Planning for a new winter sport stadium that would bring a ‘Madison Square Garden experience’ to Dublin is currently underway. 

While the capital is currently home to world famous stadiums, such as Croke Park, the Aviva, it currently lacks a venue for winter sports. 

The stadium would also double up as a concert venue and has received the backing of Dún Laoghaire Councillors, as well the Olympic Federation of Ireland. 

On The Claire Byrne Show, Prime Arena CEO Dermot Rigley said a new stadium would be an “economic engine for a country”.

“Dublin is probably the last capital city in Europe without a facility like this,” he said. 

“Ice is a part of it for winter sports - but it does so much more.

“It has the ability to host conferences and exhibitions; it has the ability to host gala dinners, concerts. 

“Then, from a sport perspective, you can cover the ice effectively within 45 minutes - that's why we've had the endorsement for the Olympic Federation of Ireland from their side, because they don't have a hub.” 

When asked why Dublin needs another large stadium, Mr Rigley said the current ones are all “packed out”. 

“There's much more business to bring into Ireland than that exists at the moment,” he said. 

The Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Picture by: Ben McShane/Sportsfile.

If the €250 million project receives planning permission, it would be built in Cherrywood in South County Dublin. 

It would be, Mr Rigley argued, a “really good location” for a stadium. 

“Cherrywood is a location where the infrastructure was nearly put in in advance,” he said. 

“You have the Luas was already there; you've got about a minute walk to one stop and about two or three minutes to another stop there. 

“You've obviously got the N50 beside you, you've got the N11.”

However, Mr Rigley did concede that State agencies have “understandable and legitimate queries” about the impact of congestion in the area. 

“The detailed modelling has been underway probably for the last four or five months,” he said. 

“That will be concluded shortly and then you work with the local authority, which in this case, is Dún Laoghaire council and then we'll be presenting that to TII.”

Main image: Ice skating on the Winter Village ice rink at Bryant Park. Picture by: Alamy.com.