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Sport Ireland is seeking tenders for the development of a €35 million national cricket stadium in Dublin ahead of the 2030 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Ireland, England and Scotland.
A tender was published this morning for the construction of the main oval, seating bowl, concourse area, and high performance centre at the Sport Ireland campus in Blanchardstown.
Around 4,240 permanent seats will be provided for spectators, and the project also incorporates an area for players and match officials, two toilet blocks, an energy centre, and a maintenance building.
The successful contractor will be expected to commence works immediately following appointment, as parts of the project must be completed by September 2026 in order to be ready in time for the 2030 World Cup.
Tender documents explain that the central strip of the cricket field must be fully grass-established for at least 12 months in advance of the World Cup, and this could take three years after seeding.
Ireland was chosen as a co-host of the 2030 showpiece in 2021. It will be the first time that the country has hosted a major cricket event since 1999, when it staged three World Cup fixtures with Scotland.
A venue capable of hosting up to 20,000 spectators will be required for the 2030 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and Ireland is likely to host up to eight matches.
The new National Cricket Centre will provide a permanent home for international cricket in Ireland that meets International Cricket Council (ICC) requirements. It will host international and domestic events, as well as providing training facilities.
A second contract for the development of a high performance centre and a building for players and match officials on the 30-hectare site in Blanchardstown has yet to go to tender.
The initial contract will be awarded next February and work will commence on site the following month. The cricket wicket must be completed by September 2026, while the rest of the project is expected to be completed by March 2028.
The first part of the project must be completed by March 2027 in order to facilitate the works covered by the second contract. “Failure to meet this date would jeopardise the timely completion of the main pavilion building, which is essential for hosting the 2030 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” the tender warns.
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