Promoters to Cover Losses for Katie Taylor's Final Fight at Croke Park; Stadium Takes Precautions

The promoters of Katie Taylor's final professional boxing match will assume all financial risks, ensuring Croke Park stadium faces no losses from the event. The highly anticipated bout, scheduled for September 5, will see Taylor face Flora Pili at the iconic GAA headquarters in Dublin. This marks a historic return for boxing to Croke Park, which last hosted a major fight when Muhammad Ali competed there in July 1972.

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We're doing this without risk. In saying that, you don't want a poor result coming into the stadium. That would be bad for brand.

Peter McKenna, Croke Park Stadium Director, emphasized the "risk-free" nature of the arrangement for the venue. "We're doing this without risk," McKenna stated, though he acknowledged that a poor turnout would be detrimental to the stadium's brand. While commercial details remain confidential, McKenna indicated a "nice return" is expected for the stadium. Promoters Matchroom and Aiken Promotions are reportedly confident in their ability to sell out the venue, which has a capacity of 82,300.

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The capacity won't change. The capacity will remain at 82,300.

Concerns regarding potential associations between boxing events and organized crime have been addressed. McKenna assured that stringent checks will be in place for undercard boxers and associated personnel to prevent any links to criminal organizations. "We need to be very careful that the association of the undercard... do not have connections with criminal organisations," he said. He stressed that Katie Taylor, an "outstanding athlete and one of the most outstanding female athletes in Ireland of all time," should not have her reputation tarnished by such associations.

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We need to be very careful that the association of the undercard, and other boxers who are on that undercard, do not have connections with criminal organisations - that's for sure.

Plans for the event are still developing, but an undercard featuring other boxers, interspersed with music and entertainment, is likely. Additionally, 500 free tickets will be offered to the local community surrounding Croke Park. Staff and police have reportedly studied successful large-scale boxing events, such as a Tyson Fury bout at Tottenham Hotspur stadium, to ensure smooth execution.

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But we shouldn't tarnish Katie's reputation. I mean she's an outstanding athlete and one of the most outstanding female athletes in Ireland of all time.