An artist’s impression of the proposed National Cricket Centre. Image: Sport Ireland
An artist’s impression of the proposed National Cricket Centre. Image: Sport Ireland
Plans lodged by Sport Ireland for a new National Cricket Centre, including a spectator bowl, say the project will generate a €93m tourism dividend here over a five-year period.
During the same 2026 to 2030 period, the cricket stadium – which will have a permanent capacity of 4,240 and will be able to accommodate up to 12,000 spectators for the planned oval – will generate an additional €29m through ticket sales and operational expenditure during the same period.
That is according to planning documents lodged on behalf of Sport Ireland for the National Cricket Centre (NCC) to Fingal Co Council comprising a stand capable of future expansion for larger attendances, a high-performance centre and supporting infrastructure for the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus at Abbotstown in Dublin.
A planning report drawn up by Cunnane Stratton Reynolds for Sport Ireland states that this planning application “will provide Cricket Ireland (CI) with a permanent, world class facility, within the home of Irish sport”.
Cricket Ireland cannot rely on using club facilities at great cost
An evaluation of the stadium’s economic impact carried out by EY shows that €39.9m would be spent ahead of co-hosting the T20 World Cup Cricket tournament in 2030. The findings show that based on an average year’s operation, the centre would support 460 jobs per annum in the period 2026 to 2030.
Overall, and including the impact of the Cricket World Cup in 2030, the net impact of the centre would result in 1,555 jobs.
The planning report states that a once-off capacity of 20,000 will be required for the tournament in 2030 – and as it is a once-off event, it will likely be the subject of an events licence closer to the time.
An artist’s impression of the proposed National Cricket Centre. Image: Sport Ireland
A report lodged with the application states the Irish economy will benefit from co-hosting the 2030 tournament. The centre will host a maximum of eight matches, with the remaining matches in Ireland to be held in Malahide or Stormont.
Planning documents show that the proposed development is likely to generate approximately 200 construction jobs.
Outlining the need for the development, it states: “Cricket Ireland has no home of its own… It cannot rely on using club facilities at great cost.
“The campus provides a unique opportunity to provide that facility for cricket.”
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