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Suggest pagesGalway Sportsgrounds
| Galway Sportsground | |
|---|---|
| The Sportsground | |
 Connacht vs Leinster at Galway Sportsgrounds |
|
| Location | Galway |
| Coordinates | 53°16′44″N 9°02′23″W / 53.2790°N 9.0397°W |
| Opened | 1927 |
| Owner | The Galway Agricultural & Sports Society Ltd. |
| Surface | Grass |
| Capacity | 9,500 |
| Tenants | |
| Irish Greyhound Board / Bord Na Gcon & Connacht Rugby / Irish Rugby Football Union | |
Galway Sportsground, also known as The Sportsground, is a multi-purpose stadium in Galway, Ireland. It opened in 1927, with the playing of a soccer match. It is currently used mainly for Greyhound Racing as it is leased to Bord na gCon, the ground is sub-let to Connacht Rugby who use it as their home stadium to play rugby union matches in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup competitions.
The 1942 Galway County Hurling Final was held at the venue.
When Terryland Park was being renovated in 1993 Galway United played at the Sportsgrounds for the first part of that season.
Contents |
[edit] Capacity
The Sportsgrounds stadium has been modified and extended in 2011, and is able to hold up to 9,500 people when temporary stand is in place on the main Grandstand side of the ground. Up to the ground expansion the regular capacity was 5,500.
Celtic League Rugby The record attendance for a Magners League fixture is 5,368 on Friday 28 March 2008 against Munster in season 2007–2008 [1].
European Rugby The record attendance for a European match was 6,000 on Sunday 25 April 2004 against Harlequin F.C. (then NEC Harlequins) in the Semi-final of the 2003–2004 Parker Pen Challenge Cup (now the European Challenge Cup )[2]. This was then surpassed when 7,000 attended the Amlin Cup semi-final against Toulon on 30 April 2010.[3]
In season 2011-12 with their participation in the Heineken Cup, Connacht hosted four time European champions from France, Stade Tolulousain. This drew a new record crowd 9,120 packed into the refurbished ground.[4]
[edit] Development
In the past few years the Irish Rugby Football Union has helped to fund a new playing surface, a new Clubhouse, terrace and floodlighting. In 2008 a new gymnasium was built, and the redevelopment of the existing Clubhouse Terrace and some corporate facilities was also completed.
[edit] Season 2011-12
Connacht Rugby will participate in European Rugby's blue ribbon competition the Heineken Cup in season 2011-2012. This has spurred a new phase of development [5] at the Sportsground to extend formal capacity to 7,500 supporters.
With the existing Clubhouse terrace being knocked down to be replaced by a covered Terrace which will be called "the Clan Terrace". This terrace will primarily house season ticket holders/Supporters Club members.
There is also ancillary work being undertaken behind the terrace which will see the construction of a new marquee bar, food outlets and restroom facilities on the Clubhouse side of the ground.
The second part of the development will be the erection of a covered, seated "West Stand", adjacent to the existing main stand. This stand will cater for over 300 supporters in a structure that will be similar to that which was in place for Connacht’s Amlin Challenge Cup semi final against Toulon in 2010. The new West Stand, along with the developments on the new Clan side are anticipated to greatly improve overall facilities within the Sportsground and help make the home of Connacht Rugby a fun, safe and enjoyable venue for years to come.
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Galway Sportsgrounds |
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ [3][dead link]
- ^ http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/15177.php
- ^ Connacht Rugby (2011-07-13). "Connacht Catch-Up: Artist's Impression of the Sportsground Redevelopments". Officialconnachtrugby.blogspot.com. http://officialconnachtrugby.blogspot.com/2011/07/artists-impression-of-sportsground.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
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