Thomond Park brings economic boost to Limerick

Amazotheamazing

Thomond Park brings economic boost to Limerick
By Jimmy Woulfe, Mid-West Correspondent
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2011

THOMOND Park has given a boost to the Limerick economy equal to an industry employing 565 full-time workers since it opened in October 2008.

The statistic was one of the key findings in a social impact study, conducted on the benefits the stadium has brought to the city.

To date, more than 760,000 people have attended games and concerts at the venue and it has yielded up to 30,000 bed nights to hotels and B&Bs.

Local employment earnings at games and concerts have topped more than €600,000.

The findings were outlined yesterday when Thomond Park management announced a new programme to "reach out to the local community".

A special fund will be distributed under the Thomond Park Stadium Community Programme which works with a wide range of community groups and organisations. The fund will support a range of social, education and community projects.

The monies will assist local schools, sports clubs, community groups and local voluntary organisations to support new programmes, purchase equipment or support local community projects.

The study was conducted by Focus Consulting and its associate director Mark O’Connell said: "These are very impressive findings and brings home how important Thomond Park has become to the wider Limerick economy since it was redeveloped at a cost of €40 million. When you see how it compares to the level of employment from a major industry, it further emphasises its place as a key element of commerce in Limerick."

Stadium director John Cantwell said: "Since the redevelopment of the stadium, we have proactively sought to help and work with as many local community groups as possible.

"This has resulted in the establishment of a varied community programme that has worked with youth groups, art and culture groups, education, to organisations catering for social disadvantage and people with disabilities.

"We are mindful of the status of the stadium in addition to its social role in Limerick particularly across the local community."

Ireland and Munster player Keith Earls, brought up in nearby Moyross, said the new fund would help deliver a lot of key projects which are very important to the local community.

"Growing up near the stadium you appreciate what it means to the local community and the pride we take in it. The development of the fund as an extension of the community programme will make a real difference for local community projects and build further on the stadium’s place in our community.

"It will also allow local groups work even closer with Thomond Park stadium to identify longer term projects that can be delivered through the fund," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Cantwell said on any event day, over 800 people are employed in a variety of operational roles.

A recent independent analysis revealed sports, entertainment and business events at the stadium have contributed in excess of €132m to the local economy.

This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, February 16, 2011



Read more: http://examiner.ie/ireland/thomond-park-brings-economic-boost-to-limerick-145353.html#ixzz1Ir2Xd7Ls

Amazotheamazing

Amazing facility but the figures really hit home how important rugby has become to the economic life of Limerick city. I meant to post this ages back but was reminded to do so by one of the resident miserabilists on the Shannon bridge thread, cheers for that.

If we win this weekend the semi-final will be held in Thomond afaik, another much needed boost for the city.

Kess73

If TP is equal to an industry giving 565 full time jobs to the area since 2008, and that is deemed to be worth €132m to the local economy in just over two years, then it hammers home, for me, the savage impact upon the local economy caused by the loss of around 2,000 jobs at Dell plus the hundreds and hundreds of other jobs that were hit in the fall out of the Dell job losses.


Not to mention the impact of the scaling down of Shannon Airport.

Amazotheamazing

Kess73 wrote: »

If TP is equal to an industry giving 565 full time jobs to the area since 2008, and that is deemed to be worth €132m to the local economy in just over two years, then it hammers home, for me, the savage impact upon the local economy caused by the loss of around 2,000 jobs at Dell plus the hundreds and hundreds of other jobs that were hit in the fall out of the Dell job losses.


Not to mention the impact of the scaling down of Shannon Airport.

Yeah, the figures are quite stark alright.

It's important to find ways for the midwest to fully maximise Thomond, whether it's rugby, concerts, Limerick FC games or whatever.

phog

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Yeah, the figures are quite stark alright.

It's important to find ways for the midwest to fully maximise Thomond, whether it's rugby, concerts, Limerick FC games or whatever.

I'd agree with you and it's a pity the gaelic grounds doesn't get a few more of the bigger games too.

Insect Overlord

phog wrote: »

I'd agree with you and it's a pity the gaelic grounds doesn't get a few more of the bigger games too.

With an open mind and a fleet of shuttle-busses, the Gaelic Grounds could be a gold-mine. As it is now, location/parking issues (amongst other things, obviously) are holding it back.

Melion

Is it time to roll out the €10m comment again?

Kess73

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Yeah, the figures are quite stark alright.

It's important to find ways for the midwest to fully maximise Thomond, whether it's rugby, concerts, Limerick FC games or whatever.

Cannot argue with that.

CiaranMT

Insect Overlord wrote: »

With an open mind and a fleet of shuttle-busses, the Gaelic Grounds could be a gold-mine. As it is now, location/parking issues (amongst other things, obviously) are holding it back.

Possible collaboration between Gaelic Grounds and the people who own the car parks at Woodies and Jetland just down the road?

Insect Overlord

CiaranMT wrote: »

Possible collaboration between Gaelic Grounds and the people who own the car parks at Woodies and Jetland just down the road?

You could be on to something there. Coonagh Cross also has a large carpark, which never seems to be more than 40% full. Limerick City has the facilities, it just needs the imagination and the drive to make the most of them. People on this forum have been posting about the potential for as long as I've been reading here!

It's just a shame that Thomond Park is the only venture currently making use of the resources that are there.

TestTransmission

Insect Overlord wrote: »

You could be on to something there. Coonagh Cross also has a large carpark, which never seems to be more than 40% full. Limerick City has the facilities, it just needs the imagination and the drive to make the most of them. People on this forum have been posting about the potential for as long as I've been reading here!

It's just a shame that Thomond Park is the only venture currently making use of the resources that are there.

Well,the car park is now a lot smaller in the past few days.They've started on the petrol station by the looks of it.

kilburn

I reckon we need a good rock n roll festival in the city. multiple venues at the one time with massive bands. Radiohead playing in Thomand Park and Coldplay playing in the Gaelic Grounds while Oasis reunites for one nite only at the old dog track. We could call it pyjama fest ! Seriously though why not?

Kess73

kilburn wrote: »

I reckon we need a good rock n roll festival in the city. multiple venues at the one time with massive bands. Radiohead playing in Thomand Park and Coldplay playing in the Gaelic Grounds while Oasis reunites for one nite only at the old dog track. We could call it pyjama fest ! Seriously though why not?

That is a cool idea and one that I see no reason as to why it could not be done.

Smaller towns in Ireland are able to hold and organise decent sized music festivals, and Thurles was able to hold Feile for years.


Maybe have one major act in two or three locations, and each of those major acts having four or five support acts.

One location could be hard rock and Metal. One could be radio rock/pop. One could be dance or rap.

It could be all held on one day or spread over three days. With big enough acts it would be a massive draw to the city, and if done every year to a high standard it could become an established festival quickly