Prime Arena Holdings has appointed former Leicester City Chief Executive Susan Whelan as Independent Chairperson, adding one of Irish sport’s most internationally successful executives to the leadership team behind the proposed Prime Arena development in Dublin.

The project, planned for Cherrywood, is being positioned as Ireland’s first world-class sports, conference, and live entertainment arena, with permanent Olympic-standard ice facilities at its heart and the ambition to create a home for the country’s first professional ice hockey franchise.

Whelan spent more than a decade as Chief Executive of Leicester City Football Club and was in place during one of the most extraordinary periods in modern football history, including the club’s Premier League title win in 2016, achieved against odds of 5,000-1, and the FA Cup triumph in 2021.

Her appointment is a strong signal of governance and delivery from Prime Arena at a time when the mood music around the project appears to be growing louder.

A report yesterday on the 42 has also linked the development to the possibility of a major Hollywood figure taking a minority stake. Prime Arena CEO Dermot Rigley has confirmed that conversations are taking place, while making clear that any such investment has not yet been completed. If concluded, it would add a further layer to the profile of a project already drawing interest from North American sports and entertainment circles.

Whelan’s experience is especially relevant to the next phase of the arena proposal. During her time at Leicester City, she was responsible from inception to delivery for the club’s €120 million training ground development, one of the most advanced in Europe. She also led the team that secured planning approval for the expansion of the King Power Stadium and the wider development of arena, hotel, retail and residential facilities around the club’s property.

Prime Arena is being developed as a year-round destination, bringing together sport, conferences, live entertainment, business events and premium hospitality under one roof. The model is inspired by venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York, The O2 in London and Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

“Susan’s appointment is a major statement of intent for Prime Arena,” said Dermot Rigley, Founder and CEO of Prime Arena Holdings.

“Her decision to join the project reflects both the scale of the opportunity and the progress that has already been achieved.

“Our ambition is to create Ireland’s first world-class sport, conference and live entertainment arena, inspired by iconic venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York.

“Susan’s track record of leadership, governance and delivery at the highest levels of international sport makes her exceptionally well placed to help guide the project through its next phase.”

The development also aims to address one of the long-standing gaps in Irish sporting infrastructure by creating the country’s first permanent Olympic-standard ice facilities. That would provide a national home for winter sports, while also supporting the launch of a professional ice hockey team based in Dublin.

Whelan said the scale and mix of the proposal were what made the project stand out.

“Prime Arena is one of the most exciting sports and entertainment infrastructure projects currently being developed in Europe,” she said.

“Ireland has long needed a venue capable of hosting the scale and quality of events routinely seen in leading international cities.

“What makes Prime Arena particularly compelling is the combination of a world-class sport, conference and live entertainment arena alongside a permanent home for winter sports.

“The project has the potential to become a transformational asset for Dublin and Ireland, and I am delighted to be joining the Board at such an important stage in its development.”

Prime Arena also confirmed that Tom Kennedy, who has served as Chairperson since the company’s formation, will step down from that role but remain on the Board as a Director.

Kennedy, one of Ireland’s most respected entrepreneurs and business leaders, has been central to the development of Prime Arena from the concept stage. His role has included helping to secure the Cherrywood site, attract investment, assemble an advisory team, and establish the foundations for what is being pitched as one of the most ambitious privately led sports, entertainment, and tourism infrastructure projects in the country.

“I would also like to thank Tom Kennedy for his outstanding contribution as Chairperson since the company’s inception,” said Rigley.

“Tom has been instrumental in bringing the project to where it is today and, while he is stepping down as Chair, he will continue to play an integral role in Prime Arena’s future development as a Board Director, investor and strategic adviser to the project.”

 

Sport for Business Perspective

The appointment of an Independent Chairperson reflects the continued evolution of Prime Arena’s governance as the project moves towards planning submission, government engagement and its next phase of development.

For a country that has seen more than one major arena or stadium proposal fall short over the years, there will inevitably be scrutiny of the timeline, funding model and planning process.

But the addition of Whelan, alongside growing international interest and the possibility of high-profile minority investment, gives the Prime Arena project a fresh degree of credibility at an important moment in its development.

 

 

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Image Credit: Prime Arena Holdings

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