27th March 2014, Thursday
Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Musgrave Park, the Cork home to Munster Rugby, is to be renamed Irish
Independent Park, in a naming rights agreement with Independent News &
Media. The partnership agreement which will come into effect next
season is for a period of ten years.
The naming rights sponsorship agreement will assist in creating
permanency for Munster Rugby in Ireland’s second largest city,
including assisting with the re-development of the grounds. As part
of the naming rights agreement Independent News & Media will have
total and exclusive ground naming rights. It will have extensive
branding at the ground’s entrance, on directional signage and in match
day programmes.
“Munster Rugby is delighted that Independent News & Media have
committed to such a significant, long term partnership,” said Garrett
Fitzgerald, CEO, Munster Rugby. “The naming of Irish Independent Park
allows Munster Rugby to progress on our redevelopment of the grounds
and commit to our rugby future here. Cork is a vital element of
Munster Rugby’s success and we are happy that Irish Independent Park
will be central to rugby development in the region.”
“Independent News and Media is delighted to confirm this new agreement
with Munster Rugby and the renaming of Musgrave Park to Irish
Independent Park,” said Leslie Buckley, Chairman, Independent News &
Media. “This is hallowed ground for Munster Rugby and particularly
for Cork supporters. The Irish Independent has a strong affinity with
Munster Rugby, which is underpinned by our weekly rugby pull out
exclusively for our Munster readers. We now look forward to
positively and successfully building upon that relationship.”
‘INM are a proud partner to Munster Rugby with the Irish Independent
into its second season as Official Newspaper to the Province. Irish
Independent Park is a further demonstration of our continued support
in helping to encourage and build the game of rugby in schools, clubs
and at provincial level. We look forward to seeing some fantastic
games in this superb stadium in the heart of Cork City and reporting
on them in the Irish Independent and on independent.ie,” said Vincent
Crowley, CEO, Independent News & Media.
Opened in 1940 Musgrave Park is the Cork home to Munster Rugby. Its
tenant clubs are Dolphin and Sunday’s Well. It has hosted some famous
matches including a draw against the All Blacks in 1973 and most
notably in 1992 when Munster beat reigning world champions Australia,
one of three Munster victories over the Wallabies.
Present at Musgrave Park today to mark the opening were Munster’s
Peter O’Mahony; NewsTalk presenter and RTE rugby pundit George Hook;
former Munster legend, Tony Ward; Bertie Smith, vice-President and
Garrett Fitzgerald, CEO, Munster Rugby; and Leslie Buckley, Chairman
and Vincent Crowley; CEO, Independent News & Media.
