Cherrywood arena plans win key support

Cherrywood is a step closer to becoming home to Ireland’s first winter sports and entertainment arena after plans for the proposed development won formal backing from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Dublin Chamber and Tourism Ireland.

The endorsements come as the developer behind the project, Prime Arena, prepares to submit a planning application later this summer and continues discussions with Government over grant funding.

The proposed venue would combine year-round winter sports facilities with a large indoor arena capable of hosting international sporting events, concerts, conferences and exhibitions.

According to the company, it would attract more than 1.3 million visitors annually, positioning Cherrywood as a major new destination for tourism, entertainment and sport.

When completed, the arena will have two Olympic-sized ice rinks, an 8,000+ capacity arena expandable to 10,500 for major events and concerts, and year-round access to ice sports, concerts, family entertainment, conferences and major international events.

The venue will be being designed by sports architecture firm Populous, a globally influential and highly respected company renowned for designing stadiums and arenas like the Sphere in Las Vegas, Tottenham Hotspur’s Stadium, Yankee Stadium in New York and the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

The project has long been pitched as a catalyst for the continued development of Cherrywood, one of the country’s largest strategic urban expansion areas, with supporters arguing it would complement the area’s growing residential and commercial population.

John O’Toole, (pictured above) Head of Economic Development with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, described the proposal as having the potential to transform both the local area and the wider region.

“The potential to have Ireland’s first dedicated winter sports and entertainment arena earmarked for development in Cherrywood is transformational,” he said.

“Once constructed, it will contribute significantly to our ambitions across sport, tourism and culture, supporting further economic growth and opportunity throughout Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and the wider region.”

Mr O’Toole said the development would generate both direct and indirect economic benefits, including employment, visitor spending and increased investment.

“A venue of this scale will deliver significant direct and indirect economic benefits, from job creation and visitor spending to strengthened destination branding and the activation of Cherrywood as a vibrant new town centre,” he added.

The backing from the local authority’s economic development division is viewed by the developers as an important endorsement ahead of the planning process, particularly given the strategic importance of Cherrywood within the county’s long-term development plans.

Prime Arena says the venue would be capable of hosting major international sporting competitions alongside concerts, family entertainment, conferences and exhibitions throughout the year, helping to address what it describes as a shortage of large indoor event facilities in Ireland.

The company believes the inclusion of year-round winter sports facilities would also open up opportunities for ice hockey, figure skating, curling and recreational skating, while creating training facilities currently unavailable elsewhere in the State.

Dublin Chamber also threw its weight behind the proposal, describing it as a potentially transformative addition to the capital’s economy.

Chief executive Mary Rose Burke (pictured above) said the arena could strengthen Dublin’s appeal as an international destination while delivering benefits across a range of sectors.

“Prime Arena would deliver a significant and lasting boost to Dublin’s economy, supporting businesses across hospitality, tourism, retail and local services while further strengthening the city’s international reputation as a dynamic, globally competitive destination for world-class sport, entertainment and major events,” she said.

“The project has the potential to become one of the most transformative entertainment and tourism developments delivered in the State in recent years.”

Support has also come from Tourism Ireland, which believes the venue could help attract additional overseas visitors by expanding Ireland’s capacity to host large international events.

Tourism Ireland chief executive Alice Mansergh said the proposed arena would strengthen Ireland’s tourism offering beyond the traditional summer season.

“The Prime Arena development would offer opportunities to attract visitors from overseas,” she said.

“The development would have the capacity to host sizeable sporting events, concerts, conferences and exhibitions, all of which have the potential to attract visitors and generate economic benefits throughout the year.”

Developers argue that the ability to host events across all seasons would provide a more consistent economic impact than facilities reliant on peak tourism periods.

The latest endorsements represent another milestone for a project that has been gathering support from business, tourism and sporting organisations over recent months.

Prime Arena says the backing demonstrates broad recognition of the role the venue could play in strengthening Ireland’s international competitiveness while providing infrastructure capable of attracting major events that currently bypass the country.

The company also argues that the arena would complement existing national strategies aimed at growing tourism, encouraging international investment and expanding Ireland’s sporting infrastructure.

For Cherrywood itself, the development could become a defining feature of the rapidly expanding suburb.

Originally conceived as a major new town on Dublin’s southern outskirts, Cherrywood has undergone significant residential and commercial development in recent years, supported by the extension of the Luas Green Line and major investment in roads, housing and public infrastructure.

Supporters of the arena believe a landmark entertainment and sporting venue would further establish the area as a destination in its own right, rather than simply a commuter suburb.

The proposal also comes at a time when Ireland continues to compete for major concerts and international sporting events, with demand for large indoor venues regularly outstripping supply.

Developers argue that a purpose-built arena would increase Ireland’s ability to host international competitions and touring productions while providing year-round facilities for domestic sporting organisations and community use.

Despite the growing list of endorsements, the project must still navigate the planning process before construction can begin.

A planning application is expected to be lodged later this summer, after which the proposal will be subject to the statutory assessment process, including opportunities for public submissions.

The company is also continuing to engage with Government regarding grant funding as it seeks to advance the multi-million euro development.

Should planning permission and funding be secured, Prime Arena says the project would represent a new category of national infrastructure, combining sport, entertainment and tourism in a single venue designed to serve both local communities and international audiences.

For now, however, the latest backing from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Dublin Chamber and Tourism Ireland marks the strongest public endorsement yet of a project whose ambition extends well beyond the boundaries of south Dublin.