Sheffield’s Crucible Theater is to snoooker what Wimbledon is for tennis, but his days of reception of the World Championship can be counted according to sports president Matchroom Barry Hearn.

Since the first reception of the tournament in 1977, the scene has provided the backdrop of a golden era for Snooker but Hearn says it is no longer suitable for the purpose.

With the expiration of the reception contract in two years, Matchroom, which has controlled mainly Snooker since 2010, has been heavily involved in negotiations and Hearn says the world’s world tournaments ideally want to stay.

But the 76-year-old, whose son Eddie is chairman of the match chamber, has called on the Sheffield City Council to expand the country from its 980 capacity or the face of loss.

“It’S’S’S BLACK AND WHITE: We love crucible, we love Sheffield, but Crucible and Sheffield have to love us,” said Hearn, former chairman of world professional billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) BBC 5 live.

“We want to stay, but finances have to be considered. Facilities where the intersection is no more appropriate for purposes, this is the main issue.”

The sport of Hearn’s Matchroom matches also runs the arrows, which attracts crowds of several thousand in large arenas and can then offer large price money and he believes Snooker should go the same way.

“Crucible has been a large part of my life and a large part of Snooker’s life,” Hearn said. “But it has to move with time and someone, whether the government or Sheffield, must come up with a way to show us that they will treat us with respect and give us the kind of facilities we seek.

“It is not just as simple as it. It’s not complicated.”

Crucible’s cozy intimacy is loved by fans and television audiences alike, but capacity cannot match the demand.

A record six Chinese players have reached the last 16 of this year’s continued championship and China, along with Saudi Arabia, both have been linked to the reception of the tournament.

“Maybe we have to get this all over the world. Maybe it should be a year in Beijing, a year in Saudi and a year in Sheffield. We have to move over time,” Hearn said.

“I am concerned about raising price money as we have done with arrows. Snooker should be more applicable trade.

“The contract period ends in 2027 and we need a decision soon. I’m too old to make Brinkmanship. I need 3,000 people in the session, otherwise we are leaving a lot of people and we lose their support. We want to stay in Sheffield, so tell me the way.

“If not, I can justify a rotation that takes the Snooker World Championship on the street and makes what it is, a world championship not just a championship for Sheffield.”

Last week Tour World Snooker, Sheffield City Council and Sheffield’s theaters issued a statement saying that due to the sensitive and commercial nature of these ongoing discussions there would be no announcement during this year’s event.