Rásaíocht Con Eireann – Greyhound Racing Ireland
Group Stadium and Commercial Director
Information Booklet
March 2025
Introduction
Rasiocht Con Eireann- Greyhound Racing Ireland, (RCÉ/GRI) is the Commercial Semi-State Company charged by the Government of Irelandto manage, promote and developthe Greyhound Racing Industry in Ireland. It is supported in delivering its mandate through the current Programme for Government “Securing Ireland's Future”. RCÉ/GRI derives a portion of its funding through the Governments Horse and Greyhound Fund, with a contribution of €19.8m for 2025. The remainder ofthe RCÉ/GRI income comes from commercial activity primarily associated with the business of greyhound racing, Tote operations, sponsorship and in particular its hospitality and events activity across its 9 greyhound stadia in various locations across the country. Further details of this activity are outlined in this Information Booklet.
Organisation StructureAs a Commercial Semi-State Company, RCÉ/GRI is led by 9 Board of Directors appointed by a Minister of Government. The Board includes experts on strategic management, business development and finance, professional veterinary practice, corporate governance and detailed knowledge of the greyhound racing sport and industry. The Board is responsible for the strategic leadership and direction of RCÉ/GRI activities.
Business operations are led by an Executive Team headed by the Chief Executive Officer. The position of Group Stadium and Commercial Director is a key member of the Executive Team which comprises the following:
Chief
Executive Officer
Chief Financial Officer/Deputy CEO
The Executive Team is supported through a wider management cohort across Financial Operations, Marketing, Communications and PR, ICT, Tote Operations, Wagering and Media relationships, Racing Operations, Hospitality and Stadia Management, Corporate, Legal and Compliance, Laboratory Operations, Care and Welfare Operations, Rehoming and the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust, Regulatory Compliance and Racing Integrity. Combined they ensure accountability to a multiple stakeholder set including the Government, racing greyhound
owners, breeders and trainers, customers and consumers of the business of RCÉ/GRI and business partners.
Stadium Business
RCÉ/GRI operates greyhound racing stadia at the following locations. Each is a significant business unit in its own right, as evidenced by the hospitality capacity of each in the table below.
In 2024, a total of 1,447 race meetings were held, with an attendance level of 358,000. Shelbourne Park race on three nights, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, while others race on one or two nights, depending on the pre-programmed annual racing schedule. All stadia, also respond to seasonal opportunities such as the Christmas period.
Shelbourne Park, Dublin 2,000 663
Curaheen Park, Cork 1150 350
Limerick Stadium 1575 305
Galway Stadium 600 230
Kilcohan Park, Waterford 450 160
Mullingar Stadium 260 120
Kingdom Stadium, Tralee 500 190
Newbridge Stadium 630 120
Youghal Stadium 200 Limited
The RCÉ/GRI draft Strategic Plan 2025-2029 places business development and a significant increase in attendance levels at racing nights as a key primary objective over the next 5 years. That 5-year period has its mid-point in 2027, which marks the 100th anniversary of the first greyhound race in Ireland in 1927. A key strategic objective will be to use this as a key driver of business growth, such growth being built on the uniqueness of the sport as part of the cultural and sporting life of Ireland, its connection with communities and its entertainment offering, which is unparalleled as an evening of entertainment. The Stadia assets, coupled with a hospitality, customer service, and entertainment offerings present significant opportunities for growth among individuals, communities and the corporate world.
As evidence of the support for greyhound racing and RCÉ/GRI’s ambition and investment in its infrastructure, a €5m refurbishment of its flagship stadium in Dublin, Shelbourne Park, was completed in 2024. It now has a renewed opportunity and offering of exceptional quality as the home of greyhound racing in the country. Its importance to the business of RCÉ/GRI is representedby it being nearly 45% ofattendance levelsand hospitality turnover for the company. Allremaining stadia are ofsignificant scale and, within their immediate city/metropolitan sphere, and coupled with wider urban and rural attractiveness to communities, continue to be locations with attractive offerings.
The Role
The Group Stadium and Commercial Director will be a member of the Executive Team of RCÉ/GRI and a key leader within the organisation charged with the overall management of operations of the company stadia. The role will have a primary and very specific responsibility to drive the growth of attendance, turnover and profit for the organisation.
The role will be responsible for the following key areas of business:
1. All stadium operations across the country with a particular focus on Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium, Dublin
2. Events and Hospitality services at each stadium
3. Sales and business development for all stadia
The role oversees two Regional Stadium and Commercial Managers responsible for the following stadia:The structure for stadia management will comprise of:
Southern Group
o Cork - Curaheen Stadium
o Waterford - Kilcohan Stadium
o Tralee - Kingdom Stadium
Western Group
o Limerick Stadium
o Galway Stadium
o Mullingar Stadium
Each above stadium has a Stadium Hospitality and Facilities Manager who will report to the respective Regional Stadium and Commercial Manager, while the Shelbourne Park Hospitality and Facilities Manager will report directly to the Group Stadium and Commercial Director.
The primary focus of the role of the Regional Stadium and Commercial Managers for the stadia within their remit will be akin to the role of the Director, with a very particular focus on attendance growth, turnover and profitability, with community and corporate business underpinning same.
For sales and business development, the following will be included in the remit of this position..
- A dedicated Sales and Events Team for Shelbourne Park and/or, as business needs determine, partnerships with external providers of such services or a combination of both
- Dedicated Sales staff with regional responsibility as above outlined.
- A central Sales and Reservations Centre which supports all stadia and based in Thurles
All hospitality service is delivered by an in-house team presently with total permanent and part- time staffing level of circa 200.
As referenced, key responsibility will be to drive attendance levels, turnover and profitability for the group of stadia. This will be driven through specific and targeted sales and business growth strategies and action plans to deliver same. It is to be expected that a key element of business growth will be underpinned by a significant level of development of reciprocal beneficial partnerships that deliver turnover and financial return with community and sporting organisations, corporate, family event and occasion business. Utilisation of stadia for other business opportunities and commercial benefit will also be a key focus. General attendance growth will be expected based on the unique entertainment product underpinned by a first-class hospitality and customer service offering, generating reputational excellence and associated
repeat business. Stretched targets will be set and agreed with the CEO. Performance will be remunerated through a performance bonus scheme.
Why Apply
The position offers an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the seniority of the position, including a corporate pension scheme, performance bonus and corporate supported travel arrangements in line with Revenue approved guidelines.
If you are an ambitious, commercially driven leader eager to work with a Board, CEO and Executive Team and Senior Managers who are passionate about the business, who are striving for business growth and want to realise its 5-year strategy, while also benefiting from both personal and professional career progression and development, then this is a unique offering and opportunity.