Drogs Advance Towards New Stadium With LSSIF Application

The proposed site will feature an UEFA-standard stadium with an initial capacity of 4,500 seats, expandable through future development of the North and South stands. The development also includes two full-size practice pitches, associated car parking, landscaping, maintenance space, fan zones, and access roads from the proposed roundabout formed as part of the PANCR.

The West Stand will provide the main supporter experience, operational space for the club, and a shared gym facility with Tredagh Boxing Academy. It will include changing facilities for the team, showers and washrooms for both the club and supporters, a gym and sports science room, officials’ changing and office rooms, retail space, general office space for the club, catering and kitchen areas, seating for 2,350, and a first-floor bar/restaurant, hospitality boxes, and amenity space. 

The East Stand will accommodate 2,150 supporters and include storage facilities for grounds and maintenance equipment. The North and South areas will be utilised in phase one as fan zones with food trucks, spaces for kids and families and additional community-related activities.

Although phase one of the development strictly pertains to the LSSIF grant, Trivela Group will explore opportunities to expand development on the site. With the region’s growth, and the Northern Environs of Drogheda set to increase in population within the next 5 years it is paramount that the community has proper amenities right at their doorstep.

Drogheda United’s application to the LSSIF received significant support from major stakeholders including Louth County Council who sponsored the application, the FAI and the Drogheda Implementation Board.

Having engaged extensively with all of the above in the preparation of the application and designing of the stadium plans, it was broadly recognised that developing a Stadium and sporting hub, which this project aims to achieve, broadly aligns with longer term plans for Municipal pitches and other objectives under Louth’s County Development Plan 2021-2027.

Furthermore the development of a stadium for Drogheda United is specifically named in the Drogheda Implementation Plan in response to Action 7.2 Explore Opportunities for Development of a Centre of Sporting Excellence in Drogheda. The Implementation Board strongly supported the application and submitted written correspondence to Government urging them to positively consider the application in the context of the public promises by Government to agree a special focus on Drogheda that would see them delivering on actions within the plan that fall within their remit and prioritise applications for funding for projects in Drogheda aligned to the Drogheda Report Implementation Plan.

This development will be integral to an area which is on the cusp of significant growth whilst also providing a major new amenity to the wider town of Drogheda and its hinterland. Drogheda United FC urges the Government to support our plans and we also urge the people of Drogheda to embrace this new venture. Our town and city has long suffered from significant underinvestment and this is an opportunity for us all to build a positive future for our football club and the community it serves.