From boxing to football legends, get your sports fix right here in Belfast!
Built to host events ranging from music legends to sporting heroes, the Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall are multi-purpose venues, fully equipped to bring some of the best sporting events from snooker and fight nights to Belfast.
The Ulster Hall in particular has a sporting history embedded into its story.
Did you know that throughout the Forties and Fifties, the Ulster Hall became Northern Ireland’s premier boxing venue? Many home-grown champions lit up our boxing ring, while international boxing legends like World Heavyweight Champion, Sonny Liston, traded blows with our local stars.
Today, the flame has been relit and today the Ulster Hall plays host to internationally broadcast boxing fights with the venue being noted as unrivalled and atmospheric among boxing fans.
Over the past number of years, we’ve hosted some sporting greats between our two venues. In October 2019 the chant “ooh, ah, Cantona!” echoed the Waterfront Hall as Manchester United Legend Eric Cantona hosted ‘An Audience With..’ Cantona reflected us on his career to date, reminiscing about his time at Old Trafford and the glory days of lifting four Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson. In June 2018 another Manchester United fan favourite visited the Ulster Hall, as Ryan Giggs joined us for a conversation with, sharing anecdotes from his career to date.
We’ve highlighted some of our favourite sporting events coming to the Waterfront and Ulster Hall.
An Audience with Roy Keane
An evening with Manchester United legend Roy Keane will take place at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast on 03 October 2019.
Roy Keane is the joint-most successful Irish footballer of all time having won 19 Major Trophies, 17 of which came at Manchester United in his club career. Keane was a dominating box-to-box midfielder, noted for his aggressive and highly competitive style of play, an attitude that helped him excel as captain of Manchester United from 1997 until his departure in 2005. Keane helped United achieve a sustained period of success during his 12 years at the club. Every time Keane played he demanded everything of himself and his team mates, such so that Manchester United were a winning machine collecting trophies galore during a very successful period.
This event will see Roy Keane on stage for a ‘live and unscripted’ interview followed by an audience Q&A and Platinum tickets are available for the chance to have your photo taken with the legend himself.
MTK Fight Night
MTK Fight Night is set to return to the Ulster Hall on 11 October 2019 for an evening of professional boxing with some of Northern Ireland's boxing icons.
Belfast flyweight Paddy Barnes is set to take on European champion Jay Harris at the famous venue. Unbeaten Harris picked up the biggest win of his career in June, when he defeated World Title challenger Angel Moreno to win the European flyweight title.
Three-time Irish Olympian Paddy Barnes had an incredible victory in August at the Feile an Phobail over opponent Joel Sanchez and is thrilled to be heading back into the ring to take on his opponent. Undercard fighters have been confirmed and include Marco McCullough, Sean McComb, Gary Cully, and Lewis Crocker, with more local talent to be announced in the run up to the event.
Northern Ireland Snooker Open
The Northern Ireland Snooker Open returns to the Waterfront Hall from 11-17 November 2019. Come see all your favourite players in a week of competitions. It is the second of the 2019-20 Home Nations series, with snooker’s top stars battling for prestigious titles and the chance to win a £1 million bonus. The event starts with 128 players in a flat draw, and a field packed with the sport’s leading cue men. The 2017 final made history as Yan Bingtao became the youngest player ever to reach a ranking final. Last year’s Open saw Judd Trump take the trophy after beating Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-7 in a tremendous final.
Will there be another record-breaking final this year? Who do you think will take home the trophy? Come and see for yourself!
