Naas Racecourse will unveil its brand new ‘Feature Building’ at its National Hunt race meeting this Sunday.
The new Feature Building was created as part of a €3.2 million HRI Capital Development Scheme which commenced last year.
It is an unusual structure; cylindrical in shape, it boasts wrap around glass and several balconies which snake around the building offering incredible views to the track and adjacent Parade Ring.
Located just between the Grand Stand and Parade Ring the Feature Building will house a public sports bar on the ground floor while a stunning Owners and Trainers Lounge is located on the first floor.
The Owners and Trainers Lounge enjoys 180-degree views of the track making it one of the world’s premier vantage points to view steeds in motion.
It was designed by architects and design consultants, Turnburry Design Consultants in London, who have a speciality in racecourse design and is believed to be the only racecourse building of its kind in Britain and Ireland.
The innovative cylindrical design allows for greater vantage points for the general racing public and owners and trainers alike. Naas Racecourse itself is a boutique style track- everything is easily accessible, and spectators can get up close to the action which results in an engaging and exciting racing experience.
The HRI Capital Development Scheme which Naas Racecourse has undertaken is in order to future proof the facility for years to come. “Sport and racing is a competitive business both on and off the track,” said Naas Racecourse Manager, Tom Ryan.
“In order to attract race goers you need to be able to offer them a great experience with second to none facilities. We want to make sure we keep on top of our game - we don’t want to just meet the expectations of our customers but to exceed them. We have invested heavily in the racecourse, not just in our buildings but in technology too.
The new building will be fitted with the latest in audio visual equipment and super-fast WiFi, which we hope to have in place this coming year, in order to ensure we remain current and can compete with the best tracks in Britain and Ireland.”
Naas Racecourse has a history of reinvestment and its board and shareholders have continually invested in the property over the years.
The existing grandstand was built in 1997 at a cost of €2.2 million, while in 2003 a public bar and weigh room was constructed. In 2009 over €1.7 million was spent in order to create the existing stable yard.
All of these improvements and additions culminated in elevating the status of Naas Racecourse and have allowed it to compete at an international level and also to host premier races including the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle which was held at the track recently. The next part of the redevelopment programme will see the interiors and public areas within the grandstand upgraded including the Panoramic Restaurant.
“We are delighted to have had financial support for this project from HRI and through its Capital Development Scheme we have been in a position to carry out the necessary works. Our board too has been very supportive. This new building is testament to both HRI and our board’s support and I would like to thank both parties for their continued good council and encouragement. We are very proud of the Feature Building and can see it being used for many events, not just for race meetings. It has certainly secured our place on the international racing stage.”
The public are invited to come to join the team at the track for the official ribbon cutting at 12.30pm.
The track is currently in the process of a rebrand and its new identity and brand will also be unveiled on Sunday. Meanwhile on the track, there are seven races on the card with the first going to post at1.20pm.
Admission tickets cost €15 and include a €5 free bet.
A range of hospitality packages are available and bookings can be made by contacting Naas Racecourse on (045) 897391 or by visiting www.naasracecourse.com
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