First images revealed of Dublin’s winter sports Prime Arena

The first renderings have been unveiled of Dublin’s proposed new winter sports and entertainment complex.

The new visuals highlight the concept for the €190 million Prime Arena in the Cherrywood area of Dublin, Ireland, which has been designed by architects Populous.

The CGI renders released by Prime Arena Holdings showcase the versatility of the arena which will host ice hockey, tennis and live concerts.

Earlier this summer, Prime Arena Holdings reached another major milestone for its Dublin Arena project after securing formal endorsements from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Dublin Chamber and Tourism Ireland.

The trio are among the leading representative bodies across business, tourism and regional economic development in Ireland.

Located in Cherrywood, Prime Arena is set to become Ireland’s first truly multipurpose arena, with the capacity to host major international events, concerts, and year-round winter sports activity.

The development is projected to attract over 1.3 million visitors annually, positioning it as a major driver of economic activity and a landmark destination for both domestic and international audiences.

Populous is a major sponsor of the 2026 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition – focused on elevating the live experience across sports and entertainment – being hosted at Everton FC’s spectacular new Hill Dickinson Stadium, Oct 1st and 2nd, with an Opening Night Icebreaker at Liverpool FC’s iconic Anfield Stadium, Sept 30th.

Announced in April last year, the venue will include:

Two full-sized Olympic ice rinks;

• A 5,000-seat (8,000 standing) indoor arena;
• A high-performance training centre for elite athletes; and
• A permanent home for Dublin’s first professional ice hockey franchise, with the exclusive franchise to compete in the UK Elite Ice Hockey League and European competitions – alongside the highly successful Belfast Giants franchise.

Dermot Rigley, Founder and CEO of Prime Arena Holdings, said:

“Seeing these images for the first time brings this project to life in a way that words never could. This is a world-class design for a world-class venue, and it gives people across Ireland a real sense of what we are building in Cherrywood. We’re incredibly proud of what Populous has created, and we can’t wait to welcome people through the doors.”

Marian Moravek, Design Lead at Populous, added:

“The design for Prime Arena will bring the ice hockey spectators close to the action and create an incredible atmosphere and fan experience, while the warm, layered façade and public plaza will give the arena a distinct identity as a focus for Cherrywood. We see this as an exciting addition to Ireland’s sporting landscape.”

Source and images Prime Arena Holdings

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