United Park
United Park, formerly O2 Park and Hunky Dorys Park for sponsorship purposes, is a football stadium in Drogheda, Ireland. The ground has been home to League of Ireland side Drogheda United since 1979. It was officially opened on 12 August 1979 with a friendly against Queens Park Rangers F.C..
| |
| Full name | United Park |
|---|---|
| Location | Drogheda, County Louth |
| Public transit | Drogheda MacBride Bus Éireann Route 101 |
| Capacity | 3,500 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1979 |
| Renovated | 2010 |
| Tenants | |
| Drogheda United (1979- present) | |
In October 1993, the first match under floodlights took place with a 2-1 win over Shamrock Rovers [1]
The ground has a capacity of 3,500 with 1,500 seats. During the middle of 2010, renovations took place to bring the venue up to licensing standards: changes include the addition of seats to the GAA side of the ground (to bring the seating capacity up to 1,500), new toilet facilities and a new covered section dedicated to wheelchair users.
The ground was also known briefly as O2 Park during 2002 and 2003, as part of a sponsorship deal with the telecommunications company O2. The stadium used to hold 5,400,[2] though the safe capacity is now set at 2000 by the Louth County Fire Officer.[3]
The stadium has also hosted five Republic of Ireland under-21 national football team games and other international underage games including games in the 1994 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship. Proposals have been made to sell the site and build a 10,000 all seater new stadium on the outskirts of the town.[4] On 9 July 2008 planning permission was given to Drogheda United by Meath County Council, however, the plans eventually fell through.