Susan Whelan named independent chairperson of €250m Dublin arena and ice rinks plan | OneFootball

Former Leicester City chief executive Susan Whelan has taken her first role since leaving in October, becoming independent chairperson of a Dublin consortium planning a €250m arena with two Olympic-sized ice rinks. According to LeicesterMercury.co.uk, the project targets an 8,000-capacity venue in Cherrywood by 2030.

Whelan stepped down after 15 years at the King Power Stadium by mutual agreement, with Kevin Davies appointed as her successor. She previously oversaw the club’s business operations during its most successful era, having been named CEO following King Power’s 2010 takeover, and had worked for the company beforehand.

Prime Arena Holding counts music promoter Denis Desmond and Hostelworld founder Tom Kennedy among its investors. A site has been secured for a winter-sports hub that can expand to 10,500 for events and concerts, and the area is intended to host Ireland’s first professional ice hockey franchise.

Whelan said Ireland has long lacked a venue capable of staging events on the scale seen in leading international cities. She described the combination of a major sport, conference and live entertainment arena with a permanent winter-sports base as particularly compelling.

She added that the project has the potential to be transformational for Dublin and Ireland, and that she is pleased to join the board at this stage. A planning application for the development is expected to be lodged next month.

Prime Arena Holdings founder and chief executive Dermot Rigley said their ambition is to create Ireland’s first world-class sport, conference and live entertainment arena, inspired by venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York. He said Whelan’s track record makes her well placed to help guide the next phase.

Source: LeicesterMercury.co.uk