Featured image credit: Ulster GAA/Populous
The UK government has announced that it will not be providing funding to redevelop Belfast’s Casement Park stadium ahead of UEFA Euro 2028 due to the significant cost increases involved in the project.
The announcement was made on Friday evening in a letter from Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, addressed to Northern Ireland’s Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons.
The letter stated that the UK government has “always been committed” to ensuring Northern Ireland could host matches during Euro 2028. The country had been set to co-host the tournament alongside England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
Casement Park, which has been closed since 2013 and would have been Northern Ireland’s sole venue during Euro 2028, is due to be rebuilt with a capacity of around 30,000. The project has stalled numerous times over the years due to financial and planning issues.
After the Labour government took office in July, it stated its intention to analyse whether Casement Park could be successfully completed to the required UEFA timelines and in line with its minimum requirements.
The letter from Benn and Nandy stated: “Having sought expert advice and analysis, we have concluded that there is a significant risk that the stadium would not be built in time (including to host essential test events well in advance of the tournament).
“This is in part because in the period between the awarding of Euro 2028 and the election of the new government, almost no progress was made to deliver the stadium build. The estimated build costs have risen dramatically – from £180m (€213m/$237m) when the Euro 2028 bid was awarded in October 2023 to potentially over £400m – and there is a significant risk that it would not be built in time for the tournament.
“We have therefore, regrettably, decided that it is not appropriate for the UK government to provide funding to seek to build Casement Park in time to host matches at Euro 2028. This has been a very difficult decision to make, given our belief in the Euro 2028 partnership, but it is the only way forward in the circumstances.”
The letter added that the UK government would continue to work together with partners and UEFA regarding Northern Ireland’s involvement in Euro 2028 moving forward. The Northern Ireland Executive remains committed to building Casement Park, and the UK government will seek engagement from partners including the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in the coming weeks.
First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill said the decision not to proceed with Casement Park for Euro 2028 is “deeply disappointing” and a “missed opportunity” for local sport and the economy.
“This was a unique opportunity to create jobs, boost tourism, and showcase our island’s sporting talent on the global stage,” she said. “We will continue to work with the GAA, our local executive and the two governments to push this project forward and get these state-of-the-art facilities built and a first-class stadium for Gaelic games delivered.”
In a statement, the GAA added: “On his appointment to office the Secretary of State Hilary Benn, on behalf of the British government, gave firm commitments that Casement Park will be built, a commitment also given by his predecessor. We have sought an urgent meeting with him to agree next steps.
“Casement Park will be built, and we will work with all partners to ensure that the promises made by the NI Executive over 13 years ago and within successive Programmes for Government, to deliver on the strategic stadia need of the GAA in the province and in Belfast, Ireland’s second city, are fulfilled.”
According to The Times, the four Euro 2028 matches that had been due to take place at Casement Park will now be split between London’s Wembley Stadium, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, and Glasgow’s Hampden Park.
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