The bill to replace and maintain a new pitch at Páirc Uí Chaoimh could be as much as €2m, it has emerged.
The true extent of the cost emerged after a report placed the revised cost of the stadium regeneration at €95.8m — €10m more than expected but almost €15m less than suggested by stadium and commercial director Peter McKenna in December.
The “final estimated cost” from stadium board members Michael O’Flynn and Tom Gray followed a detailed review of county board accounts and documents, and talks with “all stakeholders on all relevant matters”.
In a statement afterwards, the board said the figure includes provision for full replacement of the pitch but that a final decision has yet to be made.
All remaining Allianz League fixtures, including the double-headers with ladies football, have now been refixed for Páirc Uí Rinn, while the Pairc Uí Chaoimh pitch undergoes remediation work to get it ready for the first Munster senior hurling championship fixture between Cork and Tipperary on May 12.
“The board will be making no further comment on these matters,” it said in a statement.
The pitch cut up badly during two senior league games in early February.
An industry source said drainage is not the main problem, but rather it’s a light issue in a stadium with a large roof over its south stand.
The expert said the cost of a full pitch replacement, along with the provision of required maintenance technology expected in modern stadiums, could range from €1.5m to €2m.
The bulk of the spend would be on the technology required to maintain the surface, including an under-soil heating system, which could cost up to €300,000, and eight grow-light rigs, each costing at least €100,000.
As if that headache was not enough, GAA chiefs have had to reissue new cards to all premium level seat-holders in Páirc Uí Chaoimh after a technical issue with their barcodes.
Premium seat holders are now being offered free access to all 2019 league matches in Páirc Uí Rinn, and an extra four months to the term of all premium seat contracts to compensate for lost matches in Pairc Uí Chaoimh — effectively an extra full National League campaign.
There are some 2,000 seats on the premium level of the stadium’s new south stand, ranging in price from €2,000 for a three-year deal, €4,000 for five years, and €6,500 for 10 years.
Premium level seat-holders have exclusive access to four bars, a 400-seat restaurant, and what the GAA says are the best views in the stadium.
Páirc Uí Chaoimh sales manager Patrick Doyle declined to say how many premium seats have been sold, adding that while the ticket reissue was not ideal, “it wasn’t a big deal” in the overall scheme of things.
By Eoin English - Irish Examiner Reporter
