Ulster GAA CEO Brian McAvoy says delays in delivering a new state-of-the-art GAA stadium at Casement Park will result in the budget required to complete the project greatly exceeding the current funding available.
Writing in his annual report, McAvoy stressed that the GAA are continuing to work with the Department for Communities in order to ensure that funding is in place to allow work to start on the project in 2023.
The association remains optimistic that the new 34,500-capacity stadium could be fit to host games as early as 2025. Casement has also been included as one of 14 stadiums in the bid dossier to host Euro 2028.
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Under the original funding model, the cost of building Casement was estimated to be £77.5M with the GAA contributing £15M with £62.5M coming from local government.
Recent estimates predict the total cost could be anywhere between £110M and £120M and, while McAvoy insists the official costs won’t be known until the design is finalised, funding remains a huge concern.
“As a result of the lengthy delays to the project and the worldwide volatility in the construction sector in recent times, the cost to build the stadium has increased exponentially,” stated McAvoy.
“Whilst the official cost exercises cannot be completed until the design is finalised, there is no doubt that the budget required will clearly exceed our current funding package.
“We are working closely with the Department for Communities in progressing the business case and agreeing a funding package to ensure that prior to work starting on site, that the project is fully funded with contingency allowances for any further cost escalation in the period ahead.”
He added: “Over recent times our team has re-engaged with the local community and is finalising plans for a new Casement Park Engagement and Benefits Forum, which will play a critical role in ensuring the delivery of significant socio-economic opportunities that a new stadium will deliver for the GAA and for Belfast.
“Our design team, led by Populous, are currently working on the detailed and technical design for the stadium.
“This will be completed by the spring of 2023 and will bring the design one stage further than what was required to obtain planning approval.”
“There is no doubt that the continued absence of a functioning Executive will impact some of the key decisions that may need to be taken in the coming period, but we will continue our work with and lobby those in authority to ensure that we do not suffer any further delays to this long overdue project.”
Ulster GAA chiefs also remain hopeful that Casement Park will make the final shortlist of 10 venues for Euro 2028 when the final bid is submitted.
The joint bid is a venture by the English FA, Scottish FA, Welsh FA, the IFA and the FAI and Casement Park is the only Belfast venue included as Windsor Park’s capacity falls short of the minimum requirements set out by UEFA.
Despite some concerns remaining about Casement Park’s ability to meet the strict stadium requirements, especially regarding the use of terracing, McAvoy says hosting international games at the West Belfast venue would be “truly transformational”.
“Ulster GAA have engaged recently with the Irish Football Association on the FA/FAI bid to host the UEFA European Football Championship in 2028. Both Croke Park and Casement Park have been included in the preliminary bid dossier (14 venues) that was submitted in mid-November 2022,” said McAvoy.
“The full technical bid will be submitted in April 2023 with anticipated decisions in the autumn of 2023.
“The potential for major international tournament games being played so early in the new era for a redeveloped Casement Park would be truly transformational and true to the ideals and courage of the Association’s firm commitment to the Maze/Long Kesh multi-sport stadium prior to government’s invitation to submit plans for investment in GAA owned and controlled venues in 2010.
“After a year of successfully defending our planning application and bringing our stadium design to a new advanced level of detail, our priority in the coming months is to secure the funding and bring the project to site as soon as practically possible.”
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