Mardyke Arena – University College Cork Install
The Challenge: University College Cork wanted to create more space in their highly-trafficked Mardyke Arena, calling for a complete refit of their 3 gyms. The Mardyke Arena was seeking a manufacturer to help support their needs, which extends beyond the sale of fitness equipment.
The Solution: A partnership between The Mardyke Arena and TRUE Fitness to provide the best in innovative fitness solutions through planning and installation, warranty and service support, marketing, and training.
University College Cork
Nestled in the southwest region of Ireland in the province of Munster is University College Cork. With an enrollment of 22,000 students, University College Cork (UCC) is Ireland’s leading Research Institute and home to the Mardyke Arena.
Mardyke Arena UCC
The Facility
The Mardyke, also referred to as the Mardyke Sports Ground, is the fitness and sports facility utilized by UCC athletics, students, staff and faculty, and the general public of Cork. The Mardyke Arena is filled with everything members need to enjoy a comprehensive fitness experience.
Mardyke Arena features an assortment of premium amenities to meet the needs of all members. There is an outdoor 8 lane international standard synthetic track, 2 Grass Pitches – the first for Rugby and Soccer and the second for Gaelic Games, and an outdoor Synthetic Hockey Pitch for hockey and soccer.
The Mardyke features many spacious mirrored aerobics studios, a multi-purpose, an indoor climate-controlled track, and climbing wall. In addition, members are offered a Human Performance Laboratory, Sauna & Steam room, sports hall, squash courts, and drop-in Crèche childcare facility.
Membership
As a world-class Cork-based sports and fitness facility, the Mardyke Arena UCC is a fitness and training home to an array of athletes. Ireland’s elite sportspeople, thousands of students, families and children, and business professionals are members of Cork’s premier fitness facility. The Mardyke Arena UCC appeals to the widest cross-section of Cork, Ireland’s population, and has 650,000+ visitors per year. Membership is open to the general public of Cork.
TRUE Cardio and Strength Upgrade
The Mardkye’s fitness gymnasiums offer the best in premium fitness equipment, with TRUE cardio and strength equipment featured throughout all 3 gyms. The fitness gyms provide a premium array of treadmills, steppers, cross trainers, and bikes that line the walls of the fitness facility.
The Mardyke upgraded all of their equipment to have the best offerings for their members. The contract was awarded after an extensive interview process amongst several fitness equipment manufacturers. “We were really impressed with the TRUE presentation. It was an exciting opportunity to work with a company that had energy and ambition. We’re really pleased with what we’ve seen. We needed a brand that had a reputation but also had the track record of being able to sustain a very heavy demand. It wasn’t just selling us something and I think it got TRUE over the line,” said Patsy Ryan, General Manager – Mardyke Arena / UCC.
Per TRUE’s expert Facility Planning services, the Mardyke Arena UCC was redesigned with zones to maximize space and equipment experience. The cardiovascular zones are filled with TRUE’s newest cardio equipment including the Alpine Runner, Palisade Climber, and ellipticals. Each piece was designed to maximize the footprint of the space to bring in additional machines. “The unique design [of the ellipticals] where you get on the machine from behind it has allowed us to increase the footprint. That excites us!” said Michael Kearney, Fitness Manager at The Mardyke.
The strength zone offers a full lineup of TRUE strength equipment, including the Composite Strength series, plate loaded, racks, and benches, and custom painted selectorized strength machines. Members have the option to choose from plate-loaded racks, benches, as well as our user-friendly modern and comprehensive strength conditioning series, Fuse.
TRUE also created new graphics to incorporate throughout the facilities to refresh the spaces and offer a unique experience to members.
Award-Winning
This year, Mardyke Arena UCC was awarded Best Gym in Munster & Overall in Ireland. The award is based on “energy, passion, and commitment to creating a business which is proving to be an essential part of the community served.”
The New Mardyke Experience
Installing new TRUE equipment has greatly benefited The Mardyke. “The install has generated a buzz around the facility with members talking about the equipment. The design of TRUE’s equipment allowed us to make some alterations to the layout of the gyms which has increased its functionality and allowed us to deliver a better user experience,” said Wayne Falvey.
TRUE is looking forward to our continued partnership, and the opportunity to support The Mardyke in their marketing, facility, and equipment support needs. To learn more about the install, check out our Mardyke Arena Success Story showcase page.
Interested in bringing TRUE to your student recreation facility? Contact a TRUE rep and learn more about this install in our video showcase below!