The Crucible has released plans for its revamp as it looks to improve its facilities to ensure it remains the home of the World Snooker Championship.

The game's best players will descend on Sheffield in April but the iconic venue's future as host is in doubt, unless changes are made to bring it into the modern era. As a result, plans have been drawn up and images released to show just what kind of VIP treatment could be on offer.

From this year, the World Snooker Tour is offering “Legends Walk Premium Seats” for those looking to spend big on the best view in the house. Fans will be given the chance to sit in “the most exclusive seats in snooker” which surround the famous walk-on route as players make their way onto the floor.

Rather than having vacant space surrounding the walk-on area, a select number of armchairs will be used. They will be priced from £160 and offer a a prime-view armchair, a photo opportunity with the trophy, a visit from a snooker legend and interval drinks.

A commemorative World Championship coin, souvenir programme, complimentary commentary radio and a discount voucher for the official WST shop will also be included.

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The planned changes will also see the total capacity increase from 980 in the main room, with the amount of bums on seats previously flagged as an issue.

Barry Hearn has threatened the World Snooker Championship will leave the Crucible after 2027 unless the tournament's iconic home made serious investment into the facilities to bring it up to standard. The contract to stage snooker's premier event in Sheffield is coming to an end and the Matchroom Sport president said they ideally "want to stay" in the Yorkshire city.

Hearn previously told BBC: "No. It's black and white: we love the Crucible, we love Sheffield, but the Crucible and Sheffield have got to love us." He added: "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."

Ronnie O'Sullivan, a seven-time winner of the tournament, previously claimed it was a wise decision to take the event elsewhere. He said: "I don’t like the Crucible. I don’t think you can get in and out of it. I think definitely it’s a wise decision to take it away from Sheffield.

"Still have a tournament there. Why not? But just not the World Championship over 17 days. It’s a massive circus and you need a massive space to accommodate it. I think Saudi Arabia would be great. They’ve got the resources and would do it great."