Would it be snooker loopy to leave the Crucible?

It’s been one of the hottest topics in sport for what seems like a lifetime, so would a change of venue for the biggest event on the green baize be all that?

We’re at the halfway-mark in this year’s World Snooker Championship, and whose name will be etched on the trophy is anyone’s guess. One thing’s for sure though, when the Crucible‘s current contract is up in 2028, it’s looking like change could well be imminent; after more than half a century, the iconic venue will have to either shape up or ship out.

That’s harsh terminology to use, perhaps, especially because the Sheffield theatre is a fantastic place. But a capacity of 1,000 is simply not enough in the cutthroat world of 21st-century sport, so what will the landscape look like? Where could the new home of snooker be and, ultimately, how good will it be for the game?

If you were to speak to Ronnie O’Sullivan or Hossein Vafaei (unfortunately we didn’t manage to) you’d get some pretty straight answers. These two players have been by far the most outspoken about a move from the Crucible, and the only aspect they might struggle to agree on is where the new venue should be. Wonderful ambassadors for snooker though they are, there are numerous other pros, ex-players and media peeps out there with more sentimentality and mixed feelings about the issue.

To some it’s unthinkable that the Worlds should leave South Yorkshire, nevermind Britain. The two nations that keep cropping up in the conversation and could comfortably accommodate the tournament are China and Saudi Arabia. Politics aside, there’s the obvious sticking point of the fans. Sure, there’d be plenty of folks willing and/or able to make the journey, but plenty would be priced out of the running what with flights, hotels, etc, and would the atmosphere be quite the same? Chinese fans in particular aren’t renowned for being too boisterous, and whilst snooker enthusiasts aren’t generally the aggressive type, tournaments like the Masters at Alexandra Palace have lent a much-needed razmatazz to the game.

That’s without mentioning the difference in timezones and the majority of the core TV audience having to tune in during the small hours. Not everyone will be up for it, so it could cost the sport in terms of revenue and exposure, the very things the move from the Crucible would be trying to increase. If so, then keeping it in the UK, seems the likely option. Ally Pally and the Masters seem to get on like a house on fire, plus a two-tournament venue would detract from each event’s unique character. So a new venue in a new city sounds promising, but what about those Sheffield sentimentalists?

There’s been talk of using the Crucible as it stands for the latter stages, plus another new purpose-built theatre across the road for the rest. Whilst that would allow snooker’s main event to remain in the Steel City, maybe it would devalue the first few rounds somewhat. After all, the qualifiers are played in a different venue elsewhere in Sheffield, so would it bring that kind of a feel? It’s hardly befitting of the blood, sweat and tears if you’re still a way off the Crucible proper. In no other individual sport is a single tournament split across venues, so this option seems a bit like clutching at straws.

Maybe that’s what sums it up best. If the Crucible is to remain the ‘Home of Snooker’, it’s as you were; otherwise a switch is inevitable. Do you think the game should up sticks? Perhaps you’ve been clever enough to think of a way to get the best of both worlds. Your thoughts on these issues, as well as which player will be crowned 2024 World Champion, are very welcome.