Canadian firm partners with Cork GAA in bid for 11,000-capacity event centre

A Canadian real estate firm has partnered with Cork GAA in its bid for the Cork Events Centre, with plans revealed for an 11,000-capacity venue on the 4G pitch at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Canadian real estate firm Shenkman Group has partnered with Cork GAA in its bid for the Cork Events Centre, drafted in consultation with The O’Flynn Group, and envisages a multi-purpose event and exhibition centre adjacent to the existing SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium in Ballintemple.

The new proposal would see a steel-structured event space to cater for live touring musical acts, theatrical performances, major trade shows, multi-sport and experiential events at the location, close to the city’s proposed new Luas line.

The Shenkman Group is a privately owned company headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with extensive experience in the convention sector through the vast Cohere Centre in the Canadian capital. Its chairman, Bill Shenkman, has a home in Cork.

“This is economically one of the most important decisions taken in Cork this decade. We don’t need a bigger Opera House – we need a venue that caters to the needs of the industry, the public and the wider community,” said Mr Shenkman.

The plan is designed for maximum usage, being flexible enough to host smaller events, conferences, conventions, and indoor sports including basketball and tennis. The space would also be available for GAA activities, and in support of the local community.

Bill Shenkman of the Shenkman Corporation. Picture: Sean Burges/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Kevin O’Donovan, CEO of Cork GAA said: “Páirc Uí Chaoimh is the only venue in the region that has experience in hosting large scale-sports events, concerts, trade shows, conferences and corporate events. We believe that we can translate that experience into a single venue that delivers economically for the city, the wider region and Ireland as a whole. By partnering with O’Flynn Group, and using the experience of Shenkman Corporation, we believe that we can put forward an option that can deliver both now, and into the future”.

Should the application prove to be successful, Cork construction firm Sisk have committed as builders on the project, while Arup would serve as engineering consultants. The application has also been supported by consultants KSNPM, KSNCC, and EY.

The plans for the Páirc Ui Chaoimh bid would see a centre with a large open space, with over 3,000 permanent seats and a structure which would allow seating capacity to increase to 11,000 for events. This would put the facility into a capacity space comparable with the 13,000 capacity 3Arena in Dublin. The developers are confident this could still comfortably fit within the existing footprint of the 4G site.

The Shenkman Corporation, long established in Canada, is a privately owned real property development company headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, which invests in a variety of ventures including commercial and residential real estate, manufacturing, and technology-based partnerships. The group has extensive experience in the convention sector in North America through the Cohere Centre, a 220,000 square feet exhibition space and venue in the Canadian capital.

“This exploratory phase has brought together an incredible group of professionals, who are determined to bring this vision to reality. I believe that a multi-use, accessible venue offers Cork the best option available at the best value for money,” said Mr Shenkman.

“Our operations in Canada deal regularly with multiple promoters, as befitting a venue with multiple uses like the one we are proposing here. The right venue will attract the right promoters, the right artists and the right events.”

The concept design for the building is based on the experience of international multi-functional event venues. Conventions would be regarded as an area which could be increasingly cultivated to bring business into the city. The design would also mean support trucks could drive directly into the event site, seen as a valuable logistics advantage.

With the proposed building and its ancillary support spaces located on the site of the existing 4G pitch, the pitch will be relocated as part of the planned new Centre of Excellence for Cork GAA. Developers say the new space would also be available for GAA activities, and in support of the local community.

Three bids give Events Centre plans fresh momentum  

The Events Centre saga has gained fresh momentum in the past year, after a decade of frustration. The initial tender for the 6,000-seat, multi-purpose centre was awarded in 2014 to construction firm BAM. The sod was turned by the project in February 2016 but stalled as costs spiralled.

In October 2024, the Government re-tendered for the project. A project development board was set up, chaired by city council assistant chief executive Brian Geaney, which has continued the push the project forward. The deadline for the pre-qualification (SAQ) submissions from interested parties was June 23 last month.

The original proposal from BAM on South Main St, backed by global concert giant Live Nation, remains in contention, along with a bid from Urban Green Private, Tom Coughlan’s real estate firm, which proposes a 4,000 to 5,000-seat venue at the Marina Market retail location, and is supported by international financial investment firm Macquarie.

In April, O’Flynn Group chair and CEO Michael O’Flynn raised the prospect of Páirc Uí Chaoimh as a possible venue for an event centre for Cork. The proposal is now formally part of the suitability assessment run by Cork City Council for a new venue to cater for events in Cork.

“We have previously confirmed that the City Council received a number of SAQ submissions. But because this is a live competition, we can’t go into detail on the exact number received or the identity of bidders,” a Cork City Council spokesperson said.

“The submissions are being reviewed, and evaluated and shortlisting will take place, in accordance with public procurement requirements. The process will lead to the issuing later this year of tender documents, followed by a process to select a preferred bidder.”