Andy Goldstein SLAMS Barry Hearn Over Rumours The World Snooker Champ Will MOVE From The Crucible 🎱

Barry Hearn joins Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent on talkSPORT Drive.
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[@johnmcafee7]

Barry is the living definition of a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing

[@MathewParker-by4nx]

He dines out on nostalgia with his silly little cliches and boring anecdotes but he doesn’t really feel what he’s saying, it’s all BS.

[@johnmcafee7]

@MathewParker-by4nx He's just lacks class, always think of snooker as being a classy sport. Barry always forgets to mention the main objective for himself, what he will make from the move

[@jordanelcock5309]

😊

[@TimComley]

Taking from another channel, get your own work

[@johnmcafee7]

@@TimComley Has Oscar Wilde got a KZbin channel?

[@danthemanwhocancan5263]

Snooker is a TV event. It needs TV money, not gate receipts.

[@deek5252]

Correct

[@liamdevine8063]

With an extra 2000 tickets at £100 each you can make £200,000. 17 days that's £3.4 million. £3.4 million EXTRA remember. The BBC doesn't even pay £3 million for the bundled rights to show all THREE of Snooker's biggest tournaments.

[@justthetruth1]

​@@liamdevine8063100 quid??? No chance

[@phil9432]

Well done Andy Goldstein.....the Hearns don't listen to music at home, they have a recording of a till ringing.

[@EannaButler]

Pink Floyd - Money. That till sound at the start of that song was recorded at Barry's first business.... 😉

[@Gws525]

It's a business. You're living in a fairytale land if you think there is anything wrong with what he said here.

[@Murz911]

That's business

[@adambeckett7000]

Wouldn't you? I certainly would. It's a business?🤣

[@CagedPaps]

The players are the ones pushing for it too. Andy saying it won't be seen as the world championship if it moves, the players won't turn down the money from the Saudis or Chinese to continue playing at the cruicible for free. So it's wherever the players are.

[@kadiummusic]

Money, money, money, money, money, money, money. Corporate greed has ruined football, it's ruined F1 and even snooker isn't immune. ☹️

[@r95kfw]

Like he said, if he doesn't, someone else will

[@SSNRR17]

What do people go to work for to earn money, so what's the difference if your a professional snooker player , if there's more money to receive your gonna take it , just like Barry says it secures their family's future

[@hodgie9881]

and yet we all still tune in!

[@Mrratongthailand]

Your only jealous you broke

[@craigmorgan4676]

My late grandfather used to say as soon as u bring money into sport that will b the DEATH of ALL sport and how TRUE those words have proven to b!People throwing matches,u name it ....ALL FOR MONEY!Wheres the integrity @?U dnt even know what u watching anymore ...did that player win,that team win .....or did they throw the game?Disgusting and they fleece the fans.....for what ,for WHAT?😡😡😡😡😫😫💀💀💀💀💀👁👁👁👹😈👹👎👎👎👎

[@georgivladov4981]

Bulgarian here. For years, my dad and I have been watching snooker on free TV(Eurosport) and the only tournament we actually followed with interest was the "World Championship". However, we always referred to it as just "The Crucible" - that's how we differentiated it from any other tournament. In my opinion, if it happens another venue, it instantly loses its prestige and becomes "another tournament".

[@vy9191]

Само там ли дават снукър

[@tehhuddleboard7515]

I could sell 5000 tickets a day. Lies. There’s empty seats most matches.

[@stewartgray3384]

i was thinking that myself if you have a 2500 seater stadium and the quarter finals aint selling out maybe he needs to promote his product a bit better

[@underdirect1745]

There are empty seats everywhere in the Crucible even for todays final. Imagine all the empty seats there would be in a 2500 seater during the 10am sessions

[@DuderinoDeux]

If in China, you would fill 50,000 seats btw

[@fromtheterraces4747]

Empty seats doesn’t mean tickets not sold… Don’t be naive.

[@underdirect1745]

@@fromtheterraces4747 what does it mean then? They bought a ticket but couldn't be bothered to go in the end?

[@christopher_ecclestone]

Once money is put in the highest place tradition becomes inconsequential. Cash is killing the magic of sport.

[@jamiewade8668]

Barry hearne's new nickname is Mr burns from the Simpsons 😁

[@BT-kc3ee]

Barrys new nickname is Jeffrey Epsteins mate

[@douglasgreen437]

Shut up Smithers. .

[@matthewchilds1862]

A nick name is supposed to be shorter than their actual name

[@timb9249]

What's the odds of Barry giving DAZN sole broadcasting rights. Great value monthly cost of £1.99 ❌ £7.99 ❌ £9.99 ❌ £14.99 ❌ £19.99..... don't forget to order your PPV if you want to watch the final!!

[@d.b.cooper1]

£20? Give it 2 years & it'll be £40 a month given the price rise of the current UK offering since their launch. Literally only have rights to 2nd tier prospect boxing shows, rest is PPV....& other rights are literally just women champions league football, saudi pro league & e sports. Embarrasing. UK boxing fans ditched DAZN on mass a while back, hence why they're shows are shite & rest is PPV & they launched MISIFTS which does more subs than Eddie Hearn's boxing in the UK.

[@timb9249]

@@d.b.cooper1 I remember thinking how amazing DAZN was when I first signed up for £1.99. Hearn went on a media rampage telling everyone how this was the future of sport, a low cost monthly subscription and no PPV. The lies kept coming until the number of new subscribers had levelled off, then announced price increase, one week later refused to deny PPV future. I cancelled my subscription out of principle after the first price rise. They're just take out merchants.

[@93lornamae]

​@timb9249 just stream everything. I stream snooker football boxing ufc.

[@irieite9666]

​@@d.b.cooper1Whats e Sports? Drones and Scalectrix?

[@98jf5]

DAZN is 24.99 now. Liberty.

[@UncleRuckus_96]

Finally Andy said something Right for once

[@kadiummusic]

100%. Greed stinks.

[@Geohillierneo]

Maybe in your opinion. In my opinion he's living in a fairytale, instead of facing facts. If everyone thinks like this, then Snooker will never evolve, never grow, and never move with the times

[@nikolaimiroshnichenko2689]

He did not say any valid argument apart from pointless repeating something about "spirit"

[@dougydoolittle5255]

Barry is right about this, I rarely agree with him but he's right

[@jameschapman5659]

Dont worry about crowd, its for tv audience. Leave it.

[@snookerstones]

The crowd is a cop out

[@CagedPaps]

If it's just for TV, then it could be anywhere.

[@HarveyTwoFaceDent]

Hearn and Ronnie already counting their Saudi cash

[@richrender-xy9em]

Go like golf won’t it.

[@HarveyTwoFaceDent]

Exactly, there will be no sport left untouched by the Saudi’s, it’ll be Darts next

[@GIBLETTS]

Does he realy care,

[@spanishpeaches2930]

Ronnie definitely shilling for the Saudis.

[@cjtdup5395]

@@HarveyTwoFaceDentFirst 9/11, now the footie and golf🫣

[@JohnGOLDSMITH-qw5vy]

Shocking. Barry would sell his parents to the highest bidder!! As long as he could eat a bacon role...

[@yemi9196]

Don't be silly, why don't you just go to work for free. Whether you admit it or not, it is really about money. Reason why the best in anything make to get the most money they get for there service and would go to almost anywhere that gives them the highest pay. Harland, Messi or Ronaldo won't decide to go to Everton because they love Everton. They will go only because Everton would offer them the most money. That does make them greedy

[@anthonycampbell2151]

​@@yemi9196💯

[@AlastairBarker]

@@yemi9196 WHAT A RIDICULOUS COMMENT.

[@PeterMahoney-el1re]

​@@yemi9196😂😂

[@PaulBrownclk-me]

The bigger picture here is , if it moves , it will not be on the BBC , so snooker will lose , as people will not watch it , and thats the really sad part of this.

[@lukepatterson5367]

Why won't it be on the BBC

[@razwanakhan25]

Absolutely true if it’s taken off the BBC and it’s a brand-new trophy then I won’t watch snooker at all

[@StGeorgeCross21]

I watch it on eurosport much better than the beeb

[@welshcaesar]

Garbage ​@@StGeorgeCross21

[@empty-ed]

Disgusting badly

[@gar651527]

Barry would make his own funeral box office

[@JaySmurkzTV]

Ffs 😭

[@Tom_TheDon]

One thing I’d pay for

[@spanishpeaches2930]

...and be buried in Saudi.

[@ash6415]

Probably PPV it.

[@DuderinoDeux]

But Alex Hurricane Higgins said : 'I AM the box office'

[@trudeausbackbone1304]

There's a lack of Snooker clubs and British Legions with Snooker tables these days when compared to the old days so the conveyor belt of up and coming British talent, will inevitably dry up. Sad but true.

[@Jofan03]

Andy’s a pillock but good on him for staying blunt here. A good promoter makes money, a great one also makes it for worthwhile for the fans too.

[@GarethHaynes]

Yes Andy is.

[@vsp888]

As a normal bloke from the Czech Republic and snooker fan for just over two decades, I really miss Andy Goldstein in snooker, and also Colin Murray, two guys with personality and good opinions. From my point of view of a nobody but someone who loves snooker A LOT, it would be a F DISASTER if they moved it out of The Crucible.

[@ifeyhome]

When you listen to Talk Sport live, you realise that the social media team write these titles as click bait. The chat was very friendly & Barry is taking Andy on a feebie jolly to the US to take part in an 8 ball pool tournament!

[@Forcedmonkey]

You could listen to this and get the exact same impression. Obviously a site that benefits from clocks are going to click bait titles, it's not like they said they had a fist fight on set 😅

[@MRGTR-94]

We're in a clickbait society

[@OneForTheNorth]

Look how soulless boxing is in Saudi? The reason we love the sport is because of the atmosphere. Jonny from Doncaster hasn’t got £6000 to go to Saudi for a week

[@richrender-xy9em]

They don’t care about working class fellas, its all about the corporate money

[@OneForTheNorth]

@@richrender-xy9em an arena full of Sheikh’s, who have never watched the game, giving it the odd golf clap. It would be embarrassing. China on the other hand, at least you will have a proper atmosphere as they are gaga for the sport

[@eddiel7635]

You can still watch boxing, there are plenty of fights in the UK.

[@OneForTheNorth]

@@eddiel7635 bore off

[@therecanbeonlyone801]

The dead atmosphere for the boxing makes it a hard watch. It kills the event altogether.

[@kernowchris]

Ronnie banging on about wanting 'that call'. Thing is it doesn't matter how you dress it up, it's just snooker, a good game but just f***ing snooker!

[@matthewdsouza8891]

Both BBC and Talksport fail to ask him the fundamental question. If the world championship goes to a country with no spectators, which then leads to reduced viewership and sponsors, then regardless of extra prize $ what does it do for the sport going forward?

[@Jimboslice35]

Bingo

[@tinyderppotato5410]

THIS!!!

[@XENUGOLFCLUB]

This is a good point. Fury v Usyk is on soon- they haven’t hardly sold any tickets even though those tickets are dirt cheap. How is a 3000 capacity venue in Saudi gonna sell out when boxing is more global

[@iej7663]

The point is they don’t care. It’s about milking the sport for money now

[@user-kh9ql7si6g]

It'll be sold out in China.

[@themayorofflair]

I am with you totally on this one Andy. Hearn, whilst being an extremely charming individual represents everything that is wrong with this country. Short term greed, no regard for the who owns the hand that feeds you & the impact it has on those on the periphery. Crucible needs to be made bigger. Double the capacity with more better facilities. Don’t think it can be done where it is unless you can build upwards ? Giving Tiger Woods as an example of who to aspire to is poetic. This is the bloke who cheated on his wife many many times, become a drug addict & almost killed himself in his car crash due to his excess.

[@vsp888]

That is absolutely right what you wrote.

[@Zxcvbueisn444]

He never once mentioned the fans. Was all about him and the players.

[@vicasbailey6895]

Nobody cares about Woods private life! he's a sporting legend with 120 titles 14 major titles! so of course he's a role model to millions! Yet like Maradonna, George Best, Alex Higgins!

[@DJR1409]

Man does what men have done throughout history. Plus you are guessing about the car accident.

[@johaldoronaldo9393]

@@Zxcvbueisn444 it's all about the players - that's who the fans pay to see!

[@virginsim8024]

Wimbledon adapted. Silverstone adapted. Wembley adapted. There’s no need to move, just improve. We could do with the investment in this country, not farm it out overseas, never to return again.

[@richs2290]

Great interview great questions 👍👏👏

[@curtislynes8032]

Love the shout out for Canvey Island btw cheers Barry 🙌🏻😂

[@user-qx3eb2jx1p]

The straight answer to this question is - Why has the GOAT Snooker player ( Ronnie) been complaining about prize money for over a decade. Barry is right , snooker needs to move with the times and every other sport.

[@latergator915]

What does snooker look like in front of 5000 people? It doesn't work.

[@littleun0361]

Ronald is a money grabber who has sold his soul to the Saudis

[@itnaklipse1669]

moving with the times means corporatization of everything, apparently.

[@snookerstones]

The capacity is a cop out - the revenue comes from tv audience which love the crucible, ticket prices aren’t that relevant really

[@barrymurray4923]

You’d Make A Great Business Man 👀

[@andrewquarmby6211]

@@barrymurray4923 hark at elon musk here

[@0730Media]

So you make a 2/3k seated arena in Sheffield…..how you going to fill that on a wet Wednesday afternoon watching Milkins attempting to knock a few balls in the pocket.

[@languageoffootball]

They sell the tickets in the 12 months prior and it’s very hard to get tickets nearer the time of the championship. On that basis the tickets would be spoken for irrespective of who plays even if some people don’t actually turn up on the day. In some ways it’s more compelling and dramatic watching some of the lesser lights playing at the world as you get lots of nervy frames rather than century after century being knocked in which as a punter can get a bit boring.

[@stephenmccann3407]

Do you watch it? Theres always empty seats. Take it to saudi there will be even more, look at the boxing its shocking ​@@languageoffootball

[@cauliflowerpete616]

Glad Andy’s an actual snooker fan so knows what to ask. Bent sitting there without a clue.

[@benhamer4139]

Maybe because Bent's not really a snooker fan? Would you prefer he pretends and takes questions away from the actual fan i.e Andy?

[@Fr24532]

Hearns would sell their nan if it made them a fiver

[@TranscriptionistinDC]

Barry Hearn: "No problem with me. You can't eat a trophy, son." Hahahaha. Gotta love Barry!

[@martinjackson565]

Next time Barry wants a bit of painting done you know what to charge half a million for a days work then see what he says 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@1mannik]

i take it Andy doesnt want OLD TRAFFORD , rebuilt , renovated or moved

[@Jimboslice35]

They’re not moving it to the Middle East are they?

[@razwanakhan25]

I wish Man United would move to the Middle East because they are rubbish anyway

[@irieite9666]

​​@@Jimboslice35Not that we know of lol. At this stage I wouldn't rule out England playing Home matches in Jeddah.

[@y2kazan868]

Where’s the full interview?

[@thegroovetube3247]

Every single player in the last 16 at these championships is from the UK. It's not that much of a global sport and needs to stay in the UK, preferably at The Crucible.

[@davidbrown9947]

Barry, most councils are skint, including Sheffield. The idea Sheffiled have £10 Million quid , to spend on a new venue at the courtesy is madness. You knew tht anyway

[@Jimboslice35]

You think a a 2500 seater venue can be built for 10 million? 😳😂

[@petershanks7520]

Yeh i am afraid thats when i knew the game was up , in a way he is telling us the truth without actually saying the words

[@jacksmalling4265]

Which is why it will be moving beyond 2027, because the party line will be "we give Sheffield Council 4 years' + notice and every opportunity to keep it in Sheffield, its their fault they didn't work hard enough to keep the WCs"... Barry isn't stupid, I actually like him a lot, this is his business and as he inadvertently said as much here. I would bet heavily that post-2027, snooker WCs will be in China or Saudi - it won't even be in the UK.

[@nikolaimiroshnichenko2689]

Then he can find someone who will invest 10 mil elsewhere. Don't see a problem here

[@richardbrennan7288]

Got a feeling that Barry is just playing poker with the council... got a funny feeling he really doesn't want it to move (but he's willing to). Steve Davis being quiet the other day when Barry was next to him told me that he knew something we didn't... I think Barry has told him what's going on...

[@Essydyk]

Steve Davies is always quiet. He was probably biting his lip on this occasion and not wanting to upset the man that made him.

[@mcvicarross7]

Steve Davis was groomed by Hearn as a young man & Steve thinks they're friends but he hasn't got the guts to speak his mind! It's sad watching grown men sitting in the company of a greedy old prick like Hearns & not saying what they really feel. Snooker player's do more than alright for themselves (especially for a game that doesn't require physical fitness!)

[@jamesgallagher1992]

​@@Essydykim afraid its the other way around..it was steve who made barry...

[@richardbrennan7288]

@@Essydyk nah I'm almost certain from reading between the lines and the reactions of people close to him that he really is just cornering the council - he's probably been asking them for ten years . Saudis have just got a new ranking event for all the players - that's another big clue that they won't land the worlds... it'll be the invitational and this ranking event, and Sheffield will step up because they make too much money. Don't forget there's plenty of money to be made for those in the council to make handing out the construction contracts to their mates etc...

[@leejackson1788]

Money money money haven't you got enough make me sick

[@CK-dd7eq]

You need to leave earth then because that's how the world works

[@richrender-xy9em]

Goes to a bigger Venue and get clowns shouting out etc like another nonsense the shoot out tournament.

[@MichaelCooney-zh8je]

The hearns could easily put up 2 million as the top prize if they wanted. Sport has history and the idea that a tournament can't be at the same place every year is nonsense. Imagine the Masters leaving Augusta or Wimbledon going to Saudi.

[@Reprogrammed_By_SEGA]

Bigger arenas don't make sense for snooker, You won't be able to see the table and controlling the audience would be far more difficult for a game that demands silence and concentration.

[@stevebubbs]

The Crucible is a theatre, they don't have the money to extend.Put your cash where your gob is Barry and fund an extension. I suspect though, that is not what you want, you want it to go abroad where all the cash is. I tend to view the prize money as approx ten percent of what is going in Hearn and his Cronies pocket

[@BrendanExplores]

I understand the point of view of both sides of the argument here. I'm an avid snooker fan and I've played the game since the age of 12. I once had ambitions to become a professional but honestly.. I'm thankful I never made it as there simply isn't enough money in the game today to earn a full time income as a top level sportsman unless your in the top 16. Just look at football? The top 200 players in the world are all on over a million a year. The money only really gets impressive when your in the top 16 with snooker. It would be nice to see the worle championships stay in Sheffield but Barry is right, the venue needs to atleast 3000 seats. Come on Sheffield, pull your finger out!

[@AlanKelly-ff7tk]

Barry Hern - revolutionary business man who has made snooker what it is Andy Goldstein - snooker fan

[@jameshall9654]

Barry trying to shoehorn a “why shouldn’t it go to Saudi” next Canvey Island and Shanghai as if Saudi had a known history for the love of snooker and not just willing to throw millions at another sport for sake of sport washing. They’d host the world tiddlywinks championship if you told them it was popular somewhere. I have no problem with them rotating a world championship - but rotate it in countries with legitimate interest in the sport like china not in Saudi Arabia

[@pauldixon1766]

Agree, good points made. If it ever leaves UK, should perhaps go first to the non UK countries who have won it. As in, Canada, Australia and Belgium. And of course you would have to include Scotland, Ireland and Wales. We can squeeze in 95,000 at mcg Barry, that enough for ya ?

[@user-ok2hi7op7c]

Money,money,money, bloody money.

[@IvMrNayfeenvI]

I go the world snooker championship every single year. I go because I love the atmosphere & the fact that the venue is small & you can feel the pressure of the players. If it moves to anything above 1000 capacity, the masters will be the new world championship in my eyes. If the world championship moves from Sheffield, I hope the players make the masters the sought after trophy.

[@rhghhh4195]

There’s a reason Barry is a business man And Andy is on Talkshit 😂

[@snookerstones]

Just cos he’s a businessman doesn’t mean it’s better for the sport

[@rhghhh4195]

@@snookerstones what did he say that was wrong? Bigger prize money makes sense If you are calling yourself ‘world snooker champs’ I expect something bigger than £500,000 & why not move it around Like a bidding system like the World Cup Andy blatantly has a issue with it cos Saudi has a interest in hosting it The Saudi agenda has to stop it’s embarrassing

[@alanchamberlain9902]

Barry would be a bum without Steve Davis and the Crucible.

[@scottking869]

​@rhghhh4195 why should saudi get it when theyve never produced a fan base or great players. Thats just stupid.

[@stevenhickman1388]

@@alanchamberlain9902of course he wouldn’t. Foolish comment

[@mattmaciver7981]

He cares only for the players. Not the fans. I know the players are the most important but not the only consideration.

[@SakeJully1]

No problem with it moving from the Crucible but keep it in the UK ffs.

[@user-yp7vy3dj3o]

1000%

[@alanchamberlain9902]

Don't need to move it at all

[@stevebubbs]

If it leaves The Crucible, it is going East, trust me

[@TranscendentalDentist]

Why? Barry Hearn is spot on.

[@TranscendentalDentist]

@@stevebubbs Most snooker pros can't make a decent living and would welcome it going East.

[@ParzifalPip]

The Hearns always look out for number one. They need some misfortune.

[@BunyanaRed1958]

If they want to keep the WSC at Sheffield but not at the crucible. Why not move it to the Sheffield Arena. I've not heard anyone mention that. If it goes to Saudi, it will be shite. And that golden ball will no doubt make an appearance. It's greed why they want it moving. The winner at the crucible gets 500 grand. Is that not enough.

[@chris-uk-1985-videos]

If I had my way I'd get those famous globes back behind those players chairs and keep it at the crucible

[@neilsumner6440]

I don't say this very often but I'm with goldstein on this one it's the crucible for me!!!

[@stephenwilson9480]

Have it inside Wembley stadium the hearns love it there

[@jameslake-mentalgamecuespo9010]

The crucible is a drama theatre- it was never designed for any sports let alone snooker. But Snooker adopted it and the love affair grew from there… it wont ever change

[@captain007x]

Sounds like he's already had an offer put on the table.

[@scottyk200]

Used to get £147,000 for a maximum break. In the 1980s. Huge money. The only change I like is that in my pocket, but I think the days of SWC at the Crucible are numbered.

[@kevyarham]

People can slate Hearn all they like, but snooker and darts wouldn't be where it is today without him.

[@AlyeeshaNazir]

Funny if you watch the snooker, most of the players and commentators love it, not everything has to be singing and dancing

[@searchterminatorseed2301]

Honestly, it’s so frustrating when people don’t value history and aura the same way. The point Goldstein made about a kid and the trophy is so spot on imo.

[@notorious283]

Hearns right 500,000 is not enough for a sportsman at the top of his game the best. Not even for a day these are elite players who should get paid elite money 💰

[@CK-dd7eq]

💯

[@donjoe2661]

I agree with Barry. But it will only work and keep it's magic if the seats are filled and people don't clap every single shot or move when a player is about to play. What happened in UAE during the golden ball event was hidious and if it continues like this it will ruin the WC.

[@Cockermadman]

What hearn doesn't understand is ,it's not the city of Sheffield that is iconic for the game ,it is the crucible itself , as a sheffielder I can say they might as well build a new arena anywhere ,it'll never recreate the atmosphere of our crucible . Only last year on a BBC interview hearn said " as long as I've got breath ,the championship will stay at the crucible " ,the only reason he's changed ,is because of the threat of a breakaway from top players .

[@Kendoddsdadsdogsdead532]

If it stays in Sheffield and Barry did mention this......than great. A new Crucible built bigger but a similar spec in Sheffield would be good i think.....getting tickets is hard atm

[@TheHumanTheory]

Gate receipts are nothing in today’s sports landscape. The venue is only important because of name recognition, otherwise why would anyone choose to perform at Madison Square Garden over Ohio Stadium? This is about selling the sport to the highest bidder. Everyone wants to sell themselves to Saudi and Saudi is listening to all offers. We called it the Mecca of snooker, the Mecca of Boxing, the Mecca of whatever. Now Mecca is actually paying, and we’re seeing the salesmen sell.

[@keithmcgregor3330]

If they move the world championship abroad snooker is finished, they already have a massive issue with no young talent really coming through

[@kashattack]

Like him or not, Barry is right. Every snooker player would dump the Crucible in an instant if the prize money was 5 times higher somewhere else.

[@dingwei7]

A sport needs money, snooker isn’t a popular sport and it needs to look elsewhere for its expenses if the areas arent big enough / popular enough

[@rvic11]

I've got to say, as a Snooker fan who has never been to the Crucible, it looks exactly the same on telly as any other venue. Does it really matter to the people who aren't lucky enough to go?

[@markie1990123]

Love Andy’s genuine passion for the snooker

[@nikolaimiroshnichenko2689]

He's SO detached from reality if he really believes that global snooker popularity is based on 17 days in crucible. Ask million snooker fans around the world - "in which crucible is located?". I bet most of them would not know unless they're from the UK

[@backupdancer3720]

Hearn is a gangster and a hypocrite. With one hand, he shakes down the Crucible, and with the other, he threatens the players who ask him for more money...

[@user-qx3eb2jx1p]

''Hearn is a gangster'' haha says a little sissy who has ''back up dancer'' as their username . LOOOOL . You little millennial sissy

[@richardfairclough2960]

He’s a promoter that’s what they are

[@Dave-wh3hw]

​​@@richardfairclough2960Snake oil salesman the lot of them

[@snookeringu2tonightu231]

Me, me, me, me, me, me, me. He doesn't even run world snooker anymore! Snooker has had its lean times, it's boom times and it's steady times. The constant through all those times has been The Crucible.

[@walms_eth]

He is correct. Stop being sentimental

[@madsteve9]

Due to the local elections, Sheffield City Counsellors & local Government Civil Servants must obey "Purdah" and are not allowed to talk about specific future plans. Their is a plan, to build a new city centre arena, to be called the "Anvil" on the opposite side of "Arundel Gate". This was put forward by ex MP & Sports Minister, Richard (Dick) Caborn, a couple of years ago. Whether this will mean the compulsory purchase of the "Tank" nightclub, or "Odeon Luxe Sheffield" cinema or the "O2 Academy Sheffield" we do not know. Or a completely new building on "Pond Street" with a connecting tunnel from "Tudor Square" where the "Lyceum Theatre" & "Graves Galleries" are also based with "The Crucible", again we do not know.

[@richrender-xy9em]

It’s a disgrace even considering moving away from the Crucible but I fear it will happen eventually. Silly money will be along shortly to Ruin it. Hearn talking like the snooker players are on coal miner money….the top players are already earning a over a mil a year with prize money, sponsorship etc

[@alanpage3973]

Top footballer earn ten times that amount yearly what's wrong with the top Snooker players earning that

[@TomGur147]

Well done Andy, spoken like a true fan as I am! Eg Higgins vs Allen wasn’t a world championship classic, it was a crucible classic! He’s off his head. The crucible sells out because it’s the CRUCIBLE! People don’t go to watch the world championships, they go to experience the CRUCIBLE! The games biggest tournament in its smallest venue IS what’s special. Why can’t they see that!? If it moves there won’t be the same value to it, there won’t be scarcity to the tickets and they won’t sell them out! People will wait to see who’s playing rather than buy them blind a year in advance. Then the only full house will be for Ronnie (if he’s still around then!) and Jak Jones vs Dave Gilbert will be empty!

[@irieite9666]

And Ronnie's only likely to be there if its in Saudi or Beijing tbf.

[@TomGur147]

@@irieite9666 considering he’s played at the crucible for 30 years I seriously doubt that

[@harryhill-es5jk]

Hearn basically say am going sell to the high bidder

[@cliffmatthews6577]

What about the unbelievable atmosphere that’s created in the crucible theatre, that most of the professional snooker players state that it can not be created anywhere els in the world !

[@MichaelThomas-cs8ml]

He’s not living in the real world is he? Sheffield council like all councils have been faced with massive cuts the idea they are going to build an entire new venue so they can have an extra 1000-1500 seats seems like madness

[@fart-gravy]

he knows this , thats why hes asking daft expectations which cannot be met.

[@rogerhampton9614]

When the most famous Trophy on Earth, the Jules Rimet trophy was retired when Brazil won it 3 times, it didn’t stop the World Cup losing any glamour at all

[@scotthands4396]

The size of the crowd doesnt make the crowd, snooker isnt a massive spectator sport it's a close up mainly quite sport, the crucible creates an atmosphere, if it moves thats gone

[@Donny123]

Bigger stadium Sitting further away from table BINOCULARS!

[@kiely4561]

If it made financial sense to Barry he’d have the Ashes played on the sand dunes, there needs to be a point where history and tradition overrides the bottom line otherwise the uk will become a sporting barren land.

[@tsirke808]

You can hate Barry Hearn as much as you like, but he's spitting hard facts throughout the entire conversation. Snooker players are struggling to make ends meet, only the top 30-40 in the world are can make a decent enough living, the rest are heavily relying on sponsors to be able to continue with their profession. Sentiments about tradition and history often stand in the way of progression. Ask yourself the question: would you honestly care about the venue, the trophy or any other detail you might hold onto dearly if you weren't able to watch your beloved player because he just simply doesn't want/can't continue due to financial reasons? Half a million pounds for winning a world championship event (especially something as gruelling as the snooker world championship) is nothing in today's world. A premiership fotballer makes that money in 2-4 weeks EVERY 2-4 weeks as long as he is in contract (which tends to be a couple of years). Remember: all Barry is asking for is more space (so they can allow more people to watch the event live), better facilities (players have complained about those before, not just Ronnie), don't see why any of those is wrong.

[@marky1888no1]

Gready old man

[@CK-dd7eq]

Wise

[@nikolaimiroshnichenko2689]

This old man made snooker a global sport. There is a good chance you would not even be a snooker fan without Barry

[@Picopunk3]

Build a clone of the crucible. One table setup on both for each half of the draw.

[@Alftupper334]

I can think of a couple of nicknames for him

[@DavidB-py8nz]

Money is everything to this man, I think he’d freely admit it. Greed is never satisfied, he even says know amount is enough, absolutely sickening.

[@nikolaimiroshnichenko2689]

Why is it bad? Do you want snooker players to be poor unless the are in top5? Why snooker champion should earn less than tennis champion? 20 million prise money for a whole year for the whole tour is miserable fund. One Lewis Hamilton earns 2 times more a year

[@alfieb6711]

Andy talking sense for on e

[@algarvemike]

What is Sheffield going to do with a 2500 seater venue for the othe 348 days of the year?

[@bigjohn1717]

Saudi? What Saudi players are in the top 32•?

[@timcorcoran8956]

well said Andy

[@Calsonic8899]

It’s nice to see someone standing up to Barry

[@jtang2529]

LOVE BIG NOSE FOR THIS!

[@johnhambi3826]

By the time they figure this one out, the one player the fans would pack stadiums for would have won his record-breaking 8th World title and retired 😆 🤣 😂

[@PaddyP-mr5ww]

Hearn is a Spurs fan and this week the World has learned what they are all about

[@spanishpeaches2930]

Just because it's a WC, does not mean it should leave it's spiritual home. The Masters is played at the same venue every year and that's what makes the event special. You play at..."The Crucible" not the world championships...and that is what makes it special.