Galway Sportsgrounds
Encyclopedia
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.
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 .
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
). This was then surpassed when 7,000 attended the Amlin Cup
semi-final against Toulon on 30 April 2010.
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.
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.
will participate in European Rugby's blue ribbon competition the Heineken Cup
in season 2011-2012. This has spurred a new phase of development 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.
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
in Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. 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
Bord na gCon
Bord na gCon ,abbreviated BnaC, is an Irish semi-state body charged with regulating and promoting greyhound racing in Ireland. The board has been active in developing the sport in Ireland since its founding in 1958, but has also drawn criticism for acting independently of the government.- History...
, the ground is sub-let to Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Connacht that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 comprising teams from the Celtic nations plus Italy. Normally, it also competes in the second-tier pan-European club competition, the European Challenge Cup...
who use it as their home stadium to play rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
matches in the RaboDirect Pro12
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
and Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
competitions.
The 1942 Galway County Hurling Final was held at the venue.
When Terryland Park
Terryland Park
Terryland Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Galway, Ireland, owned by the Galway & District Football League. It is currently used for association football matches and has been the home ground of Galway United since 1977.- History :...
was being renovated in 1993 Galway United
Galway United
Galway United F.C. was founded as Galway Rovers in 1937. They are a football club currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division, the top tier of the Irish football....
played at the Sportsgrounds for the first part of that season.
Capacity
The Sportsgrounds stadium has been modified and extended in 2011, and is able to hold up to 9,200 people when temporary stand is in place on the main Grandstand side of the ground. Up to the ground extension 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 .
European Rugby
The record attendance for a European match was 6,000 on Sunday 25 April 2004 against Harlequin F.C.
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
(then NEC Harlequins) in the Semi-final of the 2003–2004 Parker Pen Challenge Cup (now the European Challenge Cup
European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
). This was then surpassed when 7,000 attended the Amlin Cup
European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
semi-final against Toulon on 30 April 2010.
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.
Development
In the past few years the Irish Rugby Football UnionIrish Rugby Football Union
The Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played...
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.
Season 2011-12
Connacht RugbyConnacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Connacht that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 comprising teams from the Celtic nations plus Italy. Normally, it also competes in the second-tier pan-European club competition, the European Challenge Cup...
will participate in European Rugby's blue ribbon competition the Heineken Cup
2011–12 Heineken Cup
The 2011–12 Heineken Cup is the 17th season of the Heineken Cup, the annual rugby union European club competition for clubs from the top six nations in European rugby...
in season 2011-2012. This has spurred a new phase of development 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.