Northern Ireland

Smaller, more compact Casement Park, with around 25,000 capacity, a better fit and far less costly: event expert

Ulster GAA moving forward with plan for 34,500 capacity stadium in west Belfast

A computer-generated image of how Casement Park will look when the new stadium is built.
A computer-generated image of the proposed 34,500 Casement Park
By John Breslin

A newly designed, more compact Casement Park with a capacity of around 25,000 could be built at a hugely lower cost and would be truly fit for purpose, according to one expert once involved in a long running controversy over his safety fears around an earlier design.

Paul Scott, one time safety expert with Sport NI, now involved in the management of large scale events, expressed his strong support for a new stadium, but warned the plans need to be much less ambitious.

Safety and event expert Paul Scott PICTURE BY HUGH RUSSELL
Safety and event expert Paul Scott PICTURE BY HUGH RUSSELL (Hugh Russell)

The UK Government last Friday ended any chance of a rebuilt Casement hosting games during the Euro 2028 as it ruled out immediate funding to cover the construction of a venue the Treasury claims could cost approximately £400m.

Mr Scott said the costs of building begin to increase sharply the higher it rises, meaning a new stadium can still have a substantial capacity of 25,000 or more but cost half as much as the present 34,500 capacity design.

Aerial views of Casement Park in Andersonstown, West Belfast. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
Casement Park in Andersonstown, west Belfast. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN

“A venue does not go up evenly, that is the first 1,000 seats costing the same as the last. As you get bigger you go higher and it gets more and more expensive,” Mr Scott said

“You cut down the capacity and you can do it for half the price. It’s the last 20% of any stadium,” Mr Scott said.

In a statement, Ulster GAA said: “In July 2021 planning permission was given for a 34.500 capacity GAA stadium at Casement Park. Ulster GAA will now work to progress the construction of this stadium without further delay.”

public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.
Ni Secretary of State Hilary Benn

Mr Scott, who specialises now in large scale event management, said a more compact stadium will also be more fit for purpose, able to accommodate the really big GAA championship games and attract medium sized music talent, allowing it to be more cost effective and potentially even profitable.

A decade ago, Mr Scott was head of a Casement Park Safety Technical Group when he warned of safety issues around emergency exit arrangements of what was then a proposed 38,000 stadium,

He claimed, including before an Assembly committee, he was placed under pressure to approve plans despite concerns, then bullied before being suspended. Mr Scott’s industrial tribunal case against Sport NI was settled.