Cardiff City Stadium - New Sporting Landmark
Capital City Has New 27,000 Seat Venue for Football & Rugby Union
Oct 26, 2009
Football and Rugby Union have long been keen rivals in Wales, especially in the major cities. The two major teams in Cardiff have tended to attract different audiences in the main and their respective locations reflected this fact. Cardiff Blues had their centrally located stadium the Cardiff Arms Park whilst Cardiff city, FA Cup winners from 1927, were happy in the rougher environs of Leckwith with the ramshackle Ninian Park.
Now however the realities of economics has brought them both together. Cardiff City found themselves going through a complex, expensive process to even get permission to build the mundanely named Cardiff City Stadium. However, after a saga of several years they finally managed to create the 27,000 seat stadium.
Rugby Union is Junior Partner
The Blues meanwhile were bumbling along somewhat in the wonderfully located but archaic Cardiff Arms Park. Next door to the modern and wonderfully designed Millennium Stadium it was clearly a venue that had seen better days.
The Cardiff blues main problem was that the Cardiff Arms Park was sufficient for ordinary Magners League games, but insufficient for the bigger Heineken Cup tournament. The Millennium Stadium was an expensive solution to that issue, but although the crowds were large, 25,000 – 30,000 was not enough to pay for the hire of a 74,000 seat stadium.
Hence the decision to take out a lease on the Cardiff City Stadium, which is a short 20 minute walk away but in many ways a world apart.
A Premiership Stadium for a Premiership Football Team?
Cardiff City FC, currently competing very well in the Championship, see the Premiership as the ultimate aim. The stadium has been built with this in mind. Although 27,000 is small by those standards, the stadium has been built with room for relatively easy extension, at least up to 35,000.
Cardiff City were heavily in debt when the planning stage was started and although they have developed a team capable of challenging for promotion nothing is certain. Effectively they need a decent amount of time in the top tier to attract both the fans and the investment. Renting to the Blues is a reflection of their financial uncertainty
A Sporting Shotgun Marriage?
The stadium is situated in a inner city suburb but has good parking and a well designed concourse area. Access is via a slick and effective automated turnstile system. The viewing is good in all parts of the ground, designed specifically for football, which is best served by the fans being close to the pitch. Functional not beautiful is the fairest description.
The Cardiff Blues decision to take up a lease until 2029 was not universally popular one amongst the rugby union fans. The city centre location of Cardiff Arms Park was ideal for a sporting culture where drinking is a close second to watching rugby. The location of the new stadium is not in a naturally rugby union area.
Both clubs need rather then want this partnership. Early signs would indicate that it is doing more for Cardiff City attendances then it is doing for the numbers turning up to watch the rugby union. Whatever the reason for the linking up it is set in stone for the next twenty years and both organisations will be determined to make it work.
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