HRI launches search for world-class arena & hotel at Leopardstown Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) today announced the launch of a pre-market consultation (PMC) aimed at engaging best-in-class international developers, investors and operators to explore the next phase in the evolution of the Leopardstown Campus, one of Ireland’s most strategically located and recognisable sporting assets. Leopardstown racecourse is Dublin's only racecourse and is regarded as a leading international racing venue, staging some of the world's most competitive Group 1 and Grade 1 races. Its primary purpose is and will remain horse racing. This early market engagement presents a unique opportunity for global partners to shape a landmark development in Dublin, benefiting from Leopardstown's scale, visibility, transport connectivity and established international profile, while working alongside HRI to unlock new, long-term commercial and placemaking potential. Following extensive engagement to date, HRI is aware of the growing appetite from the market for a high-quality arena and a hotel at Leopardstown. The campus offers a rare combination of attributes that are highly attractive to arena and hospitality investors, including a large, well-serviced landholding in a prime metropolitan location; proven demand driven by major sporting, entertainment and cultural events; direct access to public transport and road networks; and the ability to integrate seamlessly with an existing, globally recognised venue. An arena would capitalise on unmet demand for large-scale indoor events in Dublin, while a hotel would benefit from year-round footfall and international visitors, positioning Leopardstown as a compelling, multi-use destination operating 365 days a year. Owned and operated by HRI, Leopardstown Racecourse hosts approximately 23 fixtures annually, including the Christmas Festival, Dublin Racing Festival, and Irish Champions Festival. The racecourse is located 6 miles from Dublin city centre and benefits from strong transport connectivity, including LUAS access and proximity to the M50, and sits adjacent to the Sandyford Business District. The Leopardstown Campus is adjacent to major multinational employers including Microsoft, Bank of America, ICON, Mastercard and Vodafone. It sits next door to One Microsoft Place, a European Microsoft hub, alongside other international technology, financial services and professional services firms, making it one of Dublin's key employment centres. Horse racing at Leopardstown dates back to 1888 and continues to offer an exceptional experience combining heritage, excitement and premium hospitality, all within a private, secure campus setting. Announcing the PMC, Paul Dermody, CEO of HRI Racecourses, said: "This pre-market consultation marks a significant step in realising the full potential of the Leopardstown Campus. "We are engaging openly with leading international developers, investors and operators to understand how best to bring forward a transformative project in one of Dublin's most strategically located and high-profile destinations. "With its scale, connectivity, established international reputation and year-round event demand, Leopardstown presents a compelling opportunity for partners seeking to deliver a landmark arena and/or hospitality development within the heart of Dublin. Our objective at this stage is to listen, to test the depth of market interest and to ensure that any future procurement process is informed, ambitious and commercially robust." This PMC represents the latest step in a wider listening and engagement phase of the Leopardstown Campus Masterplan and follows a series of successful stakeholder briefings held in January. Those briefings brought together representatives from across the racing industry, local community, business and public sectors to share information, gather insight and begin an open dialogue on the future evolution of the Leopardstown Campus. Interested parties are invited to submit an expression of interest via the eTenders platform by 15:00 on March 11, 2026.
