Exclusive: Sheffield Confirms National Government Backing in Bid to Keep World Championships at the Crucible

National government has been involved in the conversation aimed at ensuring the World Snooker Championships remain in Sheffield beyond 2027, one of the region’s leading politicians has revealed.

Councillor Tom Hunt, the leader of Sheffield City Council, made the admission after being probed on the tournament’s future at The Crucible - where it has been staged since 1977. 

With an agreement between the venue’s operators and the sport’s ruling body set to expire in three years time, they are fears China or Saudi Arabia could try to use their financial muscle to lure the event overseas.

But, speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com, Cllr Hunt confirmed: “Sheffield City Council, the World Snooker Tour and Sheffield Theatres are long-standing partners and, over the course of the last 12 months, we’ve had positive conversations and discussions - including with national government and the BBC - about snooker in Sheffield."

“Due to the sensitive and commercial nature of those discussions, we can’t share anything at the moment and there won’t be an announcement during the tournament. 

"But when the right time comes, of course we’ll share those details because we understand people want to know.”

CRUCIBLE EXTENSION?

Speaking ahead of this year’s championships, which began on Saturday, former winner and two time runner-up Ken Doherty called on snooker’s overlords to extend their relationship with The Crucible. 

The Irishman, who defeated Stephen Hendry to lift the famous trophy nearly three decades ago, warned against prioritising ticket sales over “history” and insisted that the “majority of players past and present” would prefer to see the contract between SCC, ST and WS renewed.

“My idea, my way of thinking, is this: If I was World Snooker I would sell the game around the world on the fact that it is based somewhere as special and as iconic as the Crucible,” he told SportsBoom.com. 

“People travel from all over the country, from all over the globe, because it is here. I’ve spoken to fans who’ve come over from South America because they know all about the Crucible and want to experience it. That’s a unique selling point that really needs exploiting rather than just taking an easier option."

“Personally, I would sell more television rights. Look to bring in greater advertising and other commercial revenues like that. You can attract that because it’s here, taking place in an arena which is so famous all over.”

GROWING DEMAND

Conceding that The Crucible can only accommodate less than 1000 spectators, something which had led to calls for Sheffield to build a new, state-of-the-art snooker centre capable of hosting more, Doherty continued: “It would be a crying shame if they ever take it somewhere else. This is the home of the world championships and I hope it never goes elsewhere. Genuinely, I think that would be a mistake when you weigh up what we’d be losing, what we’d be giving up, by doing that."

“The Crucible sucks you in. There’s no atmosphere like it, nothing can replicate it or come close."

“I was speaking to one of the lads who has just qualified, something he’s been trying to do for 15 years and I told him: ‘You won’t feel anything like it in snooker. Just soak it up, that moment when you get called and walk down the stairs.’ It really is one of the most beautiful moments.”

Former World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn (pictured) brokered the last Crucible deal with Sheffield Council, but has challenged the council to build a new state-of-the-art venue to accommodate growing demand.

Given the prestige associated with hosting the championships, and the tourism benefits it brings, Cllr Hunt and his colleagues are naturally keen to strike a deal with World Snooker. 

“The three partners have been talking over the past months and it’s been really constructive,” added Hunt. 

“You’ll understand we’re not in a position to share details. I hope people will recognise that."

"Hundreds of millions of fans want to hear about that and that’s why we continue to have productive conversations.”