Challenge

Croke Park, a major Gaelic Athletic Association stadium located in Dublin, has been hosting top sports events for over 100 years. Since 1884 the site has been used primarily by the GAA to host Gaelic games, most notably the annual All-Ireland finals in Gaelic football and hurling.

Following a redevelopment programme started in the 1990s, Croke Park currently has a capacity of 82,300, making it the third largest stadium in Europe, and the largest stadium excluding those used for association football. It is an iconic landmark due to its long history and the GAA Gaelic games being uniquely Irish sports.

As with all major sporting stadia with grassed pitches, Croke Park requires watering and drainage to keep its pitch in top condition. High quality pumps are used to ensure that the water they need is provided at an even pressure to ensure that the whole pitch can benefit.

Solution

Pump and pumping system manufacturer Wilo is in part responsible for the high-quality surfaces at many of the world’s leading sports stadia, including Croke Park.

Currently Wilo Ireland Service Department carries out the maintenance to the various booster sets, pressurisation units and circulating pumps on site.

17 booster sets are located around the stadium. All booster sets have been upgraded to Wilo High Efficiency Variable speed models as part of an overall investment in energy solutions.

The maintenance contract is with Haughton and Young (H&Y), a large Dublin-based mechanical contractor. H&Y has also undertaken a complete water management conservation programme for the stadium. H&Y hold the maintenance contract with Croke Park for all building services facilities and sub-contract the pumping equipment maintenance to Wilo Ireland on an annual basis. The most recent scheduled maintenance visit took place during August 2015.

Pitch irrigation booster

The pitch irrigation system was recently upgraded to a new high-efficiency variable speed booster unit type Wilo COR-2HELIXVE1606/K/VR.

It is essential that the irrigation sprinklers receive the correct water volume at constant pressure to ensure even water distribution on the pitch to avoid shading of the pitch surface which was the criteria for the upgrade. It was also essential that the booster unit responded automatically to the number of sprinklers in operation at any one time, with maximum efficiency both electrically and hydraulically. This was achieved with the booster commissioned prior to an All Ireland GAA final attended by over 83,000 people and broadcast to more than 4 million people as the largest sporting event in the Irish calendar.

Wilo Service Department has been extensively involved with the replacement, commissioning and maintenance of all high efficiency booster sets in the stadium with some requiring complete disassembly and reassembly in position due to access restrictions.

Outcome

Wilo is the preferred pump supplier and pump maintenance provider with Croke Park Management and with H&Y due to the high quality, high efficiency, green product focus and the high level of service back-up provided by Wilo Ireland as required by the client.

Wilo continues to play an integral part in the maintenance programme that ensures Croke Park stays at its best.

Irrigation booster pump system for Croke Park pitch

Pressure boosting pump sets - projects from other companies

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