Horse Racing Ireland launches pre-market consultation to develop Leopardstown
Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has launched a pre-market consultation (PMC) to test international appetite for a major new phase of development at Leopardstown Racecourse, signalling potential plans for a landmark arena and hotel at the south Dublin venue.
The State body said the early market engagement is aimed at “best-in-class” developers, investors and operators who may be interested in partnering on the long-term evolution of the Leopardstown Campus.
While the primary purpose of the site will remain horse racing, HRI is seeking to explore how additional commercial and placemaking elements could enhance the venue’s year-round appeal.
Leopardstown is Dublin’s only racecourse and hosts around 23 fixtures annually, including the Christmas Festival, Dublin Racing Festival and Irish Champion Festival.
Racing has taken place on the site since 1888, and the track stages several high-profile Group 1 and Grade 1 contests each season.
Located approximately six miles from Dublin city centre, the campus benefits from direct LUAS access, proximity to the M50 and adjacency to the Sandyford Business District.
It sits beside One Microsoft Place and close to major multinational employers including Microsoft, Bank of America, ICON, Mastercard and Vodafone, placing it at the heart of one of the capital’s largest employment hubs.
HRI said it is aware of growing market interest in developing a high-quality indoor arena and hotel at Leopardstown.
An arena could address what it describes as unmet demand for large-scale indoor sporting and entertainment events in Dublin, while a hotel could leverage footfall from race meetings, business travel and international visitors.
Paul Dermody, CEO of HRI Racecourses, said the consultation marks “a significant step in realising the full potential of the Leopardstown Campus”, adding that the organisation wants to test the depth of market interest before moving to any formal procurement process.
While the primary purpose of the site will remain horse racing, HRI is seeking to explore how additional commercial and placemaking elements. ©INPHO/Tom Maher
The PMC forms part of the wider Leopardstown Campus Masterplan and follows stakeholder briefings held in January with representatives from the racing industry, local community, business and public sectors.
Expressions of interest must be submitted via the Government’s eTenders platform by 3pm on 11 March 2026, with separate consultations covering the proposed hotel and multi-purpose sports or entertainment arena.
Comments (0)