Euro 2028: Casement Park needs new contractor for tournament rebuild

An artist's impression of the new proposed stadium, which would have a capacity of 34,500

A new contractor is being sought to rebuild Belfast's Casement Park stadium ahead of the Euro 2028 football tournament.

The decision to change contractor was announced by the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association), which is in charge of the project.

The GAA insists that the decision will not jeopardise having the stadium ready in time for Euro 2028.

The west Belfast stadium is due to be turned into a 34,500 capacity ground.

The UK and Ireland is hosting Euro 2028, with Belfast one of nine cities scheduled to stage matches.

Casement Park has been derelict for the past decade and plans for its redevelopment have been hit by continual delays in the years since.

It was announced back in 2013 that the stadium would be rebuilt in a joint venture by the England-based Buckingham Group and the Northern Ireland firm Heron Bros.

'Due diligence exercise'

In September, the Buckingham Group went into administration.

In a statement on Friday, a spokesperson for Ulster GAA said Heron Bros would not proceed to deliver the project and that it was working with the Department of Communities to secure a new contractor.

"We are determined and confident that construction work will commence in line with the timelines required to host the Uefa Euro Championships in 2028," it added.

"Ulster GAA is bringing forward critical aspects of the construction programme to progress the project, at pace, during the process to secure a new main contractor in the coming months, including site clearance and a range of enabling works packages."

Ulster GAA said that Heron Bros "participated fully in a recent due diligence exercise" after the Buckingham Group went into administration, which showed their "capacity and capability to bring this project forward".

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However it said it "has become clear that the restrictions of the Public Contract Regulations prevent Ulster GAA from pursuing its preferred option of retaining and modifying the existing contract for the project".

Heron Bros said it was disappointed with the news "that Ulster GAA has been left with no choice" but to end the contract due to "technical restrictions".

"We have remained committed to the Casement Park redevelopment project for more than 10 years and will now await details of any future procurement exercise before considering the potential for our company to be involved in any future bid to deliver the important stadium project," it added.

The Department for Communities said it was "progressing the options available" to find a new contractor.

"We remain fully committed to the delivery of this flagship project, which is uniquely placed to boost the development of both Gaelic games and football, as well as offering long-term economic and social benefits in Northern Ireland and beyond."

Casement Park has been derelict for the past 10 years

The new stadium needs to be completed by the summer of 2027, at the latest, in order to be ready for the Euros the following year.

A number of test events need to take place in order to prove the stadium is fit for purpose.

It was originally estimated that the cost of the stadium would be £77.5m. Some believe the price may now be double that figure, if not more.

It is not clear how the redevelopment will be funded. The GAA are willing to pay at least £15m, with other funding expected to come from Stormont, plus the British and Irish governments.

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