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11 years 8 months ago #8701

Hi guys,

I don't know about the terraces but there are plans for development of some more of the grounds. I am not sure about how much I can talk about but there are definitely improvements happening this season.

Also the Clan Bar will be upgraded, and they have take on board our requirements for improved speakers in the bar so that the events can be clearly heard by who attend and not just the first 5 rows or so!


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11 years 7 months ago #8858

dont think the west stand is going to be an issue any longer, just noticed on the plannign application that the application for retention of it was withdrawn by the branch on June 8th. Grumpy B&B man gets his way after all. interesting to see will it re appear for this season. it says that it was dismantled and removed from site on 23 - 24th april.

http://gis.galwaycity.ie/WebDocsViewer/displayimage.asp?ID=13541406

Last edit: 11 years 7 months ago by sea_point.

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11 years 7 months ago #8862

Diom wrote: Hi guys,

I don't know about the terraces but there are plans for development of some more of the grounds. I am not sure about how much I can talk about but there are definitely improvements happening this season.

Also the Clan Bar will be upgraded, and they have take on board our requirements for improved speakers in the bar so that the events can be clearly heard by who attend and not just the first 5 rows or so!


It's all available to see via the Galway City Planning site anyway on File Number: 12122

Permission for the following:

  • Provision of new changing room facilities and associated site works;
  • Provision of new sports equipment storage facilities and associated site works;
  • Provision of an extension to an existing hospitality facility. 1st floor extension to existing sports pavillion/administration facility.
  • Provision of 2 no. promotional signs.
  • Retention of an existing commercial marketing office facility

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11 years 7 months ago #8870

micktreacy wrote: dont think the west stand is going to be an issue any longer, just noticed on the plannign application that the application for retention of it was withdrawn by the branch on June 8th. Grumpy B&B man gets his way after all. interesting to see will it re appear for this season. it says that it was dismantled and removed from site on 23 - 24th april.

http://gis.galwaycity.ie/WebDocsViewer/displayimage.asp?ID=13541406


In fairness to the guy from the B&B, his business was being impacted. I agreed completely with his argument that a structure can't be considered temporary if it is in place for 8 or 9 months out of 12. My understanding is the stand is gone for good. I don't think it will make a huge impact anyway.

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11 years 7 months ago #8873

Not sure if that planning records covers it all S_P but great find.

As for the stand... I can't see what the impact was to that business unless he was marketing his view of the field from his upstairs side windows?
Nothing against them for any action though, they are entitled to take actions to protect their business even if I disagree...


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11 years 7 months ago #8875

yea i would agree fully with that diom.

what about the season ticket holders sold( or advertised as for sale) and sponsors seats though. A certain amount of seats are expected to be available to opposition alickadoos aswell? this could cause a problem as i cant see anywhere else in ground to put a covered temp stand until finance is in place for clan seats.

I read on Glasgowwarriors.com that they have recieved planning permission for their new scotstoun ground to erect temporary stands behind both goals for 5 times in season/year for 30 days at a time. This might be a way around these objections for connacht rugby.

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11 years 7 months ago #8877

rossie wrote: yea i would agree fully with that diom.

what about the season ticket holders sold( or advertised as for sale) and sponsors seats though. A certain amount of seats are expected to be available to opposition alickadoos aswell? this could cause a problem as i cant see anywhere else in ground to put a covered temp stand until finance is in place for clan seats.

I read on Glasgowwarriors.com that they have recieved planning permission for their new scotstoun ground to erect temporary stands behind both goals for 5 times in season/year for 30 days at a time. This might be a way around these objections for connacht rugby.


In fairness though have you seen where Sctostoun is located? They have no problem with neighbours objections...

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11 years 7 months ago #8878

And wouldn't understand them if they did, what what.


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11 years 7 months ago #8879

No never seen where it is but i notice on their forum that they are having serious problems with local residents associations re all other matchday associated situations like carparks, parking, entertainment etc but got permission for these temp stands in this format. AFAIK they looked to keep them for season but got this permission.

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11 years 7 months ago #8881

rossie wrote: No never seen where it is but i notice on their forum that they are having serious problems with local residents associations re all other matchday associated situations like carparks, parking, entertainment etc but got permission for these temp stands in this format. AFAIK they looked to keep them for season but got this permission.


Basically the have loads of space around them to build, any stands they put up would need to be ten storeys high befeo they would cast a shadow of any nearby housing...

goo.gl/maps/myK4r

All the other stuff is pretty standard, communities will always raise concern about increased traffic (car & foot) and the noise/security implications. When it's a new venture/location as a resident you have to get your concerns across early. They are only doing what pretty much eveyone else would do..

Sportsground though is a different situation to Scoutsoun, becasue it predated the housing development by over 50 years as one of Galways primary sports venues. People bought on the development knowing full well it was next door to a Dog Track/Rugby venue...

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11 years 7 months ago #8979

I had a walk around the sportsground yesterday and i have to say there is very little evidence of any improvements being made atm. The only works ongoing i saw was that they appear to be putting something in under the events control room(elevated prefab beside big screen). Possibly toilets given the pipes lying nearby and the need for them.

Everything else appears exactly the same apart from the seated stand not in place. Pitch looks immaculate but this is one area where connacht branch staff appear to be on top of their game.

I dont know how much work can be done in 23 days but my impression is that it will be as you where save for a few extra toilets.

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11 years 7 months ago #9085

Was chatting with Eoin Banahan today in the Sportsground and there are a number of improvements happening over the next couple of weeks.

Major billboards are being put up around the ground to give it a more closed in feel, first one is up at the College Road end of the Clan Stand on the side pitch side of the road, with more to follow behind the goals at either end of the ground.

There will also be a lot more food stalls setting up for matches, a kiddies play area at the College Road end of the main stand and a new seating area at the other end of the main stand.

Also an events company has been hired for all the matches this season, so the build up to the Toulouse match will become something of the norm from now on.

All sounds like the whole match day experience is going to get even better than last year, roll on the new season.

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11 years 7 months ago #9228

During the game yesterday i was standing at the Bohermore end of the Clan Terrace when a connacht official(i assume) and two contractors came in. The jist of their conversation was the allocating/sealing off of the Bohermore end of the clan terrace from the traps up as a kids only area(their words). I assume they were speaking about a family area in the clan and its the ideal place for it in the grounds current makeup( it wouldnt work as a kids only area).

The Dog traps provide a natural barrier to the walkway so a sealing off from the bohermore end of the traps and using the bohermore end of the terrace as an entry/exit point would make perfect sense logistically. It also allows easy access for the kids to the autograph area outside the dressing rooms and there are toilets at that end. This will be a positive development if it happens.

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11 years 7 months ago #9233

A family section is a great idea but it should also be made available to clubs who bring underage teams to the Sportsground, most of the time if they are at the back of the terrace they can't see through the crowd and last year I was approached by an u14 who was willing to pay E10 for half of my pint!

Guess the Celtic tiger is still roaring


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11 years 7 months ago #9297

While I was delighted to see the other day that the IRFU has indicated that they would look to host (with the aid of some GAA facilities) the 2023 RWC it struck me that if the RWC bid does come to pass and is accepted, it would be extremely disappointing if by the time of the event itself that the Galway Sportsground wasn't in a position to host one of the lesser group games through some continued development and the addition of temporary stands to bring the capacity up to the minimum acceptable capacity - probably 20,000.

Ideally I'd like to see two Group games held in Galway with Pearse Stadium acting as venue for a large fixture, but the Sportsground playing some part in the tournament also...

There is precedent, at RWC2011 in NZ where there were three smaller stadiums utilised

*Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North (15,000 capacity) for Argentina v Georgia and Georgia v Romania
*Northland Events Centre , Whangarei (18,000 capacity) for Tonga's games v Canada & Japan
*Trafalgar Park, Nelson (18,000 capacity) for Italy games v Russia & USA and also Australia v Russia,

There will be teams qualifying that will not bring much support with them, and fixtures which attract only the purists and would be lost in a stadium over 20,000. And while The Sportsground isn't everyone's cup of tea because of the dog track, it's not an insurmountable problem though with forward planning and the fact remains it has for seven or eight decades been the home of Connacht Rugby and will be for the foreseeable future....

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11 years 6 months ago #9375

few notes from today. big advertisment boards on the right as you go in the gate for the clan stand. big ones you see entering cities etc. at the moment its blank but its in a place that it will be seen on tv when the camera is pointing in that corner.

i didnt notice more toilets although they had a jack hammer going, but cant imagine it was for toilets the place that was being done.
someone said there will be all seated area to the right of the main stand, no seats there yet.
at the botharmore side of the clan, there is a wooden pen, maybe 10ft x 10ft with a wooden ramp up it, is this the children area or is it a wheeelchair area ?

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