Cork City-Celtic clash could be worth €200k to Cork GAA

The match can raise similar revenue to previous Munster games at the venue, as long as it sells out.

Celtic FC player Adam Idah meets fans from the Cork Celtic Supporters Club at the launch of the Cork Super Cup at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

July’s Cork City-Celtic FC friendly at Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be worth €150,000-€200,000 to Cork GAA, provided the game is a sell-out.

Asked by the Irish Examiner what was the monetary value of the game to Cork GAA, county board secretary Kevin O’Donovan said the figure would be similar to the €150,000-€200,000 range quoted in advance of last year’s Munster-Crusaders rugby fixture at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

“They are similar-scale matches, once they sell out,” O’Donovan replied.

“They were two very successful games (Munster-South Africa and Munster-Crusaders), which sold out, and we hope likewise with this one.” 

Unlike last July’s Ireland-France women’s Euro qualifier, also played at the home of Cork GAA, the Blackrock and City End terraces will be permitted to be in use for the Cork Super Cup clash of Cork City and Scottish champions Celtic, which means there is the potential for a capacity crowd in excess of 40,000.

The Liam Miller tribute match back in 2018, which was the first football game to be played at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, drew an attendance of 42,878. And with no concerts scheduled for the venue in 2025, the debt-laden Cork county board will be keen to hit a similar number on July 8.

“We have done some of these events before, in rugby, the women's football, so this is just a continuation of that, that we open up this stadium to as many events as possible and give the city of Cork something to celebrate,” O’Donovan remarked.

“This is another opportunity to share our stadium with the world and help show Cork as an excellent destination for sports tourism. Every event such as this generates funding streams that we can reinvest in the stadium, and in our own games, so everyone wins.” 

Celtic FC player Adam Idah returned to his old school, Douglas Community School. Adam was in Cork launching the inaugural Cork Super Cup at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic FC will travel to Cork to take on Cork City FC on July 8th, 2025. Tickets go on general sale this Friday via www.corksupercup.com/tickets and Ticketmaster. Picture: Alison Miles /OSM PHOTO

Across rugby and football, this will be the fifth occasion Páirc Uí Chaoimh has opened its doors for non-GAA playing activity. Redeveloped at a cost of €96m, the stadium debt emanating from that rebuild stands stubbornly north of €31m.

At a Cork county board meeting in July of 2023, O’Donovan told delegates that allowing other sports into the venue is a necessary part of meeting debt repayments.

“Large-scale events represent a key component of stadium business,” he said at that board meeting “Current targets are based on securing at least three major events within each financial year, and while we had five concerts last year (2022), we had none this year.

“The geographical location of the stadium makes it challenging to secure major GAA games here. Meeting the debt repayments is an arduous task and this event (Munster-Crusaders) will be worth between €150,000-€200,000 to the stadium.” 

Season ticket holders with Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Celtic FC, and Cork City FC will be able to purchase tickets from Wednesday, March 5. The remaining tickets will go on general sale on Friday, March 7, at 9am.