Cork stadium plans scaled back

CORK GAA chiefs have ditched plans to increase the capacity of Páirc Uí Chaoimh to over 50,000 while the total cost of the redevelopment of the county’s flagship stadium has been priced at between €40m and €60m.

Delegates at Saturday night’s Cork GAA Convention in Páirc Uí Chaoimh were informed it is no longer financially viable to attempt to increase the capacity of the stadium and that instead they will be aiming to maintain the current capacity of 43,500.

In October the board received the green light from city council officials to start the project after the sale of seven acres of publicly owned land next to the stadium was agreed. In his annual report secretary Frank Murphy outlined it was hoped the planning and consultation phase will be completed in the next 12 months and construction would start within two years.

But the overall capacity of the redesigned stadium was questioned by Douglas hurling delegate Brendan Larkin.

“I’m totally in favour of the redevelopment as there is no doubt that this stadium has deteriorated,” he said.

“But does this county really need a stadium of 50,000 capacity? How many games are we going to get to fill that? Look at Killarney and Limerick, how many times are their stadiums full every year. We’ve lost out to Thurles as the second stadium in the country.

“We won’t get 35,000 for Cork and Tipp in the Munster hurling championship next year and if Cork and Kerry meet in the football we won’t get 30,000 in the Munster championship, as neither game is a final.”

However Murphy responding by revealing the plans had been scaled back.

“We’re not aiming for a capacity of 50,000 or 55,000 in the redevelopment. It would be out of financial viability to do that in the current climate. Our best aim is for our current capacity so that’s what we’re aiming at.

“The development of the main stand and the centre of excellence are the first phase. That’ll be on the lower scale of the financial commitment but the overall commitment is more futuristic.”

There were concerns amongst delegates about the financial pressures that may be put upon clubs during the fundraising drive when the stadium is redeveloped. Freemount delegate John O’Flynn queried whether “the level of expenditure was necessary” while Larkin expressed hoped the clubs would not become weighed down with debt.

“If we’re saddled with any more debt, we can’t survive. Please don’t saddle clubs around the county with debt again that we just can’t pay. We’re already struggling as it is.”

However outgoing chairman Jerry O’Sullivan urged delegates to back the fundraising drive necessary for the development. O’Sullivan insisted they are aware of the financial pressures but insisted it was up to GAA members to foot the bill.

“If the GAA people don’t pay for it, who do we expect to pay for it? The overall figure is somewhere between €40m to €60m. We can’t put an exact figure on it as there will be variations.

“But it goes without question the stadium needs redevelopment. It’s also long gone past time where we need centre of excellence.

” Our inter-county teams have been trawling the county over the past few years looking for venues to train. Our intention is to have everything in the one locality.

“It sounds daunting but it was the same in the 1970s. It is an essential development and the fundraising of it will be very important. We’re conscious of times we live in and the difficulties for everyone but we hope people will be supportive of the project. Most people would agree that it is long overdue and is necessary.

“The redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh represents a huge challenge for the GAA and the support of everyone in the county needed to bring this to fruition.”