odds on Shelbourne Park set to continue hosting greyhound racing for another 30 years 

Shelbourne Park is set to continue hosting greyhound racing for another 30 years.

According to Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) / Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI), the company have a 99 year lease and do not intend to give it up.

In a statement, a spokesperson for RCE said: “RCÉ will continue to host greyhound racing at Shelbourne Park Stadium until at least March 24th 2052, the date on which the lease expires.”

They added that the agreement also includes options for a “lease extension for a further 84 years beyond this date”.

“RCÉ is fully committed to the long-term future and development of greyhound racing activity at Shelbourne Park,” the spokesperson explained.

“This flagship stadium in the RCÉ portfolio is to greyhound racing what Croke Park is to gaelic games and it remains a significant social and cultural asset to the people of Dublin and Ireland alike.”

“Plans and designs for this state-of-the-art investment are under way,” they added.

“Works are expected to commence in early 2023.”

It comes after the company that owns the majority of the site around the stadium, Pembroke Estates Management (PEM), sought to rezone the site for housing.

In its application to Dublin City Council, PEM said they wanted to build 750 new homes on the five acres of land it owns on the site, which includes the race track as well.

“The lands have the potential to accommodate over 750 residential units in a mixed-tenure development which could provide a mix of social [and] affordable units, build-to-rent, build-for-sale and cost-rental apartment units,” the application said.

In the submission to the council, they also said that Shelbourne Park “provides no benefit to the public as the lands are used for the racing of greyhounds with no access for members of the public outside of race nights”.