Semple Stadium set to get €18m facelift

TIPPERARY County Board yesterday announced an €18 million redevelopment plan for Semple Stadium.

The three-year project aims to boost attendances to over 55,000 and work is set to commence later this summer.

The scheme will be financed by Croke Park, the Munster Council, Tipperary County Board, the National Lottery and the stadium’s own revenue generation.

The work will include the complete refurbishment of the Kinane Stand (old stand), spectator facilities and changing rooms. At the Ardan Uí Riain stand (new stand), new seating is being installed and a VIP lounge will be constructed.

Work is also to be undertaken to improve spectator facilities at the Kilinan and town-end terraces. When completed, capacity at the ground will be increased by about 3,000.

Chairman of Semple Stadium Management Committee Con Hogan is looking forward to such a major undertaking.

“In any situation where you are dealing with a major facility such as Semple Stadium, you have to redevelop and invest to ensure that it remains state-of-the-art from a playing and spectating perspective. This is an exciting system and one which will be very worthwhile.”

On the matter of floodlighting at the famous Tipperary ground, Mr Hogan admitted: “We are looking at putting in place the infrastructure for floodlighting. Whether we will actually put the lights in place in this project remains to be seen.”

He said that a time frame of three years has been set for the ambitious project.

Tipperary County Board secretary Michael O’Brien welcomed the news: “We are thrilled with the idea. The County Board and the executive are behind this, as are Munster Council and Croke Park.”