The branding of Croke Park was among the measures considered at the weekend's meeting of top GAA officials to consider the future of the association's headquarters. Although there was no definite position adopted on the sale of naming rights, a number of delegates expressed trenchant opposition to the idea.

It was just one of several ideas mooted in relation to the raising of finance to cover the redevelopment costs. "Some people were appalled by the prospect of Croke Park being sold that way," said one of those present, "but others felt that if it would benefit the association, it should be investigated. That all funding possibilities should be considered."

Naming rights have been used as fundraising devices in a number of modern grounds. In Ireland the most obvious example is the faltering FAI plan for a 45,000-capacity stadium to be named Eircom Park. The value on this was set at £11,000,000 for 10 years.

Were Croke Park to go down this road they would hope to raise a lot more given the high-profile programme of matches that takes place at headquarters every year. With the adoption of a new football championship structure for next year, the number of big matches would increase.

Despite the possibility for controversy, according to another GAA source, the idea attracted a certain interest. "You've got to remember this wasn't a decision-making meeting. It was more of a briefing. But people were thinking, `could this (naming rights) be a runner?'.

"It wasn't so much an Eircom Croke Park situation, but the different parts of the ground could be separately sponsored. The Canal End isn't named after anyone, neither is Hill 16. That was more the context in which it was raised."

The main business of last Saturday's meeting was, according to a statement from the GAA, "to consider the need to restructure its financial and operating systems in the light of its investment in Croke Park . . . The association is acutely aware that managing its games programme and its other mainstream activities requires a different focus to that needed for generating a commercial return on its investment in the stadium.

"When completed, the redevelopment of Croke Park will cost £174 million, of which about £100 million (including about £10 million in property acquisition) has already been spent."

Croke Park has been quick to play down the significance of the revised costing, £39 million greater than the working figure for completion up until now.

A number of additional costs were not included in the original estimates which, official sources insisted, had always been designated as being "in today's prices".

According to a GAA spokesperson, these areas include the cost of building the museum and developing the Hall of Fame. In addition, inflation and rising interest rates had also to be factored in.

Those present at Saturday's meeting were apparently more concerned about the availability of games' development funds than in details of the revised costings. Reassurance was given in the undertaking to spend additional revenue from next year's 29 extra football championship matches. To meet the demands of managing the renovated stadium, an executive committee has been established "to manage the stadium on behalf of Central Council".

This committee will be selected by CLG Teoranta, the Croke Park holding company, within the next month. It will be answerable to Central Council and will control seven executive officers to be appointed to look after separate aspects of the stadium such as ticketing, event management and marketing.

Roscommon footballers could be off the US for next summer's first-round championship match with New York. Later this week sees a meeting between the Roscommon county board, the New York board and the Connacht Council. Among the items to be discussed will be the football championship fixture. Were it to go ahead, it would be the first championship match in the US since the Polo Grounds All-Ireland of 1947.

A further meeting with the Ulster Council will take place to discuss the New York hurlers' involvement in that province's championship.