A digital image depicting how The Showgrounds may look once the development is complete.
The Football Association of Ireland has confirmed its support for League of Ireland clubs’ application for Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Funding, including that of Sligo Rovers.
Bohemians, Drogheda United, Galway United, Shelbourne, Sligo Rovers, Treaty United and Wexford have all applied for a share of the €120m funding approved by Government to be allocated across all sports as they look to develop supporting infrastructure.
Sligo Rovers announced in July that the club’s application under the LSSIF had been lodged for the redevelopment of the Showgrounds.
The Sligo Showgrounds Masterplan provides for a new multi-sport stadium in the lead up to the Club’s centenary in 2028.
If the application is successful, the Showgrounds will be the first UEFA Category 3 Stadium outside Dublin, and as well as hosting the club’s own major fixtures, it can be a prime venue for other clubs’ European games.
With a capacity of 6,100, stadium facilities will include new grass based hybrid pitch, which will accommodate other sports and activities, new stands on the Church Hill and Jinks’ Avenue ends, upgrades to the Treacy Avenue and Railway end stands, (including roofing the latter), hospitality areas, fan zones, meeting rooms, gymnasium, club merchandise shop, media area and a new club museum.
The stadium will also meet the requirements for modern TV broadcasts. Sligo Rovers’ objective is not just to improve the sporting facilities, but also to ensure that fans and visitors have the best Showgrounds experience possible.