Cork City exploring the naming rights of Turner's Cross with the Munster Football Association to boost finances

CORK City and the Munster Football Association are hoping that the offering of naming rights for Turner’s Cross can prove to be a windfall-generating exercise.

City have announced that the possibility of buying the naming rights for the venue is a commercial avenue being examined at present. 

It is believed that such a deal could be on a par with a shirt-sponsorship agreement like the one City currently have with UCC. Club chairman Declan Carey is excited by the prospect of the joint venture.

“We have been exploring commercial options in recent times,” he said, “and one of the obvious possibilities was naming rights for the ground.

“It’s something that we discussed with the MFA, with whom we have a great relationship as anchor tenants of the Cross, and they were keen to progress it. 

"It’s important for any prospective bidders to bear in mind that, as well as Cork City games, the Cross is used for a wide of variety of games like local cup finals underage internationals and the naming-rights holder will have huge exposure through signage and so on, so it is a great opportunity.” 

While the situation is at a very early stage, Carey expects that the name Turner’s Cross would be incorporated into any new title for the ground.

“This is only just getting off the ground,” he said, “and if and when anything concrete happens then we will discuss it with the MFA, our commercial and marketing manager Paul Deasy will be our lead on this.

“This has been our home ground for more than three decades and it’s a special place for City fans, I don’t think that the name Turner’s Cross will ever be lost. When you have a venue that already exists, the original name tends to be retained, it’s not like the Emirates Stadium, which never had another name.

“People still say, ‘There’s a gig on in Musgrave Park,’ even though that has a sponsor’s name now. Turner’s Cross will always be a part of Cork football.

“Any proceeds from this will go towards improvements on the ground, things people have been asking for. We’re also hoping to make some exciting announcements regarding hospitality on match nights when the league resumes.” 

Interested parties can contact Paul Deasy on commercial@corkcityfc.ie.