Semple Stadium
| Tom Semple's Field The Home of Hurling Field of Legends Thurles Sportsfield |
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| Location | Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland |
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| Coordinates | 52°40′56″N 7°49′30″W / 52.68222°N 7.82500°WCoordinates: 52°40′56″N 7°49′30″W / 52.68222°N 7.82500°W |
| Public transit | Thurles railway station |
| Owner | Tipperary GAA |
| Capacity | 53,000 |
| Field size | 145 x 90 m |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1910 |
| Opened | 1910 |
| Renovated | 1981 and 2009 |
| Website | |
| tipperary |
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The Semple Stadium is the home of hurling and Gaelic football for Tipperary GAA and for the province of Munster. Located in Thurles, County Tipperary, it is the second largest GAA stadium in Ireland (after Croke Park), with a capacity of 53,000. Over the decades since 1926, it has established itself as the leading venue for Munster hurling followers, hosting the Munster Hurling Final on many memorable occasions.
The main or 'Old Stand' of the ground (also known as the 'Ardán Ó Coinneáin' or 'Dr Kinane Stand') lies across from the 'New Stand' (also known as the 'Ardán Ó Riáin') both of which are covered. Behind the goals are two uncovered terraces known as the 'Town End' and the 'Killinan End' respectively.
In April 2006 Tipperary County Board announced an €18 million redevelopment plan for the Stadium. The three-year project aimed to boost capacity to over 55,000, as well as providing a wide range of modern facilities such as corporate space concessions, dining and changing areas within both main stands. There were also plans to upgrade the standing terraces and instal a modern floodlighting facility. Phase one of the upgrade project, upgrading the Kinnane Stand side of the stadium, involved expenditure of €5.5 million.
On 14 February 2009 the new state of the art floodlights were switched on by GAA President Nickey Brennan before the National Hurling League game against Cork.
In 2016, Hawk-Eye was installed in the stadium and used for the first time during the Munster Championship quarter-final between Tipperary and Cork.
The sportshall accommodates a full-sized basketball court suitable for national standard competition. The hall is also lined for badminton, volleyball and indoor soccer. It is used in the evenings and weekends by the Tipperary hurling and football teams for training and on match days, the building is used to accommodate GAA and sponsor guests for corporate lunches and functions. It has also been used as a music venue.
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