Semple Stadium will always be the jewel in the crown for Tipperary - Tim Floyd

Outgoing Tipperary County GAA Board Secretary Tim Floyd told delegates at the annual Convention at the Dome recently, that despite the huge costs associated with looking after and maintaining FBD Semple Stadium, it is still the jewel in the Premier County crown.

The Newport man outlined how the GAA promoted the development of major stadia across the country without having a clear strategic plan in place. The result is that in Munster alone there are four GAA Stadiums with approved safe capacities of 25,000 plus -FBD Semple Stadium (45,690), Pairc UiChaoimh (45,000), TUS Gaelic Grounds (44,023) and Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney (38,000).

Then there’s Cusack Park with 19,000; Walsh Park 11,000; Pairc Ui Rinn with 16,440; and Austin Stack Park Tralee 12,000.
“How many occasions during the year are these stadiums anywhere near the full capacity. The nearest Semple Stadium got to full capacity this year was the Munster senior hurling final (45,158) with the All-Ireland quarter finals next at (32,640). For ten months from January to October Semple Stadium hosted 60 games and twenty of these had attendances less than 2,000,” he said.

Pictured above: Tim Floyd

He added: “The average attendance at the round robin Munster Senior Hurling Championship home games in Semple Stadium is 20-25,000 so one could argue that this is the target average for a GAA stadium in most counties. Carrying a stadium with up to 50,000 capacity needs constant maintenance and even during the Covid years these costs were still there even with no rental income. The FBD name sponsorship has been a major boost in this area, and this is really appreciated.

“We constantly hear complaints from patrons about the P.A system, the scoreboard, disabled facilities, the condition of the seats and terraces, but these are issues related to an ageing stadium. Plans for a €10m investment in the stadium have been shelved as FBD Semple Stadium is not on Central Councils priority list and without their backing we cannot progress.

“Currently the only Munster Stadium on their radar is Walsh Park so the rest of us must join the queue. With so many major stadia in the province, the demand for FBD Semple Stadium will continue to decrease,” he said.

The Secretary explained that presently in our home and away agreements with Cork Tipperary owe two trips to Pairc Ui Chaoimh arising from their own construction years when they had to travel to Thurles. These can only be Munster Finals as the Round Robin games are not part of the agreement.

Likewise, Cork have a similar agreement with Limerick so little chance of seeing them play in Thurles for a long time in a Munster Final.

“We struck it lucky in 2022 with a classic Limerick v Clare Munster Final in FBD Semple Stadium but there is no guarantee of these finals in future years. Still, it is our “Field of Legends” which we are all very proud of and thanks to the watchful eyes of people like Stadium Chairman Con Hogan, Stadium Director David Morgan, his son Toby, Stadium Secretary Tom Maher, Head Groundsman Padhraic Green and all the other staff it will always be the “jewel” in the crown for Tipperary GAA people,” he said.