Dexcom Stadium Meetings & Events Opens In April

Connacht Rugby is proud to announce that Dexcom Stadium, the home of Connacht Rugby, will officially open its doors to the business and events community from April 2026.

Located in the heart of Galway, Dexcom Stadium will be the West of Ireland’s newest and most versatile venue for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE).

The centrepiece of the redevelopment is the Clan Stand, which will offer state-of-the-art facilities for spectators, players, officials, media, and volunteers on game day. With a capacity of just over 6,500 supporters, it features a mix of standing, seating, and hospitality options designed to deliver an unforgettable matchday experience.

However Dexcom Stadium is more than just a sports venue. It’s a space built in the West, designed for everyone. From April 2026, the stadium’s hospitality and conferencing spaces will be available for hire, with capacity to host up to 5,000 guests, across 17 spaces making it one of the largest and most flexible venues of its kind in the region. Whether it’s a board meeting for 10, or a gala dinner for 500, Dexcom Stadium offers a premium setting with panoramic views, cutting-edge AV, and tailored catering options delivered by Master Chefs.

Dexcom Stadium is now open for bookings for non-matchday meetings, conferences and events, and has already secured a strong calendar of anchor gatherings. Confirmed highlights include Portershed Spark, a one-day innovation conference marking Portershed’s 10 year milestone, taking place at Dexcom Stadium in April 2026, and EDGE26 – Ireland’s Creative Economy Summit led by CREW in May 2026.

Looking ahead to autumn, Galway will welcome the European Big Data Value Forum (EBDVF 2026) Europe’s flagship Data & AI forum from 30 September to 1 October 2026, bringing together the continent’s data and AI community at Dexcom Stadium.

Bookings and enquiries can be made at https://dexcomstadium.events

Why this matters: Business events are one of Ireland’s highest yield tourism segments, contributing over €1 billion annually, €290 million to the Exchequer, and supporting ~22,000 jobs—a core pillar in Ireland’s Business Events 2030 strategy to drive value-over-volume growth nationwide. Dexcom Stadium’s programme directly supports this mission by attracting high value, midweek/offseason events that benefit local suppliers and the wider innovation ecosystem.

 

Connacht Rugby Appoints Senior Commercial Stadium Manager, Sandra Fahy

As part of the venue’s commercial expansion, Connacht Rugby recently appointed Sandra Fahy to the newly created role of Senior Commercial Stadium Manager at Dexcom Stadium.

Sandra brings a wealth of experience in the tourism and business events industry, having held strategic, sales, and operational roles across both the private and public sectors. Her career includes positions with Tourism Ireland, Dublin Convention Bureau, Anantara The Marker Hotel Dublin, and Fáilte Ireland. With nearly a decade of experience in strategic sales and a deep understanding of the global and domestic Business Events sector, she is exceptionally well positioned to lead Dexcom Stadium’s non-match day commercial strategy across meetings, conferences, events, and corporate experiences. 

A graduate of the University of Galway, Sandra has also served in national and international board roles, including with SITE – the Society of Incentive Travel Excellence. In her new position, she will lead the Stadium Commercial Team, forming a key part of Connacht Rugby’s wider Commercial and Marketing Division.

 

Commenting on her appointment, Sandra said:

“As a native of Galway City, I couldn’t be more honoured and excited to join the team at Connacht Rugby during this transformative time for the club. Dexcom Stadium is set to become the venue of choice not only for Galway City but for the entire region.

A facility of this calibre, with state-of-the-art conferencing and events capabilities, will unlock immense potential for the West of Ireland. I look forward to working closely with stakeholders ahead of next year’s opening, helping to position the province as a world class destination for business events. I can’t wait to extend a warm Connacht Rugby welcome to all who visit Dexcom Stadium.”  

 

Additional Venue Features

 

The Connacht Suite (Atlantic Premium Level)

• 1,100 sqm

• Divisible into four spaces

• Natural daylight, built in AV, and panoramic pitch views

• Suitable for banquets, cabaret, conferences, receptions

 

The 1885 Level

• 545 sqm

• Natural daylight, pitch views

• Perfect for exhibitions, receptions, and conference breakout

• A commitment to quality, professionalism, and the famous Connacht welcome for every event hosted

 

Construction began in June 2024 and welcomed 12,451 for the opening game against Leinster in January 2026, with bookings for conferences and events now open.

 

Quotes

Willie Ruane, CEO of Connacht Rugby, said:

“Dexcom Stadium represents a new chapter for Connacht Rugby and for the West of Ireland. It’s a place where sport, business, and community come together. We’re proud to offer a venue that reflects the ambition of our province and the warmth of our people.”

 

Philip Patterson, Head of Marketing & Commercial at Connacht Rugby, added:

“We’ve designed Dexcom Stadium to be more than a matchday experience. It’s a destination for ideas, for connection, and for growth. From the Tunnel Club to our conferencing suites, we’re excited to welcome businesses and organisations to a space that’s distinctly Connacht, and worldclass in every way.”

• commercial