COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, May 25, 2020

QUESTION NO. 15

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the CEO for a report on the further development and expanded use of Tallaght Stadium and will he make a statement in the matter.

REPLY:

The Stadium had held some major events in 2020 including regular Airtricity League games, with the Shamrock Rovers game against Dundalk attracting an attendance of 7,522 which was a record for a regular league game for the venue. The Rep of Irl Womens National Team had an attendance of 4,511 for their game against Greece ,in March. Off the pitch, events that took place include Engineer Week Events whihc were held from 2nd to 6^th March, including an Engineer Roadshow & an International Womens Event. In addition a Careers & Apprenticeship Expo 2020 was held on 9^th March- as part of Jobsweek, with over 40 organisations with stands- including ESB, Sisk, Army/Aer Corps & Dublin Bus.

It is the intention of the Council ,as previously outlined to the Members, to proceed with the further development of the Stadium, to encourage further sporting and non sporting use of the Stadium with the venue being promoted as a County Venue. The venue to be promoted for use during the day, for Corporate, Business and Training events as well as a potentially unique wedding venue. The venue would be for the local community, the whole county and for visitors from outside the county to use and visit. The Council will be looking to attract events like concerts to the venue in the future as well. The Stadium currently has a capacity of 8,000, and the Architects Design Work currently being worked on is looking to increase the capacity to 10,000, as well as looking at UEFA Category 4 facility requirements. The Architects are also examining the enhanced flexibility of room use in the venue, as well as looking at futureproofing the development.

Design work by the Consultant Architects is continuing on the development of the proposed new North Stand, along with modifications to the Main Stand. It is anticipated that a report will be brought to the June Council meeting in relation to the proposed development, with the Part 8 Consultation process to commence in June 2020.

In addition, Consultants were engaged by the Council to explore the potential of Tallaght Stadium as an entertainment venue and to raise overall awareness of the stadium, as well as exploring and developing advertising and branding opportunities in its current positioning and future strategic direction, and also to  evaluate a stadium branding and naming rights opportunity for the stadium.

The Stadium is currently closed to all sporting and non sporting events, in line with Government guidelines. The HSE are currently using the facility as a COvid Testing site. The Council looks forward to welcoming both sporting and non sporting events back to the Stadium in the near future, once Government guidelines allow.

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