A real alternative for a potential sports stadium for Belfast, fully backed by a detailed business case, will be presented to Government early in the New Year by Belfast City Council.

The council has appointed highly respected consultants Drivers Jonas, who have an excellent track record in the area of stadium development, to produce the business case and a number of potential new sites for a city stadium have been identified.

"We are still very much in the game to have the stadium located where it should be – in Belfast - and we will have a real alternative on the table within weeks,” said Councillor Bob Stoker, Chairman of the Parks and Leisure Committee.

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"Our consultants identified a significant number of potential sites in Belfast, many more than Government were previously prepared to consider, and we are working towards developing a strong shortlist before eventually producing our alternative to the Maze early in the New Year.

"The fact remains that the only pieces of independent research into potential sites, carried out by the House of Commons Select Committee on Tourism and the University of Ulster, both came down heavily on the side of Belfast as the preferred site.

"We have set ourselves a tough deadline and there is considerable work still to be done but we are confident we can show Belfast to be the only viable option for a stadium to meet the needs of the sports and sports fans and reflect best practice across the world as identified in the University of Ulster report.

"We want to ensure is that Belfast is given proper consideration this time around and our business case will support the evidence already produced that strongly indicates the stadium should be located in the capital city."

"We are very confident that Belfast very much remains in the game and believe it is in the best interests of everyone to delay any decision on a stadium site until we present our business case early in the New Year."

(JM)