Horse Racing Ireland revealed it has launched a pre-market consultation to gauge interest from international developers investors and operators for a multi-purpose arena and on-site hotel at Leopardstown Racecourse. The proposal forms part of the Leopardstown masterplan to create a 365-day business model while preserving horse racing as the primary purpose. Around 17 acres at the site have been earmarked for up to 800 homes under an agreement with the Land Development Agency.
The 220-acre Leopardstown campus located 8km from Dublin city centre benefits from strong transport links including the M50 and Luas green line alongside proximity to Sandyford business district and Foxrock. HRI owns and operates racecourses at Leopardstown Fairyhouse Navan and Tipperary with Leopardstown hosting about 23 race fixtures annually including major festivals. Expressions of interest are due by mid-March via the eTenders platform.
The consultation emphasises no guarantee of a subsequent procurement process and confirms the LDA housing deal remains unaffected. HRI aims to capitalise on demand for high-quality indoor venues in Dublin. The project seeks to ensure long-term financial operational and competitive sustainability for the racecourse.
HRI shared in a written statement Horse Racing Ireland has big plans for Leopardstown Racecourse. HRI has launched a pre-market consultation seeking expressions of interest from international developers, investors and operators for a potential multi-purpose sports or entertainment arena and an on-site hotel at Leopardstown. HRI that owns and operates racecourses at Leopardstown, Fairyhouse, Navan and Tipperary. The Dublin racetrack on a 220-acre site is the capital’s last, after the closures and redevelopments of the former Phoenix Park Racecourse and Baldoyle, both for housing. Around 17 acres at Leopardstown has been earmarked for the potential delivery of 800 homes under an agreement between HRI and the Land Development Agency (LDA). The racecourse, located 8km from Dublin city centre beside the M50 and Luas green line, sits adjacent to Sandyford business district and major multinational employers as well as the upmarket suburb of Foxrock.
The campus has strong transport links and established year-round event demand, hosting about 23 race fixtures annually including the Dublin Racing Festival and Irish Champion Festival. In its consultation notice,
Horse racing is and will remain the primary purpose of the Leopardstown campus. The organisation also makes clear that the pre-market consultation is not a call for competition; that participation will not confer any advantage in any future tender; and that there is no guarantee a procurement process will follow.
“This pre-market consultation will not affect the deal agreed with the LDA for land at Racecourse South. Any potential arena and hotel are part of the overall Leopardstown masterplan for the racecourse campus. There is a growing market appetite for a high-quality arena in Dublin capable of hosting large-scale indoor sporting, entertainment and cultural events, alongside complementary hospitality facilities. Expressions of interest are due to be submitted by mid-March via the eTenders platform.
