Sligo Rovers have announced the club has formally submitted its application for funding under the Government’s Large Scale Sport in Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) for the redevelopment of The Showgrounds.
The club received final grant of Planning Permission from Sligo County Council for the development in 2023.
The plan is a central part of the club’s new Masterplan, which was first published in 2021.
Under the plans, it will allow The Showgrounds to exceed the minimum requirements of a UEFA Category 3 stadium to include:
- Redevelopment of the Showgrounds to be an all-seated stadium with a capacity in excess of 6,100 seats
- Construction of a new Spectator Stand at the Church Hill Road End (approx. 1,370 seats),
- Construction of a new Spectator Stand in place of the current Jinks Avenue Stand (approx. 2,060 seats),
- Minor alterations to the Tracey Avenue Stand including the erection of a TV gantry at the rear of the stand, screening to side elevations and the provision of new toilets beneath,
- Provision of a cantilevered roof to the existing Pet Stop End,
- Provision of additional turnstiles at the rear of the new Jinks Avenue Stand for away supporters,
- Upgrade of the carparking facilities on site including resurfacing, line marking and lighting,
- Upgrade of the playing surface to a higher specification whilst enlarging the pitch towards Church Hill Road to meet UEFA Category 3 pitch size standards.
Sligo Rovers chairman Tommy Higgins says a lot of work has led to this point:
