OUR Euro 2028 bid has been rocked by the collapse of a firm lined up to help rebuild Casement Park.
The blow comes as the UK and Ireland’s joint bid to host the football tournament is close to getting the tick of approval off Fifa after sole rivals Turkey pulled out of the running this week.
Our Euro 28 bid is in peril following the collapse of firmColm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
The plan that was set for Casement ParkAIKEN PR
It was one of the 10 venues which form part of the UK and Republic of Ireland’s joint bid to host the Euro 2028 finalsColm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Turning the derelict Casement ground into a 34,000-seater stadium in Belfast is crucial to the joint bid sealing the deal next week.
So it’s a bad time to learn that the Buckingham Group, brought in by Ulster GAA as a lead contractor for the project, has gone to the wall.
In August the GAA said it was aware of problems at the English building firm and was “closely” monitoring the situation.
It stressed at the time that Buckingham Group had not gone into administration and construction would begin as planned in early 2024.
But we can reveal that four weeks ago Buckingham Group, a joint venture partner in the project, ceased trading.
It could not have come at a worse time for the GAA as it needs to guarantee that it can provide a cutting-edge venue fit to host high-profile international football matches in just four years’ time.
In a statement Buckingham Group, which is also involved in building the new Anfield Road stand at Liverpool FC’s Anfield Stadium, said it had been hit with “significant cashflow pressures”.
Last month the company revealed it was calling in administrators Grant Thornton UK and around 440 staff were being let go.
Initially the Northern Ireland Executive at Stormont was lined up to pump €71.7million into the Casement Park project.
At the time it was thought the final cost would be €89million.
The GAA agreed at that stage to a €17million investment, picking up 20 per cent of the final bill.
But a host of issues — including expensive legal challenges by local residents — have bedevilled the Casement project.
Now the estimated total cost has soared to €194million, with the GAA not currently committed to paying more than €17million.
FUNDING GAP
And as that glaring funding gap grows, huge questions are emerging around support from Stormont.
The cash-strapped legislature has been in suspension since February last year and NI’s public services are currently seeing drastic cuts.
Yet a string of politicians are hopeful the building work will soon get under way — even though it’s not clear yet who is footing the bill.
Yesterday Northern Ireland’s Alliance Party called on the Irish Government to help come up with the cash.
Alliance Party MLA David Honeyford said: “This is Ireland and the UK coming together to host the biggest sporting event that we will ever see on this island.”
He said north and south will both benefit from an all-new Casement Park in the heart of west Belfast.
‘GAURANTEE’
Five months ago, when final estimates had hit €127million, NI Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris said he was “quite sure the UK government wants to help” and could “guarantee” the project — with “all partners” on board — would get over the line.
He told the BBC then: “I don’t actually know how much the whole thing is going to cost. We’ve seen different estimates.
“But let’s win the bid first. Once we win the bid, we’ll sit down round a table and the money will get sorted out.”
Last night Mr Heaton-Harris had yet to comment again on the finances, with the formal winner’s announcement still to be made.
However it plays out, a redeveloped Casement would be the only venue north of the border able to host over 30,000 fans, therefore meeting tournament rules.
POLITICAL STORM
If the project to rebuild it on time was to stumble, Northern Ireland’s home ground Windsor Park and Ulster Rugby’s Kingspan Stadium, both with around 18,000 capacity, would not be able to save the day.
And, to add to the problems, the plan is set to become caught up in a political storm.
The DUP has already hit out at suggestions the public purse should fund the Casement reconstruction.
Party MP Gregory Campbell claimed it would be “unsustainable” during a cost-of-living crisis that the GAA should end up paying less than ten per cent of the full sum.
Yet Sinn Fein’s Stormont leader Michelle O’Neill said a successful bid presented the “opportunity of a lifetime”.
She said holding the Euros in Belfast “would grow our economy, create jobs, and showcase everything that makes our island and people amazing”.
‘GET IT BUILT’
SDLP MLA Justin McNulty said: “Euro 2028 must be the catalyst to green-light Casement and get it built.
“We need the stadium ready for the 2028 tournament and, for that, we need to see construction work begin as soon as possible.
“Casement has been left dormant for too long. This stadium will
be a game changer and a fitting state-of-the-art new home for Ulster GAA. I hope everyone will come together and do whatever’s necessary to make this happen.”
Casement Park and the Dublin’s 51,700-capacity Aviva Stadium are in line to host games at the Euros if the joint bid wins through.
A staggering three million tickets will be available for the tournament, the most ever at a Euros.
LOCAL OPPOSITION
Redevelopment at Casement Park, which has lain unused since 2013, faced a host of legal issues after opposition from local residents.
They claimed it was too big for the area, would block out light and cause huge traffic congestion.
Initial planning proposals were overruled in court in 2014 and the GAA returned with a downsized version two years later.
Yesterday we asked the GAA if losing one of its key partners would impact the building plans. And we asked if it was looking for another partner.
A GAA rep said: “Until such a time as the bid is rubberstamped I don’t expect either the GAA or the Ulster Council will be making any public comment.”
The proposed Casement Park stadium which would have a capacity of 34,500Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Justin McNulty said the stadium has been left dormant for too long
Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill said a successful bid presented an ‘opportunity of a lifetime’Liam McBurney/PA Wire