It’s Green for Go for Connacht Rugby tomorrow (Saturday) when the brand-new stand at Dexcom Stadium opens — and a full house of 12,500 spectators is treated to the spectacle of the men from the West taking on the might of Leinster.

The opening of the Clan Stand — named as a hat-tip to the terraced area much beloved of Connacht fans, which was demolished to make way for the new development — marks the final chapter in the €40m revamp of the former Sportsground venue on College Road.

It also opens a massive new commercial funding source for Connacht Rugby, with a premium level hospitality area running the full length of the stand that can cater for functions attended by up to 500 people or host those paying for matchday packages — it can be divided into four separate areas for smaller events to run simultaneously.

For conference-type events, the new Dexcom Stadium facility boasts a capacity of up to 5,000.

On match days, the new Clan Stand will accommodate about 6,500 spectators — 4,000 of them in the main seating area, 840 at the Atlantic Premium Level and another 1,600 on the terraces. Between the capacity of the existing old stand and 1,200 on each of the temporary raised terraces behind each goal, the total number of spectators that can be accommodated on big match days is well over 12,000.

Built on three levels, each with a choice of bars, food offerings, toilet and other facilities, the new stand includes innovations such as a sensory room, Sólás, and the Cáirde suite, a room specifically for families of players.

For dedicated fans The Tunnel Club is a private area on the ground floor that can host a party or get-together for up to 40 people and is located right beside the ‘tunnel’ where players enter and exit the pitch.

The completion of the new stand is the final part of the overall development of the stadium, with a High-Performance Centre to the rear of the new stand having opened last April.

That includes offices, gym and a training pitch that is half the size of a full rugby pitch, allowing players to train at any time, regardless of the Galway weather — and can also be used for meetings, conferences and exhibitions.

Work was continuing at pace this week on the finishing touches to have the Clan Stand fully ready to cater for the maximum-capacity crowd attending the URC clash with Leinster tomorrow (ko 5.30pm) — tickets for the fixture have long been sold out.

“It is a game-changer, the stand opening for us and the support we know the people will bring next weekend and for every home game will help us hugely, so we are counting on our supporters and I’m sure the players will repay that support,” said head coach Stuart Lancaster this week.

Pictured: A view of the redeveloped Dexcom Stadium, with the new Clan Stand to the right. Photos: James Crombie, INPHO.