Cold snaps: first pictures of proposed new winter sports arena in Dublin

Planning permission for the planned 8,000-capacity arena is to be submitted in the coming weeks.

The country’s first winter sports and multi-purpose venue will look when the proposed venue is built on Dublin’s southside.

Irish sports fans have been given a sneak peek at how the country’s first winter sports and multi-purpose venue will look when the proposed venue is built on Dublin’s southside.

Planning permission for the planned 8,000-capacity arena, which is to hold two Olympic-sized ice rinks while being capable of hosting everything else from tennis to music concerts, is to be submitted in the coming weeks.

To be located in Cherrywood, along the M50 corridor, developers say the arena will attract 1.5m people from home and abroad through its doors on an annual basis and that it will be a major driver of economic activity for the region.

Prime Arena Holdings is the company behind the project and on Monday they revealed CGI images and flythrough videos of a concept design put together by Populous, architects behind the Tottenham Hotspur and New York Yankees stadiums and many others.

One video of the development opens with an aerial shot showing the distinctive curves of Dublin Bay and the Poolbeg chimney stacks in the background before they both disappear behind the roof of the proposed arena.

“Seeing these images for the first time brings this project to life in a way that words never could,” said Dermot Rigley who is founder and CEO of Prime Arena Holdings.

“This is a world-class design for a world-class venue, and it gives people across Ireland a real sense of what we are building in Cherrywood. We’re incredibly proud of what Populous has created, and we can’t wait to welcome people through the doors.” Rigley has described the proposed project as one that will bring the Madison Square Garden experience to this country. It is expected that costs will reach €250m and a network of investors from here and abroad have been brought on board.

That may yet include an unnamed “Hollywood” investor.

The Olympic Federation of Ireland has backed a project which will serve as a hub for its winter sports programme and one where an ice hockey team akin to the Belfast Giants at the O2 will serve as anchor tenants and play in the British league.

The Olympic Federation of Ireland has backed a project which will serve as a hub for its winter sports programme and one where an ice hockey team akin to the Belfast Giants at the O2 will serve as anchor tenants and play in the British league.

It is hoped that the facility will be ready to open by 2029 or 2030.

Marian Moravek, design lead at Populous — whose portfolio includes Sphere, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Yankee Stadium, and Climate Pledge Arena — said: 

“The design for Prime Arena will bring the ice hockey spectators close to the action and create an incredible atmosphere and fan experience, while the warm, layered facade and public plaza will give the arena a distinct identity as a focus for Cherrywood."

He added: “We see this as an exciting addition to Ireland’s sporting landscape.”