'The city will be transformed': Cork businesses in joint events centre plea

Cork City’s major business organisations have united to urge the Government to approve funding to expedite the development of an events centre.

With a final decision due in the coming weeks, the Cork Business Association, Cork branch of the Irish Hotels Federation, Cork Chamber, Vintners Federation in Cork, and the Restaurant Association of Ireland have issued a statement highlighting the transformative potential of the project for the local economy and community.

“The Cork Events Centre will not only sustain and create hundreds of jobs, but it will also stimulate significant economic activity, attract investment, and draw visitors to our city region, leading to the regeneration of Ireland’s second city,” the statement read.

“A piece of cultural infrastructure of this scale, with a capacity of 6,000 seats, and which can attract an annual attendance of around 500,000 people will be game-changing, not just for Cork, but for Ireland. We estimate that 800 jobs in the hospitality sector alone will be created and sustained.

“It will also allow other businesses to expand and new ones to open. The city will be transformed.”

The statement went on to address the major private sector investment being put forward by Live Nation and the return on investment to the national exchequer.

“The proposed Cork Events Centre is set to be a landmark cultural hub, which will significantly boost tourism, foster and sustain local business growth, give opportunities for the cultural sector in Cork, and enhance Cork’s status as a leading destination for arts and entertainment.”

The groups said that the centre will be a “pivotal factor in economic development and enhancing the urban landscape” while “creating a vibrant cultural quarter and generating a ripple effect of prosperity throughout the city and surrounding counties”.

The statement added: “The Cork Events Centre is projected to generate substantial economic benefits for our country. The anticipated influx of visitors and investment will revitalize local businesses, from hotels and restaurants to retail and entertainment sectors. The creation of hundreds of jobs during construction and ongoing operations will provide much-needed employment opportunities for residents, further strengthening the local economy.”

The event centre is poised not only to have an economic impact on the city and the wider region, but to become a cultural beacon.

“It will also copper-fasten Cork’s status as one of Europe’s most appealing second cities and a strategic counterweight to Dublin. The coalition of Cork’s business organisations is steadfast in their belief that the Cork Events Centre is a critical investment in the city’s future. They urge government to recognise the immense potential of the project and to make a decision that will benefit Cork and Ireland for generations to come.”