Páirc Uí Chaoimh Pitch Replacement

PRESS RELEASE - PÁIRC UÍ CHAOIMH PITCH REPLACEMENT

The Board of Directors of Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Cork County Board are delighted to announce that agreement has been reached with SIS Pitches Ltd. to completely replace the pitch at Páirc uí Chaoimh with a new reinforced pitch, incorporating rootzone and surface reinforcement, bringing it in line with the most up-to-date pitch construction technology and performance available today.  In addition, the pitch surrounds will be replaced with the most up-to-date synthetic surround to comply with GAA performance and construction standards. SIS Pitches are also providing a contract guarantee for the performance of the pitch.

This re-development offers many significant benefits in establishing a pitch system and playing surface that befits the investment made in our new stadium.

Key benefits of the re-development include:

● The future-proofing of a pitch profile construction for many years to come through the use of new technology (gravel raft) and completely new materials that must pass rigorous specification criteria.

● Providing a reinforced structure of pitch profile and surface to significantly increase the underfoot stability for all players, particularly at times where grass growth is curtailed due to temperature and light conditions.

● To provide a pitch that can facilitate double-headers/multiple matches with little if any decline in performance.

● To provide the ability to play more club matches particularly at the back end of the season when growing conditions are typically more challenging.

● To provide a synthetic surround that reduces damage to the playing area through the turning of maintenance equipment.

● To provide a synthetic surround that creates the opportunity to increase sponsorship opportunities with removable 3D logos etc for individual matches.

Works are due to begin on the project during the week commencing July 22nd, and the contractor has indicated that this start date is critical to achieving maximum grass growth and ensuring the availability of the pitch for all of Cork's home Allianz League games in 2020. From commencement of mobilisation to sowing of seed, a minimum of four weeks is required, and an optimum grow-in will require eight to twelve weeks in normal grass-growing conditions. It is the opinion of the various experts involved that any delay in commencement of works would compromise the possibility of a successful January 2020 opening.

The tender price has come in within the amount allowed in the €95.8m estimate of costs announced earlier this year.

The Páirc Uí Chaoimh Board and Cork County Board are confident that this action will allow the stadium to reach its full potential and will support growth in the areas of year-round events and the sale of premium seats, in addition to providing the best possible playing surface for our games.

Commenting on the announcement, Cork County Board Chairperson, Tracey Kennedy said, “I am delighted that work is commencing this month as indicated earlier in the year, when the decision was announced that the pitch would be closed for replacement after the Munster Finals. We cannot ask our teams and supporters to endure another season where our flagship stadium is unavailable to host the games it was built for, and it is absolutely critical now that we have a high-quality, winter-proof pitch available to host all of the inter-county and club fixtures that we wish to play at Páirc Uí Chaoimh each year. I am confident that SIS will provide that for us.

I acknowledge and share the disappointment of many that our Senior Footballers cannot play their home All-Ireland Quarter-Final Phase 3 game against Roscommon in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, and if there was any way in which the match could have been accommodated without risk to the future success of the new pitch, it would have been done. However, our focus has to be on safeguarding our pitch for all our teams far into the future. We look forward to welcoming our own and our visiting supporters to Páirc Uí Rinn for the game.”

ENDS

*Further information:

SIS Pitches (Support in Sport) Ltd.

SIS Pitches manufacture and install world-leading playing surfaces for the sports and leisure industry. We work with the biggest names in sport, including many leading sports clubs and institutions.

› 420 global employees

› €68M turnover, Irish owned company

› Full service provider for synthetic, natural and hybrid pitches

› New UK-based £1.8m manufacturing facility which is the most modern in Europe

2018 World Cup

AFC Asian Cup

Club World Cup

2019 Africa Cup of Nations

UEFA Champions League

Europa League finals

Rugby World Cup

Top 14 Rugby final

European Rugby Champions Cup final