UCD Bowl
Encyclopedia
The UCD Bowl is a rugby union
and football
stadium in the Southeast of Dublin. It is the home ground of University College Dublin RFC in the AIB All Ireland League
and University College Dublin A.F.C.
in League of Ireland
Premier Division. It has also hosted training sessions for the Ireland rugby team
and various touring international teams including the All Blacks
.
With its redevelopment complete, it now has capacity for 3,000 people, including 1,500 seats. It is located to the North of the Belfield campus beside the National hockey stadium, near the Sports Centre. There is a single stand on the Southern side of the stadium with uncovered standing room at each end. 860 seats in the stand are covered.
as the Bowl would not meet the requirements of UEFA licencing for the League of Ireland
. The redevelopment was confirmed in 2006 after a €1.25 million Sports Capital grant was allocated to the work and objections to planning were overruled. The seated capacity increased from 860 to 1,500 and a hard surface laid to allow standing capacity around the pitch. Floodlights, improved fencing around the stadium and facilities for shops, toilets and turnstiles were also added. The work was finished in late 2007 in time for the 2008 League of Ireland season. Planning permission has been applied for to replace the current roof with a cantilever
structure which will cover all 1,500 seats. Eventually, the stadium is planned to have a capacity of 4,500 seats although there is no time scale laid out for this yet. UCD's record attendance at the venue was 1,986 for the visit of Shamrock Rovers in October 2010.
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...
and football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
stadium in the Southeast of Dublin. It is the home ground of University College Dublin RFC in the AIB All Ireland League
AIB League
The Ulster Bank All-Ireland League is the national league system for the 48 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is not, however, the highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play...
and University College Dublin A.F.C.
University College Dublin A.F.C.
University College Dublin Association Football Club known commonly as UCD is the football team of University College Dublin. They play in the League of Ireland. The club, founded in 1895 was elected to the league in 1979 under the management of Dr. Tony O'Neill. Since the 2008 season they have...
in League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
Premier Division. It has also hosted training sessions for the Ireland rugby team
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
and various touring international teams including the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
.
With its redevelopment complete, it now has capacity for 3,000 people, including 1,500 seats. It is located to the North of the Belfield campus beside the National hockey stadium, near the Sports Centre. There is a single stand on the Southern side of the stadium with uncovered standing room at each end. 860 seats in the stand are covered.
Redevelopment
A substantial programme of improvements to the Bowl was started in 2007 after a decision was made to move the UCD football team from their home in Belfield ParkBelfield Park
Belfield Park was the home ground of University College Dublin A.F.C. from 1930 until 2007. It was previously a walled garden of Belfield House....
as the Bowl would not meet the requirements of UEFA licencing for the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
. The redevelopment was confirmed in 2006 after a €1.25 million Sports Capital grant was allocated to the work and objections to planning were overruled. The seated capacity increased from 860 to 1,500 and a hard surface laid to allow standing capacity around the pitch. Floodlights, improved fencing around the stadium and facilities for shops, toilets and turnstiles were also added. The work was finished in late 2007 in time for the 2008 League of Ireland season. Planning permission has been applied for to replace the current roof with a cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
structure which will cover all 1,500 seats. Eventually, the stadium is planned to have a capacity of 4,500 seats although there is no time scale laid out for this yet. UCD's record attendance at the venue was 1,986 for the visit of Shamrock Rovers in October 2010.