Prime Arena has secured a significant boost in its efforts to bring Ireland’s first multipurpose winter sports and entertainment arena to Cherrywood, with formal endorsements confirmed from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s Economic Development team, Dublin Chamber and Tourism Ireland.
The backing of three influential bodies across local economic development, business and tourism represents an important milestone for the project as it continues engagement with the Government on its Grant Application and prepares to submit a planning application later this summer.
Located in Cherrywood, Prime Arena is being positioned as a landmark venue capable of hosting major international events, concerts, conferences, exhibitions and year-round winter sports activity.
The development is projected to attract more than 1.3 million visitors annually, creating what its backers believe could become a major new driver of economic activity for Dublin, the wider region and Ireland’s tourism proposition.
Transformational Potential for Cherrywood
John O’Toole, Head of Economic Development at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said the project had the potential to make a significant contribution to the local economy and to the future identity of Cherrywood.
“The potential to have Ireland’s first dedicated winter sports and entertainment arena earmarked for development in Cherrywood is transformational,” he said.
“Once constructed, it will contribute significantly to our ambitions across sport, tourism and culture, supporting further economic growth and opportunity throughout Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and the wider region.”
O’Toole said a venue of this scale would deliver economic benefits across a wide range of areas, including employment, visitor spend, destination profile and the activation of Cherrywood as a vibrant new town centre.
His endorsement is particularly significant given Cherrywood’s ongoing development as one of the largest new urban growth areas in the country, with major residential, commercial, transport and civic infrastructure planned or already underway.
Dublin Business Backing
Dublin Chamber CEO Mary Rose Burke said Prime Arena could deliver a lasting economic boost for the capital, with benefits extending across hospitality, tourism, retail and local services.
“Prime Arena would deliver a significant and lasting boost to Dublin’s economy, supporting businesses across hospitality, tourism, retail and local services while further strengthening the city’s international reputation as a dynamic, globally competitive destination for world-class sport, entertainment and major events,” she said.
“The project has the potential to become one of the most transformative entertainment and tourism developments delivered in the State in recent years.”
The Chamber’s support adds a strong business voice to the project at a time when Dublin is seeking to strengthen its capacity to host major international events and compete with other European cities for high-value tourism, entertainment and business activity.
Prime Arena’s proposition is centred on the ability to operate throughout the year, combining elite and community winter sports with concerts, cultural events, exhibitions and large-scale corporate gatherings.
Tourism Opportunity
Tourism Ireland has also endorsed the development’s potential to enhance Ireland’s international visitor offering.
Alice Mansergh, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said the project could help attract overseas visitors through a mix of sport, entertainment and business events.
“The Prime Arena development would offer opportunities to attract visitors from overseas,” she said.
“The development would have the capacity to host sizeable sporting events, concerts, conferences and exhibitions, all of which have the potential to attract visitors and generate economic benefits throughout the year.”
That international tourism dimension is central to the Prime Arena pitch. While Ireland has strong major event assets, the country has not previously had a dedicated multipurpose arena with winter sports at its core, creating what the project team believes is a gap in national sporting and entertainment infrastructure.
Building Momentum
The latest endorsements follow a period of growing engagement with business, tourism and sporting stakeholders as Prime Arena builds the case for the project’s long-term economic and social value.
Taken together, the support from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Dublin Chamber and Tourism Ireland strengthens the project’s position as it moves through the next stages of development.
Prime Arena is being presented not only as a venue, but as a piece of strategic infrastructure capable of supporting regional regeneration, broadening Ireland’s event hosting capacity and adding a new dimension to the country’s international tourism appeal.
As Ireland looks to compete for investment, visitation and global attention, the Cherrywood project is seeking to place sport, entertainment and tourism at the heart of a new growth story for Dublin and the State.
Prime ASrena Holdings, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport are full members of Sport for Business.
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Image Credit: Prime Arena Holdings
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