Global entertainment giant AEG involved in event centre proposal for Cork's Marina Market

AEG and Níall McLaughlin Architects working on ambitious plans to turn Cork’s Marina Market into a world-class event centre

The Marina Market opened during the pandemic and quickly became a massive success. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

One of the world’s leading live entertainment and sports companies is engaging with award-winning architects on the design of a new event centre in Cork’s docklands.

Global giant, AEG, which owns and operates some of the biggest arenas across Europe, including the O2 in London, the Accor in Paris and the Barclay’s Arena in Hamburg, has been liaising with London-based Níall McLaughlin Architects on the proposal being advanced by the Marina Market for its south docklands riverside site.

The news comes after Bam, whose planning permission for a 6,000-capacity event centre on South Main Street expires in June, applied to Cork City Council for a five-year extension of planning to 2030.

And it comes against the backdrop of a new procurement process for an increased State-aid package designed to secure delivery of an event centre venue in Cork city.

Bam won the initial tender for €20m in State aid in 2014 but given all the delays, the amount of pledged state-aid soared to €57m post covid, with another €30m to €40m now required.

The scale of change in the funding model, and fears about State aid and procurement rules, led to government ordering a new procurement process. Pending the details of the retendering criteria, Bam could face stiff competition from the consortium behind the Marina Market proposal.

Senior AEG Europe executives visited the Marina Market site in recent months, and have been engaging since with Níall McLaughlin Architects, founded by Geneva-born UCD-educated Níall McLaughlin in 1990. He was named young British architect of the year in 1998 and was listed among the World 40 Architects under 40 in 2000.

His practice has won a string of national and international awards over the years. In Ireland, the firm has designed several stunning residential properties, and the new building which housed the International Rugby Experience in Limerick’s Georgian Quarter.

It is understood the architects are at “an advanced stage” in the design of a conference space, a 100-bed hotel, and a gallery, all incorporating the Marina Market. The proposed event centre would accommodate between 100 to 120 concerts a year, alongside other events, attracting up to 500,000 people annually.

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“We are thrilled to be working towards an exciting new future for the iconic Marina Market in Cork’s south docks,” Mr McLaughlin said.

“Our proposals draw on the site’s industrial history, channelling the pioneering spirit of the Ford Motor Company and its architect Albert Kahn.

“As a ‘Factory for Fun’, the development will offer a unique cultural mix for Corkonians and visitors alike."