The Future of the Crucible: Enhancing the Home of World Snooker Championship with Ronnie O’Sullivan and Barry Hearn

World Snooker Tour (WST) president Ronnie O’Sullivan has shared his thoughts on how to improve the Crucible to ensure it remains the home of the World Championship. The Crucible has been the venue for the sport’s most prestigious event since 1977, but with its contract set to expire in 2027, discussions have begun about potentially moving the tournament elsewhere.

Barry Hearn, Matchroom Sport’s president and a majority shareholder in WST, believes that Sheffield Council should make enhancements to the Crucible to keep it at the venue. He mentioned that improvements were made for the 2024 tournament but believes further upgrades are necessary to enhance players’ experience.

O’Sullivan agrees with Hearn and believes that modernization is necessary. He suggests adding better facilities for players such as relaxation rooms, more practice tables, and nicer dressing rooms with showers. He also highlights the convenience of having courtesy cars available for players and introducing amenities like food service at the venue.

Although O’Sullivan acknowledges recent improvements, he believes more changes are needed to make the Crucible more player-friendly. He proposes renovating the venue to make it more spacious, modern, and comfortable for players. By bringing in interior designers or architects, O’Sullivan believes that the Crucible could be transformed into a state-of-the-art facility that meets both players and spectators’ needs.

With just over a decade left before the contract expires, there is still time for improvements at the Crucible if Sheffield Council decides to invest in enhancing it further as suggested by Barry Hearn and Ronnie O’Sullivan.