GREYHOUND Racing Ireland is expected to decide today whether to grand a licence for the reopening of Lifford Stadium.
A syndicate has purchased the stadium from the Duffy family.
With a deal finalised, hopes are high that the popular north west venue will reopen this summer.
The new owners are made up of a group of businessmen from England and Ireland.
They will need the IGB to grand a licence, but there are not any stumbling blocks envisaged, given that the new group has indicated that it will be able to operate without a reliance on Government funding.
The 2019 Indecon Report, which identified Lifford among the tracks for closure, said: ‘An important point to note is that there may be opportunities for individual stadia to continue to operate without IGB prize money or with lower funding if they can generate resources from sponsorship, fundraising or local support, or sufficiently reduce costs.’
A general view of Lifford Greyhound Stadium
Paul Lawrence, a former racing manager at the Crayford track, and Lorraine Sams, a former high-ranking official at the British Greyhound Board, are to lead a new management set-up at Lifford.
The Stadium, which underwent a €12million refurbishment in 2003, was put up for sale in 2018, tagged with a €1.9million price.
In August 2019, the traps were closed for the last time, the owners citing a lack of support from the sport’s hierarchy.
Lifford Stadium was first opened in 1959 and the 17.5 acre site includes a 240-seater restaurant overlooking the track.
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