Essex needs a new sporting arena, says Hearn

Barry Hearn admitted dreams were "hard to pay for" as he shared his ambition for a new indoor venue in Essex

Sports promoter Barry Hearn said world class competitions would be held in Essex if a new indoor venue was built there.

Thousands of snooker fans are due to watch the English Open at the 2,000-capacity Brentwood Centre in the county until Sunday.

But Hearn said the venue, which also has a gym and swimming pool, needed "a bit of TLC" and suggested building a bespoke sporting arena.

"It's not the same when you're bringing world class sportsmen and a kid goes past with his swimming trunks on, dripping," the 77-year-old said.

Hearn, whose Matchroom sports promotion firm is based in the town, said it was the "small things like that" that took the shine off the Brentwood Centre as a top-class venue for professional sporting events.

The centre has been used for live performances, exhibitions and gigs since it opened in 1988 and it is managed by a private firm on behalf of the Brentwood Borough Council which owns it.

A report produced for the council in 2021 found that the venue was "reaching the end of its economic life".

The Brentwood Centre is hosting the English Open for the fourth year in a row

Hearn praised the local authority for its work at the venue, but said combining sport with community use had created a "shortcut version" of what it could have been.

"The venue does need a bit of TLC. In an ideal world I'd build a separate events centre next to it," said Hearn.

"But then I'm a dreamer and dreams are easy to have and hard to pay for."

Hearn's comments followed Basildon Council pressing ahead with its plan for a new 3,500-seat arena in the neighbouring town.

Basildon's Labour leader, Gavin Callaghan, said it would become the "best evening entertainment venue" in Essex, if built.

However, opposition councillors accused him of spending millions of pounds on a "vanity project".

Basildon Council hopes the town will be transformed by opening a South Essex Arena

Hearn hoped the English Open would inspire confidence in anyone doubting Essex's sporting potential.

"I'm always looking for good venues up and down the country and Brentwood is a good area," he argued.

"But it's obviously difficult when you're trying to balance that against community use.

"We're trying to squeeze two pints into a pint pot, and it doesn't work."