Yahoo Sports Casement cost 'wildly exaggerated' - Ulster GAA chief
Ulster GAA secretary Brian McAvoy has insisted the final bill to rebuild Casement Park will fall well below the "wildly exaggerated costs of £400m-plus" mooted in recent months.
While acknowledging a significant funding gap remains with only £120million secured so far, McAvoy claimed the GAA at central level, the Ulster GAA and Antrim GAA "are absolutely aligned on the need to finish what was started at Casement Park".
Writing in his annual report, McAvoy stated "promises made must now be delivered upon".
Plans to redevelop the stadium in time for the Euro 2028 football tournament were halted last September.
The UK government said that the estimated cost of rebuilding the Belfast venue had "risen dramatically" to more than £400m and confirmed it would not provide funding at that juncture, adding that there was a "significant risk" it would not be built in time.
Following a meeting with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, GAA President Jarlath Burns said the proposed development of Casement Park would be "basic and modest" but will still cater to more than 30,000 fans.
McAvoy said Ulster GAA's full focus is on delivering a more modest stadium than would have been necessary to enable the hosting of Euro 2028 games.
That ambition was reaffirmed in recent with meetings with Lyons and secretary of state Hilary Benn.
"We have made clear our intention to build what has been promised to us in successive programmes for government, and for what we eventually secured planning approval for in July 2021," said McAvoy.
The Ulster GAA chief said current estimates for delivery of the stadium will be "well below the wildly exaggerated costs of £400m plus, which were reported a few months back".
"A clear strategic case has long been made for a provincial sized stadium in a city that has not hosted an Ulster football final since 1971, and an updated delivery plan is being progressed."
