Post by theatreliker on May 6, 2024 20:54:28 GMT
I'm watching the final on TV at the moment between Wilson and Jones. There's been a lot of talk lately about the possibility of the World Championships leaving the Crucible when the contract is up. So, if that happens, what impact would this have on the Crucible as a producing theatre? I assume they rely on the Championships for income each year.
This has been fuelled further this year by several players complaining about conditions in the Crucible, and rumours of a breakaway tour forming in Saudi and the far East. Even the head of the World Snooker Tour, who in 2022 said that the Championships would NEVER leave the Crucible in his lifetime is now considering change and is being tempted by the lucrative offers of overseas investors,it seems. His preference is to stay in Sheffield but at a new venue. But is it reasonable to expect local government to fund this?
For those who love and romanticise the Crucible, I think the consensus is that it could do with a revamp and possibly expanding. But how do you achieve this? Financially, where does investment come from to do this? Secondly, how do you achieve this logistically? The foyer space wraps round most of the auditorium so you can't easily add wings on to extend the seating. And a busy road runs next to the theatre anyway. And thirdly, how would an extension affect the theatre? The snooker is there for 3 weeks a year. The other 49 are made up of theatre. And for all the world class theatre the Crucible produces, I've never seen it full. This isn't the Snooker Tour's problem but is a consideration.
This has been fuelled further this year by several players complaining about conditions in the Crucible, and rumours of a breakaway tour forming in Saudi and the far East. Even the head of the World Snooker Tour, who in 2022 said that the Championships would NEVER leave the Crucible in his lifetime is now considering change and is being tempted by the lucrative offers of overseas investors,it seems. His preference is to stay in Sheffield but at a new venue. But is it reasonable to expect local government to fund this?
For those who love and romanticise the Crucible, I think the consensus is that it could do with a revamp and possibly expanding. But how do you achieve this? Financially, where does investment come from to do this? Secondly, how do you achieve this logistically? The foyer space wraps round most of the auditorium so you can't easily add wings on to extend the seating. And a busy road runs next to the theatre anyway. And thirdly, how would an extension affect the theatre? The snooker is there for 3 weeks a year. The other 49 are made up of theatre. And for all the world class theatre the Crucible produces, I've never seen it full. This isn't the Snooker Tour's problem but is a consideration.
