There will be a Netflix series on this now laughable in complete non funny way of the lack of progress on this.
The Saga Continues for the Event Centre – A Key Milestone
Laughable to read this as if anything will happen.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41703785.html
Cork Event Centre Update May 2025
Developer BAM has applied to Cork City Council for a five-year extension to its planning permission for the long-awaited Cork Event Centre, with the current approval set to expire on 19 June. In its application, BAM cited significant delays caused by funding challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic, and supply chain disruptions linked to the war in Ukraine. The company stated that, while progress has been made, the permission would lapse without an extension to allow completion by June 2030. BAM highlighted that substantial works have already been undertaken, including utility connections, site preparation, quay wall and bridge works, and off-site bridge construction. To date, the company reports spending approximately €6.6 million on the project.
When BAM and Live Nation won the tender for an events centre in 2014! we were all excited. Having a decent sized concert location with associated services was something that was long overdue. There was some debate about the location but once Enda broke the sod we all knew it wouldn’t be long.
So we waited.
And we waited.
And we waited.
Fast forward 3 years and besides the many huffings and puffings and changes of plans and headlines nothing has happened. And we are all 3 years older.
Nothing frustrates me more than watching a band I like touring Ireland going to Dublin and Belfast and skipping Cork. Promoters now largely seem to ignore Ireland’s second city.
Why do they do this?
Its simple there is nowhere that is financially viable for them to come. Admittedly bands like the National have bucked the trend by coming to the Opera House last year when they could have filled ti 10 times over.
But culturally we are missing out. What is most frustrating about the original centre is that the original Department of Arts €20M (yes million) funding of public money that was originally earmarked for the centre is now €10M.
I appreciate that there may be countless reasons that are holding this up from legal to scope to construction difficulties.
But I am a simple person and irrespective of these it appears to me that a live venue of the right capacity is the proverbial no-brainer. So any promoter and develope should be gung ho to get it in place.
But with the cinema being dropped from the original Beamish Quarter in favour of office spaces and the plans now embroiled in disputes and discussions it does not look like much will happen in 2018.
Every year the Marquee holds many concerts that even though not all sell out have for even the worst attended gig crowds in the 1-2,000 range. This is the alleged capacity of the new centre.
For anyone who has traveled to 3 Arena it is a costly exercise as unless you want to go up and down in one day (which is possible) a hotel is required so a concert for two doesn’t get much change out of €300-400.
With an event center we would capture an audience that has a huge interest in music and all things cultural that aren’t traveling anymore and the knock-on benefits to the city in food, drink, and accommodation.
At its simplest level, the delays mean a whole age group of teenagers and young twenties will never get the chance to see a large concert in Cork as 4-5 years will have passed where the Marquee (with it age restrictions on most nights) only happens for all too brief few weeks in the summer.
Benefits to Cork Businesses
IT businesses in Cork, including SEO agencies, website design companies, and website maintenance agencies, would greatly benefit from hosting technology fairs at a modern event centre. Cork SEO agencies could demonstrate their digital marketing expertise, while website design companies could showcase interactive displays of their latest work. Website maintenance agencies would particularly thrive at dedicated website fairs in the Cork event centre, where they could educate local businesses about essential site security, updates, and performance optimization services. The professional venue would provide these tech companies with an ideal platform to network, demonstrate their capabilities, and establish their presence in Cork’s digital marketplace.
