Multi-Sports Stadium

In support of shared future objectives and in an effort to assist major sports in Northern Ireland - Soccer, Rugby and Gaelic - plan their future facility requirements, the Strategic Investment Board (SIB), on behalf of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, completed an initial business plan in May 2004 on the viability of a multi-sports stadium for Northern Ireland. This report concluded that such a facility could be operationally viable provided the capital costs of construction are met and all three sports are engaged.  

Following an extensive site selection exercise consideration is now focusing on the Maze/Long Kesh. This was announced in a press release in March 2005.

The three sports have committed to the proposal to develop a multi-sports stadium at the Maze/Long Kesh and have engaged with the internationally renowned stadium design consortium, Mott MacDonald/HOK Sport in developing a suitable design for the stadium.

PriceWaterhouseCoopers  have produced an Outline Business Case (OBC) for the Multi-Sports Stadium see attached link to the business case here final_business_case_on_the_proposed_multi_sports_stadium_for_northern_ireland_november_2008.pdf. (792 KB)  Options identified in the OBC include a range of refurbishments to the existing stadia and new build options across two of the previously shortlisted sites - Maze/Long Kesh and the North Foreshore in Belfast.  The OBC provided cost estimates for these options and weighed them up against the benefits each option would bring to Northern Ireland.  The preferred option indicated by the OBC is for a three-sport, 38,500 specator stadium at the Maze/Long Kesh site.  The OBC has been considered by the Department of Finance and Personnel as part the overall Maze/Long Kesh development.  the Northern Ireland Executive will examine the affordability and other aspects of the development later in the year.