Revision as of 19:31, 9 December 2022 editSeth Whales (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers29,577 edits National Stadium section reduced as now a Main article← Previous edit | Revision as of 19:36, 9 December 2022 edit undoSeth Whales (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers29,577 edits National Stadium football movedTags: Reverted Disambiguation links addedNext edit → | ||
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{{distinguish|text = ], Cardiff}} | |||
{{short description|Sports venue in Cardiff, Wales}} | {{short description|Sports venue in Cardiff, Wales}} | ||
{{see also|National Stadium (Cardiff)}} | |||
{{Use British English|date=March 2012}} | {{Use British English|date=March 2012}} | ||
⚫ | {{Use dmy dates|date= |
||
{{Infobox venue | {{Infobox venue | ||
| stadium_name = Cardiff Arms Park |
| stadium_name = Cardiff Arms Park | ||
| nickname = ''' |
| nickname = '''Rugby ground''' | ||
| logo_image = Cardiff Arms Park logo |
| logo_image = BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park logo.jpeg | ||
| logo_size = 250px | | logo_size = 250px | ||
| image = Cardiff Arms Park and Millennium Stadium.jpg | | image = Cardiff Arms Park and Millennium Stadium.jpg | ||
| image_size = 250px | | image_size = 250px | ||
| caption = Cardiff Arms Park in the foreground and the |
| caption = Cardiff Arms Park in the foreground and the Millennium Stadium in the background | ||
| location = ], Wales | | location = ], Wales | ||
{{collapsed infobox section begin}} | {{collapsed infobox section begin}} | ||
| pushpin_map = Wales Cardiff Central | | pushpin_map = Wales Cardiff Central | ||
| pushpin_mapsize = 250 | | pushpin_mapsize = 250 | ||
| pushpin_map_caption |
| pushpin_map_caption=Location of Cardiff Arms Park in ] | ||
| coordinates = {{Coord|51|28|47|N|3|11|1|W|display=inline,title|type:landmark_region:GB}} | | coordinates = {{Coord|51|28|47|N|3|11|1|W|display=inline,title|type:landmark_region:GB}} | ||
| broke_ground = 1967 | | broke_ground = 1967 | ||
| opened = 1969 | | opened = 1969 | ||
| renovated = |
| renovated = | ||
| closed = |
| closed = | ||
| demolished = |
| demolished = | ||
| publictransit = ] and ] | | publictransit = ] and ] | ||
| owner = ] | | owner = ] | ||
| surface = ] | | surface = ] | ||
| construction_cost = |
| construction_cost = | ||
| architect = Osborne V |
| architect = Osborne V Webb & Partners | ||
| main_contractors = G |
| main_contractors = G A Williamson and<br />Andrew Scott & Co | ||
| seating_capacity = 16,500 (1969)<ref name="capacity">{{cite web |url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/rugbynation/heineken-cup/2007/06/22/time-blues-quit-arms-park-91466-19336682/ |publisher=icWales |title=Time Blues quit Arms Park? |first=Simon |last=Thomas |date=22 June 2007 | |
| seating_capacity = 16,500 (1969)<ref name="capacity">{{cite web |url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/rugbynation/heineken-cup/2007/06/22/time-blues-quit-arms-park-91466-19336682/ |publisher=icWales |title=Time Blues quit Arms Park? |first=Simon |last=Thomas |date=22 June 2007 |accessdate=1 April 2011 }}</ref><br />12,125 (present day)<ref name="Temporary">{{cite news |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/cardiff-blues-ready-install-temporary-7054179|newspaper=]|title=Cardiff Blues ready to install temporary stands at Arms Park for Amlin Challenge Cup final as Bath and Northampton fans protest about venue|accessdate=25 May 2014 }}</ref> | ||
| tenants = ] |
| tenants = ] 2003–2009 and from 2012<br />and ] from 1969 <br /><br /> '''Major sporting events hosted''' <br /><br /> ] <br /> ] <br />] Vs ] | ||
{{collapsed infobox section end}} | {{collapsed infobox section end}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Infobox venue | {{Infobox venue | ||
| stadium_name = |
| stadium_name = | ||
| nickname = ''' |
| nickname = '''National Stadium'''<br /><small>'''Welsh National Rugby Ground'''</small> | ||
| image = ]<br>The West Stand of the National Stadium | | image = ]<br />The West Stand of the National Stadium | ||
{{collapsed infobox section begin}} | {{collapsed infobox section begin}} | ||
| location = ], Wales | | location = ], Wales | ||
| coordinates = {{Coord|51|28|43|N|3|10|57|W|display=inline}} | | coordinates = {{Coord|51|28|43|N|3|10|57|W|display=inline}} | ||
| broke_ground = |
| broke_ground = | ||
| opened = 1881 | |||
| opened = 1881 (as the Rugby Ground at Cardiff Arms Park)<br>1984 (as the ]) | |||
| renovated = 1912,<br>1934,<br>1956,<br> |
| renovated = 5 October 1912,<br />1934,<br />1956,<br />7 April 1984 | ||
| closed = 27 April 1997 | | closed = 27 April 1997 | ||
| demolished = 1997 | | demolished = 1997 | ||
| owner = ] |
| owner = ] & ], from 1968 only the WRU | ||
| surface = ] | | surface = ] | ||
| construction_cost = £9 million | | construction_cost = £9 million | ||
| architect = Osborne V |
| architect = Osborne V Webb & Partners | ||
| main_contractors = G |
| main_contractors = G A Williamson and<br />Andrew Scott & Co | ||
| seating_capacity = 65,000 (1984)<br>53,000 (1997) | | seating_capacity = 65,000 (1984)<br />53,000 (1997) | ||
| tenants = ]<br |
| tenants = ] until 1969<br />] from 1964<br />] from 1989<br /><br /> '''Major sporting events hosted''' <br /><br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />''Also see:'' ] | ||
{{collapsed infobox section end}} | {{collapsed infobox section end}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
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| construction_cost = | | construction_cost = | ||
| architect = | | architect = | ||
| seating_capacity = 7,000<ref name="Cricket ground">{{cite web |url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/england/content/ground/56873.html |publisher=Cricinfo (ESPN) |title=Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales | |
| seating_capacity = 7,000<ref name="Cricket ground">{{cite web |url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/england/content/ground/56873.html |publisher=Cricinfo (ESPN) |title=Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales |accessdate=23 April 2008 }}</ref> | ||
| tenants = ] |
| tenants = ] and ] | ||
{{collapsed infobox section end}} | {{collapsed infobox section end}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
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The history of the rugby ground begins with the first ] appearing for spectators in the ground in 1881–1882.<ref name="Reminiscences" /> Originally the Arms Park had a cricket ground to the north and a rugby union stadium to the south. By 1969, the cricket ground had been demolished to make way for the present day rugby ground to the north and a second rugby stadium to the south, called the National Stadium. The National Stadium, which was used by ], was officially opened on 7 April 1984, however in 1997 it was demolished to make way for the ] in 1999, which hosted the ] and became the ] of Wales. The rugby ground has remained the home of the ] ] yet the professional ] regional rugby union team moved to the ] in 2009, but returned three years later. | The history of the rugby ground begins with the first ] appearing for spectators in the ground in 1881–1882.<ref name="Reminiscences" /> Originally the Arms Park had a cricket ground to the north and a rugby union stadium to the south. By 1969, the cricket ground had been demolished to make way for the present day rugby ground to the north and a second rugby stadium to the south, called the National Stadium. The National Stadium, which was used by ], was officially opened on 7 April 1984, however in 1997 it was demolished to make way for the ] in 1999, which hosted the ] and became the ] of Wales. The rugby ground has remained the home of the ] ] yet the professional ] regional rugby union team moved to the ] in 2009, but returned three years later. | ||
The site is owned by ] and has been host to many sports, apart from rugby union and cricket; they include athletics, association football, ], tennis,<ref name="Tennis">{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Sophia_Gardens/Post_War.html |publisher=Glamorgan County Cricket Club & Cricket Archive |title=Post-war developments in Sophia Gardens | |
The site is owned by ] and has been host to many sports, apart from rugby union and cricket; they include athletics, association football, ], tennis,<ref name="Tennis">{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Sophia_Gardens/Post_War.html |publisher=Glamorgan County Cricket Club & Cricket Archive |title=Post-war developments in Sophia Gardens |accessdate=17 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727115510/http://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Sophia_Gardens/Post_War.html# |archive-date=27 July 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> ] and ]. The site also has a ] to the north of the rugby ground, which is used by Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club, which is the bowls section of the Cardiff Athletic Club.<ref name="Glanmor"/> The National Stadium also hosted many music concerts including ], ], ], ] and ]. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
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}} | }} | ||
The Cardiff Arms Park site was originally called the Great Park,<ref name="Centenary">{{cite journal |year=2006 |title=The Cardiff Centenary Walk <!--| |
The Cardiff Arms Park site was originally called the Great Park,<ref name="Centenary">{{cite journal |year=2006 |title=The Cardiff Centenary Walk <!--|accessdate=11 May 2008 -->}}</ref> a swampy meadow behind the Cardiff Arms Hotel. The hotel was built by ], during the ] of ].<ref name="Red House">{{cite web|url=http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/large/item/GTJ73155/|publisher=]|title=Cardiff Arms Hotel, Broad Street, Cardiff, late 19th century|accessdate=11 February 2011}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Cardiff Arms Park was named after this hotel.<ref name="Demolished">{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=48207 |publisher=University of London & History of Parliament Trust |title='The older inns of Cardiff', Cardiff Records: volume 5 (1905), pp. 438–445. |accessdate=26 April 2008}}</ref> From 1803, the Cardiff Arms Hotel and the Park had become the property of the ] family.<ref name="Cricket ground" /><ref name="Bute">{{cite web |url=http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/Teach/a_recreation.html |publisher=Glamorgan Record Office |title=Parks and Gardens |accessdate=26 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123035808/http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/Teach/a_recreation.html |archive-date=23 November 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Arms Park soon became a popular place for sporting events, and by 1848, ] was using the site for its cricket matches.<ref name="Cricket ground" /> However, by 1878, Cardiff Arms Hotel had been demolished.<ref name="Demolished"/> | ||
] stipulated that the ground could only be used for "recreational purposes".<ref name="Bute" /> At that time Cardiff Arms Park had a ] ground to the north and a rugby union ground to the south. 1881–2 saw the first stands for spectators; they held 300 spectators and cost £50.<ref name="Reminiscences">{{cite book |author=Red Dragon |title=''Reminiscences of the Cardiff Rugby Football Club'', "Opening ceremony of the new stands, Cardiff Arms Park", 5 October 1912 |year=1912 |publisher=Cardiff Rugby Football Club }}</ref> The architect was ], famous for designing ] and ], among others.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.structurae.de/persons/data/index.cfm?ID=d006772|publisher=Nicolas Janberg ICS |title=Archibald Leitch | |
The ] stipulated that the ground could only be used for "recreational purposes".<ref name="Bute" /> At that time Cardiff Arms Park had a ] ground to the north and a rugby union ground to the south. 1881–2 saw the first stands for spectators; they held 300 spectators and cost £50.<ref name="Reminiscences">{{cite book |author=Red Dragon |title=''Reminiscences of the Cardiff Rugby Football Club'', "Opening ceremony of the new stands, Cardiff Arms Park", 5 October 1912 |year=1912 |publisher=Cardiff Rugby Football Club }}</ref> The architect was ], famous for designing ] and ], among others.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.structurae.de/persons/data/index.cfm?ID=d006772|publisher=Nicolas Janberg ICS |title=Archibald Leitch |accessdate=24 November 2008}}</ref> In 1890, new standing areas were constructed along the entire length of the ground, with additional stands erected in 1896.<ref name="Stands"/> | ||
=== 1912 redevelopment === | === 1912 redevelopment === | ||
By 1912, the Cardiff Football Ground, as it was then known, had a new south stand and temporary stands on the north, east and west ends of the ground.<ref name="Reminiscences" /> The south stand was covered, while the north terrace was initially without a roof.<ref name="Reminiscences" /> The improvements were partly funded by the ] (WRU).<ref name="Stands" /> The opening ceremony took place on 5 October 1912, with a match between ] and Cardiff RFC. The new ground was opened by ].<ref name="Reminiscences" /> This new development increased the ground capacity to 43,000 and much improved facilities at the ground compared to the earlier stands.<ref name="Reminiscences" /><ref name="Stands">{{cite web|url-access=subscription|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Cardiff_Arms_Park/Rugby.html|publisher=Glamorgan County Cricket Club & CricketArchive|title=Rugby at Cardiff Arms Park| |
By 1912, the Cardiff Football Ground, as it was then known, had a new south stand and temporary stands on the north, east and west ends of the ground.<ref name="Reminiscences" /> The south stand was covered, while the north terrace was initially without a roof.<ref name="Reminiscences" /> The improvements were partly funded by the ] (WRU).<ref name="Stands" /> The opening ceremony took place on 5 October 1912, with a match between ] and Cardiff RFC. The new ground was opened by ].<ref name="Reminiscences" /> This new development increased the ground capacity to 43,000 and much improved the facilities at the ground compared to the earlier stands.<ref name="Reminiscences" /><ref name="Stands">{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Cardiff_Arms_Park/Rugby.html|publisher=Glamorgan County Cricket Club & CricketArchive |title=Rugby at Cardiff Arms Park |accessdate=16 February 2008}}</ref> | ||
In 1922 |
In 1922 ], had sold the entire site and it was bought by the Cardiff Arms Park Company Limited for £30,000, it was then leased to the Cardiff Athletic Club (cricket and rugby sections) for 99 years at a cost of £200 per annum.<ref name="Glanmor"/><ref name="Development">{{cite journal |last=Harris ] LLD (Hons)|first=Kenneth M|title=''The Story of the Development of the National Rugby Ground'' 7 April 1984 |year=1984 |publisher=] }}</ref> | ||
=== North and South Stand redevelopments === | === North and South Stand redevelopments === | ||
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] | ] | ||
During 1934 the cricket pavilion had been demolished to make way for the new North Stand<ref name="Cricket ground" /> which was built on the rugby union ground, costing around £20,000.<ref name="Record Office">{{cite web |url=http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/A_Leisure.html |publisher=Glamorgan Record Office |title=''Cardiff: the building of a capital'' | |
During 1934 the cricket pavilion had been demolished to make way for the new North Stand<ref name="Cricket ground" /> which was built on the rugby union ground, costing around £20,000.<ref name="Record Office">{{cite web |url=http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/A_Leisure.html |publisher=Glamorgan Record Office |title=''Cardiff: the building of a capital'' |accessdate=5 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020103532/http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/A_Leisure.html# |archive-date=20 October 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> However, in 1941 the new North Stand and part of the west ] was badly damaged in ] by the ] during the Second World War.<ref name="Millennium">{{cite web |url=http://www.millenniumstadium.com/3473_3558.php |publisher=Millennium Stadium plc |title=History of the Millennium Stadium-Cardiff Arms Park Site |accessdate=29 April 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007045937/http://www.millenniumstadium.com/3473_3558.php |archivedate=7 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
At a general meeting of the WRU in June 1953 they made a decision "That until such time as the facilities at ] were improved, all international matches be played at Cardiff".<ref name="Development" /> At the same time, plans were made for a new South Stand which was estimated to cost £60,000; the ] price, however, came out at £90,000, so a compromise was made and it was decided to build a new upper South Stand costing £64,000 instead, with the Cardiff Athletic Club contributing £15,000 and the remainder coming from the WRU.<ref name="Development" /> The new South Stand opened in 1956, in time for the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.<ref name="Millennium" /> This brought the overall capacity of the Arms Park up to 60,000 spectators, of which 12,800 were seated and the remainder standing.<ref name="Stands" /><ref name="Millennium" /> | At a general meeting of the WRU in June 1953 they made a decision "That until such time as the facilities at ] were improved, all international matches be played at Cardiff".<ref name="Development" /> At the same time, plans were made for a new South Stand which was estimated to cost £60,000; the ] price, however, came out at £90,000, so a compromise was made and it was decided to build a new upper South Stand costing £64,000 instead, with the Cardiff Athletic Club contributing £15,000 and the remainder coming from the WRU.<ref name="Development" /> The new South Stand opened in 1956, in time for the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.<ref name="Millennium" /> This brought the overall capacity of the Arms Park up to 60,000 spectators, of which 12,800 were seated and the remainder standing.<ref name="Stands" /><ref name="Millennium" /> | ||
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] | ] | ||
The Arms Park hosted the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, which was used for the athletics events, but this event caused damage to the drainage system, so much so, that other rugby unions (], ] and ]) complained after the Games about the state of the pitch.<ref name="Development" /> On 4 December 1960, due to torrential rain, the ] burst its banks with the Arms Park pitch being left under {{convert|4|ft|m}} of water.<ref name="Cardiff Time" /> The Development Committee was set up to resolve these issues on a permanent basis. They looked at various sites in Cardiff, but they all proved to be unsatisfactory.<ref name="Development" /> They also could not agree a solution with the Cardiff Athletic Club, so they purchased about {{convert|80|acre|m2}} of land at Island Farm in ],<ref name="Development" /> which was previously used as a ]. It is best known for being the camp where the biggest escape attempt was made by German ] in Great Britain during the Second World War.<ref name="Island">{{cite web |url=http://www.islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/ |publisher=islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/ |title=Island Farm, Prisoner of War Camp: 198 / Special Camp: XI | |
The Arms Park hosted the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, which was used for the athletics events, but this event caused damage to the drainage system, so much so, that other rugby unions (], ] and ]) complained after the Games about the state of the pitch.<ref name="Development" /> On 4 December 1960, due to torrential rain, the ] burst its banks with the Arms Park pitch being left under {{convert|4|ft|m}} of water.<ref name="Cardiff Time" /> The Development Committee was set up to resolve these issues on a permanent basis. They looked at various sites in Cardiff, but they all proved to be unsatisfactory.<ref name="Development" /> They also could not agree a solution with the Cardiff Athletic Club, so they purchased about {{convert|80|acre|m2}} of land at Island Farm in ],<ref name="Development" /> which was previously used as a ]. It is best known for being the camp where the biggest escape attempt was made by German ] in Great Britain during the Second World War.<ref name="Island">{{cite web |url=http://www.islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/ |publisher=islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/ |title=Island Farm, Prisoner of War Camp: 198 / Special Camp: XI |accessdate=15 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819152744/http://www.islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/ |archivedate=19 August 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref> Due to problems including transport issues ] never gave outline planning permission for the proposals and by June 1964 the scheme was abandoned.<ref name="Development" /> At that stage, the cricket ground to the north was still being used by ], and the rugby union ground to the south was used by the national Wales team and Cardiff RFC. | ||
By 7 October 1966, the first floodlit game was held at Cardiff Arms Park, a game in which Cardiff RFC beat ] by 12 points to 8.<ref name="Cardiff Time">{{cite web|url=http://pirate.cardiffschools.net/cons.htm|publisher=Cardiff Council|title=Cardiff Timeline| |
By 7 October 1966, the first floodlit game was held at Cardiff Arms Park, a game in which Cardiff RFC beat ] by 12 points to 8.<ref name="Cardiff Time">{{cite web|url=http://pirate.cardiffschools.net/cons.htm|publisher=Cardiff Council|title=Cardiff Timeline|accessdate=29 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305021030/http://pirate.cardiffschools.net/cons.htm#|archive-date=5 March 2008|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | ||
=== National Stadium redevelopment === | === National Stadium redevelopment === | ||
⚫ | The National Stadium, which was also known as the Welsh National Rugby Ground, was designed by Osborne V Webb & Partners and built by G A Williamson & Associates of ] and Andrew Scott & Company of ].<ref name="Library">{{cite web |url=http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item10/10307 |publisher=Culturenet Cymru |title=Cardiff Arms Park, 1997 |accessdate=1 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503200119/http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item10/10307# |archive-date=3 May 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=P.D. |last=Thompson |page=204 |chapter=24: The Millennium Stadium—Cardiff Arms Park |url=https://books.google.com/?id=o0BsU6JbpYAC |publisher=E & FN Spon |location=London |title=Stadia, Arenas & Grandstands |accessdate=4 September 2008 |isbn=978-0-419-24040-2 |editor1-last=Thompson |editor1-first=P. |editor2-last=Tolloczko |editor2-first=J.J.A. |editor3-last=Clarke |editor3-first=J.N. |year=1998 }}</ref> | ||
{{Main|National Stadium (Cardiff)}} | |||
After agreement from the Cardiff Athletic Club, the freehold of the south ground was transferred solely to the WRU in July 1968.<ref name="Development" /> Work could then begin on the new National Stadium. Glamorgan County Cricket Club would move to ] and the cricket ground to the north would be demolished and a new rugby union stadium built for Cardiff RFC, who would move out of the south ground, allowing the National Stadium to be built, for the sole use of the national rugby union team.<ref name="Development" /> | |||
{{multiple image | {{multiple image | ||
| align |
| align = right | ||
| direction = horizontal | | direction = horizontal | ||
| header |
| header = National Stadium | ||
| header_align = center | | header_align = center | ||
| header_background = | | header_background = | ||
| footer |
| footer = | ||
| footer_align = left | | footer_align = left | ||
| footer_background = | | footer_background = | ||
| width = | |||
| caption_align = center | |||
| image1 = Photo of the original Cardiff Arms Park.jpg | |||
| total_width = 400px | |||
| width1 = 200 | |||
| image1 = The National Stadium The Arms Park Cardiff.jpg | |||
| alt1 |
| alt1 = | ||
| caption1 = The National Stadium (left) and Cardiff RFC rugby ground (right) both on an east-west alignment | |||
| caption1 = The West Stand | |||
| image2 |
| image2 = Demolition of the old Arms Park, Cardiff.jpg | ||
| |
| width2 = 180 | ||
| alt2 = | |||
| caption2 |
| caption2 = Demolition of the National Stadium with only the 1970 North Stand remaining, which would form part of the Millennium Stadium | ||
}} | }} | ||
On 17 October 1970, the new North Stand and the ] ground was completed, the North Stand cost just over £1 million.<ref name="Development" /> The West Stand was opened in 1977 and the new East Terrace was completed by March 1980. By the time the final South Stand had been completed and the stadium officially opened on 7 April 1984, the South Stand had cost £4.5 million. At the start of the project, the total cost was estimated at £2.25 million, although by time it was finished in 1984, it had risen by nearly four times that amount.<ref name="Development" /> | |||
⚫ | The National Stadium, which was |
||
Both stadia had approximately east-west alignment: the rugby ground to the north (Castle Street) end; the National Stadium to the south (Wood Street) end. The original capacity was 65,000 but this had to be reduced in later years to 53,000 for safety reasons. 11,000 of these were on the East Terrace and the conversion to ] would have reduced the stadium capacity still further to 47,500. This capacity would have been much less than ] and the other major rugby venues and also less than the demand for tickets to major events.<ref name="Stadia">{{cite web |url=http://www.panstadia.com/vol3/33-022.htm |publisher=panstadia.com |title=In the heart of the city |accessdate=1 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201100708/http://www.panstadia.com/vol3/33-022.htm |archivedate=1 December 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> | |||
A world record crowd of 56,000 for a rugby union club match watched ] beat ] by 28 points to 13 points in the final of the Schweppes Cup (]) on 7 May 1988.<ref name="Cardiff Time" /> The first evening game to be played under ] was held on 4 September 1991 at 8.00 pm, between Wales and ].<ref name="Relics">{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyrelics.com/Museum/topics/Tickets.htm |publisher=rugbyrelics.com |title=This night time international against France opened the new floodlights at Cardiff Arms Park |accessdate=1 May 2008}}</ref> The last international match to be held at the National Stadium was between Wales and ] on 15 March 1997, and the last ever match that was held at the National Stadium was on 26 April 1997 between Cardiff and ], Cardiff won the SWALEC Cup (]) by 33 points to 26 points.<ref name="Challenge">{{cite web |url=http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/rugby/wruchallengecup.php |publisher=Napit.co.uk |title=WRU Challenge Cup |accessdate=1 May 2008}}</ref> | |||
=== Millennium Stadium === | === Millennium Stadium === | ||
] | ] | ||
{{Main|Millennium Stadium}} | {{Main|Millennium Stadium}} | ||
In 1997, just thirteen years after the National Stadium had opened, it was considered too small and did not have the facilities required of the time and it was demolished and a new stadium, the Millennium Stadium, was built in its place (completed to a north-south alignment and opened in June 1999). This would become the fourth redevelopment of the Cardiff Arms Park site.<ref name="The Stadium">{{cite web |url=http://www.millenniumstadium.com/3473_3557.php |publisher=] |title=Background to the Millennium Stadium Project |accessdate=5 May 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009115105/http://www.millenniumstadium.com/3473_3557.php |archivedate=9 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although the Millennium Stadium is on roughly two thirds of the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park site, it is currently no longer using the Arms Park name.<ref name="Millennium" /> The official website confuses the issue as well, one part states that "The Millennium Stadium is located on Westgate Street in Cardiff; next to the Cardiff Arms Park" whereas another section specifically refers to the stadium as "The Millennium Stadium, on the Cardiff Arms Park"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.millenniumstadium.com/3473_3564.php|publisher=Millennium Stadium |title=Stadium in relation to Cardiff City Centre|accessdate=8 November 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070603202622/http://www.millenniumstadium.com/3473_3564.php |archivedate=3 June 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since 2016 it has been known as the '''Principality Stadium'''. | |||
⚫ | === Proposed redevelopment === | ||
Construction involved the demolition of a number of buildings, primarily the existing National Stadium, ] in Wood Street, Cardiff Empire Telephone Exchange building and the newly built ] building both in Park Street, and the ] offices in Westgate Street.<ref name="Millennium"/><ref name="BBC Wales">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/436549.stm |publisher=BBC |title=Two years – and one awesome stadium |access-date=24 August 2008 |date=2 September 1999 }}</ref> The Millennium Stadium is now on roughly two-thirds of the National Stadium, but it no longer uses the Arms Park name.<ref name="Millennium" /> Since 2016 it has been known as the Principality Stadium. | |||
⚫ | An agreement in principle was reached in December 2015 between the landlord of the stadium site (]) and its tenant (Cardiff Blues) to give the club a 150-year lease on the stadium site.<ref name="Degrees">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/multi-million-pound-redevelopment-cardiff-10577785#rlabs=1%20rt$category%20p$7|publisher=] |title=The multi-million pound redevelopment of Cardiff Arms Park is now a step closer|accessdate=10 January 2016}}</ref> This could see the redevelopment of the Arms Park, including a new 15,000 seater stadium at 90 degrees to the existing stadium costing between £20 million and £30 million and surrounded by new offices and apartments.<ref name="Degrees"/> | ||
== Timeline == | |||
{{Cardiff Arms Park and Millennium Stadium timeline}} | |||
More detailed negotiations will begin with a final approval expected early in 2016.<ref name="Degrees"/> If the final agreement goes ahead, Cardiff Athletic Club would receive an upfront payment of approximately £8 million.<ref name="Degrees"/> As part of the agreement, the bowls section would have to vacate its current site at the Arms Park and move to a new facility.<ref name="Degrees"/> At present Cardiff Blues pay Cardiff Athletic Club rent of around £115,000 per annum, however this would nearly double to around £200,000.<ref name="Degrees"/> | |||
== Current site == | |||
== |
== Rugby ground == | ||
{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=350 | {{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=350 | ||
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| image3 = West Stand, Arms Park.jpg|width3=2674|height3=1648 | | image3 = West Stand, Arms Park.jpg|width3=2674|height3=1648 | ||
| image4 = Cardiff Arms Park, South Stand and Millennium Stadium (North Stand).jpg|width4=2586|height4=1725 | | image4 = Cardiff Arms Park, South Stand and Millennium Stadium (North Stand).jpg|width4=2586|height4=1725 | ||
| footer = The rugby ground stands. Clockwise from upper left:<br />The North Stand, the Family Stand (east stand), the South Stand, the Barry Nelmes Suite (west stand). | | footer = <center>The rugby ground stands. Clockwise from upper left:<br />The North Stand, the Family Stand (east stand), the South Stand, the Barry Nelmes Suite (west stand).</center> | ||
| footer_align = center | |||
}} | }} | ||
Only the rugby ground and the Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club now use the name Cardiff Arms Park. The rugby ground has two main stands, the North Stand and the South Stand. Both the Stands have ] below ].<ref name="Seating"/> The other stands in the ground are the Westgate Street end Family Stand,<ref name="Seating">{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiffblues.com/tickets/seating_plan.php|publisher=]|title=Seating Plan| |
Only the rugby ground and the Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club now use the name Cardiff Arms Park. The rugby ground has two main stands, the North Stand and the South Stand. Both the Stands have ] below ].<ref name="Seating"/> The other stands in the ground are the Westgate Street end Family Stand,<ref name="Seating">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiffblues.com/tickets/seating_plan.php|publisher=]|title=Seating Plan|accessdate=2 February 2016}}</ref> which has rows of seating below ], plus the club shop, and the River Taff end (the Barry Nelmes Suite, named after Barry Nelmes, the former Cardiff RFC captain),<ref name="Seating"/><ref name="Barry">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/3402.php#.VrB6jvmLTIU|publisher=]|title=Official opening ceremony of "Barry Nelmes" disabled suite at Cardiff Arms Park|accessdate=2 February 2016}}</ref> which has 26 executive boxes.<ref name="Arms">{{cite web |url=http://www.freewebs.com/tims92/og041cardiffblues.htm|publisher=T.S. Rigby|title=Cardiff Blues, Cardiff Arms Park|accessdate=24 May 2008}}</ref> The rugby ground has two main entrances, the south entrance, and the Gwyn Nicholls Memorial Gates (] entrance), which was unveiled on 26 December 1949 in honour of the Welsh international rugby player ].<ref name="Gate">{{cite news |url=http://www.scrum.com/2444_34795.php|work=Scrum.com |title=Dynamic Welsh duo to be inducted into International Rugby Hall of Fame|accessdate=25 May 2008}}</ref> The Cardiff Athletic Clubhouse is situated in the corner of the ground between the South Stand and the Westgate Street end. | ||
{{multiple image|perrow = 3|total_width= |
{{multiple image|perrow = 3|total_width=400|align=left | ||
| image1 = Gwyn Nicholls Memorial Gates 02.jpg| | | image1 = Gwyn Nicholls Memorial Gates 02.jpg|width1=1805|height1=1982 | ||
| image2 = Gwyn Nicholls Memorial Gates 01.jpg| | | image2 = Gwyn Nicholls Memorial Gates 01.jpg|width2=1785|height2=1904 | ||
| image3 = Entrance to Cardiff Arms Park.jpg| | | image3 = Entrance to Cardiff Arms Park.jpg|width3=2816|height3=2112 | ||
⚫ | | footer = <center>Entrances to the Arms Park:<br />Gwyn Nicholls Memorial Gates (Angel Hotel entrance)<br />and the Quay Street entrance (right).</center> | ||
| footer_align = center | |||
⚫ | | footer = Gwyn Nicholls Memorial Gates (Angel Hotel entrance) and the Quay Street entrance (right). | ||
}} | }} | ||
The South Stand of the rugby ground formed a complete unit with the North Stand of the National Stadium. Now the same structure of the South Stand of the rugby ground is also physically attached to the North Stand of the Millennium Stadium. This section is known colloquially as Glanmor's Gap, after Glanmor Griffiths, former chair and President of the WRU.<ref name="Glanmor">{{cite news |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/old-battles-reignite-over-shared-2308785 |date=25 October 2006 |work=WalesOnline |title=Old battles reignite over shared ground plans | |
The South Stand of the rugby ground formed a complete unit with the North Stand of the National Stadium. Now the same structure of the South Stand of the rugby ground is also physically attached to the North Stand of the Millennium Stadium. This section is known colloquially as Glanmor's Gap, after Glanmor Griffiths, former chair and President of the WRU.<ref name="Glanmor">{{cite news |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/old-battles-reignite-over-shared-2308785 |date=25 October 2006 |work=WalesOnline |title=Old battles reignite over shared ground plans |accessdate=25 May 2013}}</ref> This came about because the WRU were unable to secure enough funding to include the North Stand in the Millennium Stadium, and the ] Commission would not provide any additional funds to be used for the construction of a new ground for Cardiff RFC. The Millennium Stadium was therefore built with the old ] structure of the National Stadium (North Stand) and the new steel Millennium Stadium structure built around it. | ||
⚫ | There was doubt about the future of the Arms Park after 2010 following the move of the ] to the ]. Cardiff RFC Ltd, the company that runs Cardiff Blues and Cardiff RFC, still has a 15-year lease on the Arms Park, but talks are underway to release the rugby club from the terms of the lease, to enable the ] to be redeveloped with a new North Stand and adjoining convention centre. However, it still has the original requirement on the lease, that the land will only be used for "recreational purposes", as stipulated by the Bute family. But the Arms Park site is a prime piece of ] in the centre of Cardiff, which means that it may be difficult to sell the land to ]. The estimated value of the whole Arms Park site could be at least £25 million, although with the "recreational use" requirement, its actual value could be a lot less than that figure.<ref name="Glanmor"/> A decision by Cardiff Athletic Club on the future of the Arms Park has yet to be made.<ref name="Ninian">{{cite web |url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0600soccer/0200news/tm_headline=stadium-switch-turns-spotlight-on-arms-park&method=full&objectid=19816411&siteid=50082-name_page.html |publisher=] |title=Stadium switch turns spotlight on Arms Park | |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | There was doubt about the future of the Arms Park after 2010 following the move of the ] to the ]. Cardiff RFC Ltd, the company that runs Cardiff Blues and Cardiff RFC, still has a 15-year lease on the Arms Park, but talks are underway to release the rugby club from the terms of the lease, to enable the ] to be redeveloped with a new North Stand and adjoining convention centre. However, it still has the original requirement on the lease, that the land will only be used for "recreational purposes", as stipulated by the Bute family. But the Arms Park site is a prime piece of ] in the centre of Cardiff, which means that it may be difficult to sell the land to ]. The estimated value of the whole Arms Park site could be at least £25 million, although with the "recreational use" requirement, its actual value could be a lot less than that figure.<ref name="Glanmor"/> A decision by Cardiff Athletic Club on the future of the Arms Park has yet to be made.<ref name="Ninian">{{cite web |url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0600soccer/0200news/tm_headline=stadium-switch-turns-spotlight-on-arms-park&method=full&objectid=19816411&siteid=50082-name_page.html |publisher=] |title=Stadium switch turns spotlight on Arms Park |accessdate=27 February 2008}}</ref> In 2011, the ] regional rugby union team made a £6 million bid for the Arms Park, later the WRU made an increased bid of £10 million for the site. Both bids were rejected by the trustees of the Cardiff Athletic Club.<ref name="Bids">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/02/23/wru-made-10m-bid-for-cardiff-arms-park-91466-28220384/|publisher=] |title=WRU made £10m bid for Cardiff Arms Park|accessdate=24 February 2011}}</ref> However, in 2012 ] announced that they would be making a permanent return to Cardiff Arms Park following declining attendances at the Cardiff City Stadium.<ref name="return">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17995008|work=BBC News|title=Cardiff Blues announce return to Arms Park |accessdate=9 May 2012}}</ref> In the 2013 off-season, the pitch at the Arms Park was replaced with an artificial ] surface, intended to prevent any adverse weather conditions from affecting the rugby.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cardiff Blues get go ahead with artificial pitch following WRU approval |url=http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/6415.php |work=cardiffblues.com |publisher=Cardiff Blues |date=13 June 2013 |accessdate=13 June 2013 }}</ref> | ||
⚫ | An agreement in principle was reached in December 2015 between the landlord of the stadium site (]) and its tenant (Cardiff Blues) to give the club a 150-year lease on the stadium site.<ref name="Degrees">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/multi-million-pound-redevelopment-cardiff-10577785#rlabs=1%20rt$category%20p$7|publisher=] |title=The multi-million pound redevelopment of Cardiff Arms Park is now a step closer| |
||
== Bowling green == | |||
{{multiple image | {{multiple image | ||
| align = left | | align = left | ||
| direction = horizontal | | direction = horizontal | ||
⚫ | | header = <center>Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club, Cardiff Arms Park</center> | ||
| total_width=600 | |||
⚫ | | header = Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club, Cardiff Arms Park | ||
| header_align = center | | header_align = center | ||
| header_background = | | header_background = | ||
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| footer_align = left | | footer_align = left | ||
| footer_background = | | footer_background = | ||
| caption_align = center | |||
| width = | | width = | ||
| image1 = Cardiff Athletics Bowls Club, Cardiff.jpg | | image1 = Cardiff Athletics Bowls Club, Cardiff.jpg | ||
| width1 = 200 | |||
| alt1 = | | alt1 = | ||
| caption1 = The clubhouse and bowling green | | caption1 = <center>The clubhouse and bowling green</center> | ||
| image2 = Les Spence Memorial Gates, Cardiff Arms Park.jpg | | image2 = Les Spence Memorial Gates, Cardiff Arms Park.jpg | ||
| width2 = 92 | |||
| alt2 = | | alt2 = | ||
| caption2 = Les Spence |
| caption2 = <center>The Les Spence Memorial Gates</center> | ||
| image3 = Aerial view of Cardiff Arms Park.jpg | | image3 = Aerial view of Cardiff Arms Park.jpg | ||
| width3 = 190 | |||
| alt3 = | | alt3 = | ||
| caption3 = The bowling green (''left'') and the rugby ground (''right'') | | caption3 = <center>The bowling green (''left'') and the rugby ground (''right'')<center> | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{See also|Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club}} | |||
Cardiff Arms Park is best known as a rugby union stadium, but ] (CABC) was established in 1923,<ref name="Bowls">{{cite web|url=http://www.cabcbowls.co.uk/|publisher=Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club|title=Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club| |
Cardiff Arms Park is best known as a rugby union stadium, but ] (CABC) was established in 1923,<ref name="Bowls">{{cite web |url=http://www.cabcbowls.co.uk/|publisher=Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club |title=Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club |accessdate=5 June 2008}}</ref> and ever since then, the club has used the Arms Park as its bowling green. The bowls club is a section of the Cardiff Athletic Club and shares many of the facilities of the Cardiff Arms Park athletics centre.<ref name="The Times">{{cite news |url=http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article605568.ece|publisher=Times Newspapers |title=Let the good times roll|accessdate=5 June 2008 | location=London | first=Alice | last=Fordham | date=12 August 2006}}</ref> | ||
] | ] | ||
The Les Spence Memorial Gates were erected in memory of the former Cardiff RFU player, who captained the team in |
The Les Spence Memorial Gates were erected in memory of the former Cardiff RFU player, who captained the team in 1936-37. He was born in 1907 and became chairman of the Cardiff RFU and president of the WRU between 1973 and 1974. He was awarded an MBE and died in 1988.<ref name="Les">{{cite web |url=http://historypoints.org/index.php?page=les-spence-memorial-gates-cardiff|publisher=History Points |title=Les Spence Memorial Gates, Cardiff Arms Park|accessdate=15 June 2013}}</ref> | ||
The |
The Club has produced two Welsh international bowlers; Mr. C Standfast in 1937 and Mr. B Hawkins who represented Wales in the 1982 World Pairs and captained Wales in 1982 and 1984.<ref name="Bowls"/> | ||
{{clear|left}} | {{clear|left}} | ||
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The Riverside Football Club, founded in 1899, played some matches at the Arms Park until 1910, when they moved to ],<ref name="Record Office" /> and later became ]. | The Riverside Football Club, founded in 1899, played some matches at the Arms Park until 1910, when they moved to ],<ref name="Record Office" /> and later became ]. | ||
⚫ | The rugby ground has also been used for Association Football. In July 1995, ] played two ] games there, against Heerenveen (Netherlands) and Uniao Leiria (Portugal) as their own ground was not suitable. The Heerenveen game - the first ever soccer match to be played there - kicked off at 6pm on Saturday 1 July 1995 and resulted in the Dutch side winning 7-0. The Wales U-21 team have also played a home game there in the late 1990s. | ||
On 31 May 1989, ] played its first international game against ] at the National Stadium in a ], which ended goalless. It was also the first ever international ] match held in Great Britain that was watched by all-seater spectators.<ref name="Football">{{cite journal |last=Pursey MBE |first=Ivor |date=May 1989 |title=History in the Making: Wales V. West Germany. A Message from the President of the F.A.W. |journal=Football Association of Wales Match Programme |issue=Wednesday 31 May 1989<!-- |access-date=11 May 2008 -->}}</ref> | |||
⚫ | The |
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=== Athletics === | === Athletics === | ||
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=== Baseball & British baseball === | === Baseball & British baseball === | ||
Baseball was established early on in Cardiff, and one of the earliest of games to be held at the Arms Park was on 18 May |
Baseball was established early on in Cardiff, and one of the earliest of games to be held at the Arms Park was on 18 May 1918. It was a charity match in aid of the Prisoner of War Fund between Welsh and American teams of the U.S. Beaufort & U.S. Jupiter. ] matches have also regularly taken place at the Arms Park and hosted the annual England versus Wales international game every four years.<ref name="Media">{{cite web |url=http://www.weltchmedia.com/baseball.html |publisher=Welsh Baseball Union |title=The web page of the Welsh Baseball Union |accessdate=6 May 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225182851/http://www.weltchmedia.com/baseball.html |archivedate=25 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Albion">{{cite web |url=http://www.grangealbionbaseball.co.uk/9.html |publisher=Grange Albion Baseball Club |title=Grange Albion Baseball Club |accessdate=6 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513221032/http://www.grangealbionbaseball.co.uk/9.html |archive-date=13 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The games are now usually held at ]. | ||
=== Boxing === | === Boxing === | ||
The first ] contest held at the Arms Park was on 24 January 1914, when ] beat Gaston Pigot by a ] in the first round of a 20-round contest.<ref name="Boxing 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxrec.com/date_search.php?yyyy=1914&mm=01&dd=24|publisher=]|title=Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom| |
The first ] contest held at the Arms Park was on 24 January 1914, when ] beat Gaston Pigot by a ] in the first round of a 20-round contest.<ref name="Boxing 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxrec.com/date_search.php?yyyy=1914&mm=01&dd=24|publisher=]|title=Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom|accessdate=14 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010191952/http://boxrec.com/date_search.php?yyyy=1914&mm=01&dd=24|archive-date=10 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Boxing contests were held later on 14 June 1943, 12 August 1944, 4 October 1951 and 10 September 1952.<ref name="Box">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxrec.com/location.php?country_code=UK®ion_name=null&towncity_name=&towncity_id=22698&venue_name=&venue_id=27613&yyyy=&submit=Go|publisher=]|title=Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom|accessdate=14 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010192002/http://boxrec.com/location.php?country_code=UK®ion_name=null&towncity_name=&towncity_id=22698&venue_name=&venue_id=27613&yyyy=&submit=Go|archive-date=10 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
Around 25,000 spectators watched international boxing on 1 October 1993, at the National Stadium with a ] (WBC) ] title bout between ]. It was the first time that two British-born boxers had fought for the world heavyweight title.<ref name="Bout">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/10/sports/boxing-bruno-vs-lewis-a-personal-battle-of-britain.html |publisher=] |title=Bruno vs. Lewis: A Personal Battle of Britain| |
Around 25,000 spectators watched international boxing on 1 October 1993, at the National Stadium with a ] (WBC) ] title bout between ]. It was the first time that two British-born boxers had fought for the world heavyweight title.<ref name="Bout">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/10/sports/boxing-bruno-vs-lewis-a-personal-battle-of-britain.html |publisher=] |title=Bruno vs. Lewis: A Personal Battle of Britain|accessdate=15 November 2009 | first=Gerald | last=Eskenazi | date=10 August 1993}}</ref> ] beat ] by a ] in the 7th round, in what was called the "Battle of Britain".<ref name="Lewis">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxing2007.com/PressRelease/2008/MaskaevPeterStatistics.htm|publisher=pound4pound.com|title=WBC Statistics|accessdate=12 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003231135/http://www.boxing2007.com/PressRelease/2008/MaskaevPeterStatistics.htm|archive-date=3 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Robinson" /> On 30 September 1995, ] the ] (WBO) World Featherweight Champion, lost against ] at the rugby ground in 8 rounds.<ref name="Robinson">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A28661691|publisher=BBC|title=Cardiff's greatest fight nights |accessdate=12 May 2008}}</ref> | ||
=== Cricket === | === Cricket === | ||
In 1819 ] was formed and by 1848 they had moved to their new home at the Arms Park.<ref name="Cricket History">{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Cardiff_Arms_Park/Early_Cricket.html |publisher=Glamorgan County Cricket Club & CricketArchive |title=Cardiff Arms Park – a short History – Early Cricket in Cardiff | |
In 1819 ] was formed and by 1848 they had moved to their new home at the Arms Park.<ref name="Cricket History">{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Cardiff_Arms_Park/Early_Cricket.html |publisher=Glamorgan County Cricket Club & CricketArchive |title=Cardiff Arms Park – a short History – Early Cricket in Cardiff |accessdate=7 May 2008}}</ref> ], at the time not a ] county, played their first match at the ground in June 1869 against ].<ref name="Early Cricket">{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Cardiff_Arms_Park/Early_County_Cricket.html |publisher=Glamorgan County Cricket Club & CricketArchive |title=Cardiff Arms Park – a short History – Early County Cricket at the Arms Park|accessdate=7 May 2008}}</ref> The county club played their first ] match on the ground in 1921,<ref name="Championship cricket">{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Cardiff_Arms_Park/Glamorgan_First_Win.html|publisher=Glamorgan County Cricket Club & CricketArchive |title=Cardiff Arms Park – a short History – Championship cricket at the Arms Park|accessdate=7 May 2008}}</ref> competing there every season (except while first-class cricket was suspended during the Second World War) until their final match on the ground against ] in August 1966. | ||
Cardiff Cricket Club played their final game at the ground against Lydney Cricket Club on 17 September 1966. Both Cardiff Cricket Club and Glamorgan then moved to a new ground at ] on the opposite bank of the River Taff to the Arms Park following work on the creation of the national rugby stadium.<ref name="County End">{{cite web|url-access=subscription|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Cardiff_Arms_Park/County_End.html|publisher=Glamorgan County Cricket Club & CricketArchive|title=Cardiff Arms Park – a short History – The end of county cricket at the Arms Park| |
Cardiff Cricket Club played their final game at the ground against Lydney Cricket Club on 17 September 1966. Both Cardiff Cricket Club and Glamorgan then moved to a new ground at ] on the opposite bank of the River Taff to the Arms Park following work on the creation of the national rugby stadium.<ref name="County End">{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Cardiff_Arms_Park/County_End.html|publisher=Glamorgan County Cricket Club & CricketArchive|title=Cardiff Arms Park – a short History – The end of county cricket at the Arms Park|accessdate=7 May 2008}}</ref> | ||
The first first-class cricket match to be held on the ground was between West of England and East of England, on 20 June 1910. In all more than 240 first-class matches were played on the ground, all but two involving Glamorgan as the home team.<ref name="Grounds">{{cite web |url=http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Grounds/90/381_f.html|website=CricketArchive|title=First-Class Matches played on Cardiff Arms Park| |
The first first-class cricket match to be held on the ground was between West of England and East of England, on 20 June 1910. In all more than 240 first-class matches were played on the ground, all but two involving Glamorgan as the home team.<ref name="Grounds">{{cite web |url=http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Grounds/90/381_f.html|website=CricketArchive|title=First-Class Matches played on Cardiff Arms Park|accessdate=7 May 2008}}</ref> Only one ] match was played on the ground, Glamorgan's ] fixture against Somerset on 22 May 1963.<ref name="Gillette">{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/Grounds/381_a.html |publisher=Glamorgan County Cricket Club & CricketArchive |title=Glamorgan List A Matches played on Cardiff Arms Park|accessdate=6 May 2008}}</ref> | ||
=== Greyhound racing === | === Greyhound racing === | ||
] | |||
{{main|Cardiff Greyhounds}} | {{main|Cardiff Greyhounds}} | ||
<!-- Deleted image removed: ] --> | |||
] took place at the Arms Park for fifty years from 1927 until 1977.<ref>{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Julia|title=Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File|year=1988|publisher=Ringpress Books Ltd|isbn=0-948955-15-5}}</ref> | ] took place at the Arms Park for fifty years from 1927 until 1977.<ref>{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Julia|title=Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File|year=1988|publisher=Ringpress Books Ltd|isbn=0-948955-15-5}}</ref> | ||
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In 1876, the Cardiff RFC was formed and soon after they also used the park. On 12 April 1884, the first international match was played at the ground between Wales and ], when 5,000 people watched Wales beat Ireland by two tries and a drop goal to nil.<ref name="Development" /> | In 1876, the Cardiff RFC was formed and soon after they also used the park. On 12 April 1884, the first international match was played at the ground between Wales and ], when 5,000 people watched Wales beat Ireland by two tries and a drop goal to nil.<ref name="Development" /> | ||
The Arms Park rugby ground became the permanent home of the ] in 1964. Later, the National Stadium was also home to the ] from 1972 until the match held at the Stadium on 26 April 1997, at a much reduced capacity, between Cardiff RFC and ]. Cardiff RFC won the match 33–26.<ref name="Challenge Cup">{{cite web |url=http://www.wru.co.uk/86_641.php |publisher=Welsh Rugby Union |title=Konica Minolta Cup: a brief history | |
The Arms Park rugby ground became the permanent home of the ] in 1964. Later, the National Stadium was also home to the ] from 1972 until the match held at the Stadium on 26 April 1997, at a much reduced capacity, between Cardiff RFC and ]. Cardiff RFC won the match 33–26.<ref name="Challenge Cup">{{cite web |url=http://www.wru.co.uk/86_641.php |publisher=Welsh Rugby Union |title=Konica Minolta Cup: a brief history |accessdate=7 May 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430014638/http://www.wru.co.uk/86_641.php |archivedate=30 April 2008 }}</ref> | ||
{{Quote box | {{Quote box | ||
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| quote=''The game'' (between the Barbarians and the New Zealand All Blacks) ''is one I will never forget and those of us who played in it will never be allowed to forget. It is a match that will live with me forever. People tend only to remember the first four minutes of the game because of the try, but what they forgot is the great deal of good rugby played afterwards, much of which came from the All Blacks. After the success of the ], which captured the imagination of the whole country, it was an opportunity to bring a lot of that side together again.'' | | quote=''The game'' (between the Barbarians and the New Zealand All Blacks) ''is one I will never forget and those of us who played in it will never be allowed to forget. It is a match that will live with me forever. People tend only to remember the first four minutes of the game because of the try, but what they forgot is the great deal of good rugby played afterwards, much of which came from the All Blacks. After the success of the ], which captured the imagination of the whole country, it was an opportunity to bring a lot of that side together again.'' | ||
| source='''Gareth Edwards'''<ref name="Barbarian">{{cite web |author=Donna Gee |date=13 March 2007 |url=http://www.sportingo.com/Rugby/a2680_Was-this-greatest-rugby-try |publisher=SportBuzz |title=Was this the greatest rugby try of all time? | |
| source='''Gareth Edwards'''<ref name="Barbarian">{{cite web |author=Donna Gee |date=13 March 2007 |url=http://www.sportingo.com/Rugby/a2680_Was-this-greatest-rugby-try |publisher=SportBuzz |title=Was this the greatest rugby try of all time? |accessdate=26 February 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727203637/http://www.sportingo.com/Rugby/a2680_Was-this-greatest-rugby-try |archivedate=27 July 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
}} | }} | ||
The |
The National Stadium is best known as the venue for what is considered to be "]" by ] for ] against ] in what is also called "the greatest match ever played" on 27 January 1973.<ref name="Amazon">{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/1973-All-Blacks-Barbarians-DVD/dp/B000UO9CPK|publisher=Amazon.com, Inc.|title=1973 All Blacks vs Barbarians DVD|accessdate=11 May 2008}}</ref> The final result was a win for the Barbarians. The score, 23–11, which translates to 27–13 in today's scoring system. | ||
The scorers were: | The scorers were: | ||
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All Blacks: Tries: ] (2); Penalty: ]. | All Blacks: Tries: ] (2); Penalty: ]. | ||
The |
The National Stadium hosted four games in the ], including the third-place play-off.<ref name="World Cup">{{cite web |url=http://www.therugbyworldcup.co.uk/1991.html |publisher=therugbyworldcup.co.uk |title=RWC 1991 Staged in Europe |accessdate=29 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515084912/http://www.therugbyworldcup.co.uk/1991.html |archive-date=15 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The National Stadium was also host to the inaugural ] of ] when ] beat Cardiff RFC by 21–18 after extra time, in front of 21,800 spectators.<ref name="1995 Cup">{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/79_119.php |publisher=ERC |title=Toulouse Win Inaugural Tournament |accessdate=29 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229005136/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/79_119.php |archivedate=29 February 2008}}</ref> The following final in ] was also held at the National Stadium, this time it was between ] and ]. Brive won the match 28–9, in front of a crowd of 41,664.<ref name="1996 Cup">{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/80_118.php |publisher=ERC |title=Brive the Champions |accessdate=29 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229005141/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/80_118.php |archivedate=29 February 2008 }}</ref> | ||
In 2008, the rugby ground hosted all the games in Pool A of the ] and also the semi-final on 18 June 2008, in which ] beat ] 26–18.<ref name="2008 Cup">{{cite web |url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=18&art_id=vn20080619070737915C982514 |publisher=Independent News & Media |title=England kill off Baby Boks' world title hopes | |
In 2008, the rugby ground hosted all the games in Pool A of the ] and also the semi-final on 18 June 2008, in which ] beat ] 26–18.<ref name="2008 Cup">{{cite web |url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=18&art_id=vn20080619070737915C982514 |publisher=Independent News & Media |title=England kill off Baby Boks' world title hopes |accessdate=19 June 2008 }}</ref> | ||
] | ] | ||
Until February 2012, it had been assumed that the last professional rugby union game to take place at the Arms Park was on 17 May 2009, when ] beat the Cardiff Blues 36–14 in a ] match during the ] season.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/5339760/Edinburgh-beat-the-Blues-in-final-game-at-Cardiff-Arms-Park.html |
Until February 2012, it had been assumed that the last professional rugby union game to take place at the Arms Park was on 17 May 2009, when ] beat the Cardiff Blues 36–14 in a ] match during the ] season.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/5339760/Edinburgh-beat-the-Blues-in-final-game-at-Cardiff-Arms-Park.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |title=Edinburgh beat the Blues in final game at Cardiff Arms Park | ||
| |
|accessdate=3 April 2011 |first=Graham |last=Clutton |date=17 May 2009 }}</ref> | ||
However, on Tuesday, 7 February 2012, it was confirmed that Cardiff Blues would face ] at the Arms Park on Friday, 10 February 2012. The ] League game result was a win for the Cardiff Blues 22–15 and attendance of 8,000. The following Tuesday, it was announced that the match against ] on Friday, 17 February, would also be at the Arms Park, resulting in a Blues win, 21–14 and attendance of 8,600. The agreement signed during 2009 tied Cardiff Blues to a 20-year contract to play a maximum of 18 games per season for a set fee, rather than per match at ]. But on 23 February, it was announced that the two Welsh 'derbies' against the ] and the ] would be played at Cardiff City Stadium, rather than the Arms Park, because of Cardiff Blues' anticipation that the attendance figures would far exceed the maximum capacity of 9,000. On 8 May 2012, it was announced that ] would be returning to the Arms Park on a permanent basis after just three years at the ].<ref name="Return">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17995008 |publisher=BBC |title=Cardiff Blues announce return to Arms Park | |
However, on Tuesday, 7 February 2012, it was confirmed that Cardiff Blues would face ] at the Arms Park on Friday, 10 February 2012. The ] League game result was a win for the Cardiff Blues 22–15 and attendance of 8,000. The following Tuesday, it was announced that the match against ] on Friday, 17 February, would also be at the Arms Park, resulting in a Blues win, 21–14 and attendance of 8,600. The agreement signed during 2009 tied Cardiff Blues to a 20-year contract to play a maximum of 18 games per season for a set fee, rather than per match at ]. But on 23 February, it was announced that the two Welsh 'derbies' against the ] and the ] would be played at Cardiff City Stadium, rather than the Arms Park, because of Cardiff Blues' anticipation that the attendance figures would far exceed the maximum capacity of 9,000. On 8 May 2012, it was announced that ] would be returning to the Arms Park on a permanent basis after just three years at the ].<ref name="Return">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17995008 |publisher=BBC |title=Cardiff Blues announce return to Arms Park |accessdate=30 June 2012 |date=8 May 2012 }}</ref> | ||
On 23 May 2014, the rugby ground hosted the final of the ] in which ] beat ] |
On 23 May 2014, the rugby ground hosted the final of the ] in which ] beat ] 30-16.<ref name="Amlin">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/27489558|publisher=] |title=Amlin Challenge Cup final: Bath 16-30 Northampton|accessdate=25 May 2014 |date=22 May 2014}}</ref> | ||
; '''Rugby World Cup''' | ; '''Rugby World Cup''' | ||
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] played a ] match against ] at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday, 27 July 2014 and on Sunday 10 May 2015 at Cardiff Arms Park, South Wales Scorpions took on ]. The ] match between ] and ] was held at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday, 30 October 2015 at 18:30 GMT. | ] played a ] match against ] at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday, 27 July 2014 and on Sunday 10 May 2015 at Cardiff Arms Park, South Wales Scorpions took on ]. The ] match between ] and ] was held at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday, 30 October 2015 at 18:30 GMT. | ||
⚫ | The highest attendance for a rugby league game at the Arms Park was recorded on 8 June 1996 during the first ] when 6,708 saw ] defeat the ] 43-32. The St Helens team at the time contained Welsh players ], ] and ].<ref></ref> | ||
On 11 April it was announced Cardiff Arms Park would be the new home ground of the Women's Betfred Super League South team Cardiff Demons. The inaugural league champions will play all home games at the stadium during the 2022 season. | |||
⚫ | The highest attendance for a rugby league game at the Arms Park was recorded on 8 June 1996 during the first ] when 6,708 saw ] defeat the ] |
||
; '''Rugby league test matches''' | ; '''Rugby league test matches''' | ||
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! Test# !! Date !! Result !! Attendance !! Notes | ! Test# !! Date !! Result !! Attendance !! Notes | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1 || 26 June 1996 || {{rl|ENG}} |
|1 || 26 June 1996 || {{rl|ENG}} def. {{rl|WAL}} 26–12 || 5,425 || ] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2 || 30 October 2015 || {{rl|WAL}} |
|2 || 30 October 2015 || {{rl|WAL}} def. {{rl|FRA}} 14–6 || 1,028 || ] | ||
|} | |} | ||
=== Tennis === | === Tennis === | ||
Tennis courts were laid out in the Arms Park for Cardiff Tennis Club until the club moved to ] in 1967. In 2003, the club amalgamated with Lisvane Tennis Club to form ], which is still a section of ] (CAC).<ref name="Tennis 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiffathleticclub.co.uk/cardiff-tennis-club.php|publisher=]|title=Lisvane (CAC) Tennis Club| |
Tennis courts were laid out in the Arms Park for Cardiff Tennis Club until the club moved to ] in 1967. In 2003, the club amalgamated with Lisvane Tennis Club to form ], which is still a section of ] (CAC).<ref name="Tennis 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiffathleticclub.co.uk/cardiff-tennis-club.php|publisher=]|title=Lisvane (CAC) Tennis Club|accessdate=30 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424233037/http://www.cardiffathleticclub.co.uk/cardiff-tennis-club.php|archive-date=24 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
== Music concerts == | == Music concerts == | ||
{{Main|List of concerts at the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park}} | {{Main|List of music concerts at the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park}} | ||
{{see also|List of concerts at the Millennium Stadium}} | {{see also|List of music concerts at the Millennium Stadium}} | ||
Major music concerts were also held at the |
Major music concerts were also held at the National Stadium from 1987 until 1996, they included ], ],<ref name="Tree">{{cite web |url=http://www.u2achtung.com/03/setlists/tournee.php?id=7 |publisher=U2achtung.com|title=Joshua Tree Tour Leg 2 – Europe|accessdate=11 May 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070723180815/http://www.u2achtung.com/03/setlists/tournee.php?id=7 |archivedate=23 July 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> ],<ref name="Jackson">{{cite web |url=http://www.michael-jackson-trader.com/tours/badtourdates.html |publisher=Michael Jackson Trader |title=Michael Jackson Bad World Tour Dates |accessdate=11 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517051531/http://www.michael-jackson-trader.com/tours/badtourdates.html |archive-date=17 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ],<ref name="Stones">{{cite web |url=http://www.timeisonourside.com/chron1990.html|publisher=Time Is On Our Side (Ian McPherson) |title=The Rolling Stones Chronicle, 1990, Head back to the jungle |accessdate=11 May 2008}}</ref> ],<ref name="Working">{{cite web |url=http://www.working-on-it.com/diary/diary.php?www=mfn&tri=all&year=yes |publisher=MK diary |title=MK diary, 1992 |accessdate=11 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305142803/http://www.working-on-it.com/diary/diary.php?www=mfn&tri=all&year=yes# |archive-date=5 March 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bonjovi-live.ru/tours/Tour_TD.php | ||
|publisher=Alexandr Smolin|title=These days tour | |
|publisher=Alexandr Smolin|title=These days tour |accessdate=18 September 2008}}</ref> and ]<ref name="Chronicle">{{cite web |url=http://www.remchronicle.com/gig.php?showid=973 |publisher=remchronicle.com|title=23 July 1995 Cardiff, Wa |accessdate=11 May 2008}}</ref> The last music concert was held on 14 July 1996. ] held their annual conventions at the National Stadium.<ref name="Witness">{{cite web |url=http://www.thechristianexpositor.org/page29.html |publisher=The Christian Expositor|title='Orthodox' Heretics|accessdate=11 May 2008}}</ref><ref name="Witnesses">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/3079941.stm |publisher=BBC |title=Witnesses unite at stadium |accessdate=11 May 2008 | date=19 July 2003}}</ref> | ||
== Singing tradition == | == Singing tradition == | ||
]]] | ]]] | ||
The |
The National Stadium was known primarily as the venue for massed voices singing such hymns as "]", "]", "]" and "]" ("Land of my Fathers" – the ] of Wales).<ref name="Australian">{{cite web |url=http://www.auswelshmalechoir.org.au/pages/history1.html |publisher=The Australian Welsh Male Choir |title=Praise the Lord, we are a musical Nation |accessdate=11 May 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312165556/http://www.auswelshmalechoir.org.au/pages/history1.html |archivedate=12 March 2008 }}</ref> The legendary atmosphere including singing of the crowd was said to be worth at least a try or a goal to the home nation.<ref name="Singing">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiffmatchday.co.uk/home.html |publisher=Cardiff Match Day |title=Cardiff Arms Park, The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff |accessdate=27 February 2008 }}</ref> This tradition of singing has now passed on to the Millennium Stadium.<ref name="Singing"/> | ||
The Arms Park has its own choir, called the ]. It was formed in 1966 as the Cardiff Athletic Club Male Voice Choir, and today performs internationally with a schedule of concerts and tours. In 2000, the choir changed their name to become the Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir.<ref name="Choir">{{cite web|url=http://www.malevoicechoir.net/capmc/|publisher=cardiffarmsparkmalechoir.co.uk|title=Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir| |
The Arms Park has its own choir, called the ]. It was formed in 1966 as the Cardiff Athletic Club Male Voice Choir, and today performs internationally with a schedule of concerts and tours. In 2000, the choir changed their name to become the Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir.<ref name="Choir">{{cite web|url=http://www.malevoicechoir.net/capmc/|publisher=cardiffarmsparkmalechoir.co.uk|title=Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir|accessdate=11 May 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514044039/http://www.malevoicechoir.net/capmc/|archivedate=14 May 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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*] | *] | ||
== |
== Notes == | ||
⚫ | {{Reflist|30em}} | ||
=== Inline === | |||
⚫ | {{Reflist}} | ||
== References == | |||
* Harris, K. M. ''The Story of the Development of the National Rugby Ground'', 7 April 1984. | * Harris, K. M. ''The Story of the Development of the National Rugby Ground'', 7 April 1984. | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{Commons category}} | {{Commons category|Cardiff Arms Park}} | ||
* | |||
* {{Official website}} | |||
* | * | ||
* | * | ||
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{{1991 Rugby World Cup Venues}} | {{1991 Rugby World Cup Venues}} | ||
{{European Rugby Champions Cup Final venues}} | {{European Rugby Champions Cup Final venues}} | ||
{{Pro14}} | |||
{{United Rugby Championship}} | |||
{{Glamorgan CCC}} | |||
{{Sport in Cardiff}} | {{Sport in Cardiff}} | ||
{{Wales national football team}} | {{Wales national football team}} | ||
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}} | }} | ||
⚫ | {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2013}} | ||
{{Good article}} | {{Good article}} | ||
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Revision as of 19:36, 9 December 2022
Not to be confused with Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Sports venue in Cardiff, Wales
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Cardiff Arms ParkLocation of Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff city centre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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National Stadium Welsh National Rugby Ground | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cardiff Arms Park (Template:Lang-cy), also known as The Arms Park, is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. It is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World Cup, including the third-place play-off. The Arms Park also hosted the inaugural Heineken Cup Final of 1995–96 and the following year in 1996–97.
The history of the rugby ground begins with the first stands appearing for spectators in the ground in 1881–1882. Originally the Arms Park had a cricket ground to the north and a rugby union stadium to the south. By 1969, the cricket ground had been demolished to make way for the present day rugby ground to the north and a second rugby stadium to the south, called the National Stadium. The National Stadium, which was used by Wales national rugby union team, was officially opened on 7 April 1984, however in 1997 it was demolished to make way for the Millennium Stadium in 1999, which hosted the 1999 Rugby World Cup and became the national stadium of Wales. The rugby ground has remained the home of the semi-professional Cardiff RFC yet the professional Cardiff Blues regional rugby union team moved to the Cardiff City Stadium in 2009, but returned three years later.
The site is owned by Cardiff Athletic Club and has been host to many sports, apart from rugby union and cricket; they include athletics, association football, greyhound racing, tennis, British baseball and boxing. The site also has a bowling green to the north of the rugby ground, which is used by Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club, which is the bowls section of the Cardiff Athletic Club. The National Stadium also hosted many music concerts including Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones and U2.
History
Early history of the site
Cardiff Arms HotelThe inauguration of the Grandstand on 26 December 1885The Cardiff Arms Park site was originally called the Great Park, a swampy meadow behind the Cardiff Arms Hotel. The hotel was built by Sir Thomas Morgan, during the reign of Charles I. Cardiff Arms Park was named after this hotel. From 1803, the Cardiff Arms Hotel and the Park had become the property of the Bute family. The Arms Park soon became a popular place for sporting events, and by 1848, Cardiff Cricket Club was using the site for its cricket matches. However, by 1878, Cardiff Arms Hotel had been demolished.
The 3rd Marquess of Bute stipulated that the ground could only be used for "recreational purposes". At that time Cardiff Arms Park had a cricket ground to the north and a rugby union ground to the south. 1881–2 saw the first stands for spectators; they held 300 spectators and cost £50. The architect was Archibald Leitch, famous for designing Ibrox Stadium and Old Trafford, among others. In 1890, new standing areas were constructed along the entire length of the ground, with additional stands erected in 1896.
1912 redevelopment
By 1912, the Cardiff Football Ground, as it was then known, had a new south stand and temporary stands on the north, east and west ends of the ground. The south stand was covered, while the north terrace was initially without a roof. The improvements were partly funded by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). The opening ceremony took place on 5 October 1912, with a match between Newport RFC and Cardiff RFC. The new ground was opened by Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart. This new development increased the ground capacity to 43,000 and much improved the facilities at the ground compared to the earlier stands.
In 1922 John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute, had sold the entire site and it was bought by the Cardiff Arms Park Company Limited for £30,000, it was then leased to the Cardiff Athletic Club (cricket and rugby sections) for 99 years at a cost of £200 per annum.
North and South Stand redevelopments
During 1934 the cricket pavilion had been demolished to make way for the new North Stand which was built on the rugby union ground, costing around £20,000. However, in 1941 the new North Stand and part of the west terracing was badly damaged in the Blitz by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.
At a general meeting of the WRU in June 1953 they made a decision "That until such time as the facilities at Swansea were improved, all international matches be played at Cardiff". At the same time, plans were made for a new South Stand which was estimated to cost £60,000; the tender price, however, came out at £90,000, so a compromise was made and it was decided to build a new upper South Stand costing £64,000 instead, with the Cardiff Athletic Club contributing £15,000 and the remainder coming from the WRU. The new South Stand opened in 1956, in time for the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. This brought the overall capacity of the Arms Park up to 60,000 spectators, of which 12,800 were seated and the remainder standing.
The Arms Park hosted the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, which was used for the athletics events, but this event caused damage to the drainage system, so much so, that other rugby unions (England, Scotland and Ireland) complained after the Games about the state of the pitch. On 4 December 1960, due to torrential rain, the River Taff burst its banks with the Arms Park pitch being left under 4 feet (1.2 m) of water. The Development Committee was set up to resolve these issues on a permanent basis. They looked at various sites in Cardiff, but they all proved to be unsatisfactory. They also could not agree a solution with the Cardiff Athletic Club, so they purchased about 80 acres (320,000 m) of land at Island Farm in Bridgend, which was previously used as a prisoner-of-war camp. It is best known for being the camp where the biggest escape attempt was made by German prisoners of war in Great Britain during the Second World War. Due to problems including transport issues Glamorgan County Council never gave outline planning permission for the proposals and by June 1964 the scheme was abandoned. At that stage, the cricket ground to the north was still being used by Glamorgan County Cricket Club, and the rugby union ground to the south was used by the national Wales team and Cardiff RFC.
By 7 October 1966, the first floodlit game was held at Cardiff Arms Park, a game in which Cardiff RFC beat the Barbarians by 12 points to 8.
National Stadium redevelopment
The National Stadium, which was also known as the Welsh National Rugby Ground, was designed by Osborne V Webb & Partners and built by G A Williamson & Associates of Porthcawl and Andrew Scott & Company of Port Talbot.
After agreement from the Cardiff Athletic Club, the freehold of the south ground was transferred solely to the WRU in July 1968. Work could then begin on the new National Stadium. Glamorgan County Cricket Club would move to Sophia Gardens and the cricket ground to the north would be demolished and a new rugby union stadium built for Cardiff RFC, who would move out of the south ground, allowing the National Stadium to be built, for the sole use of the national rugby union team.
National StadiumFile:Photo of the original Cardiff Arms Park.jpgThe National Stadium (left) and Cardiff RFC rugby ground (right) both on an east-west alignmentDemolition of the National Stadium with only the 1970 North Stand remaining, which would form part of the Millennium StadiumOn 17 October 1970, the new North Stand and the Cardiff RFC ground was completed, the North Stand cost just over £1 million. The West Stand was opened in 1977 and the new East Terrace was completed by March 1980. By the time the final South Stand had been completed and the stadium officially opened on 7 April 1984, the South Stand had cost £4.5 million. At the start of the project, the total cost was estimated at £2.25 million, although by time it was finished in 1984, it had risen by nearly four times that amount.
Both stadia had approximately east-west alignment: the rugby ground to the north (Castle Street) end; the National Stadium to the south (Wood Street) end. The original capacity was 65,000 but this had to be reduced in later years to 53,000 for safety reasons. 11,000 of these were on the East Terrace and the conversion to all-seater stadium would have reduced the stadium capacity still further to 47,500. This capacity would have been much less than Twickenham and the other major rugby venues and also less than the demand for tickets to major events.
A world record crowd of 56,000 for a rugby union club match watched Llanelli RFC beat Neath RFC by 28 points to 13 points in the final of the Schweppes Cup (WRU Challenge Cup) on 7 May 1988. The first evening game to be played under floodlights was held on 4 September 1991 at 8.00 pm, between Wales and France. The last international match to be held at the National Stadium was between Wales and England on 15 March 1997, and the last ever match that was held at the National Stadium was on 26 April 1997 between Cardiff and Swansea, Cardiff won the SWALEC Cup (WRU Challenge Cup) by 33 points to 26 points.
Millennium Stadium
Main article: Millennium StadiumIn 1997, just thirteen years after the National Stadium had opened, it was considered too small and did not have the facilities required of the time and it was demolished and a new stadium, the Millennium Stadium, was built in its place (completed to a north-south alignment and opened in June 1999). This would become the fourth redevelopment of the Cardiff Arms Park site. Although the Millennium Stadium is on roughly two thirds of the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park site, it is currently no longer using the Arms Park name. The official website confuses the issue as well, one part states that "The Millennium Stadium is located on Westgate Street in Cardiff; next to the Cardiff Arms Park" whereas another section specifically refers to the stadium as "The Millennium Stadium, on the Cardiff Arms Park" Since 2016 it has been known as the Principality Stadium.
Proposed redevelopment
An agreement in principle was reached in December 2015 between the landlord of the stadium site (Cardiff Athletic Club) and its tenant (Cardiff Blues) to give the club a 150-year lease on the stadium site. This could see the redevelopment of the Arms Park, including a new 15,000 seater stadium at 90 degrees to the existing stadium costing between £20 million and £30 million and surrounded by new offices and apartments.
More detailed negotiations will begin with a final approval expected early in 2016. If the final agreement goes ahead, Cardiff Athletic Club would receive an upfront payment of approximately £8 million. As part of the agreement, the bowls section would have to vacate its current site at the Arms Park and move to a new facility. At present Cardiff Blues pay Cardiff Athletic Club rent of around £115,000 per annum, however this would nearly double to around £200,000.
Rugby ground
The North Stand, the Family Stand (east stand), the South Stand, the Barry Nelmes Suite (west stand).
Only the rugby ground and the Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club now use the name Cardiff Arms Park. The rugby ground has two main stands, the North Stand and the South Stand. Both the Stands have terracing below seating. The other stands in the ground are the Westgate Street end Family Stand, which has rows of seating below executive boxes, plus the club shop, and the River Taff end (the Barry Nelmes Suite, named after Barry Nelmes, the former Cardiff RFC captain), which has 26 executive boxes. The rugby ground has two main entrances, the south entrance, and the Gwyn Nicholls Memorial Gates (Angel Hotel entrance), which was unveiled on 26 December 1949 in honour of the Welsh international rugby player Gwyn Nicholls. The Cardiff Athletic Clubhouse is situated in the corner of the ground between the South Stand and the Westgate Street end.
Gwyn Nicholls Memorial Gates (Angel Hotel entrance)
and the Quay Street entrance (right).
The South Stand of the rugby ground formed a complete unit with the North Stand of the National Stadium. Now the same structure of the South Stand of the rugby ground is also physically attached to the North Stand of the Millennium Stadium. This section is known colloquially as Glanmor's Gap, after Glanmor Griffiths, former chair and President of the WRU. This came about because the WRU were unable to secure enough funding to include the North Stand in the Millennium Stadium, and the National Lottery Commission would not provide any additional funds to be used for the construction of a new ground for Cardiff RFC. The Millennium Stadium was therefore built with the old reinforced concrete structure of the National Stadium (North Stand) and the new steel Millennium Stadium structure built around it.
There was doubt about the future of the Arms Park after 2010 following the move of the Cardiff Blues to the Cardiff City Stadium. Cardiff RFC Ltd, the company that runs Cardiff Blues and Cardiff RFC, still has a 15-year lease on the Arms Park, but talks are underway to release the rugby club from the terms of the lease, to enable the Millennium Stadium to be redeveloped with a new North Stand and adjoining convention centre. However, it still has the original requirement on the lease, that the land will only be used for "recreational purposes", as stipulated by the Bute family. But the Arms Park site is a prime piece of real estate in the centre of Cardiff, which means that it may be difficult to sell the land to property developers. The estimated value of the whole Arms Park site could be at least £25 million, although with the "recreational use" requirement, its actual value could be a lot less than that figure. A decision by Cardiff Athletic Club on the future of the Arms Park has yet to be made. In 2011, the Cardiff Blues regional rugby union team made a £6 million bid for the Arms Park, later the WRU made an increased bid of £10 million for the site. Both bids were rejected by the trustees of the Cardiff Athletic Club. However, in 2012 Cardiff Blues announced that they would be making a permanent return to Cardiff Arms Park following declining attendances at the Cardiff City Stadium. In the 2013 off-season, the pitch at the Arms Park was replaced with an artificial FieldTurf surface, intended to prevent any adverse weather conditions from affecting the rugby.
Bowling green
Cardiff Arms Park is best known as a rugby union stadium, but Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club (CABC) was established in 1923, and ever since then, the club has used the Arms Park as its bowling green. The bowls club is a section of the Cardiff Athletic Club and shares many of the facilities of the Cardiff Arms Park athletics centre.
The Les Spence Memorial Gates were erected in memory of the former Cardiff RFU player, who captained the team in 1936-37. He was born in 1907 and became chairman of the Cardiff RFU and president of the WRU between 1973 and 1974. He was awarded an MBE and died in 1988.
The Club has produced two Welsh international bowlers; Mr. C Standfast in 1937 and Mr. B Hawkins who represented Wales in the 1982 World Pairs and captained Wales in 1982 and 1984.
Usage
Association football
The Riverside Football Club, founded in 1899, played some matches at the Arms Park until 1910, when they moved to Ninian Park, and later became Cardiff City Football Club.
The rugby ground has also been used for Association Football. In July 1995, Ton Pentre played two Intertoto Cup games there, against Heerenveen (Netherlands) and Uniao Leiria (Portugal) as their own ground was not suitable. The Heerenveen game - the first ever soccer match to be played there - kicked off at 6pm on Saturday 1 July 1995 and resulted in the Dutch side winning 7-0. The Wales U-21 team have also played a home game there in the late 1990s.
Athletics
In 1958, the British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Cardiff. The event was (to date) the biggest sporting event ever held in Wales; however, it would not have been possible without the financial support given by the WRU and the Cardiff Athletic Club. Both the opening and closing ceremonies took place at Cardiff Arms Park, plus all the track and field events, on what had been the greyhound track. It would turn out to be the last time that South Africa would participate in the Games until 1994. South Africa withdrew from the Commonwealth Games in 1961.
Baseball & British baseball
Baseball was established early on in Cardiff, and one of the earliest of games to be held at the Arms Park was on 18 May 1918. It was a charity match in aid of the Prisoner of War Fund between Welsh and American teams of the U.S. Beaufort & U.S. Jupiter. British baseball matches have also regularly taken place at the Arms Park and hosted the annual England versus Wales international game every four years. The games are now usually held at Roath Park.
Boxing
The first boxing contest held at the Arms Park was on 24 January 1914, when Bombadier Billy Wells beat Gaston Pigot by a knockout in the first round of a 20-round contest. Boxing contests were held later on 14 June 1943, 12 August 1944, 4 October 1951 and 10 September 1952.
Around 25,000 spectators watched international boxing on 1 October 1993, at the National Stadium with a World Boxing Council (WBC) Heavyweight title bout between Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno. It was the first time that two British-born boxers had fought for the world heavyweight title. Lewis beat Bruno by a technical knockout in the 7th round, in what was called the "Battle of Britain". On 30 September 1995, Steve Robinson the World Boxing Organization (WBO) World Featherweight Champion, lost against Prince Naseem Hamed at the rugby ground in 8 rounds.
Cricket
In 1819 Cardiff Cricket Club was formed and by 1848 they had moved to their new home at the Arms Park. Glamorgan County Cricket Club, at the time not a first-class county, played their first match at the ground in June 1869 against Monmouthshire Cricket Club. The county club played their first County Championship match on the ground in 1921, competing there every season (except while first-class cricket was suspended during the Second World War) until their final match on the ground against Somerset in August 1966.
Cardiff Cricket Club played their final game at the ground against Lydney Cricket Club on 17 September 1966. Both Cardiff Cricket Club and Glamorgan then moved to a new ground at Sophia Gardens on the opposite bank of the River Taff to the Arms Park following work on the creation of the national rugby stadium.
The first first-class cricket match to be held on the ground was between West of England and East of England, on 20 June 1910. In all more than 240 first-class matches were played on the ground, all but two involving Glamorgan as the home team. Only one List A cricket match was played on the ground, Glamorgan's Gillette Cup fixture against Somerset on 22 May 1963.
Greyhound racing
Main article: Cardiff GreyhoundsGreyhound racing took place at the Arms Park for fifty years from 1927 until 1977.
Rugby union
In 1876, the Cardiff RFC was formed and soon after they also used the park. On 12 April 1884, the first international match was played at the ground between Wales and Ireland, when 5,000 people watched Wales beat Ireland by two tries and a drop goal to nil.
The Arms Park rugby ground became the permanent home of the Wales national rugby union team in 1964. Later, the National Stadium was also home to the WRU Challenge Cup from 1972 until the match held at the Stadium on 26 April 1997, at a much reduced capacity, between Cardiff RFC and Swansea RFC. Cardiff RFC won the match 33–26.
Gareth EdwardsThe game (between the Barbarians and the New Zealand All Blacks) is one I will never forget and those of us who played in it will never be allowed to forget. It is a match that will live with me forever. People tend only to remember the first four minutes of the game because of the try, but what they forgot is the great deal of good rugby played afterwards, much of which came from the All Blacks. After the success of the 1971 Lions tour, which captured the imagination of the whole country, it was an opportunity to bring a lot of that side together again.
The National Stadium is best known as the venue for what is considered to be "the greatest try ever scored" by Gareth Edwards for the Barbarians against New Zealand in what is also called "the greatest match ever played" on 27 January 1973. The final result was a win for the Barbarians. The score, 23–11, which translates to 27–13 in today's scoring system.
The scorers were:
Barbarians: Tries: Gareth Edwards, Fergus Slattery, John Bevan, J P R Williams; Conversions: Phil Bennett (2); Penalty: Phil Bennett.
All Blacks: Tries: Grant Batty (2); Penalty: Joseph Karam.
The National Stadium hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World Cup, including the third-place play-off. The National Stadium was also host to the inaugural Heineken Cup final of 1995–96 when Toulouse beat Cardiff RFC by 21–18 after extra time, in front of 21,800 spectators. The following final in 1996–97 was also held at the National Stadium, this time it was between Brive and Leicester Tigers. Brive won the match 28–9, in front of a crowd of 41,664.
In 2008, the rugby ground hosted all the games in Pool A of the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship and also the semi-final on 18 June 2008, in which England beat South Africa 26–18.
Until February 2012, it had been assumed that the last professional rugby union game to take place at the Arms Park was on 17 May 2009, when Edinburgh beat the Cardiff Blues 36–14 in a Celtic League match during the 2008–09 season.
However, on Tuesday, 7 February 2012, it was confirmed that Cardiff Blues would face Connacht at the Arms Park on Friday, 10 February 2012. The Pro12 League game result was a win for the Cardiff Blues 22–15 and attendance of 8,000. The following Tuesday, it was announced that the match against Ulster on Friday, 17 February, would also be at the Arms Park, resulting in a Blues win, 21–14 and attendance of 8,600. The agreement signed during 2009 tied Cardiff Blues to a 20-year contract to play a maximum of 18 games per season for a set fee, rather than per match at Cardiff City Stadium. But on 23 February, it was announced that the two Welsh 'derbies' against the Scarlets and the Ospreys would be played at Cardiff City Stadium, rather than the Arms Park, because of Cardiff Blues' anticipation that the attendance figures would far exceed the maximum capacity of 9,000. On 8 May 2012, it was announced that Cardiff Blues would be returning to the Arms Park on a permanent basis after just three years at the Cardiff City Stadium.
On 23 May 2014, the rugby ground hosted the final of the 2013–14 Amlin Challenge Cup in which Northampton Saints beat Bath 30-16.
- Rugby World Cup
Cardiff Arms Park hosted matches of the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
Date | Competition | Home team | Away team | Attendance | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 October 1991 | 1991 Rugby World Cup Pool 3 | Wales | 13 | Western Samoa | 16 | 45,000 |
9 October 1991 | 1991 Rugby World Cup Pool 3 | Wales | 16 | Argentina | 7 | 35,000 |
12 October 1991 | 1991 Rugby World Cup Pool 3 | Wales | 3 | Australia | 38 | 54,000 |
30 October 1991 | 1991 Rugby World Cup Third-place play-off | New Zealand | 13 | Scotland | 6 | 47,000 |
Rugby league
South Wales Scorpions played a Rugby League Championship 1 match against London Skolars at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday, 27 July 2014 and on Sunday 10 May 2015 at Cardiff Arms Park, South Wales Scorpions took on North Wales Crusaders. The 2015 European Cup match between France and Wales was held at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday, 30 October 2015 at 18:30 GMT.
The highest attendance for a rugby league game at the Arms Park was recorded on 8 June 1996 during the first Super League season when 6,708 saw St. Helens defeat the Sheffield Eagles 43-32. The St Helens team at the time contained Welsh players Anthony Sullivan, Karle Hammond and Keiron Cunningham.
- Rugby league test matches
List of rugby league test matches played at Cardiff Arms Park.
Test# | Date | Result | Attendance | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 26 June 1996 | England def. Wales 26–12 | 5,425 | 1996 European Rugby League Championship |
2 | 30 October 2015 | Wales def. France 14–6 | 1,028 | 2015 European Cup |
Tennis
Tennis courts were laid out in the Arms Park for Cardiff Tennis Club until the club moved to Sophia Gardens in 1967. In 2003, the club amalgamated with Lisvane Tennis Club to form Lisvane (CAC) Tennis Club, which is still a section of Cardiff Athletic Club (CAC).
Music concerts
Main article: List of music concerts at the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park See also: List of music concerts at the Millennium StadiumMajor music concerts were also held at the National Stadium from 1987 until 1996, they included Tina Turner, U2, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Dire Straits, Bon Jovi and R.E.M. The last music concert was held on 14 July 1996. Jehovah's Witnesses held their annual conventions at the National Stadium.
Singing tradition
The National Stadium was known primarily as the venue for massed voices singing such hymns as "Cwm Rhondda", "Calon Lân", "Men of Harlech" and "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" ("Land of my Fathers" – the national anthem of Wales). The legendary atmosphere including singing of the crowd was said to be worth at least a try or a goal to the home nation. This tradition of singing has now passed on to the Millennium Stadium.
The Arms Park has its own choir, called the Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir. It was formed in 1966 as the Cardiff Athletic Club Male Voice Choir, and today performs internationally with a schedule of concerts and tours. In 2000, the choir changed their name to become the Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir.
See also
Notes
- Thomas, Simon (22 June 2007). "Time Blues quit Arms Park?". icWales. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
- "Cardiff Blues ready to install temporary stands at Arms Park for Amlin Challenge Cup final as Bath and Northampton fans protest about venue". Wales Online. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- ^ "Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales". Cricinfo (ESPN). Retrieved 23 April 2008.
- ^ Red Dragon (1912). Reminiscences of the Cardiff Rugby Football Club, "Opening ceremony of the new stands, Cardiff Arms Park", 5 October 1912. Cardiff Rugby Football Club.
- "Post-war developments in Sophia Gardens". Glamorgan County Cricket Club & Cricket Archive. Archived from the original on 27 July 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
- ^ "Old battles reignite over shared ground plans". WalesOnline. 25 October 2006. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- "The Cardiff Centenary Walk". 2006.
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- ^ "'The older inns of Cardiff', Cardiff Records: volume 5 (1905), pp. 438–445". University of London & History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
- ^ "Parks and Gardens". Glamorgan Record Office. Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
- "Archibald Leitch". Nicolas Janberg ICS. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
- ^ "Rugby at Cardiff Arms Park". Glamorgan County Cricket Club & CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 February 2008.
- ^ Harris CBE LLD (Hons), Kenneth M (1984). "The Story of the Development of the National Rugby Ground 7 April 1984". Welsh Rugby Union.
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References
- Harris, K. M. The Story of the Development of the National Rugby Ground, 7 April 1984. Cover of the booklet on www.rugbyrelics.com
External links
- Cardiff Blues page on the Arms Park
- Photographs of the National Stadium in April 1997, prior to demolition
- Gareth Edwards try for the Barbarians Vs All Blacks, 27 January 1973, at the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park
- Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir website
- The opening ceremony of the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Cardiff Arms Park
- wikimapia.org image of Cardiff Arms Park
- Bill Hardiman (groundsman) profile
- Principality Stadium
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