Convention Centre Dublin wins bid to host UEFA 2020 draw

The Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) has announced that it will host the live televised UEFA EURO 2020 qualifying draw, which will take place on 2 December 2018. The 2020 football championships mark the 60th anniversary of the competition. UEFA selected Ireland and The CCD as the venue for this event, following an invitation to bid issued to the host cities of this unique European Championships. UEFA indicated that The CCD was chosen due to its capability to deliver the detailed list of requirements. The technical capability of The CCD for TV and staging, the quality and expertise of the venue, the cost competitiveness of the package and the level of detail in the Dublin submission document were the strongest factors in winning the bid, the venue management said. Games are being hosted in 13 cities across the continent on a once-off basis and it is expected that up to 200,000 people will visit from overseas for the games alone. Dublin is set to host four games in the Aviva stadium which is expected to bring an economic benefit of over €40m to Ireland. Welcoming the news, Stephen Meehan (pictured), CEO of The CCD said: “We are excited to confirm such a prestigious sporting event and congratulate all teams involved in the bid submission. The CCD is an iconic building in the heart of Dublin city and we are looking forward to welcoming representatives from the 55 national associations to our venue.” The submission to secure the event was led by the UEFA EURO (Dublin) Local Organising Committee, consisting of representatives from the Football Association of Ireland and Dublin City Council, in partnership with the government through the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, and support from the Dublin Convention Bureau. Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD said: “The hosting of such prestigious televised sporting events is a fantastic opportunity to boost the profile of Dublin and Ireland, and to highlight our facilities for international conferences and events.” FAI CEO, John Delaney added: “Along with Dublin being one of the host cities for the tournament, the hosting of the draw in our capital city demonstrates the high regard in which Ireland is held as a tournament host. The live televised event will be broadcast throughout the world and puts Irish football, as well as Ireland as a nation, at the forefront of international sport.” The live televised draw will see an estimated 650 guests, including 350 media representatives accredited to cover the event Seventy broadcasters are expected to show the draw live to an audience of 140m around the world.