Big chance for GAA to upgrade stadia if Ireland’s RWC 2023 bid is successful
Fitzgerald Stadium and Elverys MacHale Park are two of the stadiums shortlisted. Source: INPHO
THERE WILL BE a major chance for the GAA to upgrade some of its stadiums if Ireland’s bid to stage the 2023 Rugby World Cup bid is successful.
It was announced last November that there are 12 venues on the long list for Ireland’s bid, which will be ultimately reduced to eight or 10 venues for the staging of the tournament.
Currently there are eight GAA stadiums on that list:
Casement Park, BelfastCeltic Park, DerryCroke Park, DublinElverys MacHale Park, CastlebarFitzgerald Stadium, KillarneyNowlan Park, KilkennyPáirc Uí Chaoimh, CorkPearse Stadium, Galway
And GAA Director-General Páraic Duffy believes there is now a chance for those stadiums selected to be upgraded permanently to a recognised international standard.
Duffy insists he is not referring to converting stadia into all-seater venues as terracing is permitted in Rugby World Cup venues.
But in the case of a successful bid, there will be a demand for government investment to upgrade venues and the prospect of temporary improvements being made permanent should be investigated.
The outcome of the bid will be known later this year in November.
A guide to the 8 GAA stadiums that form part of Ireland’s RWC 2023 bid
“The terracing is not an issue around the Rugby World Cup particularly,” outlined Duffy.
“That’s the way the IRFU bid is, it’s around a mixture of stand and terrace.
“It’s around things like, media facilities, big screens, infrastructure that will be an absolute requirement for a successful World Cup bid.