Indoor Sporting Arena

Proposed Development

• Size of building: 12,000m2

• The main functions of the facility are: – the athletics arena – the multi-sport arena– the outdoor stand to serve the existing track

• There are also comprehensive support facilities for elite athlete training, medical facilities and café, general changing facilities

Proposed Facilities

Present Situation

• Lack of quality indoor facilities in Ireland

• Extensive community needs

• Lack of running track is a barrier to the development of athletics in the Athlone region for able-bodied and special needs athletes

• Boost to AIT hosting of HSE Community Games National Finals

NGB Support Sought & Consultants

• International athlete – Eamonn Coghlan

• Athletics Ireland – John Foley, CEO

• Football Association of Ireland – Paddy

McCaul, President

• Irish Institute of Sport – Gary Keegan

• Westmeath/Leinster GAA – Tom Farrell

• Athlone Town Council

Public Use• AC Celtic FC• Roscommon AC, St Ronan’s AC• Buccaneers RFC• Westmeath GAA• All-army regional & national athletics finals• Connacht schools track & field• HSE Community Games• Athlone & District Schoolboy League squads• Connacht rugby u-20 development squad• Athletics Ireland development squads• Various county hurling and football teams for friendly inter-county matches

Event Hosting

Proven Ability & Facilities to Host & Manage Events

• HSE Community Games National Finals hosts 2009-2012

• Celtic Games, AAI Games hosts

• Excellent car parking, catering, etc.

• Central location of institute to all major transport routes

• Athlone Hospital, Portiuncla Hospital, Tullamore Hospital, abundant sports physiotherapists

• Airports: Knock 45mins, Dublin 1½hrs, Shannon 2hrs

Justification for Facility

• First mover advantage – no comparable track or facility in Ireland

• NGBs supporting this ambitious plan

• Strong support of local and regional clubs

• Complements AIT’s outdoor track and astro-turf pitch

• Increases attractiveness of institute for students

• Enhances facilities for existing students, staff and community

Olympics 2012

• Prime location for Olympic 2012 team training camps

• General hospitals

• Sports physiotherapists

• Local and national transport services

• Accommodation (abundant Section 50)

• Access to airports

Enhancement of Existing Facilities on Campus• Multi-purpose sports hall• Fully equipped fitness suite • Aerobics/circuit training area • Full-size GAA and soccer pitches• IAAF-approved athletics track• FIFA 2-star artificial soccer pitch• Cross-country track • Lecture/meeting rooms• Extensive canteen facilities• Parking

Management

• Staff of the institute sports department to manage, maintain and market the new facilities

• Available to community groups, schools, Rapid initiatives

Main Elements of Building

• Indoor athletics track and field auditorium:– 200m banked running track – spectator seating for 1,500 persons – elevated athlete warm-up area with an 80m sprint

track

• Separate multipurpose indoor sports auditorium:– basketball/futsal, multi-sports– spectator seating for 1,500 persons

• Potential for 3,500 spectators in concert setting

Main Elements of Building

• 500-person outdoor spectator stand overlooking the existing 400m outdoor track and field facility, with finish line control room

• Ancillary accommodation including: – 10 changing room facilities – gymnasium– high-performance training rooms– recovery suite– medical centre and support rooms– café/restaurant

Building Materials

• The materials of the building are primarily a palette of three high quality materials:– Portland concrete panel– green copper panel– thermally broken, solar glare-reducing

double glazing

• It is deliberately chosen to avoid metal panelling

Environmental Considerations

• The building incorporates all accepted passive and sustainable technology, including rainwater harvesting, high degrees of insulation

• The main athletics arena is naturally lit to reduce running cost, with lights used rarely

• The auditoriums are naturally ventilated. The preferred ambient temperature of a sports centre – 16 degrees – facilitates lowest possible energy use for a building of this type