Casement Park: 'Very dangerous' stadium won’t be constructed for Euro 2028

Northern Ireland's possibilities of internet hosting matches of the Euro 2028 soccer event seem like over.

The estimated value of rebuilding Casement Park stadium in Belfast has “risen dramatically” to greater than £400 million, the UK Government introduced on Friday night time.

The authorities mentioned it will not present funding to redevelop the stadium in time for the event, and said there was a “substantial risk” it will not be accomplished in time.

Ulster GAA described the announcement as “extremely disappointing” and mentioned a extra detailed response could be supplied within the coming days.

A spokesman for the Irish Football Association mentioned it will “consider the implications with our bid partners and UEFA.”

The announcement was made in a joint letter from NI Secretary Hilary Benn and Sports Minister Lisa Nandy to Stormont Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.

In the letter, Bain and Nandy mentioned: “The estimated construction costs have increased dramatically – from £180 million when the Euro 2028 bid was received in October 2023, to now potentially in excess of £400 million – and there is a significant risk it will not be built in time for the tournament.

“Therefore, we have regrettably decided that it is not appropriate for the British Government to provide funding for the construction.” Casement Park must be ready in time to host matches at Euro 2028.”

Lyons said his department “remains committed to the 2011 agreement with the GAA for the GAA Stadium”.

He said he would work closely with the UK Government and other stakeholders “to make sure that the legacy of soccer in Northern Ireland stays enduring.”

To be ready for the 2028 tournament, Casement Park would need to be rebuilt by the summer of 2027.

Northern Ireland may play a role as a training base or host practice matches at the existing Windsor Park stadium, but is out of hosting tournament matches.

Tourism NI chief executive John McGrillen said it was “very, very disappointing information”.

“We estimate that the 4 video games going down will end in over £100 million being introduced into the native financial system,” he mentioned.

“This will not be a minor loss,” he said.

Mr McGrillen also said hosting the Euros gives countries a “profile” and said it was “unfortunate that Belfast is not going to have that opportunity”.

Since 2011, plans have been underway to build a new stadium at Casement Park.

The initial estimated cost of rebuilding the casements was £77.5m, with £62.5m coming from the Stormont Executive and £15m from the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).

Since then costs have risen dramatically and staging GAA matches alongside football has increased the costs further, as UEFA requires a higher specification for the stadium.

But the latest news does not mean the stadium cannot be rebuilt for the GAA, which was its original purpose.

However, the GAA is hopeful that even though the UK Government has said it will not provide funding for a Euro 2028-compliant stadium, it can still contribute to the redevelopment whenever it happens.

The Irish Government has already pledged more than £40 million.

Economy Minister Conor Murphy said it was “extraordinarily disappointing and irritating”.

He mentioned “selections may have been taken earlier” to go ahead with the Games.

When asked if the GAA should pay more for Casement he said: “We'll have to seek out out what sort of stadium is being constructed now”.

“We are in a unique scenario due to the choice taken by the British authorities… so we have now to convey everybody collectively once more,” he said.

The minister said he had been assured that Casement Park was a flagship project for the Executive and that it “will be built”, but it was “a shame” that it would not be built in time for 2028.

Benn and Nandy’s letter said the government “has always been committed to ensuring that Northern Ireland could host the Euros if there was a way forward.”

It added that the decision was taken after a “quick but thorough” analysis of whether the construction of Casement Park could be “successfully completed” in accordance with UEFA’s timeframe and their “minimum requirements”.

The letter says the stadium will not be completed in time because “just about no progress” has been made in the period between Belfast being awarded the Euro 2014 hosting rights and the election of a new government.

“This determination was very troublesome to make given our confidence within the Euro 2028 partnership, however it’s the solely method ahead below the present circumstances,” the letter said.

Negotiations over funding for Casement Park had long been running into overtime, but the Government has put the final seal on hosting Euro 2028 in Belfast.

Of course, it was the Conservatives who handed this particular political football to Labour after winning the general election two months ago.

However, the now infamous quote that we will hear again in the coming days was said by then Foreign Minister Chris Heaton-Harris in 2023: “Don’t you worry, we will find the money”.

From that moment on, there was hope, but over the months the feeling grew that the money would not come.

The Labor government, in its latest paper – released on Friday night after the evening news programmes had finished (which in itself will raise questions) – has made clear that the costs are now too high and the timetable too short.

The redevelopment's biggest supporters, and unionists who gave little support to the project, can now blame No 10 for Northern Ireland missing out on hosting part of the tournament.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said the announcement was “vastly disappointing” and represented “a missed alternative for sport and our financial system”.

“Casement Park will likely be constructed,” he said. “This is an govt dedication, and each the British and Irish governments have made a dedication to it,” he said.

“We will continue to work closely with the GAA, our local executive and both Governments to move this project forward and build a state of the art facility and a first class stadium for Gaelic games.”

SDLP west Belfast councillor Paul Doherty said the Government’s decision not to provide the funding in time for the euro was a “huge, wasted opportunity”.

“This is an extremely short-sighted transfer and the way in which it has been dealt with is deeply disappointing, given the potential the North has to host one of many greatest sporting tournaments on the earth,” he mentioned.

Doherty additionally mentioned there was “resentment regionally” in the region and that hosting the Euro Championships would bring money to Northern Ireland.

“Building a modern stadium in our city will bring many more benefits.”

However, North Antrim MP Jim Allister said: “Refusing to waste £400 million on Casement is the appropriate determination.”

“For a Government that has raided pensioners’ winter fuel fund it would be unreasonable to do anything other than close it down.”

“We must hope that it will be withdrawn completely and that no additional agreement will be made to give the GAA preferential funding, as rugby or football do not receive funding from central Government.”