Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

CIARAN_BOYLE · 07-03-2023 02:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120324658#Comment_120324658

Remember there's Revenue sharing in European knock outs.

I'd say that having less knockout games (if lack of home advantage means an early exit) will have more of an effect than the difference in attendance between a home and away knockout.

ClanofLams · 07-03-2023 02:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120324658#Comment_120324658

It would have been even more as knockouts aren’t included in season tickets so would probably have been 6-7k. That’s assuming I’m reading your comment right and you mean 2k over season tickets.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120324930#Comment_120324930

Do you have a link? I had heard it wasn’t but didn’t know personally. Can’t find it on google. Nonetheless with Treviso averaging around 3k at home at ticket prices of €10-€20 the difference will be substantial. Local sponsors were also pretty unhappy at the outcome as many gain from the games, hotels restaurants bars etc

CIARAN_BOYLE · 07-03-2023 02:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120325073#Comment_120325073

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/quarter-final-line-up-set-but-sheeran-ensures-thomond-is-out-of-action-1.4855187

Very quick Google search delivers this discussing how Munster got boosted money (65% instead of 50%) because they moved last years quarter final to a bigger venue.

I can't find a source about the challenge cup quickly but I'm pretty sure it's the same rules as the champions cup.

eagle eye · 07-03-2023 03:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120324658#Comment_120324658

The problem for Connacht as regards extra people at games is the venue. It's very difficult to get parking. Between Galway traffic and difficulty finding parking you are talking about nearly an hour extra for people travelling from outside the City. They need to move out of the City and find a good spot close to the motorways. That'll make it easy for everyone to get to games and I think it'd attract a lot more people. Galway city traffic is awful and difficulty finding parking versus ease of access, parking and no traffic issues. If you were near Oranmore or even a bit further out I think it would attract a lot more people.

Athlone is only about 30 minutes away, Ballinasloe closer, then you've got Gort on the Limerick side and even Kinvara people have an easier way in. A lot of time taken off the journeys of people from Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon.

I know it'd cost a lot of money but there would be huge grants available and I think there'd be serious interest in raising funds for it in every Connacht county.

I've got friends living all over Connacht who are big Rugby fans and go to a couple of games every year but they all tell you they'd be there every week only for how long it takes them to get in.

ClanofLams · 07-03-2023 03:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120325299#Comment_120325299

Wouldn’t agree with that at all. I’d have no issue with it personally and do think they could do more outreach around the province generally speaking.

The venue is a huge advantage though I think, there’s thousands going to Connacht games who have limited enough interest in rugby (or at least did when they started attending) but enjoy an evening out and a five minute walk to town. I’d be very sceptical about attendances getting anywhere close to same level elsewhere.

There’s still room for growth at the sportsground too, need a proper stand for older people, better facilities generally, that combined with a reasonably competitive team should see considerable growth.

ClanofLams · 07-03-2023 03:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120325135#Comment_120325135

Fair enough. It will still be a considerable difference due to the draw as it will be around 3k treviso fans even assuming they all sell at €20 rather than the €10 it’s 30k for Connacht. Travel expenses probably takes a reasonable chunk out of that.

Connacht likely would have sold 6k tickets at €32 ish. Not to mention hospitality, local sponsors, enhanced chance reaching quarters, Newcastle away was clearly a very costly error.

CowboyTed · 07-03-2023 04:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120325299#Comment_120325299

Apark and ride system (which will be here eventually) will do the same thing...

A lot of Connacht fans are there for the night out and enjoy the apres match experience. This includes many away travellers as well...

The Connacht ground is close to the Train & Bus as well as the city bus routes... It is a great location for a ground rather than outside the city... I remember the odd game in Cortintians... There no experience compared to the game experience now... There is no per and post match atmosphere...

In fairness all the provincial rugby grounds share this type of atmosphere... Compare that venues that are in the middle of nowhere...

CowboyTed · 07-03-2023 04:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120325546#Comment_120325546

Ideally I would love if all the sports (e.g. Rugby, Soccer & GAA) shared this ground and have a regular Friday or Saturday Night game... Something we could kind of expect a game there on a weekly basis... I think it would be great for the city and the teams involved..

FACECUTTR · 07-03-2023 04:49PM

If a park and ride facility was setup at the airport for games I'm sure it would help hugely in getting fans from around the province in and out. A 5 euro charge for the bus would be reasonable. Start 2 hours before kick off. Not everyone can make the chartered busses from around the province so this could be an option.

07-03-2023 05:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120325299#Comment_120325299

I'd say this discussion has been gone over almost a million times now. Most professional sports teams would love to have a city centre location within minutes walk of a train station, two coach stations, and most of the city's commuter busses. Like it or not, Galway is by a huge distance the largest population centre in the province, it's where most of our casual rugby fans will come from, and it's where our best opportunities for lucrative corporate sponsorship deals lie too. A stadium in Oranmore would likely end up with a smaller attendence with a larger percentage of hardcore fans. Thankfully the branch have been through all the options in detail and staying at the Sportsground came out as a clear best choice.

For the rest of the province the branch should work on matchday park and ride shuttles to coincide with stadium upgrades.

The cynic in me says that there'd still be a similar volume of complaints about parking even if we built a green field sports venue outside the city.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 07-03-2023 06:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120326041#Comment_120326041

I reckon there would be more complaints as no one would be able to walk in.

serfboard · 07-03-2023 07:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120326041#Comment_120326041

The Sportsground is the most public-transport accessible "stadium" in the city, being, as you say a five minute walk from two coach stations and a train station. In an era where we're trying to de-congest cities, that will only be more important.

Now a person could rightly complain about, for example, the lack of a train after some of the evening matches, but that is a matter for Iarnrod Eireann.

Contrast where the Sportsground is with where Pearse Stadium and Terryland Park are - neither of which have parking anywhere near them and Terryland in particular having zero public transport nearby.

ElisaAtWar · 07-03-2023 07:15PM

Travel some distance to Galway for the games. Never had an issue with parking. So it depends on how early you travel as to how close you can park but I never have to walk more than 5 minutes to the Sportsground so this is a pointless discussion.

Maybe a more interesting discussion is do we really want a huge stand which will be largely unpopulated for most games. Always loved being able to snuggle into the Clan. Would prefer that the terraces behind the posts were covered.

And as for the comment about Caolin's wellbeing if Marmion continues to be his backup is utterly ludicrous. I don't care about Caolins feelings. I care about Connacht rugby. If Caolin feels that way then get a life elsewhere.

On other matters it is clear there will be zero new introductions come the end of this year. So we are left with who we have while losing Marmion and Wooten and God knows who else (I suspect Bundee will indeed be leaving to Munster. He simply can't stay in Connacht. He is unwelcome by both team and management).

So if we have to play inside our current confines then we have to look inside our player base to solve our key issues. And while I may not be a Caolin fan, the primary issue is 10. So as Zeugnis says if Forde can step up to the mark maybe next year has hope. And my thoughts is Daly should also be considered.

But we all know Carty has been a failed experiment for so long and that Hawkshaw is a centre. So can we just stop this.

ElisaAtWar · 07-03-2023 07:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120323793#Comment_120323793

Nice one. Liked that 😂. And while I get what you say and while I'm terribly repetitive it's only because I care.

Lost Ormond · 07-03-2023 08:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120325299#Comment_120325299

As others have said the venue is actually perfect. Now you could try get park and ride/buses from other areas of province. Moving out of city would be madness and make it harder to attract people not increase interest.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120326501#Comment_120326501

Connacht very much want and need a stand. you can sell seated tickets for more, plenty of people wont go to games if standing in an uncovered terrace at end of pitch. with redeveloped clan etc there will be less of that. covering terraces behind posts is difficult with dogs remaining

ElisaAtWar · 07-03-2023 10:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120326938#Comment_120326938

I absolutely don't agree. It's this concept that if you build they will come. Reality is Connacht hit an 8k mark during interpros. And that's it. Otherwise it's about 3k. So you build a big empty stadium

Lost Ormond · 07-03-2023 10:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120327274#Comment_120327274

I watch a lot of Connacht games when in Sportsground from either Bohermore or College Road terraces. if you had better covered facilities people are more likely to go. Connacht have got a lot more people going to games with the clan terrace. even on bad days(performance wise as well as weather). why because its a decent covered stand. would attendances be as high if what was there before clan was built? No.

07-03-2023 10:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120327323#Comment_120327323

I don't think it is. The official location for wheelchair access is a covered pitch level deck in the corner between the Clan Terrace and the Bohermore Terrace. Not a great location but we'll get a huge improvement there when the Clan Stand is built. You should be able to make arrangements for access by ringing the branch.

Strand1970 · 07-03-2023 11:24PM

Sportsground is a perfect location for a stadium. Connacht have already done a study on this and came to the conclusion the sportsground is the best location. If they moved to a location beside the motorway it would be soulless and only accessible to cars.

ElisaAtWar · 08-03-2023 12:02AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120327749#Comment_120327749

Agreed. There is no issue getting to the ground or parking close by. A big horrible unpopulated stand might be an issue rather than a warm covered area for all. Reality is the visibility from all areas is rubbish. People attend for the atmosphere. And if you have a big f### off stand it will do nothing for the atmosphere. We all go for the atmosphere and a bit of fun. We can watch the game afterwards

ElisaAtWar · 08-03-2023 12:06AM

And of course an opportunity to whine at linesman and referees. It's part of the fun

ElisaAtWar · 08-03-2023 08:10PM

I know moderators have been more than decent with my posts which tend to be argumentative. So I will desist and no longer post in this forum. I understand and appreciate my posts, while not necessarily completely inflammatory, are simply an irritation to others. It's just the repetitive nature that irritates. It struck me recently that I have being simply being too much and as such have made this forum unbearable. So I wish all of you and Connacht the best. I doubt I will be missed.

Zeugnis · 08-03-2023 11:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331693#Comment_120331693

I don't find you annoying: wrong? Yes, sometimes. Unkind? Occasionally. But Connnacht need tough love and you give it. Maybe consider how useful some of the repetition is, and avoid being so personal in your criticism of individual players. But don't give up, there's plenty you say that i find thoughtful and challenging, and that expands the 'Overton window' of how we understand the team's limitations. That's an important antidote to the fan dreaming and marketing codology we're fed a lot of the time.

tintedgreenglasses2016 · 09-03-2023 08:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120324239#Comment_120324239

I suppose EliseAtWar has a point with mention of infrastructure. Do we really need a big stand? You would be frozen in it. If you were to look at statistical numbers of people who attend Connacht games would a big stand make a difference. Instead maybe cover the goal post ends and provide a bit of comfort. And these areas are wheelchair accessible which a big stand will not be.

I just think we have a limit to the numbers of people who will attend a Connacht rugby game. And a big stand is not going to change that other than lose a bit of atmosphere.

I would so love if that available money was spent on players instead

Strand1970 · 09-03-2023 09:01PM

Infairness our facilties are piss poor. We definitely need to invest in infrastructure. I would take another 1-2 indifferent seasons if it means to we invest for the future. Best case is the dogs eventually close down and we can put in small covered stands behind rhe goals. No point spending a penny on it at rhe moment

Lost Ormond · 09-03-2023 09:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120337045#Comment_120337045

You cant have a covered/pernament structure at bohermore/college road while the dogs stay in the venue and having heard what many visitng people to ground have said yes a larger seated covered stand would make a big difference. connacht can also sell them for more €€€ than terrace tickets as well. covering the ends wouldnt be wheelchair accessible anyway

09-03-2023 10:09PM

https://oyonnaxrugby.com/dewald-senekal-va-rejoindre-oyonnax-rugby

Oyonnax officially announced Dewald Senekal on a two year deal today. Nothing we didn't already know but at least it's official now. Best of luck to him there. He did a great job improving our forward play and putting a bit more edge into the way we compete.

tintedgreenglasses2016 · 09-03-2023 10:21PM

covering the ends wouldnt be wheelchair accessible anyway

The ends have always been wheelchair accessible. What you say is simply not true

09-03-2023 10:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120337045#Comment_120337045

A big stand is our best option at the Sportsground. Ideally we'd have a slightly more balanced stadium but we only have viable development land on one side of the ground and like it or not we have to live with the dogs into the future.

Building a big stand will solve some of our big problems too:

We're cramming people into an awkward ground despite having reduced our capacity and crowd size from peak.
We currently have very poor corporate facilities. The branch must be missing out on lots of potential income without them.
We have very few seats and even fewer in good positions. I know plenty of people who want a more comfortable match night experience.
It can be designed with high quality wheelchair access. It will definitely have elevators and it's the obvious place to cater for our disabled fans.
Any recent research I've seen around casual sports fans and particularly the younger sports audience points towards "match day experience" being a big factor in building attendence.

If we want to be playing Champions Cup rugby regularly, making play-off matches in the URC, and building some hype around big Interpro matches I think we need the extra capacity a bigger ground will bring. I have a soft spot for the Sportsground after years watching games there but it's a shite stadium and that really does matter to casual fans.

cson · 09-03-2023 10:45PM

What Sale have at the AJ Bell Stadium should be the goal tbh.

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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