With the new season underway, and Ulster Rugby’s first professional home game against South African side, Vodacom Bulls, now only days away, the club has unveiled recent upgrades over the summer to Kingspan Stadium.
The new 3G pitch, installed by Tony Patterson Sportsgrounds, offers a state-of-the-art artificial playing surface at the home of Ulster Rugby. Offering a more consistent playing surface for both training and home games for the professional squad, the new pitch will also allow Ulster Rugby to continue to host the necessary games to grow and develop the grassroots game.
A new hospitality space, the Ravenhill Suite, will also be renovated in-time for the new season kicking-off. Perched at the top of the Family Stand, the box which can host up to 35 guests, enjoys uninterrupted views of the pitch, both indoors and out – with supporters enjoying Yellow Door hospitality on match night.
The club has invested in new LED screens mounted on the Nevin Spence Memorial Stand and AbbeyAutoline Family Stand which, as well as offering sponsors and partners a new advertising space in-stadium, will allow supporters to see the score at either end of the pitch during matches.
The PA system will also receive investment, through funding from Sport NI, to improve the supporter experience at games, and to ensure the ongoing safe management of events.
Of the investment, Ulster Rugby CEO, Jonny Petrie, said:
“As the home of Ulster Rugby, we want Kingspan Stadium to be a world-class venue, which showcases the best of our province and sport.
“We continue to operate in challenging financial circumstances, but our focus as a club remains on building a sustainable business that invests in the game, both at a professional and domestic level, for its long-term future.
“A prime example is the successful installation of our new 3G pitch which will benefit the professional squad, and also play an important role in growing our domestic game and supporting our ambition to develop the Women and Girls’ game in Ulster, in the years ahead.
“We hope our Season Ticket holders will enjoy their exclusive first-look at our upcoming open training session this weekend, and that our sponsors and partners will also see the dividends of our investment through increased opportunities to be involved in match nights at Kingspan Stadium.”
Ulster Rugby's first home game of the new BKT United Rugby Championship 2023/24 season will see Ulster face Vodacom Bulls at Kingspan Stadium on Sunday 29 October, kick-off 5pm.
For more information on booking the Ravenhill Suite, or other hospitality spaces, for an Ulster Rugby home game, please contact David Edwards on David.Edwards@ulsterrugby.com or 07483 945 330.