Chadwicks Wexford Park

Chadwicks Wexford Park
Páirc Loch Garman
Map
LocationClonard Road, Wexford,[1] County Wexford, Y35 RT91, Ireland
Coordinates52°19′57″N 6°28′33″W / 52.33250°N 6.47583°W / 52.33250; -6.47583
Public transitWexford railway station
OwnerWexford GAA
Capacity18,000[2]

Chadwicks Wexford Park is a GAA stadium in Wexford, County Wexford, Republic of Ireland. It is the home of Wexford GAA's Gaelic football and hurling teams. After a recent development the ground has a capacity of about 18,000.[2] It is located in the Clonard area on the outskirts of Wexford Town. In 2015 a local technology company, Innovate Business Technology, signed a deal for the naming rights to the stadium. The new name unveiled was Innovate Wexford Park. In 2020 Chadwicks builders' providers replaced Innovate as the name sponsor of the stadium.[3]

Redevelopment

In 1997, Wexford received planning permission to redevelop Wexford Park.[4] The redevelopment would cost IR£1 million.[5] It was due to be completed for the National Feile Hurling Finals in 1998. However due to a long overrun, where both end terraces had yet to be constructed, in 2000 they were given an Irish National Lottery grant to cover some of the cost of the overrun. The pitch was discovered to require re-installation of the drainage system as well. The overall cost of the project was IR£3.3 million.[5] The redeveloped stadium was opened in 2001 with a Roman Catholic gathering with a veneration of the relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and it was attended by the Apistolic Nuncio to Ireland, Dr. Giuseppe Lazzarotto and the Bishop of Ferns, Brendan Comiskey.[6]

However, by 2011 the new design of the stadium caused problems. Due to the development including continuous benches along the length of the stand rather than individual seats, it made complying with health and safety regulations difficult due to having to estimate the number of fans that could be accommodated safely. This was seen when there was a Wexford double-header of Gaelic football and hurling with empty spaces in the stands being visible, despite being sold out.[7]

The venue’s first event under newly installed floodlights took place between Wexford and Kilkenny in the 2023 Walsh Cup.[8]

Naming rights

Period Sponsor Name
2015-2019 Innovate Innovate Wexford Park [9]
2020- Chadwicks Chadwicks Wexford Park [10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Contact Us - Official Wexford GAA". Wexfordgaa.ie. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Special report shows huge effect one-metre rule would have on GAA crowds". irish mirror. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Wexford GAA agree naming rights partnership with Chadwicks". hoganstand.com. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Wexford Park plans get the go-ahead". New Ross Standard. Retrieved 10 March 2020 – via Pressreader.
  5. ^ a b O'Riordan, Ian (3 August 2000). "Cost over-run claim denied by Croke Park". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Spectacular Thanksgiving celebration attracted almost 7,000 to Wexford Park". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  7. ^ "We couldn't have done any more - GAA Board". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Wexford GAA hope floodlights can attract bumper neutral games and Ed Sheeran concert". the42. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  9. ^ "What's in a name?". Wexford People. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Wexford GAA rename stadium again as new sponsors come on board". The 42. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2023.