£17.4 million revamp for Ravenhill Rugby Ground

A MAJOR revamp is to start within the next few weeks at Ulster rugby’s east Belfast ground.

Ulster Rugby chiefs today revealed more details of the work which will boost the capacity at Ravenhill from 11,400 to 18,000.

Work on two new stands at the Memorial and Aquinas ends are to be completed by June next year.

And then the old main stand will be replaced during the 2013-14 season.

The first sod will be cut on November 26 and the whole project is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2014.

Ulster Rugby is receiving £14.7m in government grants for the redevelopment work and the increased capacity means Ravenhill will meet the requirements for staging a Pro12 final or Henineken Cup quarter-final.

Ulster said they were hoping to secure a naming partner for their revamped ground.

The new Memorial End stand will have covered seating for 2,400 spectators with terracing for a further 1,350.

It will house a ticket office, shop and bar and catering facilities.

The Aquinas stand, which will become the family area of the ground, is to have 2,100 seats with terracing for an additional 1,300 fans.

It will also become the Ulster squad’s new training base with a gym and meeting rooms.

The new main grandstand will have 3,450 seats and the upgraded promenade will be able to accommodate 3,400 fans.