International Rugby Experience announces Shock Closure - Sport ...
Shock news emerged from Limerick last night that the International Rugby Experience is to close its doors before the end of the year, only 18 months after opening to the public and six months after being gifted to the people of Limerick by JP McManus.
The €30 million development has won multiple awards, seen 60,000 visitors through the doors, delivered an estimated €8 million bump in economic value to the city and employs 50 people.
The closure is blamed on the operators being “unable to advance the process with Limerick City and County Councils” amid concerns over responsibility for the ongoing operating costs.
The International Rugby Experience was funded by JP MacManus and his family and operated as a not-for-profit venture.
The transfer to the City seems to have run aground because of the need for what officials described last night as ‘substantial operational and capital funding that would be required’ in the transfer to Discover Limerick, the council-owned tourism company.
As recently as a week ago, the venue was shortlisted for the Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards.
We wrote back in April that “Following a process of due diligence, the 30,000-square-foot centre will be owned and operated by Limerick City and County Council. It is envisaged that Discover Limerick DAC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Limerick City and County Council, will oversee the day-to-day operations, while the IRE will continue to be managed by the existing team appointed on opening last year.”
It is a shame that such a substantial celebration of sporting history and its importance has seemingly been unable to capture enough of the tourism market to make it viable.
Much of the tourism in the Southwest is centred on the US market, and perhaps Rugby has not yet gained enough of a foothold in the travelling public’s consciousness to make it a must-see attraction.
The Experience will remain open until December 23rd, and all bookings will be honoured until then.
The optimist would think this provides a window into which further negotiation or an alternative operating model might be found.
Paul O’Connell, who has been heavily involved to date, will have his mind on rugby matters on the pitch, but those involved, including CEO Barry Hannon, may yet see one last pass to the wing as an option.
This is especially true with Limerick set to host the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in less than three years and the Rugby World Cup heading to the United States in 2031.
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