Stadium will host Rovers matches

DEVELOPMENT works on the new fourth stand at Tallaght Stadium will not affect Shamrock Rovers ability to play their first home game of the season against Derry City on Friday night reports Hayden Moore.

ABM Design and Build have been working on site to bring the spectator capacity of the landmark stadium up to 10,500.

At present, there is capacity of 8,000 at the South Dublin County Council owned venue, of which the Hoops are anchor tenants.

Stephen Bradley’s men are set to play their first home game of the new season since lifting the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title for a third successive season in October last.

At the Tallaght Area Committee, Cllr Charlie O’Connor asked the council if Tallaght Stadium will indeed be able to host the Shamrock Rovers and Derry City clash on March 3.

In response, the council said that “Tallaght Stadium management have been working over the last number of weeks with all the interested parties in ensuring the safe return of football to Tallaght Stadium” for the “first home league game of the 2023 Airtricity League Season”.

The council, Shamrock Rovers FC, An Garda Síochána, FAI and the main contractor working on site, ABM Design and Build are working to ensure the stadium is ready to go for Friday.

“This should be a great occasion, with the League Champions playing their first home game of the season, with a large crowd attending the venue,” the council said.

“There will be a reduced hospitality area available to the club, for the first few months of the season, due to the ongoing construction works in the Main Stand corporate areas, though the rest of the Stadium will function as normal.

“The initial games include Shamrock Rovers V Derry City on 3rd March, and V Cork City on 6th March.

“In addition the first Shamrock Rovers Womens Team home game will take place on Saturday 11th March, v Treaty United.”

The investment in Tallaght Stadium is expected to be around €11.5 million with the works maintaining the stadium’s UEFA Category Four status. Stadiums with UEFA Category Four status will allow for the hosting of all European games including group games for the Champions League, Europa League, or Europa Conference League.

Construction workers have been on site since the end of May last year, with works set to be completed in July 2023.