The future of the World Snooker Championship appears to lie far from Sheffield’s famous Crucible Theatre.
Snooker’s most prestigious event has been played at this venue since 1977 and has created many memorable moments over the years.
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The current contract ends in 2027 and negotiations are not going well, with Sheffield City Council and World Snooker Limited at odds.
So unless a compromise can be reached, it appears the World Snooker Championship will leave the Crucible once the current deal ends.
Is the World Snooker Championship leaving the Crucible?
Well, the simple answer is probably because Hearn wants a bigger room.
The Crucible is ideal for spectators as they are close to the tables, it feels intimate and creates a great atmosphere.
However, it can only accommodate 980 people, leading to instant ticket sales.
Speaking to the BBC, Hearn revealed his views on the future of the tournament.
He said: “I’m doing absolutely everything I can to stay in Sheffield, and it takes two to tango.
“I will stay here as long as we are wanted. I know we’re wanted by the BBC, I think we’re wanted by Sheffield.
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“But we need a new venue that can accommodate 2,500 to 3,000 people because I’m sick of getting letters from people asking how they can get a ticket. I’m counting on Sheffield to come to the party, and if they do, we If they don’t, they say, “We don’t want you.”
“The Crucible has a fantastic story, and it has been a big part of my life, but we have to live in the real world. There is a price for everything, whether we like it or not.
“I want to stay here. I can’t do more than say this, but I need help, I need a reason to stay here. I can’t be more loyal to Sheffield than I am. ‘ve been, but everyone needs to get involved in the right direction.”
So even if the World Snooker Championship remains in Sheffield, it will likely have to be a new venue as the Crucible, in Hearn’s view, is not big enough.
His comments follow some complaints from Hossein Vafaei, who booked the venue after his loss to Judd Trump in the round of 16.
He said: “You walk everywhere around Le Creuset and it smells really bad. As a player, I’m honest, it’s really bad. Everything is so bad.
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“If you ask me if I want to come back here, I won’t tell you.
“The rehearsal room, do you see anything special?”
“I feel like I’m training in a garage. It’s not good. Am I coming from another country to see this? It’s not good. I’m sorry I have to tell the truth.
Meanwhile, Australian player Neil Robertson also thinks it’s time to leave the Crucible.
Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “We have to move with the times, I don’t think the championships should continue at the Crucible itself.
“I want a new Crucible to be built, which I think would be amazing, like a new era starting. We have to move forward with time and with sport, sport is always growing, and if you’re not always looking to make a decision, exercise forward, then move backward.
“Barry is absolutely right, none of the players want to leave Sheffield despite what some may say, but we need a new venue. The prize money would at least double instantly, Barry Hearn has said so.”
Where else could he go?
The ideal solution would be for the tournament to remain in Sheffield.
However, for that to happen, it appears a new venue needs to be built.
It’s possible, but the council would have to weigh a lot before deciding to move forward with a new Crucible.
Another option would be for the tournament to permanently move elsewhere, with contenders Saudi Arabia and China.
Sure, the Saudis would provide more prizes for players, but the tournament would lose some of its magic, while fans based in Britain would be excluded.
Another option discussed by Hearn was to hold the World Snooker Championship at a different venue each year.
This would mean that the Crucible would remain as is, but it would not host the event every year.
