Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) wants to expand Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin, and they are inviting experienced international companies to explore potential partnerships.
They have launched a pre-market consultation (PMC), aimed at engaging top developers, investors and operators to explore the next phase in the development.
Horse racing at Leopardstown dates back to 1888. It attracts thousands of racing fans to major events such as the Christmas Festival and the Dublin Racing Festival.
More than 36,000 people attended the Dublin Racing Festival over one weekend, despite being forced to postpone one day of the event for 48 hours due to bad weather.
The HRI’s goal is to transform Leopardstown into a year-round destination rather than a venue used only on race days. Plans could include building an indoor arena for concerts, sports events, exhibitions, conferences and a hotel.
The Economic Impact of the Leopardstown Development in Dublin
Job creation during construction would be the first major impact if the project goes ahead. Large-scale projects create jobs on site and across supply chains.
Engineers, builders, designers, transport planners and environmental specialists would all be in demand, particularly during the initial design phase and during project planning.
The benefits of the arena and hotel wouldn’t stop after construction. They would support long-term employment as hotel staff, security teams, event managers, catering workers and maintenance crews would be needed year-round. Many of these jobs would be awarded to locals, contributing to the growth of the surrounding community.
The nearby Sandyford Business District already hosts major international employers such as Microsoft, Bank of America, ICON, Mastercard and Vodafone.
With thousands of workers in the area, the addition of an arena and hotel could transform Leopardstown into a social and commercial hub after office hours.
Conferences could flow directly from boardrooms into event spaces. Corporate hospitality could extend race days into larger gatherings that could last for days.
Restaurants, cafes and taxis in the wider south Dublin area would benefit from higher footfall. Even small retailers could get more customers as visitors explore the area beyond the campus.
More Racing Equates to More Betting Activity
With stronger finances from the arena and hotel, HRI would be in a better position to expand the racing calendar at Leopardstown.
Greater commercial strength would also allow them to organise additional race meetings, and increase prize money to attract higher-quality participants.
More people will attend when the quality of racing improves. This would increase on-course betting turnover and benefit online horse racing betting sites.
The best betting sites in Ireland already provide extensive coverage of racing from Leopardstown, and would be delighted if there are more meetings staged.
More punters would compare top sportsbooks on BettingTop10 to find competitive odds, lucrative bonuses and information about ongoing betting promotions.
If the redevelopment strengthens Leopardstown’s reputation and financial position, it could lead to more major events and possibly longer or expanded meetings.
More race days would naturally create more betting opportunities, meaning more wagers and more engagement from punters across Ireland and abroad.
That increased betting activity doesn’t just help bookmakers. Some of that money flows back into the sport through taxes, levies and sponsorship deals.
Dublin Would Become a Bigger Tourism Hub
Dublin regularly competes with Manchester, Glasgow, Amsterdam and other major cities to host major concerts and indoor sports events. Building a new arena would boost Dublin’s hopes of staging more events.
Many tourists visit Ireland for its history, scenery, and culture. However, adding more high-profile events such as concerts or championship fights would give people another reason to visit.
Some tourists would plan trips around one big event. They could choose to stay at the proposed hotel near the arena or book rooms elsewhere in Dublin, which would boost the local economy.
Leopardstown is only about six miles from Dublin city centre. It has access to an expansive travel network, which makes it attractive for international organisers who look at local infrastructure.
The wider development includes plans for around 1,000 affordable homes, a new primary school and better transport links.
By working with the Land Development Agency and the county council, the redevelopment aims to support national housing needs while protecting the racecourse’s future.
