A €250 million, 8,000-seater stadium - larger than Dublin's Point Theatre - has been proposed as part of a major development for Athlone by the proprietor of the Supermac's fast food chain, Mr Pat McDonagh.
The spectacular development on the outskirts of the town, to include a hotel, restaurants and apartments, could see major rock groups, West End musicals, and international exhibitions come to the midlands.
McDonagh is heading a consortium behind the proposed entertainment venue just off the N6 road that links Galway and Dublin.
Mr McDonagh, a native of Galway, successfully built up the Supermac's brand over the past 25 years, competing with worldwide fast food giants such as McDonald's and Burger King.
He has now lodged a planning application for the first phase of the development, to include a 144-bedroom hotel, a multifunctional arena, bars, restaurants, medical centre, service station, residential apartments, office units, and a car showroom. The arena would have capacity to seat 500 more people than the Point.
"The master plan is based on the concept of a Lifestyle Centre with a diversity of entertainment, leisure and retailing uses, creating commercial synergy and an all-day usage of the site," the plans state.
"The main element of the scheme is the 8,000 all-seater multifunctional arena. Operators for the arena, including a Helsinki/Pan European operator and SFX (America), have been approached and discussions have taken place.
"The arena will cater for a range of cultural, exhibition and educational events and will help reinforce the 'Gateway' status of Athlone."
The first phase of the plans has been submitted to avail of capital allowances for the hotel. Architect Mr Angelo Magliocco said yesterday that the second phase of plans, including the arena, would be lodged early next year.
The development will require the site to be rezoned from Light Industry Technology to Commercial.
A massive tourism spin-off is anticipated for Athlone, where two new hotels, The Prince and The Radisson, have opened in the past year.
Another major development - Athlone Town Centre - is currently going through the planning process, a project that also features a hotel.
Athlone Town Council has given this development the go-ahead, but An Taisce and a local couple have appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála.
An Taisce says the four-storey and adjacent eight-storey tower block are too high for the centre of Athlone.
For their part, Mary and Brian Thornton, who live close by, at St Francis Terrace, have also objected to the lifestyle centre for several reasons.
"We object most strenuously to our home being transformed from a quiet, residential area to a traffic island," they said.