Connacht Rugby have confirmed they are taking the next steps in their historic redevelopment of The Sportsground, with the commencement of a Public Procurement Process for Phase 2.
Phase 2 includes the construction of a High-Performance Centre and new North Stand with the procurement process taking approximately six months, prior to the commencement of a two-year construction programme in 2023.
Construction will begin with the build of the new High-Performance Centre consisting of a new indoor training pitch as well as state-of-the-art athlete and staff facilities.
Upon completion, work will then immediately begin on the new North Stand.
This Stand will replace the existing Clan Terrace and will consist of a mixture of standing, seated and hospitality options with top-class facilities for players, supporters, partners and media.
The North Stand will have a capacity of over 7,000 supporters and is currently scheduled to be completed in time for the 2025/26 season.
The redevelopment of The Sportsground began in May 2022 with Phase 1 consisting of a new synthetic playing surface and LED floodlighting system.
The pitch was completed on-schedule in September with the new floodlights to be installed next month.
The redevelopment is supported by the Department of Tourism Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media’s Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
The LSSIF is designed to support projects where the grant sought is greater than the maximum available under the Department’s Sports Capital and Equipment Programme.
The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and included funding towards The Sportsground redevelopment.
