New Stadium

The IRFU were putting in very little if anyhing at all, half came from Connacht hitting up people and sponsors and the other half came from the government now that money might be at risk but given how budgets work if Connacht hadn't started drawing down money straight away that'd be a different issue

There may well be something in that, I have heard that Munster just got Thomond Park done just before lehmann bros sparked recession, it would just be Connachts luck to be caught in the midst of a recession. State funding must be a worry for any big project really, with social distancing to be the norm for a long time to come, there's the possibility that feasibility of an expanded stadium would be reviewed and the project kicked down the road. Hopefully not.

It's gonna be kicked down the road, state will review funding in the current climate, a rugby stadium will not be priority.

Big D.P. wrote: IRFU will have lost a considerable amount of money relative to budget so far, and future income streams (attendances and social distancing) will be under threat also.

I'd imagine all major development work must be back under the spotlight.

That cannot be good news unfortunately.

(1) 10 million guaranteed from the government's large scale sports infrastructure
(2) 10 million pledged by the outgoing government
(3) 10 million raised from Connacht themselves (presales & loans)

The IRFU have nothing to do with it - in fact they backed the RDS over ourselves - so the question is how (2) and (3) above stand up.

It's all changed now though, and pledges and guarantees are without value.

The new reality.

Anyone have any intel as to where this has gotten to?
Given the arse didn't fall out of the economy as some had predicted and crowds are on their way back, I would have thought that there would be clarity on a timeline etc.

Anyone any idea?

There was an article, in the Connacht Tribune a few weeks back (Jan 14th I think if anyone wants to search for it) indicating that work on the pitch is starting this summer.
I'd be delighted just to see things getting up and running. The longer it gets delayed, the more fear that it never happens