Fans say they would be devastated if the World Snooker Championship leaves Sheffield’s Crucible – its home since 1977.

The contract to hold the world snooker championship at the theatre expires in 2027.

Matchroom sport president, Barry Hearn, said: “We want to stay but the financials have to be taken into consideration. The facilities where the Crucible is are no longer fit for purpose, that’s the key issue.”

The Crucible currently has 980 seats which has become an issue with rising popularity and an increasing demand for tickets. 

Avid snooker fan Jackson Felton, 63, said: “I have been coming here since the late 80s and the venue is so special. All the seats are so close which makes the atmosphere unlike anything else. I would be devastated if they left the Crucible, let alone Sheffield as a whole.”

The contract to hold the world snooker championship at the Crucible expires in 2027. No announcement is expected at this years tournament but talks are ongoing surrounding its future as the snooker stage in years to come.

Ray Ward, 67, said: “There is so much history attached to this building I just don’t see how they can move. They wouldn’t move the Grand National from Liverpool or the tennis away from Wimbledon so why move the snooker from Sheffield?”

Mr Hearn added that the prize money is also an ongoing issue mentioned by the players with it currently standing at a £500,000 cheque.

He said: “If there’s a way to keep it in Sheffield, of course that’s the preferred option. But ultimately, behind closed doors, trust me on one thing: the players want more money and that’s the same in any sport you work in.”

Matchroom, who also run the PDC world darts championship, have compared the two sports with the darts championship constantly filling arenas rather than theatres and has a cash prize of £1 million.

Eddie Hearn, son of Barry Hearn, said: “Snooker is leaving a huge amount of money on the table by staying faithful to the Crucible. It could sell 4,000 tickets for each session elsewhere if the sport moves away from its traditions.”

The Matchroom sport president has a meeting planned with Sheffield City Council next week to discuss the situation further.