A new report has revealed that hosting the Euro 2028 Championship at Casement Park in Belfast would boost the local economy to the tune at least £106 million.
The report by Grant Thornton and commissioned by Ulster GAA looked at data from a range of sources including Tourism NI, the NI Hotel Federation and the Irish FA and sets out expected accommodation spend of £52 million and other local expenditure of £54 million in bars, restaurants and other retail outlets prompted by the five game days in June 2028.
Casement Park is one of 10 venues set to host games as part of the successful UK and Ireland bid to host the Euros, but the redevelopment of the West Belfast stadium has been besieged by setbacks for over a decade and funding for the project remains up in the air.
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Latest estimates suggest that the rebuild could cost over £300m and doubts remain over the willingness of the British government to deliver on assurances given last year.
The 34,500-capacity stadium needs to be completed by June of 2027 to meet UEFA’s deadline.
The Grant Thornton report focuses on the economic and tourism impact hosting five games at Euro 2028 would have on the local economy.
Ulster GAA and the Irish FA have recently written a joint letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak seeking clarification seeking clarification on the UK Government’s long-standing commitment to invest in Casement Park and facilitate hosting the UEFA EURO 2028 Championship.
It is unclear how Wednesday’s decision by Mr Sunak to call a general election on July 4 will effect the situation regarding funding for Casement.
Commenting on the report Brian McAvoy, Chief Executive, Ulster GAA stated: “Grant Thornton’s report is unambiguous in its analysis of both the short and long term economic, tourism and inward investment opportunities that the Euros can unlock for all of our people.
“Ulster GAA has been working hard to ensure that it has taken every step required to deliver this exceptional opportunity for our society, and we will continue to work closely with the Irish FA and the UEFA team in the weeks ahead to deliver on the economic and sporting legacy of the Euros,” said
“However, we want and need to see progress, now, on the long-standing commitments given to deliver Casement Park. In the joint letter sent by Ulster GAA and the Irish FA to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, last weekend, we thanked him and the government for their previous public commitments to invest in the project.
“We also called for clarity on the Casement Park and Euro 2028 funding position to enable the NI Executive to, then, take the necessary steps to deliver this landmark stadium. With the announcement of the impending dissolution of the UK Parliament within days this matter is now beyond urgent.
“If Euro 2028 can be hosted in Belfast, what a powerful message it would send out on the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in 2028, shining a global light on the progress our community has made in building peace, prosperity and reconciliation.”
While the economic impact of all 51 games across the UK and Ireland is calculated at £2.6 billion, which equates to a pro-rata contribution of £255 million for Northern Ireland, the Grant Thornton report takes a more considered and prudent view of hosting games in Belfast.
According to Andrew Webb, Chief Economist, Grant Thornton and the report’s author, major events like the Euros are a key catalyst in support of Tourism NI’s aim to increase the value of tourism here and the Executive’s commitment to grow inward investment.
He added: “While the economic and sporting legacy of Belfast hosting the Euros is considerable, the long-term growth in visitor numbers and the positive statement of intent that it sends out to international investors is perhaps the greatest prize of all.
“In terms of size, scale and international reach the Euros is an unparallelled event for Northern Ireland and it not only puts us on the map for future large-scale events, but it creates the right circumstances that supports inward investment, creating jobs and growing the economy.”
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