- Barry Hearn gave Sheffield City Council a deadline for the future of the crucible
- The emblematic theater has hosted the world snooker championship since 1977
- But his contract expired in 2027 and his future because the place of reception is uncertain
Barry Hearn established the Sheffield municipal council a deadline for the end of the year to develop a plan to keep the world championship at the crucible.
The emblematic theater, which has only 980 spectators, has organized the first snooker tournament since 1977, but its contract expires in 2027.
Hearn, the honorary president of the World Snooker Tour, insists that his preference is to stay in the crucible rather than moving abroad and he had positive interviews with the council chiefs on Thursday morning.
However, Hearn says that the tournament must become more profitable so that it can double the price of the winner of £ 500,000 to 1 million pounds Sterling – and wants Sheffield to develop the place where to pay a snooker in the world of site costs.
“As much it seems quite barbaric, everything comes down to Pound Notes,” said Hearn. “There is a value for the city council of Sheffield to have it in Sheffield. So, show me the money, show me the way to follow, and I hope that we can sign another 10-year agreement at the crucible.
“We agreed to meet in three additional months in order to know exactly where we are at the end of this year, so the pressure is on.
Barry Hearn gave the Sheffield municipal council until the end of the year to decide if they still want to welcome the world snooker championship at the crucible
The place of 980 places has organized the tournament since 1977, but its contract expires in 2027
Hearn wants to stay in the crucible but encouraged the council to extend its capacity
“The talks went well. I am a little more optimistic today than yesterday. I was impressed by the passion and the commitment that the Sheffield Council has for snooker.
“But we have to live in the real world. We cannot divert ourselves from the realities of sporting life, which is centered on the price.
“You need to get as much income as possible because you can pay as many prices as possible.
“Whether this income comes from sponsorships, whether it be the income of the door or if it comes from the site’s costs is not relevant to me as long as it happens, so I need a plan.
“It is on Sheffield to find something online with the government, in accordance with our reflection on the place where prestige and respect is located.
“We love Sheffield. We love the crucible. But in any relationship if the other side does not love you, it is intended for failure.
“So, for the moment we are engaged and I hope that in the coming months, we will get married again. Keep your fingers crossed.
Eddie Hearn, president of the World Snooker Tour Matchorders Match Sport, said last week that he would have left the crucible five years ago, with Saudi Arabia and China among countries interested in welcoming the world championship.
Hearn believes that a wider theater would allow the tournament to be more profitable
Meanwhile, Hearn’s son Eddie is open to tournament abroad to Arabia or China
But on his son’s comments, Hearn SNR added: “It’s an animal! He is a large operator in the commercial sense. But he knows what snooker means for me. He knows that while I am there, there is absolutely nothing that he can do if I do not agree with that.
“There is a huge sum of money outside the United Kingdom to organize the world snooker championship. And I always go for money, but the crucible is an exception.
“So give me respect. Help me do what I want to do and I will not be scandalous in my requests.
