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Decision on city’s largest outdoor concert venue put on hold

A proposal to redevelop Boucher Road Playing Fields lacked sufficient backing during a Belfast City Council meeting, resulting in its unsuccessful outcome.

The fate of Belfast's largest outdoor music venue remains uncertain after a decision on its future was postponed.

A picture taken from the crowd of three screens showing Bruce Springsteen playing on stage. Springsteen has short grey hair and is singing into a mic, he is wearing a white shirt, black tie and waist coat.
Bruce Springsteen rocked the Boucher Road Playing Fields in 2024

A proposal to revamp Boucher Road Playing Fields for exclusive sporting use failed to garner sufficient support from Belfast City Council members during a recent meeting.

By a narrow margin of 30-28, councillors opted to delay a decision on the matter, choosing instead to revisit the issue at a later time.

With a capacity of up to 40,000 people, Boucher Road Playing Fields has hosted notable performances by artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran, Snow Patrol, and Kneecap.

A council committee had previously recommended transforming the site into a sports hub, featuring two GAA pitches and a football pitch, but this plan did not move forward.

Sinn Féin and the SDLP had pushed for the proposed redevelopment to proceed, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Although the plan received 14 votes in favor and four against at the committee level, it did not secure the necessary support from the full 60-member council on Monday evening.

An alternative proposal gained traction, receiving backing from a majority of parties, including the DUP, Alliance Party, and the Green Party.

The council has agreed to put off making any final decisions regarding the future of the Boucher Road site for the time being.

As part of this decision, the council has requested the preparation of detailed reports addressing several key aspects of the issue.

The council reaffirmed its dedication to supporting "music, arts, and culture" as essential components of Belfast's future development.

Additionally, the council has called for a report outlining the current state of support for the music industry, spanning from community-based venues to larger initiatives.

Following the decision to delay the Boucher Playing Fields vote, councillors agreed to reexamine the council's overall pitches strategy, with a majority voting in favor of revisiting the issue.

A large pop up stage outside. It has two speakers on either side and two large screens displaying images of Irish rap trio Kneecap who are performing. A large number of people are gathered for the gig and many of them are holding their hands in the air.
Irish rap trio Kneecap performed at the Belfast venue last August

A council spokesperson stated that elected members have chosen to refer the council's pitches program back to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for further discussion and consideration.

This move includes putting the future use of Boucher Road Playing Fields back on the table, with elected members agreeing to bring forth a specific report on the site's potential use.

During a lengthy debate, Sinn Féin councillor Ciaran Beattie expressed concerns about perceived "discrimination" against the GAA in terms of pitch provision.

Beattie emphasized the need for "equality" in addressing the issue of pitch allocation within the city.

The potential loss of Boucher Road Playing Fields as a music venue has raised concerns among Belfast's music industry stakeholders.

Aiken Promotions has described the potential end of large-scale events at the venue as "disappointing," highlighting the need to identify an alternative location for such events.

John Cameron, a business owner who provides catering equipment for events, has expressed deep concern that his business may be impacted if concerts are no longer held at the venue.

Cameron voiced his fear that the decision may have come too late, and that the venue's future could become a political issue.

If a redevelopment plan is eventually approved, the council-owned land will not undergo immediate transformation, as scheduled concerts in 2026 and 2027 will proceed as planned.

The upcoming events will take place as scheduled, providing a temporary reprieve for the venue's current use.

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Entertainment And Arts

Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign

The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.

A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

James Van Der Beek wearing a maroon dickie bow while smiling for the cameras on arrival at the 2019 Emmy Awards
James Van Der Beek's character Dawson was a famous fan of filmmaker Spielberg

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.

Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.

A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.

The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.

It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.

Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.

At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.

In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.

Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

Steven Spielberg arrives for the 98th Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, USA, 10 February 2026
Spielberg made a surprise video appearance at last year's Dawson's Creek reunion

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.

The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.

The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.

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Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance

Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.

In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.

The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.

Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.

Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.

The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.

A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.

After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.

With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.

The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.

Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.

Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.

In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.

A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.

Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.

However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.

A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.

Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.

There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.

For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.

A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.

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FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008

As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.

This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.

Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.

However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.

Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?

For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.

We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.

Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?

Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?

Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.

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