Casement Park rebuild must leave a footballing legacy: Gordon Lyons

How the proposed new Casement Park could look

Sports Minister Gordon Lyons says funding for football is important on the back of Casement Park's rebuild for Euro 2028

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has stressed the importance of investing in football while admitting that funding concerns still existed regarding the redevelopment of Casement Park stadium.

The Stormont minister in charge of the redevelopment of the stadium in west Belfast has said a “considerable” amount of money still needs to be found for the project to proceed.

Minister Lyons said funding remained a “big difficulty”.

The 34,500-capacity stadium is one of 10 venues in the UK and Ireland due to host matches in Euro 2028 but construction costs have rocketed.

The original cost of the Casement Park redevelopment was £77.5m, but that was a decade ago.

“The number isn’t finalised but even if it was… for commercial reasons I can’t go into the details of what that might be,” said the DUP Sports Minister.

“But I think it’s fair to say, and most people recognise, that it is going to be considerably more than what was originally envisaged back in 2011.

“There are different funders that will be required in order for this to proceed.

“What we do need to have as well, if there will be additional UK public funds committed to Casement Park, I think it is important that we see that investment in football as well.

“A footballing tournament should have a footballing legacy and I’m really keen to see that progressed.”.

Sports Minister Gordon Lyons says funding for football is important on the back of Casement Park's rebuild for Euro 2028

Public money was promised to the Casement project in 2011 as part of a scheme to improve sporting facilities for GAA, rugby and soccer