Sheffield is set to face stiff opposition from Qatar and China who look to take the Snooker World Championship away from Sheffield.
Sheffield’s current deal is due to end in 2027 and Qatar have already made enquiries about the possibility of hosting the event.
The Crucible Theatre has hosted this event since 1977, the 980-capacity venue maybe small and has had people scrambling for tickets over the years. But that is apart of its charm, being an intimate venue that fans and players adore.
Former World Snooker Chairperson, Barry Hearn issues a warning to Sheffield to make some improvements or risk losing the event to Qatar.
It’s not just Qatar who wants to host this event, China has been trying to commandeer the tournament for many years now and even built a replica of the famous Crucible Theatre to help their cause in 2014.
China already plays host to the World Open Snooker Championships and wants to continue their great relationship with the sport by the hosting the most prestigious event in snooker.
But there are plans in place to keep the event from leaving Sheffield and going elsewhere. The new proposed venue ‘The Billiardrome’ is a 3,000-capacity arena, with a possible 300 bed hotel and a snooker museum adjacent. And when its not hosting a snooker event the space can be converted into a 1,500 seated conference room.
(How Sheffield’s new ‘Billiardrome’ could look.) (pic: Burland Aura planning 2022)
This proposed new venue could see snooker stay in the steel city for another three decades.
The Sheffield council’s executive director of city futures, Kate Martin told the Yorkshire Post:
“We are proud of our snooker heritage, what it means culturally to the city, the economic benefits it brings, and we look forward to hosting many more successful World Snooker Championships in many years to come.”