Barry Hearn, the former World Snooker chairman and president of Matchroom, has warned Sheffield City Council that the city’s days of hosting the World Snooker Championship are numbered unless the Crucible is replaced with a larger venue. Hearn says there is no room for sentiment when the venue’s current deal expires in 2027, adding, “It’s all about the money.”
Barry Hearn, former World Snooker chairman and president of Matchroom, has issued an ultimatum to Sheffield City Council: either replace the Crucible with a larger venue or risk losing the World Snooker Championship after its current deal expires in 2027. Hearn emphasizes the financial imperative of maximizing revenue and suggests that other locations, such as Saudi Arabia or China, may be more lucrative. Despite criticism of the Crucible’s conditions from Hossein Vafaei, leading players like Shaun Murphy and Jimmy White remain supportive of its historic significance. Sheffield City Council maintains its commitment to the tournament and is reportedly in regular discussions with World Snooker Tour to secure its future.
The future of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield is hanging in the balance, with Matchroom Sport president Barry Hearn warning that the event could leave the Crucible Theatre in 2027 if the city council does not agree to build a larger venue. Hearn has made it clear that he wants the championship to remain in Sheffield, but only if the council commits to a new arena with a capacity of 2,500-3,000 people. The council has yet to indicate whether it will support Hearn’s proposal, leaving open the possibility that the tournament could move to a different location, either in the UK or abroad.
