Plans have been unveiled for Ireland’s first dedicated winter sports and entertainment arena.
The proposed €190m development is set to be located on an eight acre site in Cherrywood, south Dublin.
Prime Arena Holdings, the company behind the project, expects to submit planning documents by September.
Backed by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, it aims to become a permanent home for Dublin’s first professional ice hockey franchise.
It will include two full-sized Olympic ice rinks, a 5,000-seat or 8,000 standing indoor arena and a high-performance training centre for elite athletes.
The arena is designed for more than sport, with projected capacity to host between 50-70 events annually, including concerts, international exhibitions, and corporate events.
“Since 2021, we’ve been working quietly but relentlessly with an incredible team to bring this vision to life – and today, we’re proud to finally share it with the Irish public,” said Dermot Rigley, CEO of Prime Arena Holdings.
“With the support of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Hines, we’re building more than an arena – we’re creating a national landmark that will open up winter sports to every corner of Irish society, empower our athletes, and give Ireland the platform it deserves to host world-class events,” he added.
Jim O’Leary, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council described the proposed arena as “transformational”.
“It will contribute significantly to our corporate goals in realising our sports, tourism and cultural ambitions and in supporting further economic growth and opportunities in our county for all who live, work and visit Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and the wider region,” he said.
Prime Arena Holdings expects nearly 400 direct jobs to be created during construction and over 1,600 jobs supported annually, with 80 full-time positions related to ice-based activities.
