We all love a new stadium.
Shiny, different, clean bucket seats and unusual products being sold in the concession stands.
Then we have years of complaining that the atmosphere is not the same as the dilapidated ground that used to stand in the same spot (see Aviva Stadium), but for the first few visits that “new stadium smell” is all we need.
Unfortunately, we won’t be getting a sniff of the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh this month as Cork County Board confirm the redeveloped stadium by the banks of the Lee will not open until mid-July at the earliest.
There are 1.25 million people in Munster… how many 40,000 capacity stadiums do they need?https://t.co/EKZ2IJNOFV
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) January 5, 2017
That means Cork will not host either the Munster football or hurling final, as previously indicated.
The county board released a statement on Monday morning.
“The new Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium will not host either of the Munster Finals scheduled for July, as originally planned.
“Cork County Board was informed this morning that the scheduled handover date of June 18th would not now be met. There are still some commissioning works to be completed and these will be finished by July 7th. The first game in the new stadium will take place in mid July.
“Cork County chairman, Ger Lane said:’Clearly we are disappointed but we want everything to be pristine before the stadium hosts its first major games. We want to be certain that all the expectations for this tremendous new facility will be fully met and we are satisfied that this will be the case by mid July’.”
Disappointing news páirc uí chaoimh won't be open… would have been a belter. Killarney will still have fireworks 💥 🏐😜😉#munsterfinal pic.twitter.com/qmDg4tVq5k
— Tomás Ó Sé (@tomas5ky) June 12, 2017
Is there scope for the All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals to be moved out of Thurles, or are Cork “hoping” to play a late-stage qualifier at home?
Otherwise the phenomenal new ground will be christened with club action, which would be pretty cool too.
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