World Snooker Tour and Sheffield City Council have agreed a new long-term contract to keep the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre until at least 2045, with an option to extend to 2050. The deal includes a £45m government-funded renovation of the venue, which will add 500 seats, increasing capacity to 1,500, after the 2028 tournament.
Barry Hearn, president of Matchroom Sport, admitted that sentiment played a key role in the decision, marking the first time in his career he has let his heart rule his head. Hearn recalled that his company was formed after Steve Davis's 1981 Crucible win, saying, 'There are certain things where you'd hate yourself if you did them. Nothing I've done will ever surpass the Crucible; I owe it more than it owes me.'
Hearn revealed that without the government funding, the tournament would likely have moved elsewhere, with interest from Saudi Arabia and China. He praised the council for securing the investment, stating, 'The Crucible wasn't fit for purpose but now we know we'll get a venue that will be.'
The deal was not universally supported, with Hearn hinting that his son Eddie, Matchroom's CEO, was among those who preferred a move to a larger venue. Hearn said, 'Eddie is not a snooker fan, he likes the business of sport... He doesn't have the same passion because he wasn't there.' He added, 'We would have felt like we'd lost an arm had we not stayed here... without the Crucible, snooker just isn't the same.'
