North 'set for new sports stadium'

The British government is expected to hold out the prospect today that Northern Ireland could have in the future a new multi-million pound sports stadium.

Northern Ireland Office Sports Minister Angela Smith is due to report back on a feasibility study she commissioned earlier this year on whether the North could have a 30,000 capacity stadium for soccer, rugby and gaelic games.

However a decision on whether the project gets the green light will depend on the governing bodies of all three sports organisations giving it their blessing.

In January, Ms Smith and NIO Finance Minister Ian Pearson asked Tony Whitehead, an adviser to the North’s Strategic Investment Board, to come up with a robust business plan for a stadium.

Mr Whitehead was part of the financial team under London Mayor Ken Livingstone that put together the package which rescued the Wembley Stadium project.

It is understood the minister will confirm Mr Whitehead has told the British government a new multi-sports stadium in Northern Ireland would be economically viable at a cost of around £53m (€79.1m).

With the Northern Ireland football team’s home ground at Windsor Park in desperate need of a repair, it is believed there would be support for a new stadium in the Football Association of Ireland.

However, Ulster rugby and GAA chiefs would also have to give the project their blessing and agree to hold events there if it is to succeed.

There is also a possibility that major rock concerts could be staged there.

Four sites have been identified as possible locations.

The former Maze Prison near Lisburn, which has been lying empty since the early release of paramilitary prisoners under the Good Friday Agreement, has been touted as a favourite.

However two sites in Belfast have also been considered – in the Titanic Quarter in the east of the city and the north foreshore of Belfast Lough.

A site is also being considered in the border city of Newry but is believed to be the outsider.