SHEFFIELD’S Crucible Arena is the most hallowed venue in the history of snooker.
It’s been the home of the World Snooker Championships since 1977 but its contract with the tournament will end three years from now.
ReutersThere is a growing recognition that the snooker World Championships need to be moved from the Crucible[/caption]
Given the increased involvement of Saudi money in snooker, there has been intense speculation that the World Championships could be moved there when the Crucible contract runs out.
Traditionalists have campaigned for the tournament to stay in Sheffield, but there is a recognition all round that the venue need to change.
Given it is used year round as a theatre, the Crucible has a small capacity of just 980.
Players such as Hossein Vafaei and Ronnie O’Sullivan have also been critical of the legendary venue.
Before rumours of a move to Saudi Arabia or even China began picking up steam, a proposal was made by Sheffield Council to build a £50million concert venue that would also replace the Crucible according to The Sheffield Star.
The plan for a 4,000 seater venue was submitted to the city’s council in 2022 by former Sheffield MP Richard Caborn.
Two sites in Sheffield were looked at with suggestions the new venue could be built within 18 months.
But Caborn has said he has now “lost touch” with the proposal after its early consultations and the status of the new venue is now shrouded in mystery.
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A Sheffield City Council spokesperson told The Star they had “no further comment to make on a new city centre venue.”
Former snooker boss Barry Hearn has said he backs keeping the tournament in Sheffield, but that a new venue is essential.
He told the BBC: “The priority is to stay in the Steel City of Sheffield because it’s been our home for a long, long time.
“But we have a duty to everybody to listen. We listen to the fans, listen to the local people, we also listen to the players.
“The effect on prize money. We look at the conditions, and say the game has moved on, and deserves better than the current conditions.”
Speaking on where the event should be hosted, Hearn said: “I think it’s a new-build within the city.
“It can’t be an expansion of the Crucible. There isn’t enough space. The building is too small.
“But I think there are other buildings that could be converted… but I need a venue to stress the importance of the event, the quality of the event.
“You can’t stick it in a leisure centre, and say ‘this is our World Championships’, just for the sake of another 1,000 [or] 1,500 tickets a session.”