Sheffield blog

Why the tournament needs to stay in the city

As the annual snooker world championship in Sheffield continues, speculation rumbles on over whether the event will remain here after the 2010 tournament.

Sir Rodney Walker, the head of snooker’s governing body, was quoted earlier this month saying that he is hopeful discussions with the council will result in ‘a positive outcome that will see the event stay at Sheffield’.

That sounds quite promising, but it is anybody’s guess what will happen. While it is likely that China or Dubai would outbid us, moving the event overseas would be a controversial move, upsetting both fans and players alike.

It would also obviously be a massive blow to Sheffield. Financially, the tournament brings in £2.5m to the city economy, not to mention the value of the spin-off exposure and coverage that is also generated.

What’s more, it would be heartbreaking to lose the tournament so soon after the Crucible’s £15.3m renovation is completed. The redevelopment work will further enhance facilities at the theatre, improving its reputation as the natural home of snooker and an iconic venue that is recognised all over the world.

Seven times champion Stephen Hendry has suggested the compromise of rotating the tournament host city so that it returns to Sheffield every few years. But as the Yorkshire Post points out, as well as stopping many UK fans from attending the matches, taking the game abroad would also cause problems for people watching from home on television due to the eight-hour time difference in China.

And even if commercial pressures force the tournament to move from the intimate Crucible theatre there is still the option of further exploring the idea of a purpose-built Billiardrome in Sheffield, first mooted back in 2005 as one way of keeping the snooker in the city.

While we wait to find out the outcome of the discussions, there is still another week of the 2009 tournament to enjoy, as well as the various snooker-related events around the city. The part-redeveloped Tudor square is once again playing host to the Cue zone marquee and there are snooker-themed exhibitions from Pete McKee (in the foyer of the St Paul’s hotel) and Tom Walker (in the Winter garden).

Welcome to The Cue Zone by zawtowers on Flickr, used under the Creative Commons license

World Snooker Championship 2009 – full set on Flickr