UCD Bowl
UCD is developing the UCD Bowl to provide a high-quality outdoor sports arena for soccer and rugby. In developing the facility, which will serve both codes, UCD is endeavouring to deliver a quality venue which complies with UEFA licensing and IRB standards with regard to playing surface quality and spectator comfort and safety. In addition, sports lighting infrastructure will be put in place in order to accommodate evening events at the Bowl.
This additional investment will complement the recent development of the Sports Pavilion which provides state-of-the-art dressing rooms. This facility has been strategically provided to serve the changing/recovery needs of athletes performing at the Hockey Stadium and the Belfield Bowl.
The decision to relocate soccer, traditionally based at Belfield Park, to the UCD Bowl was taken to ensure the sustainability of investment in upgrade and improvement works in one stadium structure. The operation of a UCD senior men’s soccer team in the top tier of Irish soccer means that UCD has to provide accommodation that meets UEFA licensing standards as a minimum, effective from the 2007 season. Traditionally the Belfield Bowl was viewed as a multi-use field sports venue, and it is only in recent years that it had become ‘exclusive’ to rugby. With the requirement for UCD Sport to deliver a top quality outdoor arena (natural grass) it has been necessary to consider and prepare the Belfield Bowl for more expansive use (Rugby and Soccer).
The redevelopment of the UCD Bowl is a major challenge for all the stakeholders involved, UCD Sport, UCD AFC and UCD RFC. UCD AFC and UCD RFC have made significant investment over the past number of years in order to compete at the top level. The annual overlap (March/April and Sept/Oct) phases of the rugby/soccer seasons have been identified as an area of concern. Protocols to quickly meet the requirements to support change over e.g. posts, lines, advertising etc during these phases have been agreed. Management of the Belfield Bowl as a venue will in the first instance be by the Sports Centre, under the supervision of the Director of Sport and the Superintendent of Sports Facilities.
Work Description
The first phase of development included seating accommodation raised from the existing 760 to 1500. Phase I also incorporated the erection of pylons to carry floodlighting and the provision of additional turnstiles, spectator toilets, support facilities for press/media, a control room and a shop. A phased provision of additional covering over the next few years is envisaged.
In addition, a hard surface path was constructed around the entire playing surface. This path will have the capacity to accommodate an additional 1,500.
Project Timeline
Phase I of this project was completed late 2007. An allocation of €1.25 million was made to UCD in 2006 as part of the DAST annual sports capital grant scheme.
