Barry Hearn has admitted he let sentiment guide his decision for the first time in his career after securing a new long-term deal to keep the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield until at least 2045. The tournament has been held at the 980-seat venue since 1977, and the agreement includes an option to extend to 2050.
As part of the deal, the Crucible will undergo a renovation after the 2028 tournament, funded by £45m of government investment. The capacity will increase by 500 seats to 1,500. Hearn, president of Matchroom Sport, had previously called for a completely rebuilt venue with at least 3,000 seats, citing interest from Saudi Arabia and China.
Hearn acknowledged that without the government funding, the championship might have moved. He credited Sheffield City Council for securing the investment, saying, 'I never say anything nice about politicians but they’ve put their money where their mouth is.' He added that he would have been 'mortified' to lose the event.
Hearn also revealed that his son Eddie, who runs Matchroom Sport, was among those who opposed the decision. Eddie, who is more passionate about boxing, does not share the same attachment to snooker. Hearn said, 'We would have felt like we’d lost an arm had we not stayed here … without the Crucible, snooker just isn’t the same.'
