The UK government’s statement on Friday that funding would not be made available to the casement park project in Belfast to enable it to host games in the Euro 2028 Football Championships was a hammer blow.

The artist’s impression above is a long way from the tumbleweed that remains in the once proud home of Ulster GAA and the proposed host of four games at one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

It was always going to be down to the wire in terms of whether the construction could be completed in time to meet UEFA guidelines but as recently as 12 months ago at a Sport for Business event in Belfast the CEO’s of both the Irish Football Association and Ulster GAA were expressing their confidence.

Now the work will have to begin on finding a way for Northern ireland to have a meaningful part in the tournament and for the redistribution of the five games that were thought likely to be staged there.

A number of those will likely now come to the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, but UEFA has not yet reacted to the news.

The project has been on the table for the last thirteen years. The development of Ravenhill and Windsor Park into the modern stadia they are now was completed, ticking off two of the three projects originally seen as important for sport in the City and across Northern Ireland.

Casement Park was always going to be bigger, though, and more expensive.

Planning delays, then Covid, the collapse of the Stormont Executive and rising construction costs seemed in turn like well aimed darts to slow progress and the UEFA deadline which at first seemed like the spur that would make it happen, instead proved the reason for this latest delay.

Delay is what it needs to be seen as, and it is expressed by the Irish government, the GAA, and Sinn Fein, the largest party at Stormont.

The cost of building to UEFA standards would potentially have doubled the cost and without that imperative, the design and the spec will now be redrawn.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that the €50 million promised by the Government will remain in place, the GAA issued a statement which we carry in full below which is equally adamant that the project must proceed.

The Irish FA is coming under pressure for the lack of a Plan B to involve Belfast in the Euro’s but this is mainly empty rhetoric as almost doubling the size of The National Football Stadium was hardly a consideration, as the UEFA guidelines would have required.

Now, Northern Ireland will perhaps look instead to developing a Football Centre of Excellence, which could serve as a base for teams competing in the tournament and also leave a legacy for the game into the longer term.

For the moment though the wound of losing out on hosting games is perhaps too raw, and the next steps will need to be considered away from that pain.

GAA Statement in full:

“Confirmation that Belfast will not be hosting the UEFA EURO 2028 Championships is a
missed opportunity and it is one that our entire society will look back on with considerable
regret.”

“Ulster GAA has taken every possible step to keep the project on track for the UEFA Euro
2028 Football Championships. This included investing over £4m in critical aspects of pre-enabling works in anticipation of the procurement of the new main contractor.”

“On his appointment to office the Secretary of State Hilary Benn, on behalf of the British Government, gave firm commitments that Casement Park will be built, a commitment also given by his predecessor. We have sought an urgent meeting with him to agree next steps.”

“Casement Park will be built, and we will work with all partners to ensure that the promises
made by the NI Executive over 13 years ago and within successive Programmes for Government to deliver on the strategic stadia need of the GAA in the province and in Belfast, Ireland’s second city, are fulfilled.”

“As we continue to work towards the delivery of the new Casement Park, which will host Gaelic Games at all levels, and be a community hub for West Belfast, we would like to thank Gaels throughout Antrim, Ulster and Ireland for their patience, commitment and unwavering support for the project over many years.”

 

 

 

 

Sport for Business, in partnership with Allianz, will hold the 2024 Sport for Business Sport for Social Good Conference on Thursday, October 24th. This is one of ten events currently planned for the remainder of 2024.

Register your interest to attend a Sport for Business event here.

 

The Sport for Business Membership comprises nearly 300 organisations, including all the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies. 

Find out more about joining us today.