Tortuous Cork event centre saga still needs more time

Beset for years by chronic delays, redesigns and soaring costs, stalled by funding issues, planning appeals and potential High Court challenges, the Covid-19 pandemic was the next thing to hit the beleaguered project

Covid-19 had a devastating impact on the global entertainment industry, virtually wiping out the global revenue streams of entertainment giants Live Nation, the company lined up by BAM, to operate the Cork venue. Picture: G-Net 3D

Beset for years by chronic delays, redesigns and soaring costs, stalled by funding issues, planning appeals and potential High Court challenges, there was almost a sense of ironic inevitability that a global pandemic would be the next thing to hit the beleaguered Cork event centre project.

The year started with a glimmer of hope when news emerged of a new funding arrangement that would see the State double to €50m its investment in the proposed 6,000-capacity venue earmarked for South Main Street in the city's historic core.