For nearly a century, The Sportsground in Galway — a modest but adored rugby and sporting venue — stood as a humble home for Connacht Rugby and the greyhound racing community. Opened in the late 1920s and steeped in local history, it has been a familiar setting for fans, athletes, and families drawn to the grit and spirit of Irish provincial sport. Yet in January 2024, that familiar name gave way to a new era: Dexcom Stadium.
The change was more than cosmetic. It marked the culmination of months of negotiation, planning, and strategic vision by Connacht Rugby and one of the world’s leading medical technology companies — Dexcom Inc. — sealing a 12-year naming rights partnership that would help fund a transformative redevelopment of the ground.
Why naming rights matter
Naming rights deals are now a staple of global sport: from Croke Park’s corporate sponsors to rugby and football venues across Europe. These agreements bring in essential revenue, helping clubs modernise facilities, expand capacity, and compete at higher levels financially.
In this case, Dexcom’s involvement was not a random commercial ploy. The U.S. company, renowned for its continuous glucose monitoring systems that help manage diabetes, chose to invest in Connacht’s stadium at the same moment it was announcing its first European manufacturing facility in nearby Athenry, County Galway, creating up to 1,000 jobs.
For Connacht Rugby, the deal provided a critical financial underpinning for a long-planned redevelopment that had already attracted government backing and broader funding support. The club’s leadership described the naming rights partnership as “absolutely critical to the delivery of our vision to redevelop the Sportsground into a fit-for-purpose modern stadium,” signalling how essential such commercial relationships have become for sporting organisations seeking to thrive in an era of rising costs and heightened expectations.
The rebranding to Dexcom Stadium is part of a broader €40–€45 million transformation that will reshape the venue’s structure and experience. For fans attending matches today, the shift is visible but still in progress. As of late 2025, capacity was temporarily reduced due to construction — just a fraction of the eventual 12,000 seats planned — while the new high-performance centre and North Stand rise from the site of the former terrace.
The redevelopment is designed to bring Connacht Rugby into the modern age. Gone are the days of the old Clan Terrace; in its place will stand a multipurpose structure with seating, hospitality spaces, media facilities, and expanded amenities for all attendees. The new high-performance facility — with indoor training spaces, professional recovery areas, and administrative offices — will elevate the club’s ability to attract and retain elite athletes.
Balancing heritage and progress
Despite the excitement, rebranding a historic venue can stir emotion. Long-time supporters, particularly those accustomed to calling the ground simply “The Sportsground,” have voiced mixed feelings. Some see the new corporate identity as a loss of tradition — an iconic name traded for commercial gain. Others recognise the necessity of such deals in sustaining and enhancing competitive sport in the modern era.
Connacht Rugby’s leadership has been quick to articulate that the partnership with Dexcom isn’t merely transactional. It aligns with broader economic commitments by Dexcom to the region, and with the club’s desire to embed itself more deeply in the social and cultural fabric of the west of Ireland. The renaming, in this sense, reflects a shared future rather than a purely financial arrangement.
What it means for fans and community
For supporters, the changes promise both short-term disruption and long-term gain. During the redevelopment — especially the 2024–25 season — parts of the ground have been inaccessible, leading to reduced capacities and logistical adjustments. Yet the arrival of expanded seating, improved amenities, and facilities capable of hosting a wider range of events has generated enthusiasm across the fanbase.
Beyond rugby, the broader community stands to benefit. Dexcom’s investment signals new economic activity in Galway, while the stadium’s enhanced facilities are expected to support non-match-day events, conferences, and community use. That aligns with a wider trend in stadium design — reimagining sports venues as multifunctional assets that contribute to civic life year-round.
As the redevelopment progresses toward its anticipated completion in 2026, Dexcom Stadium will stand as a symbol of how modern sport can marry tradition with innovation. For a venue that opened in the 1920s and served generations of fans as The Sportsground, the new name heralds a future of expanded possibilities — for Connacht Rugby, for Galway, and for the thousands who will rise in the stands to cheer in the years ahead.
