The Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) has announced that Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium is to close with immediate effect.
In a statement on its website, the IGB said the decision had been made in order to allow the organisation to focus on activities at the Shelbourne Park national stadium. The weekly racing programme will be expanded at the Dublin venue.
The IGB said that the closure and sale of Harold’s Cross would help to address the legacy debt burden that the body has had to deal with since the construction of Limerick Stadium in 2011. The project cost a total of €21m ($22.3m/£17.8m).
The organisation also said that its board first recommended the sale of Harold’s Cross in 2014, adding that this will offer the most “significant opportunity” to reduce debt.
All staff at Harold’s Cross will be offered redeployment by the IGB.
Sean Brady, interim chief executive of the IGB, said: “[It is with] regret that this unavoidable action has to be implemented at this time but the sale of Harold’s Cross is absolutely essential in order to address the enormous debt IGB faces.
“However, it is necessary to preserve the greyhound industry and begin a process of recovery. This will see change and an improvement in how IGB operates and performs which will become more evident in the years ahead.
“We are committed to making Shelbourne Park perform excellently for all trainers, owners, patrons and staff, especially for those for whom Harolds Cross was their greyhound home.
“This will be challenging for all of us but there is a need for all stakeholders to leave aside disagreement and work together through a process of change and opportunity from which improved performance can be extracted.”
Share this