Ireland's first dedicated winter sports and entertainment arena is set to be developed at a site in Cherrywood, South Dublin, Prime Arena Holdings Ltd announced on Friday, April 25.
The major new venue "will transform Ireland’s sporting and cultural landscape," Prime Arena Holdings said on Friday.
Planning documentation for the €190 million development is scheduled to be submitted by September 2025 for this state-of-the-art, multi-purpose arena, which will become the home of Dublin’s first professional ice hockey franchise.
The venue will also serve as a national hub for winter sports, major concerts, international exhibitions, and corporate events.
Located within the Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone and with transport connectivity via Luas, Dublin Bus, M50, and M11, the venue is projected to generate socio-economic impact of over €230 million annually, "becoming a landmark destination for fans, families, and businesses alike."
Dublin is currently the only capital city in Northern Europe without a permanent ice sport centre. The new venue will provide a permanent base for Olympic-standard winter sports, supported by the Olympic Federation of Ireland.
The facility will include two full-sized Olympic ice rinks, a 5,000-seat (8,000 standing) indoor arena, and a high-performance training centre for elite athletes.
It will also serve as a permanent home for Dublin’s first professional ice hockey franchise, with the exclusive franchise to compete in the UK Elite Ice Hockey League and European competitions, alongside the highly successful Belfast Giants franchise.
The venue is designed for more than just sport, as it's being tailored to international-scale performances, tours, and exhibitions, as well as a conference and gala venue.
Prime Arena Holdings Ltd says that the new venue is a "national asset," and that it will deliver social, economic, and cultural benefits for Dublin and Ireland.
“This is a defining moment for Ireland – a bold statement of what we can achieve when ambition meets collaboration," Dermot Rigley, CEO of Prime Arena Holdings, said.
“Since 2021, we’ve been working quietly but relentlessly with an incredible team to bring this vision to life – and today, we’re proud to finally share it with the Irish public.
“With the support of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Hines, we’re building more than an arena – we’re creating a national landmark that will open up winter sports to every corner of Irish society, empower our athletes, and give Ireland the platform it deserves to host world-class events.”
Tom Kennedy, Chairman of Prime Arena Holdings, added: “This isn’t just an investment in infrastructure – it’s a legacy for generations.
"We are deeply grateful to our incredible investor group and project team, whose belief and commitment have made this moment possible.”
Jim O’Leary, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said he was "delighted" to welcome the announcement for Ireland’s first dedicated winter sports and entertainment arena earmarked for development in Cherrywood.
"This transformational arena will contribute significantly to our corporate goals in realising our sports, tourism and cultural ambitions and in supporting further economic growth and opportunities in our County for all who live, work and visit Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and the wider region," he said.
The development is a collaboration with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, and Prime Arena Holdings has worked with national sporting bodies, tourism agencies, industry partners, and event promoters, including Fáilte Ireland, the Olympic Federation of Ireland, and the Elite Ice Hockey League.
The project is supported by an investor group — Denis Desmond, Mickey O’Rourke, Tom Kennedy, John Hume, Eoin Brophy, Helen Work, and Dermot Rigley — and delivered by a project team including DMOD Architects, Linesight, Simon Clear & Associates, Philip Lee LLP, DBFL Consulting Engineers, IN2 Engineering, HWBC, Deloitte, Tony Foley, 2into3, 53Six, Onside and Penta.
Comments