Cost over-run claim denied by Croke Park

Redevelopment of the Canal End Stand at Croke Park is still on course for completion within the original budget of £40 million. In a statement released by the GAA headquarters yesterday, suggestions that the cost of the redevelopment was running some £10 million over budget were emphatically denied.

According to the statement, there is no truth in the assertion that Phase Two (Canal End) of the redevelopment is running or is going to run at £10 million over budget. It was also stated that, earlier this week, Croke Park had been assured by their advisers "that Phase Two is on budget" and that they are confident "that there will not be any over-run".

Reports in the Irish Independent on Tuesday had stated that, due to a series of problems ranging from industrial unrest in the building industry to high winds, the cost of the new Canal End Stand was likely to be pushed up to £50 million. There has been a delay in the opening of the upper tier of the Canal side, which has restricted the capacity of Croke Park to various levels this summer up to a maximum of just over 50,000 for last Sunday's Leinster final.

To further clarify the issue, the GAA stated that: "At this year's Congress, we did report that the purchase of property and extra fit-out work on Phase One were cost items that hadn't been provided for in current budgets, while there were options being considered for Phase Three (New Hogan Stand) which could push up the cost substantially for that phase."

At present, a budget for Phase Three has not been finalised as a cost benefit analysis is awaited with regard to a number of the items which may or may not be included in the scheme. The original estimate for that section was £65 million and it is hoped that 7,000 seats will be available on the lower deck of that stand in time for the All-Ireland finals next month. Croke Park can accommodate 58,000 people with the Hogan side completely redundant.

On completion, the capacity of Croke Park will be 80,000, although it is unlikely that the New Hogan Stand will be fully operational until early 2002. All the corporate boxes and premium level seats in the Hogan side have already been sold, generating revenue of £18.5 million.

Elsewhere, the Wexford Park development, which is running some two years behind schedule, is set to leave the county facing a debt of more than £1 million on completion. The redevelopment work, which commenced in March 1997 with a completion date for the National Feile hurling finals the following year, is now running substantially over budget with the terrace ending behind both goals still to be completed.

Last week, the county board received a National Lottery windfall of £400,000 which will see them in a position to complete both end terraces prior to the official opening. However, the overall development project is now estimated to cost £3.3 million - substantially higher than the initial budget set at just over £1 million.

In addition, there were ongoing problems with the playing pitch resulting in a complete re-drainage system being installed which set the park committee back £250,000. Wexford County Board had hoped to play both senior county finals in their headquarters this year but now there is a doubt surrounding this as building may not be finished before the official opening takes place. "We acquired Government funding on this basis, so we will be honouring our commitment," a spokesman for the county board said.

The spokesman said that a figure in excess of £1 million is still needed to be raised which will see the county board having to avail of bank loans over 10- and 15-year periods. Wexford County Board are likely to seek further Government funding but board members and clubs are angry with the latest revelation of a £1 million debt on completion claiming that they had not been kept informed of any financial shortfall regarding the redevelopment work.

Meanwhile, Croke Park announced yesterday that tickets for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Cork and Offaly will be available from today at the ticket office at the rear end of the Cusack Stand (11.0 a.m. to 7.0 p.m.). Subject to availability, they will remain on sale until Saturday (Priced £20 for stand and £10 for terrace).

The appointment of a successor to Mikey Moran will be the chief topic for discussion at tonight's meeting of Sligo County Board. Former Galway manager John Tobin and Peter Forde, a former Mayo footballer, are believed to be on the board's shortlist to succeed Moran.