Work begins on overhaul of Sportsground

Diggers were brought in to remove the grass playing surface at the Sportsground last week to make way for a new artificial playing surface to be laid in time for the 2022/23 season.

Work on the new synthetic pitch and LED floodlights signals the beginning of phase one of the €30m redevelopment of the home of Connacht Rugby in Galway City.

In May, 2019 the province was granted planning permission for a redevelopment of the Sportsground. Some €20m of the revamp of the College Road venue was pledged by Government with a further €10m from private funding.

Preparatory work on phase two of the redevelopment, which involves a new high-performance centre and new stand to bring total capacity to around 12,000, will commence soon.

Use of the greyhound track will be maintained during the phase one works.

The new synthetic pitch planned for the Sportsground is likely to be a major talking point among supporters at the start of the new season in September, and use of artificial pitches has divided opinion.

But in a statement the club has insisted the new artificial surface would allow more schools and club games to be played at the venue.

Willie Ruane, CEO of Connacht Rugby, added: “There are many advantages to an artificial surface, not least that it enables us to remain in The Sportsground as both our training and playing base.

“The additional capacity that this surface provides will also give boys and girls across the province greater opportunities to play at the home of Connacht Rugby, and act as a beacon that future generations of players and supporters can be proud of.”

According to the tender documents, the new synthetic pitch must be “certified to World Rugby standards”.

The works include a full synthetic pitch replacement, including all necessary “stone build-up, shock pads, carpet and infill material, together will all the necessary drainage”.

Mr Ruane said a new LED floodlight system will “greatly enhance the viewing experience for both supporters attending games and those watching at home”.

As part of the contract to install new floodlights and new synthetic pitch, access to the greyhound track on the perimeter of the pitch must be maintained for greyhound racing.

The track is owned and run by Irish Greyhound Board who will continue to use the track for races at weekends and for trials during the week this summer.

Mr Ruane confirmed that phase 2 of the redevelopment will soon be entering the procurement phase leading to the construction of a “state-of-the-art” high performance centre, followed by the construction of a new North stand.

“This redevelopment project is also the start of what is a very exciting time for Connacht Rugby. The new High Performance Centre will give all our squads state-of-the-art facilities that will help them prepare to their fullest potential and to perform at the highest level.

“The new North Stand will also transform the club in terms of the facilities we can offer our fans and players and in the commercial and financial benefits that accrue with that,” he said.

Mr Ruane described the start of phase one of the project as “a historic occasion for Connacht Rugby”. He thanked Government for financial support of the project and local residents, “for their fulsome support of this project”.

A study by economic consultants in 2016 concluded that Connacht Rugby’s annual contribution to the regional economy was €34.4m.