A naming rights deal for Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be put to Cork County Board delegates this evening.
The Irish Examiner has reported that SuperValu will assume first naming rights for the beloved sport grounds, currently named after Pádraig Ó Caoimh.
Ó Caoimh, a veteran of Ireland’s War of Independence, was GAA director general for 35 years between 1929 and 1964.
The Irish Examiner reports that three other companies (Boston Scientific, Statkraft and PepsiCo) will also gain stadium branding privileges.
It is understood that the package for these rights will earn €1m for Cork GAA over the next three years.
Cork GAA CEO Kevin O’Donovan said last month: "Crippling energy costs, along with fixed charges such as rates present major obstacles. Current stadium debt levels, now resting at over €30m, continue to present a major challenge.
"2024 will see the return of rugby and concerts to the stadium as it seeks to fulfil a municipal agenda.
“Such high scale and indeed expensive physical assets simply must be utilised at every part possible opportunity and as we do not have access to a sufficient number of games in our own association, we must look elsewhere at every opportunity."
The reaction to the news on social media has been universally negative.
One X user wrote: “So the All Ireland football and hurling moved to July so that Croke Park can be host concerts the first week of September.... and now Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be named after a supermarket... and it's still an amateur sport organization."
Other commenters labeled the potential name change “disgraceful” and a “crazy decision.”
This evening’s county board meeting will take place behind closed doors and will not be open to media or the public.