Belfast set to lose 'only site for truly global talent' as crunch vote to end gigs at Boucher Road playing fields looms

The venue, which has hosted crowds of up to 40,000 for big name concerts from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Snow Patrol and Ed Sheeran, is to go back to being used solely for sports.

A move by the city’s council will see two new GAA pitches built there, plus one football pitch.

Approved after a behind closed doors committee meeting last month, the plan is due to be rubber-stamped at a meeting tonight.

That’s despite outrage from people working to boost the city’s nightlife, with organisation Love Belfast complaining that it will not just hurt gig-goers but have knock-on effects damaging tourism and the wider economy.

Describing the playing fields as Belfast’s “only site for truly global talent”, the body stated: “If Boucher Road stops hosting concerts, what’s the plan? Where do these shows go? How does Belfast stay on the international touring circuit?

“This is where world-class artists have performed. This is where tens of thousands of visitors come, stay, spend and return.

“Major gigs aren’t just “events”. They drive tourism, fill hotels, support hospitality jobs and shape how the world sees Belfast.

“You can support grassroots sport and major live music. Cities with ambition don’t choose one over the other.”

Tonight’s vote is opposed by Alliance, with former Lord Mayor Micky Murray arguing the decision should be postponed until a replacement venue for big-name concerts is lined up.

“I think we’re all in agreement that it should be returned to playing fields,” he told BBC Radio Ulster, “but my issue with it is that we need to have done the work and found a space for these events to go to.

“When promoters are going out there bidding for international acts to come here, they’re booking them 12 to 18 months in advance. This decision, if upheld tonight, that we can’t have major events at Boucher will have a knock-on effect on what the music scene in Belfast looks like.”

The Boucher Road move is backed by the council’s two largest parties, Sinn Fein and the DUP, though the latter said they’d support “dual use” of the playing fields for sports and concerts.

Sinn Fein are fully in support of ending concerts there, however, with the party’s councillor Natasha Brennan describing the idea as the playing fields “returning to community use”.

Ahead of tonight’s meeting, she stated: “Sinn Fein has been working closely to address the significant shortfall in outdoor sports pitches in Belfast, particularly GAA provision.

“I’m delighted that the playing fields will now return to their original purpose, alleviating significant issues faced by local residents during concert season as well as supporting local clubs.

“Boucher Road will soon be home to two full-size GAA pitches and one intermediate soccer pitch, bringing significant benefits to hundreds of young players and clubs across the city.

“We will continue working on behalf of local residents and sports clubs.”