SportsGround Developments

He welcomed additional funding of €2.75m for the greyhound racing industry this year to bring its annual exchequer funding to €13.6m.

Hold on.......greyhound racing gets 13.6 MILLION euro......from Irish tax payers....that is scandalous

I actually like a night at the dogs, and having family involved in it, but how is that not more widely known as I find it incredible

In 2011 €57 million was made available from the exchequer to the horse and greyhound fund established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 to support these industries. This Act determines that 100 per cent of the receipts from levies placed on bets in Ireland goes to this fund, regardless of what the bet is placed on. About 80 per cent of the fund benefits Horse Racing Ireland, which oversees a prize money fund 60 per cent higher than that of the UK.
Compare that with the funding of the Irish Sports Council, which last year amounted to €25.6 million for 57 national governing bodies, 32 local sports partnerships and 18 high-performance sports.

Absolutely mental

Madness re those funding numbers.

I would love to hear a good, detailed interview with Willie Ruane on the future vision for Connacht.

He has been quiet, working away in the shadows, but it would be good to hear a bit on the long terms plans for the province.

In terms of on the pitch, we fight well above our station with a successful academy and good coaching.

But we do have a gap in infrastructure and training facilities compared with the other provinces.

www.igb.ie/globalassets/report-pdfs/annu...report-final2014.pdf
Page 24 shows Income & Expenditure
Even with 10.8 million from Horse and Greyhound Fund they made a loss

The IGB’s net debt at the end of 2013 stood at €21.8m. A note attached to the accounts stated that its credit facilities are to expire at the end of 2016 and are on an interest-only basis.

I'm probably reading this wrong, but does that mean the IGB have deal until 2016 to only pay interest on this debt?
If so, maybe an opportunity for Connacht Rugby to become only tenants of Sportsground if IGB hands become tied?

wp_rathead wrote: I'm probably reading this wrong, but does that mean the IGB have deal until 2016 to only pay interest on this debt?
If so, maybe an opportunity for Connacht Rugby to become only tenants of Sportsground if IGB hands become tied?

The Examiner article quoted above has them selling Harald's Cross stadium which would kill a huge whack of that debt, so I wouldn't get too excited.

It's a bit of a chicken and egg scenario; the dogs are probably viable while they're leeching off the rugby (their bar takings on game days must be huge), but we can't invest until they shag off. End game might be that Connacht have to leave, which in turn would men the dogs go under. Anyone fancy a nice little investment property in the Sportsground Vale Apportment Complex?

Levelling and rebuilding the main stand side could happen whether the doggies are there or not. It's probably more realistic to try and work with the IGB rather than hoping they'll feck off, and plenty of stadiums have athletic tracks between the stand and pitch so we should be able to live with it. What's the story with dog tracks anyway? Do they have to be a certain length or shape? It's just sand at the end of the day, if it needed slight modification to accommodate better facilities I bet that wouldn't be an issue.

menacethedenis wrote: Levelling and rebuilding the main stand side could happen whether the doggies are there or not. It's probably more realistic to try and work with the IGB rather than hoping they'll feck off, and plenty of stadiums have athletic tracks between the stand and pitch so we should be able to live with it. What's the story with dog tracks anyway? Do they have to be a certain length or shape? It's just sand at the end of the day, if it needed slight modification to accommodate better facilities I bet that wouldn't be an issue.

Redevelopment of the Main stand side is not really an option as it would take a conservative 12 -18 months to do anything worthwhile and the dog racing would also have to stop during this time as all the spotlights, photo equipment, tote and catering facilities are all located in or on the Main Stands.
If we really want anything to happen. Get the Connacht supporters to stop using the bar's and food stalls for a few months and dry up all the income the Dog's get from us but I will not hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

The dogs going to the racecourse would suit the the dogs better, us better and if we shared it with the football them too. It's a win for all parties. Hopefully Willie Ruane is getting in the right ears about it. The world cup bid is ideal for us push our case.

FACECUTTR wrote: The dogs going to the racecourse would suit the the dogs better, us better and if we shared it with the football them too. It's a win for all parties. Hopefully Willie Ruane is getting in the right ears about it. The world cup bid is ideal for us push our case.

As I understand it, the terms of the Trust giving the Sportsground to the City stipulated that it be kept as a an "amenity" space, so it can not be sold. Even if it could, we would not get any money from any sale.
The racecourse would not work for us as it is too far out. Almost all the spectators in the Sportsground walk to the games. No one is going to walk out to the racecourse.
The cost of a stadium big enough to accommodate even a World Cup pool game would run into many millions. (Would need new seated stands on both sides of the pitch) so that is not going to happen.
Solution - The Sportsground with Connacht Rugby as the Main Tenant and taking ALL the revenues from the food an drink. Dog's remain but changing race nights to facilitate the Rugby matches as required (only impacting on 400 people, their average nightly attendance) The proposed new seating above the Clan Tec to be completed.

I meant let the dogs move to the racecourse and we stay put as the chief tenants with Galway utd renting. We need to be within walking distance or there is no point.

Some interesting questions on the Connacht rugby survey this year:

What influence would converting the Bohermore Terrace to a covered, seated stand have on your willingness to purchase a ticket in that area?

What influence would access to a warm, sheltered and exclusive season ticket holders' bar have on your arrival time at the Sportsground on match days?

So seems like there are plans afoot. Both are great ideas to me

Accidentally Onside wrote: Some interesting questions on the Connacht rugby survey this year:

What influence would converting the Bohermore Terrace to a covered, seated stand have on your willingness to purchase a ticket in that area?

What influence would access to a warm, sheltered and exclusive season ticket holders' bar have on your arrival time at the Sportsground on match days?

So seems like there are plans afoot. Both are great ideas to me

Came in here to say the same thing. Both ideas sound great to me. I hope everyone takes some time to complete the survey.
It was in my promotions folder on gmail