Principality Stadium (Cardiff)

Principality Stadium is the national stadium of Wales. Located in Cardiff, it is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and has also held Wales national football team games.

General information

Official website: www.principalitystadium.wales

Arena capacity: 73,931 spectators

Address: Westgate St, Cardiff CF10 1NS, United Kingdom

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 51°28′41″N 3°10′57″W

Year of construction: 1999

Construction cost: £121 million

Field: GrassMaster lawn with dimensions of 120 × 79 m

Seating plan of Principality Stadium

South Stand

The South Stand is divided into three tiers.

The bottom tier is the shallowest, making use of red seating in its front rows and green seating further back.

The middle tier hangs partly over the bottom tier beneath, consisting entirely of red seating with a row of executive boxes up at the very back.

The top tier is the largest and the steepest, consisting of green seating at the front and blue seating at the back that is shaped to form a continuous wave-like pattern. The South Stand roof hangs over all three tiers, and there is a large electronic scoreboard hanging down from the front of it which can best be seen by those at the opposite end of the stadium.

Your view from anywhere inside the South Stand is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above.

The stadium’s enclosed design in turn means that every row inside is fully protected.

The southwest corner uses the same three-tiered design as the adjacent South Stand.

The bottom tier is the shallowest, making use of red seating in its front rows and green seating further back. The difference between here and the South Stand however is that you can find executive boxes in place behind the bottom tier’s back row.

The middle tier hangs partly over the bottom tier beneath, consisting entirely of red seating with a row of executive boxes up at the very back.

The top tier is the largest and the steepest, consisting of green seating at the front and blue seating at the back that is shaped to form a continuous wave-like pattern.

Your view from anywhere inside the southwest corner is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above.

The stadium’s enclosed design in turn means that every row inside is fully protected.

West Stand

The West Stand uses the same three-tiered design as the adjacent southwest corner.

The bottom tier is the shallowest, making use of red seating in its front rows and green seating further back. There are executive boxes in place behind the bottom tier’s back row, and the central seating block also contains a red press area at the back.

The middle tier hangs partly over the bottom tier beneath, consisting entirely of red seating with a row of executive boxes up at the very back. There is also a flat platform for disabled supporters to use at either end of the West Stand’s middle tier.

The top tier is the largest and the steepest, consisting of green seating at the front and blue seating at the back that is shaped to form a continuous wave-like pattern. There is also a flat platform for disabled supporters to use at either end of the West Stand’s top tier, and space down at the front of the central blocks holds the Principality Stadium’s matchday camera.

Your view from anywhere inside the West Stand is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above.

The stadium’s enclosed design in turn means that every row inside is fully protected.

The northwest corner uses the same three-tiered design as the adjacent West Stand.

The bottom tier is the shallowest, making use of red seating in its front rows and green seating further back.

The middle tier hangs partly over the bottom tier beneath, consisting entirely of red seating with a row of executive boxes up at the very back.

The top tier is the largest and the steepest, consisting of green seating at the front and blue seating at the back that is shaped to form a continuous wave-like pattern. Part of the top tier’s back row is lower down than in the rest of the northwest corner however, and this is because of the shape of the adjacent North Stand.

Your view from anywhere inside the northwest corner is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above.

The stadium’s enclosed design in turn means that every row inside is fully protected.

North Stand

The North Stand is the only side of the Principality Stadium that consists of two tiers rather than three, with the top tier significantly larger and steeper than the tier beneath.

The lower tier makes use of red seating in its front rows and green seating further back.

The upper tier hangs partly over the lower tier beneath, consisting of red seating at the front and green seating at the back. This upper tier also has six single-rowed blocks of red seating right up at the back. The North Stand roof hangs over both tiers, and there is a large electronic scoreboard hanging down from the front of it which can best be seen by those at the opposite end of the stadium.

Your view of the pitch from anywhere inside the North Stand is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above.

The stadium’s enclosed design in turn means that every row inside is fully protected.

The northeast corner mirrors the design of the northwest corner, consisting of three tiers.

The bottom tier is the shallowest, making use of red seating in its front rows and green seating further back.

The middle tier hangs partly over the bottom tier beneath, consisting entirely of red seating with a row of executive boxes up at the very back.

The top tier is the largest and the steepest, consisting of green seating at the front and blue seating at the back that is shaped to form a continuous wave-like pattern. Part of the top tier’s back row is lower down than in the rest of the northwest corner however, and this is because of the shape of the adjacent North Stand.

Your view from anywhere inside the northeast corner is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above.

The stadium’s enclosed design in turn means that every row inside is fully protected.

​East Stand

The East Stand uses the same three-tiered design as the adjacent southwest corner.

The bottom tier is the shallowest, making use of red seating in its front rows and green seating further back. There are executive boxes in place behind the bottom tier’s back row, and you can find the stadium’s substitute benches and tunnel down the front with the changing rooms inside.

The middle tier hangs partly over the bottom tier beneath, consisting entirely of red seating with a row of executive boxes up at the very back. There is also a section of darker coloured, directors seating up at the back of the tier’s central block. A flat platform for disabled supporters to use can additionally be found at either end of the West Stand’s middle tier.

The top tier is the largest and the steepest, consisting of green seating at the front and blue seating at the back that is shaped to form a continuous wave-like pattern. Two sets of the letters BT can be found spelt out using white seating in this top tier. There is also a flat platform for disabled supporters to use at either end.

Your view from anywhere inside the East Stand is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above.

The stadium’s enclosed design in turn means that every row inside is fully protected.

The southeast corner mirrors the design of the southwest corner, consisting of three tiers.

The bottom tier is the shallowest, making use of red seating in its front rows and green seating further back. You can also find executive boxes in place behind the bottom tier’s back row.

The middle tier hangs partly over the bottom tier beneath, consisting entirely of red seating with a row of executive boxes up at the very back.

The top tier is the largest and the steepest, consisting of green seating at the front and blue seating at the back that is shaped to form a continuous wave-like pattern.

Your view from anywhere inside the southeast corner is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above.

The stadium’s enclosed design in turn means that every row inside is fully protected.

Away Fans

Unlike other major stadiums in the UK, home and away fans at the Principality Stadium typically aren’t segregated, with the exception being major cup finals when the stadium is usually split in two between the two fanbases.

Regardless of whether segregation is or isn’t in place however, you are treated to a clear view of the pitch from anywhere inside.

Some people do note however that at the very back of the bottom tier, where the middle tier hangs partly overhead, you can feel a little disconnected from the rest of the stadium as your upward view is restricted.

Where to buy tickets?

To buy tickets you can go directly to the arena’s official website and just click on the event you want to attend.

The price of the ticket will be affected by the type of event (for example, sports or concert) and your age. And of course, membership owners have their own advantages.

How to get there?

The Principality Stadium is located in the centre of Cardiff almost opposite Cardiff Central Rail station.

Frequent trains connect Cardiff with London Paddington, Birmingham New Street, and Bristol.

The Welsh national stadium is located less than five minutes from Cardiff Central Station making it one of the most convenient grounds to visit in the United Kingdom. As it is located in the country’s capital it is unsurprisingly the busiest station in Wales, and is served by direct services to Manchester, Birmingham and London amongst other cities.

If arriving by car, make your way to the centre of Cardiff and find a parking place, which will almost always be at walking distance from the stadium.

Long stay parking within Cardiff City centre can be somewhat problematic, especially if you plan on getting there only a few hours before kick-off. Whilst there are some parking lots available, unlike Wembley there isn’t an official one which allows you to book in advanced meaning that it can be tough to know where to park.

Your choices are to either use the Park and Ride Service which costs £10.00 and is signposted at Junction 33 of the M4, or to pick out a smaller car-park using this Just Park Map, and hope that there is a space when you arrive.

Where to eat and drink?

The Principality Stadium’s central location makes that there are plenty of eating and drinking options in the near vicinity of the stadium. Cardiff’s city centre lies just east of the stadium and is filled with pubs, bars, and restaurants.

The same is true in terms of hotels. There are many hotels located on all sides of the stadium in various price categories.

Located next to a major train station rest assured that there are plenty of dining options nearby such as staple fast food options like Burger King, Greggs, McDonalds and Subway. No more than 10 minutes away is St David’s Dewi Sant indoor shopping centre which has sit-down restaurants such as Nandos, Jamies Italian and TGI Friday’s.

Inside the concourses there are over 15 food kiosks and 27 places to buy an alcoholic drink with visitors served by a catering team which consists of 900 members of staff. Rest assured you will not go hungry inside the Dragons Lair!

Features

The all-seater stadium has the capacity for 74,500 supporters and features a retractable roof, only the second stadium of its type in Europe, and the largest football stadium in the world with this feature, by capacity. Additional seating is sometimes added for special events such as a rugby Test against the New Zealand All Blacks, or for the FA Cup Final.

The natural grass turf was made up of a modular system installed by GreenTech ITM. It features built in irrigation and drainage. The pitch itself was laid on top of some 7,412 pallets that could be moved so the stadium could be used for concerts, exhibitions and other events.

In May 2014, after much trouble with disease and stability, the surface was removed and replaced with a more resilient interwoven sand based Desso pitch.

The superstructure of the stadium is based around four 90.3-metre (296 ft) masts. The stadium was built from 56,000 tonnes of concrete and steel, and has 124 hospitality suites and 7 hospitality lounges, 22 bars, 7 restaurants, 17 first aid points, 12 escalators and 7 lifts. The stadium has 7 gates for access to the site; Gate 1 is from the River Walk via Castle Street (to the north), Gates 2 and 3 are via Westgate Street (to the east), Gate 4 is for Security only also via Westgate Street, Gate 5 is via Park Street (to the south) and Gates 6 and 7 are via the Millennium Plaza (also to the south).

In each of the stadium’s bars, so-called “joy machines” can pour 12 pints in less than 20 seconds. During a Wales versus France match, 63,000 fans drank 77,184 pints of beer, almost double the 44,000 pints drunk by a similar number of fans at a game at Twickenham. The stadium has a resident hawk named “Dad”, who is employed to drive seagulls and pigeons out of the stadium.

In 2005 the stadium installed an “Arena Partition Drape System” – a 1,100 kg (2,400 lb) black curtain made up of 12 drapes measuring 9 m × 35 m (30 ft × 115 ft) – to vary the audience from a capacity of over 73,000 down to between 12,000 and 46,000, depending on the four different positions that it can be hung. The curtains can be stored in the roof of the stadium when not in use. The £1 million cost of the curtain was funded by the stadium, the Millennium Commission, its caterers Letherby and Christopher (Compass Group) and by the then Wales Tourist Board. The curtain was supplied by Blackout.

Accessibility

The Stadium has been designed with independence in mind and provides accessible information about the Stadium’s facilities and use.

Access

Access to Principality Stadium is across level plazas with no steps and no ramps steeper than 1:20. Wheelchair users and other disabled spectators enter Principality Stadium with all other spectators, through the same turnstiles and through the same entrances.

Stewards will direct spectators to nearby lifts as appropriate.

Ambulant Disabled

For WRU controlled and operated events, ambulant disabled seating is offered in blocks L12 and L27 with extended hand rails offered within these blocks to assist. Email [email protected] for further information.

Parking Arrangements

A number of Disabled Car Parking spaces are available and can be reserved by prior arrangement with the Stadium management. Allocation of passes for these spaces will be addressed on an event-by-event basis.

Toilet Facilities

Toilet facilities for disabled spectators are all easily accessible. To prevent misuse, these toilets are now accessible using Radar keys. For further information on Radar keys please visit http://www.radar.org.uk/. The schedule of toilet provision at each level is as follows.

Refreshment Facilities

These are located close to the accessible viewing areas at all levels. Counter and queuing areas are designed and positioned to enable independent access whilst not impeding circulation routes. Principality Stadium management recognises that disabled people may find it difficult to access facilities during the limited and congested periods at half-time and therefore operate a refreshment order service in conjunction with stewards.

Pricing Policy

For Principality Stadium and Welsh Rugby Union controlled events, disabled spectators pay the full price for tickets with one companion (if required) admitted for free. Where control over the availability of event tickets does not reside with the Stadium, the pricing policy will be determined by the event promoter. Submit an enquiry if you are attending an externally promoted event.

Stewarding For Disabled Spectators

A dedicated body of stewards with particular responsibilities for offering assistance to disabled spectators as required will be deployed at all appropriate locations within the Stadium. They have all undertaken specific disability awareness training. A refreshment order service utilising these stewards is available for those disabled spectators who request it.

Guide Dogs

Guide Dogs will be permitted in the Stadium by prior arrangement with management. In order to provide sufficient room and comfort for the dogs they will be restricted to the wheelchair terracing at the rear of the lower tier of seating on Level 3.

Emergency Evacuation

Principality Stadium recognizes that the safety and welfare of spectators is paramount in the successful operation of the Stadium. It has to plan carefully for every eventuality, and emergency evacuation procedures have been developed by Stadium Management in consultation with the Safety Committee of the Local Authority.

The evacuation plan will depend on the location of any incident and the location of wheelchair positions. For example, different procedures will be followed for the spaces on Levels 4 & 6 compared to those at Level 3. Spectators are requested at all times to follow the directions and advice of the appointed stewards. Dedicated lifts will be available for the evacuation of wheelchair users at Levels 4, 5 and 6.

Wheelchair Accessible Terraces

Provision for wheelchair users is available throughout the ground at all levels.

Provision at Level 3 is flexible to allow various combinations of wheelchair users, friends and family subject to prior notification to Stadium management. Spaces on the upper levels are reached via lifts and level access. All Level 5 Hospitality Boxes are wheelchair accessible via lifts and level access.

Stadium Wheelchairs

Ten wheelchairs supplied by Invacare (UK) Ltd are available for use by spectators at Principality Stadium to provide easy, escorted access to their seats. Please note that these chairs cannot be pre-booked, however, disabled team stewards are deployed at all entrances prior to kick off and provide highly efficient customer care before and after the game.

Principality Stadium wheelchairs cannot be used in the disabled seating bays – chairs must be available to use at all times and cannot be booked for a whole event’s use. Spectators wishing to hire wheelchairs in Cardiff can do so via the local Shopmobility or Bush Healthcare.

Principality Stadium is indebted to the Wooden Spoon Charity for its support in the provision of wheelchair terraces at the Stadium and in facilities for wheelchair users at the refreshment outlets.

Exterior

Heading to the Principality Stadium from Cardiff Central Station should first bring you to the South Stand.

Most of its exterior is blocked from view by a large building right in front of it that holds a gym and a cinema among other facilities. Head past this building however and you are able to get a better view of the South Stand’s exterior, which uses mostly a green panelled base, blue panels higher up, a section of red panels above these that protrudes outwards, and white supporting pillars coming down from the roof. The underside of the stand’s highest tier is also visible from outside.

What is also noticeable about the Principality Stadium’s exterior are the large cantilever supports that protrude outwards and upwards. There is one of those supports located on each of the stadium’s four corners. The support on the southwest corner has a white metal fence a little out in front of it, and that prevents visitors from heading further up the stadium’s western side on a matchday.

You can find two of the Principality Stadium’s seven gates around here. Gate 7 is a little away from the river bank and Gate 6 is to the right, at the end of an opening underneath the adjacent gym and cinema building.

The white gates outside the southwest corner are only open on non-matchdays. They remain closed on matchdays, and so only supporters based on the southern and western sides of the stadium are permitted to enter through their specific gate and enter the space behind them.

The River Walk, known as Millennium Walk, passes right alongside the River Taff and right outside the stadium’s West Stand. With accessibility to it limited on a matchday, the best view to get a good view of it is on Fitzhamon Embankment on the other side of the river.

The exterior of the West Stand looks similar to the adjacent South Stand. It consists of a green panelled base, blue panels higher up, a section of red panels above these that protrudes outwards, and white supporting pillars coming down from the roof. The underside of the stand’s highest tier is visible from outside, and the lower parts of the stand include a glass façade that leads to some of the executive areas inside.

There are none of the stadium’s gates outside the West Stand, with fans based in here typically making use of either Gate 7 outside the stadium’s southwest corner or Gate 1 a little away from the stadium’s northwest corner.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to check your ticket so that you know exactly which gate you need to enter. Since the River Walk is closed off to non-ticket holders on a matchday, you will need to walk around the whole of the Principality Stadium and its immediate surroundings in order to get between Gate 7 to the southwest and Gate 1 to the northwest.

The alternative route involves crossing the river and walking past the stadium along the other bank, but this isn’t that much quicker.

The Principality Stadium’s North Stand is the least accessible of the four, whether that be on a matchday or a non-matchday.

The reason for this is because of what is immediately out in front of it, a roughly-12,000 capacity rugby union stadium called Cardiff Arms Park. It has been present since 1969 when the old National Stadium was in place right next to it and is home to Cardiff Rugby Football Club and the Cardiff Blues.

Given that there is also a car park, bowling green and a Holiday Inn immediately out beyond Cardiff Arms Park, you will need to head a fair distance away from the Principality Stadium in order to get between the northwest and northeast corners. The route requires you to head north up Millennium Way, head past the Holiday Inn on Castle Street (A4161), and onto Westgate Street which heads past the eastern side of the Millennium Stadium.

The northeast corner of the Principality Stadium has Gate 2 outside of it and can be accessed at the end of a ramp from off Westgate Street.

The East Stand is very similar in design to the West Stand opposite, consisting of a green panelled base, blue panels higher up, a section of red panels above these that protrudes outwards, and white supporting pillars coming down from the roof. The underside of the stand’s highest tier is visible from outside, and the lower parts of the stand include a red glass façade that leads to some of the executive areas inside.

Gate 3 is located outside the East Stand and can be accessed at the end of a ramp from off Westgate Street. It is a short distance away from Gate 2 and the stadium’s northeast corner, and fans notably must walk either under or around a set of lights that are joined together to look like a rugby goalpost.

Further along Westgate Street, on the other side of a pair of buildings that include the Welsh Rugby Union Store, is a route leading up to Gate 4. This gate is for security only, however.

Between Gate 2 and Gate 3 on the eastern side of the Principality Stadium is a statue of Sir Tasker Watkins.

Born in Nelson, Caerphilly on 18th November 1918, Watkins is noted for becoming president of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1993, having played as an outside-half for the Army, Cardiff Rugby Football Club and Glamorgan Wanderers in his younger years. He oversaw Welsh rugby’s switch from amateur, club competition to professional, regional competition whilst president of the WRU, and remained in the role until he stepped down on 26th September 2004.

A long-standing figure at Glamorgan Wanderers and a life vice patron of the WRU, Sir Tasker Watkins passed away on 9th September 2007 at the age of 88. The nine-foot bronze statue of him outside the Principality Stadium was unveiled on 15th November 2009.

To get round from the East Stand to the South Stand, you can head further south along Westgate Street, past Gate 4, and turn right onto Park Street. Doing so will bring you past the Cardiff Civil and Family Justice Centre, past the BT Stadium House, and up to the stadium’s southeast corner.

This is where you can find Gate 5 right underneath the southeast cantilever support and continuing all the way along Park Street will eventually bring you back onto Wood Street and back in line with Gate 6 and Gate 7.

History

As a result of an agreement between Cardiff Athletic Club and the WRU, the National Stadium project established that a new stadium for international matches and events was required, with Cardiff RFC moving to a new, purpose-built stadium on the original cricket ground at the site of the former Cardiff Arms Park stadium. By 7 April 1984 the National Stadium was officially opened. By 1999, the Principality Stadium had replaced the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, as the national stadium of Wales for rugby union and association football international matches. Cardiff RFC continued as before to play at Cardiff Arms Park rugby ground, which had replaced the cricket ground in 1969. The stadium was first used for a major event on 26 June 1999, when Wales played South Africa in a rugby union test match before a crowd of 29,000. Wales won 29–19: the first time they had ever beaten the Springboks.