The trio are among the leading representative bodies across business, tourism and regional economic development in Ireland.

Taken together, these endorsements represent a strong and unified signal of support for Prime Arena’s role in advancing national economic growth, tourism development and regional growth objectives, as the project continues to engage with Government on its Grant Application and builds momentum towards submitting its planning application this summer.

Located in Cherrywood, Prime Arena is set to become Ireland’s first truly multipurpose arena, with the capacity to host major international events, concerts, and year-round winter sports activity.

The development is projected to attract over 1.3 million visitors annually, positioning it as a major driver of economic activity and a landmark destination for both domestic and international audiences.

Announced in April last year, the venue will include:

John O’Toole, Head of Economic Development at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, highlighted the strategic importance of the project at a local and regional level:

“The potential to have Ireland’s first dedicated winter sports and entertainment arena earmarked for development in Cherrywood is transformational. Once constructed, it will contribute significantly to our ambitions across sport, tourism and culture, supporting further economic growth and opportunity throughout Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and the wider region.

“A venue of this scale will deliver significant direct and indirect economic benefits, from job creation and visitor spending to strengthened destination branding and the activation of Cherrywood as a vibrant new town centre.”

Mary Rose Burke, Dublin Chamber CEO, highlighted the project’s national significance and long-term economic contribution:

“Prime Arena would deliver a significant and lasting boost to Dublin’s economy, supporting businesses across hospitality, tourism, retail and local services while further strengthening the city’s international reputation as a dynamic, globally competitive destination for world-class sport, entertainment and major events.

“The project has the potential to become one of the most transformative entertainment and tourism developments delivered in the State in recent years.”

Support from Tourism Ireland reflects the project’s ability to enhance Ireland’s global tourism offering and its capacity to compete for major international events, with Tourism Ireland CEO, Alice Mansergh, saying:

“The Prime Arena development would offer opportunities to attract visitors from overseas. The development would have the capacity to host sizeable sporting events, concerts, conferences and exhibitions, all of which have the potential to attract visitors and generate economic benefits throughout the year.”

Founder and CEO Dermot Rigley describes Prime Arena Holdings Limited as being “like a scaled down version of Madison Square Garden in New York”, and after three decades in Irish sport at Sky, RTÉ and the URC, he knows exactly what world-class looks like.

Prime Arena continues to build a broad coalition of support across business, tourism and sporting stakeholders, with these latest endorsements reflecting a shared recognition of the project’s ability to deliver long-term, sustainable economic and social value.

Developed at a highly prominent Cherrywood location, the arena will feature two Olympic-sized ice rinks, a 6,000-seat / 8,000-standing capacity for events, and a 1,500-capacity conference space.

Prime Arena will be an enduring home for Irish Winter sports, with the country’s first permanent ice rinks serving as a training facility for Irish athletes, from the elite to the casual. The facility will also be home to the country’s first professional ice hockey franchise.

Designed by DMOD Architects and supported by a team of experts including CAA ICON and Populous. The arena will bring significant social, economic, and cultural benefits to the area. Its sustainable design is inspired by Cherrywood’s heritage and offers dramatic views of the Wicklow Mountains.

Source & imagery, courtesy: Prime Arena Holdings