Páirc Uí Chaoimh is to be renamed SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh as part of a new 10-year partnership with between Cork GAA and the retailer, it has been announced this morning.
The deal will be finalised at a special meeting of delegates to the Cork County Board on Thursday.
There was uproar two weeks ago when it appeared that the Úí Chaoimh name was to be dropped but that has now been resolved and the traditional name will stay, probably with a bit more recognition from local fans who colloquially refer to the stadium as the Park.
Naming rights for the stadium are part of a broader commercial strategy by Cork GAA which is supported by One Cork. This aims to put Cork GAA on a stable financial footing to help develop the game at both local and county level.
SuperValu is part of the Musgrave Group, Ireland’s leading food retail, wholesale, and foodservice company. With a network of 222 community-based stores across the country, SuperValu is already a huge supporter of the GAA locally and nationally.
It sponsors the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, as well as the Cork Senior Ladies Football Team and clubs in every community around the country.
The Group headquarters have been located in Cork since their founding by the Musgrave family 148 years ago.
SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh is the home of Cork GAA. First opened in 1904 as the Cork Athletic Grounds, it went on to host a variety of sports before being repurposed as Páirc Uí Chaoimh in 1976, and renovated into the stadium it is today in 2017.
As well as playing host to some of Cork GAA’s most memorable games, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh has opened its doors to some of the biggest global artists in Ireland in recent years, with Bruce Springsteen set to take to the stage this summer.
Munster Rugby will play Crusaders there on Saturday evening.
“We are very excited to embark on a new journey with our partners in SuperValu, a retailer that has community and family at its core,” said Cork GAA CEO Kevin O’Donovan.
“We are confident that they will bring these shared values to the future of the home of Cork GAA. The realisation of naming rights is another step in the right direction and shows the value that the Cork GAA brand retains as we continue to expand our commercial model in support of our games. As part of this process, we continue to engage with members of the O’Caoimh family and keep them informed of developments.”
“I am delighted to confirm that SuperValu has agreed to acquire the naming rights to the newly titled SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh,” said Ian Allen, SuperValu Managing Director.
“This partnership is a natural fit for SuperValu which, like the GAA, is at the heart of communities across Ireland.”
“SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh is an iconic Cork location with nationwide reach, attracting national audiences to the exciting matches, and entertainment on offer. SuperValu has acquired the naming rights to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh for 10 years, building further on our commitment to community sponsorships and our dedication to the GAA.”
“We and our retailers are immensely proud to support GAA clubs right around the country and to sponsor the Cork Ladies Gaelic Football Team and the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.”
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