Northern Ireland has reacted with great disappointment to the threat of being eliminated as a host venue for the 2028 European Football Championship. Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill described the British government’s decision not to cover the significantly increased costs of rebuilding Casement Park in Belfast as a “missed opportunity for our sport and our economy” on X, formerly Twitter. And she announced: “Castlement Park will be built.”
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The currently dilapidated arena is the stadium planned for the European Championship games in Northern Ireland. The original estimate for the new building was around £77 million. The costs have risen “dramatically” from £180 million in October 2023 to more than £400 million (€474 million), according to the British government. It also sees a “significant risk” that the stadium will not be completed in time for the tournament.
“The game is over”
The matches that were to be played at Casement Park will now be split between the other European Championship hosts England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, media reports said. According to the Times, a UEFA source assumes that the games will be moved to Wembley Stadium in London, the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Hampden Park in Glasgow and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
“Game over for Casement: £400 million bill ends Northern Ireland’s Euro dream,” wrote the Belfast Telegraph. The Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) spoke of a “bitter disappointment.” A new stadium would also host traditional Irish ball sports, the GAA is the governing body for these. “This was a tremendous opportunity to create jobs, boost tourism and showcase everything that makes our island and its people special on the world stage,” wrote Northern Ireland’s Prime Minister O’Neill.
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