Barry Hearn has indicated the Crucible’s future as the host venue for the World Snooker Championship will come to an end in 2027.
The Matchroom Sport president continues to play a key role in negotiations over the staging of the sport’s flagship event.
With a capacity of just 980 seats, Hearn claims the iconic arena is no longer ‘fit for purpose while his son, Eddie, claims he would have moved the even from Sheffield five years ago.
Snooker’s reach and global appeal has grown as a result of Saudi Arabia’s recent investment in the sport, while China now hosts several high-profile events every year.
The Crucible has staged the World Championship since 1977 and is rightly regarded as the home of the sport.
While fans would no doubt be loathe for the tournament to leave Sheffield, Hearn Snr insists that with the Crucible’s contract expiring in 2027 rapid improvements will need to be made if it is to retain hope of keeping the event.
Asked he World Championship could stay in Sheffield without a new venue or an extension to the Crucible, Barry Hearn told the BBC: ‘No. It’s black and white: we love the Crucible, we love Sheffield, but the Crucible and Sheffield have got to love us.’
He added: ‘We want to stay but the financials have to be taken into consideration.
World Snooker Championship prize money
Winner: £500,000
Runner-up: £200,000
Semi-finalists: £100,000
Quarter-finalists: £50,000
Last 16: £30,000
Last 32: £20,000
Highest break (qualifying stage included): £15,000
Total (including qualifying): £2,395,000
‘The facilities where the Crucible is are no longer fit for purpose, that’s the key issue.’
Hearn said players want ‘bigger prize money’ and likened snooker to darts, which has thrived under Matchroom’s marketing strategy.
Next year’s PDC world darts champion will collect £1million. The 2025 world snooker champion, by contrast, will receive a cheque for £500,000.
‘The Crucible’s been a big part of my life and a big part of snooker’s life,’ Hearn said.
‘But it has to move with the times and someone, whether it’s government or Sheffield, have to come up with a way of showing us that they’re going to treat us with respect and give us the type of facilities we require.
‘It’s as simple as that. It’s not complicated.’