00 + 1K at €5-17.50..?

Connacht can still allocate a certain number of tickets for older kids, the 12-17 yo’s in the Clan & Main Stand areas but moving families to a specific area would definitively bring more rewards as well as offering a seated space for younger kids (and older fans too of course) …

But the point is that this season has given the province a real hunger for success and progression, and for that Connacht has to be much smarter about it’s revenue generation. If you make a Season Ticket comparison compared to Leinster (ignoring their attendance numbers and Dublin Tax) it’s clear how far behind the income stream for tickets is at Connacht. By comparison it’s a very expensive business being a Leinster season ticket holder (even if you want to sit in the rain), and that’s even before you tag on the Tickettout service fees...

If things like the Clan Stand are ever to come on stream then the income needs to be maximised right now, and it doesn't have to mean necessarily massively jamming up the ticket prices…

I like the theory behind them where instead of a segregated "standing area" or "seated area" people can choose to stand or sit