ABOUT PRIME ARENA

Prime Arena aims to enhance local sporting and recreational facilities.

Developed at a highly prominent Cherrywood location, the arena will feature two Olympic-sized ice rinks, a 6,000-seat / 8,000-standing capacity for events, and a 1,500-capacity conference space.

Prime Arena will be an enduring home for Irish Winter sports, with the country’s first permanent ice rinks serving as a training facility for Irish athletes, from the elite to the casual. The facility will also be home to the country's first professional ice hockey franchise.

Designed by DMOD Architects and supported by a team of experts. The arena will bring significant social, economic, and cultural benefits to the area. Its sustainable design is inspired by Cherrywood’s heritage and offers dramatic views of the Wicklow Mountains.

PROJECT TEAM

ADVISORS

ENDORSEMENTS

ENGAGING WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Prime Arena will deliver substantial economic, societal and health benefits to the local community

    • Over 1M plus annual visitors anticipated, contributing over €230 million to the local economy through year round attractions, countering tourism seasonality. 

    • Dublin Arena will enhance, develop, and diversify Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown’s tourism offering, support the night-time economy, and reduce coastal area congestion. It will also drive Dun Laoghaire and Cherrywood as an international destination, contributing over 200,000 bed nights to hotels and the local economy and helping to create a strong, distinguishable tourism brand for the area.

    • Dublin Arena will provide one of the largest gala dinner venues in Ireland, with capacity to deliver 1,500 seater events, significantly enhancing Dublin's attractiveness for international conferences and events.

    • Dublin Arena is expected to create approximately 80 full-time jobs and provide over 1,600 part-time employment sessions. Furthermore, the construction and planning phases will support nearly 400 direct jobs.

    • The project will be a significant generator of commercial rates supporting the wider development of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown.

    • Year-round access for all ages and abilities to new sports will promote physical activity and sports participation, especially among women and girls, aligning with local and national sports strategies for high performance sport, active participation, health and wellbeing, and sports infrastructure and facilities development.

    • Aligned to figures globally, 75% of skaters will be under 18 years’ old with the majority being female, opening up new pathways to physical activity for girls and women. 

    • The two rinks will enable a new professional franchise for ice hockey, while the second will be publicly available all year round, enabling the establishment of new amateur clubs and collegiate ice hockey, as well as a range of other inclusive ice-based winter sports for athletes and participants at all levels of ability. 

    • Ongoing engagement with the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Paralympic Ireland, and Special Olympics seeks to ensure inclusive access and an athlete-centric development.

    • Our strategies align with goverment sport stategies - Healthy Ireland, National Sports Policy 2018 - 2027, DLR Sports Facilities Strategy and county development plan to provide high quality sports and recreation infrastructure of regional scale and to provide facilities for a diverse range of sports.

    • With a focus on energy efficiency, waste heat from ice-making has the potential to heat over 1,000 local homes, reducing carbon emissions and household costs.

    • The location is optimised for non-car-based transport, with excellent accessibility via bus, Luas (with two nearby stops), and active travel options. It is also car- and coach-friendly, with access via the M50 and N11 junctions, as well as the nearby Dublin Bus Terminus.

    • Dublin Arena strategy aligns with the DLR Tourism Strategy 2024 - 2028, counter balancing coastal concentration, mitrigating off peak periods, developing night -time economy and aligns with the DLRCC Local Economics and Community Plan 2023 - 2028 (LECP).

    • This will become a focal point for the local community, providing opportunities for school and club participation, embracing inclusivity and championing ‘placemaking’ in the locality. 

    • A new ice hockey franchise will enjoy the support of passionate local sports fans.

    • Through predictive modelling and expert design, we will ensure compliance with noise criteria and ensure the arena co-exists successfully with the local environs.

    • Dublin Arena’s vision closely aligns with the Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown County Development Plan, promoting high-quality sports infrastructure and accessibility.

    • The Arena will complement the established sporting, leisure and recreational facilities at Cherrywood.

    • Overall, the arena aims to be a beacon of community engagement, promoting economic growth, health benefits, and sustainability while ensuring minimal environmental impact.