Páirc Uí Chaoimh debate 'shows the value of the Cork brand'

Cork GAA chief executive Kevin O’Donovan said the county board had been listening to the public 'on their feelings'

Cork GAA County Board meeting in progress behind 'closed doors' at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Larry Cummins

Cork GAA chief executive Kevin O’Donovan said the divided opinions around the renaming of Páirc Uí Chaoimh came as no surprise and showed the “value of the Cork brand” within the local community.

Speaking about the potential rebranding, he said the county board were eager to wrap up any deal before the championship begins. 

The Irish Examiner revealed on Monday that a multi-layered naming rights deal for for the GAA stadium, worth between €250,000 and €300,000 a year to Cork GAA, was to be tabled for county board delegates to ratify on Tuesday night.

The proposed title sponsor for the stadium’s historic first naming rights will be SuperValu, with Cork’s GAA headquarters to be rebranded SuperValu Páirc or Park.

Three other companies — Boston Scientific, Statkraft and PepsiCo — will also have subsidiary stadium branding privileges as part of the package, believed to be for an initial three years.

The total package, which has been green-lit by the stadium board, is understood to be worth in the region of €1m up to 2026.

Following the meeting on Tuesday night, Cork GAA said "discussions with SuperValu continue and that no new stadium name had been finalised.

Speaking to RTÉ, Mr O’Donovan said the county board had been listening to the public “on their feelings on the different aspects of the deal”.

“It shows that it was discussed in many households across the country over the last 24 hours. That shows you the interest we have in our games, in our brand, in our family, in our 140 years of history. That's a serious commercial revenue stream that we feel we can maximise in the future.”

Discussions surrounding the commercial deal with SuperValu will continue, Mr O’ Donovan added.

“They're very complex deals in terms of various elements, they're more complex than jersey sponsorships or partnerships, so we'll be considering all aspects of the deal and continuing a great discussion with SuperValu, who have very similar ideals as we have in terms of community focus and so on,” he said.

Despite ongoing discussions, Mr O’Donovan is hopeful the two sides will “reach a really good outcome”.

“We'll be to speaking to SuperValu again [on Wednesday] to continue with those discussions to get a deal that's right for both parties because no partnership will work if it's not sustainable for either side.” 

The Cork side are eager to secure the deal ahead of the fast-approaching GAA season, Mr O’Donovan said.

“I suppose we want to proceed as urgently as possible at all commercial ranges,” he said.

There is an “annual imperative” ahead of the busy upcoming season, with preparations under way for the Bruce Springsteen concert being hosted in the stadium in May, along with a bustling hurling and football schedule.

“We'd love to have something in place before then to maximise the benefits for all sides,” he said.