New report on Casement Park's economic benefits an attempt to 'obscure reality': TUV

Casement Park in west Belfast. Photo: Pacemaker

The report, which was commissioned by Ulster GAA, sets out the expected spend on accommodation, hospitality and retail, if the stadium is finished in time to host matches at EURO 2028.​

According to Ulster GAA, the Grant Thornton consultancy data is “based solely on the economic and tourism impact of the EUROs five games in June 2028 and does not reflect the significant contribution of the construction of the stadium or hosting major GAA games and other events that will take place in the years ahead”.

Ulster GAA also said the report is “informed by data and analysis from a range of sources including Tourism NI, the NI Hotel Federation and the Irish FA,” and “sets out expected accommodation spend of £52 million and other local expenditure of £54 million in bars, restaurants and other retail outlets prompted by the five game days in June 2028”.

However, TUV vice-chairman Allister Kyle has described the report as “nothing but an attempt to kick up dust around the outrageous demands for public money coming from the GAA".

Last month the UK government said it was still “working to figure out” the cost of completing the rebuild, with NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris suggesting it could be as high as £308m.

The original cost estimation when the plans were first submitted more than a decade ago was £77.5m.

Responding to the report, Cllr Kyle said that the “GAA spin cannot obscure reality of Casement public money grab”.

He said: “With the announcement on Wednesday of the sub-regional stadium funding, the minister set the benchmark for Casement. The £36.2 million figure announced on Wednesday by the minister (Gordon Lyons) is identical to the sum announced and ring fenced by the executive in 2011.

"By that standard, it is only fair that the GAA receive the same amount as originally promised and no amount of spin should obscure that.

“At the heart of all this is the reality that EURO 2028 is a football tournament which should leave a football legacy. Grassroots football fans would much rather see the money go into the local game than into the GAA in order to obtain a handful of matches in a stadium which isn’t even a football ground.”

Cllr Kyle added: “As someone who attends Irish League games regularly throughout the country, I recognise the need and importance there is to upgrade our facilities, but with so many recent reports surmising that Casement may cost over £300m from an original £62.5m, it’s highly disappointing that the much anticipated sub-regional fund was not increased at all.

"Instead, the monies ring-fenced in 2011 were simply circulated with the promise to release them in 2025”.

Ulster GAA chief executive Brian McAvoy has described the Grant Thornton report as “unambiguous in its analysis of both the short and long term economic, tourism and inward investment opportunities that the EUROs can unlock for all of our people,” and added: “If EURO 2028 can be hosted in Belfast, what a powerful message it would send out on the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in 2028, shining a global light on the progress our community has made in building peace, prosperity and reconciliation".