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THE COST of developing the Sportsground has jumped by €10m since it was announced in 2018 and it will now cost over €40m when it is built over the next two years.
But a new 12-year naming rights for the venue is going to help offset the cost of the increase for Connacht Rugby.
The venue known as the Sportsground since it was opened in 1927 will from this morning now be Dexcom Stadium following confirmation of the sponsorship deal with the US multinational medical company which is about to start work on developing its first European manufacturing plant in Athenry.
The stadium has been rebranded overnight and the Dexcom logo will be displayed throughout the venue for this evening’s Champions Cup clash with Bristol Bears.
Capacity is currently just over 6,000 with a facility to bring it up to 8,000 by installing temporary stands behind each goal. The new capacity, when the stadium is fully open during the 2025/26 season, will increase to 10,000 with a further 2,000 extra behind each goal as before.
The development also includes a modern high-performance centre, while the new North Stand will have conference facilities and other non-matchday earning potential.
The proposed redevelopment was impacted by Covid but Connacht chief executive Willie Ruane said that the extra time allowed them to increase the finance pot for the works, with over €6m set aside from their share of the CVC buy-in to the Six Nations, and while the Dexcom deal is not front-loaded and will come in the form of annual payments for the next 12 years, it has allowed them greater stability, while they are also availing of additional credit facilities and donations.
This has allowed them to deal with the massive jump in the cost of the project, which was initially priced at €30m when it was announced in 2018. Government funding was confirmed for €20m, with Connacht raising the remaining €10m through their own funds and credit facilities.
The IRFU are not making a direct financial contribution but Ruane said they were supportive on many other fronts and were key to the project. Contracts were signed last week for the project so the cost of just over €40m is now set in stone and Ruane said they were confident they had the financial package sorted.
“It is in excess of €40m. It is a significant jump but what it did was enable us to increase our own funding as well,” he said.
Work will start in March on building the new high-performance centre, which will be attached to the existing standalone gym. Then, when the season is over, the Clan Stand and existing office blocks, which were developed two decades ago, will be knocked down. That side of the ground will be out of commission for all of next season and into the 2025/26 season until the works are complete.
The capacity of the ground will be reduced to between 3,500 to 4,000 next season. Office staff will work from home similar to the Covid period, while temporary dressing rooms will be introduced for players to continue training at the venue and for matchday.
The new North Stand, which really will be the fulcrum of the redeveloped stadium with bars, shops and catering facilities, will have a capacity of around 7,000. This will include a standing terrace at the front for 1,900, then 4,000 seats at the next level, while on the upper level, there will be corporate facilities catering for around 900 and this will also be the venue for non-matchday conferences.
“It’s the non-matchday revenues which could have some of the most significant potential to be able to move us to another level in terms of our revenues,” added Ruane.
He said the deal with Dexcom, a company that has its headquarters in San Diego and is renowned for manufacturing glucose monitor devices, which help manage diabetes and is about to create 1,000 jobs in its new Athenry plant, is key to the whole development.
“It is a critical enabler of the whole project for us. We are delighted that we have managed to develop a relationship with Dexcom and that we have them as partners going forward.
“We are very proud to be associated with them. The product they make is a product which affects lives and we have members of staff who use that product and it has transformed how they manage diabetes in their lives,” added Ruane.
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Hooping for a bright future.
@Big Beats: fantastic news,we have tons of potential…now with these premier standard facilities….no reason why basketball shouldn’t be massive in Ireland
That’s the equivalent of 113 Bike Shelters
What a waste. They need to pump that money into grass-roots football and make Ireland competitive again. Who the hell plays basketball, waste.
@Basildon Joe: brilliant idea, let’s continue funding the largesse, wastage& incompetence in the FAI to the detriment of other sports that we may ( hopefully) thrive & succeed at
@Buster Lawless: now delaney is gone surely they can progress and not squander the funding, in my honest opinion buster.
@Basildon Joe: the Fai was given €30 million in 2020. That’s €8 million less than this project. Look at what that €38 million is being used for. 4 sports will get to use the building/facility which are all Olympic sports as squash is starting in 2028. Where has the €30 million gone. Since the Fai were given that money Ireland has had their worst run internationally is living memory. What facilities have the Fai used to make grassroots better since given that money. Should we just give them another €30 million. Never heard of coaches going into schools. Havnt seen any pitches being built. Clubhouses or changing rooms being built. National lottery won’t give them money cause it will just disappear. The Fai needs to make a little effort around the country before they get another penny.
@Basildon Joe: 200 clubs and 30000 players, so no, not a waste of money. Unlike the finacial sinkhole that domestic football is in Ireland…
@Sea Point: yeah but come on its pretty much a national sport for Ireland behind GAa. I just want to see Ireland improve as they are shocking right now and need all the help they can get.
@Basildon Joe: they got €30 million help 4 years ago. Government can’t keep throwing money at the Fai with zero return. No facilities, pitch upgrades. Nothing.
@Orban Orban: it makes me sick, and the kids suffer now watching that dire rubbish.
Sure they had to jump through a few hoops to net that permission
No basketball court in my town. There would be nothing wrong with spreading the wealth a little to encourage more communities across the country to take up the sport, or even a place a few teenagers could hang out, shoot a few hoops.
@Aidan Conlon: You should contact your local coco. SDCC have put up quite a few over the years.
Waste of money, we’re not a basketball country and never will be.
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: Well, seeing as we are s**te at football, we may as well try funding something else. Worked out fairly well for rugby.
How about pumping this kind of money into grass roots football instead of squandering money on a minority American sport!?
@Tezmond McVicar: my point exactly Tez. Disgusting waste of money on this toilet.
So they can perfect their, ahem, gaelic fooballing (haha) skills.
@offside again: ah kevvy, take a breather, a day off …. Go away down beach with dogs, juvenile trolling ISN’T the he all & end all
@Buster Lawless: take your own advice and stop stalking whilst you’re at it.
@offside again: kevvy, you probably know this with your weirdo stalking but I go down strand 1st thing every morning with the best doggies in Ireland…. lately cause of your delusional ramblings I DO make sure I have phone with me though
@Buster Lawless: Kevin Kerr is the Zodiac Killer
@Vince Cable: baby reindeer, lol
@Buster Lawless : you actually get up in the morning ? Ok fair enough. It’s good of the dogs to bring you for a walk I suppose.
I hope you pick up their poo after them.
Any hence they will sort out the entrance ??
Great facilities in Dublin to be fair …….
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