For Hugh Gavin, this means more. Having come through the academy ranks at Connacht Rugby and now an established member of the first team squad, the new developments are something he admits he "never would have imagined".
"This is just another level," the 22-year-old centre says about the new High Performance Centre located directly beside the new Dexcom Stadium.
The Connacht Rugby HPC was opened in April 2025 following a 12-month build, and is now the home of the day-to-day operations at the club. It provides the squad with top-class facilities such as three dressing rooms, physio areas, two canteens, and office space for pro team management and admin staff.
There is also an indoor training pitch exactly half the size of a full rugby pitch, and features the same type of synthetic surface used on gameday at Dexcom Stadium.
"We have everything we'd ever need or want here," explains Gavin.
"It's been class getting that move into this new building. And to be fair, the lads are making the most of the facilities."
Gavin says that the squad are getting "a lot of extra skill work done" as a result of the indoor training pitch, and the ability to hold meetings with coaches and analysts. Having "everything under the one roof" is a gamechanger for the squad.
He explains that the management team are benefitting just as much as the players.
"It's huge for management as well, having that big space where they can bounce ideas off.
"Everyone's kind of a room or two away. No one's ever too far which is good," he adds.
Gavin's local ties to Connacht Rugby means he realises the potential that the new Dexcom Stadium holds for rugby in the province going forward. The new Clan Stand will attract supporters from Galway and beyond, and he believes that the appetite for rugby in Connacht was demonstrated by the game against Munster at Hastings Insurance McHale Park in March last year.
"26,000 came out that day," says Gavin. "It was unbelievable. It filled you with a great sense of pride, just to see how much support we had around the province.
"That day in McHale Park, there was a real special atmosphere.
"There is definitely enough supporters in Connacht who really care about the team, care about the province, and like to see what we're doing."
January brings the official opening of Dexcom Stadium, the new Clan Stand, a sold-out crowd, and a top-class fixture against Leinster. Gavin says bring it on.
"I'm absolutely buzzing. Not only that the stadium is full, but playing in winter interpros, it's something you've watched all the way up since you were kid. They're really special games, really high level games.
"To do that in front of what will be, hopefully, a mass capacity crowd will be, will be a huge game for us, those are games you want to be involved in."
It’s now confirmed that Connacht’s clash with Leinster will be a maximum-capacity sell-out. These are the nights Gavin has dreamed of. Under the lights at Dexcom Stadium, as he and his teammates take the field, young eyes in the crowd will be watching - dreaming the very same dreams he once did.
