- Liberty Stadium, Swansea
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This article is about the Liberty Stadium in Swansea. For other uses, see Liberty Stadium (disambiguation).
Liberty Stadium
Stadiwm Liberty
Former names White Rock Stadium Location Swansea, Wales Coordinates 51°38′32″N 3°56′06″W / 51.6422°N 3.9351°WCoordinates: 51°38′32″N 3°56′06″W / 51.6422°N 3.9351°W Broke ground 2003 Opened 10 July 2005 Owner Swansea Council Operator StadCo Surface Desso GrassMaster Construction cost £27 million Architect TTH Architects, Gateshead UK Capacity 20,532 Tenants Ospreys (2005–)
Swansea City A.F.C. (2005–)The Liberty Stadium (Welsh: Stadiwm Liberty) is a purpose-built sports stadium and conferencing venue in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales. The stadium is all-seated, with a capacity of 20,532 making it the largest purpose-built venue in Swansea and the third largest stadium in Wales after the Millennium Stadium and the Cardiff City Stadium. It is also the home of Swansea City and the Ospreys. As a result of Swansea City's promotion the stadium is the first Premier League ground in Wales. It is the second smallest stadium in the Premier League after Loftus Road.
Contents
History
With the Vetch Field, St Helen's and The Gnoll no longer being up-to-date venues to play at, and both the Swans and the Ospreys not having the necessary capital to invest into a new stadium, Swansea council and a developer-led consortia submitted a proposal for a sustainable 'bowl' venue for 20,520 seats on a site to the west of the River Tawe on the site of the Morfa Stadium, an athletics stadium owned by the City and County of Swansea council. It was funded by a 355,000 ft retail park on land to the east of the river. The final value of the development being in excess of £50m.[1]
The first capacity crowd recorded at the Liberty Stadium was on the 1st November 2006 when The Ospreys beat Australia 24–16.[2] The stadium has also hosted two Wales Football internationals against Georgia and Sweden which both ended in defeats for Wales, 2–1 [3] and 1–0 [4] respectively.
Naming
During its construction, a variety of names were suggested for it: most commonly-used was "White Rock" stadium (after the copper works of the same name which existed on the site historically). However "White Rock" was only used as a temporary name during its construction and when work was finished, the name was dropped and the stadium owners began looking for sponsors for the stadium.[5] While sponsors were being searched for, it was called the "New Stadium Swansea". On 18 October 2005, Swansea-based developers Liberty Properties Plc won the naming rights to call it the "Liberty Stadium".[6]
Opening
On 10 July 2005, The Liberty Stadium was opened and became the home to Swansea City (replacing the Vetch Field) and the Ospreys (replacing St Helen's and The Gnoll).
On 23 July 2005, The Liberty Stadium was officially opened as Swansea City faced Fulham, (then managed by former Swansea player Chris Coleman) in an friendly match.[7] The match ended in a 1–1 draw with the first goal being scored by Fulham's Steed Malbranque.[8]
Statues
Before a league match between Swansea City and Oldham Athletic, a statue of Ivor Allchurch was unveiled to commemorate the Swansea-born star who during two spells for the club scored a record 164 goals in 445 appearances.[9]
International Fixtures
The ground also seldom hosts Wales football international fixtures.
Date Competition Home Team Score Away Team 15 August 2006 Friendly Wales 
0 – 0 
Bulgaria20 August 2008 Friendly Wales 1 – 2 
Georgia3 March 2010 Friendly Wales 0 – 1 
Sweden7 October 2011 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier Wales 2 – 0 
SwitzerlandConcerts
Date Artist Support Acts 1 June 2007 The Who[10] Killing for Company 29 June 2008 Elton John[11] Richard Fleeshman 23 June 2010 Pink[12] VV Brown Hockey
Butch Walker and the Black Widows1 June 2011 Rod Stewart[13] Swansea City FC 12 June 2011 JLS[14][15] Olly Murs
Alexis Jordan
Average Attendances
Season Swansea City[16] Ospreys[17] 2005–06 14,155 8,373 2006–07 12,720 9,027 2007–08 13,520 8,797 2008–09 15,186 8,405 2009–10 15,407 8,445 2010–11 15,507 8,105 Gallery
See also
- List of stadia in Wales by capacity
- List of Premier League stadiums
- List of football stadiums in England
References
- ^ "Liberty Stadium". swanseacity.net. 2010. http://www.swanseacity.net/page/LibertyStadium/0,,10354,00.html. Retrieved 14-5-2010.
- ^ "Ospreys 24–16 Australia". BBC. 1 November 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ospreys/6094366.stm. Retrieved 02-10-2010.
- ^ "Georgia punish sloppy Welsh". Sky Sports. 2008. http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_2927975,00.html. Retrieved 21-8-2008.
- ^ "Elmander strike slays Dragons". Sky Sports. 2010. http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3237768,00.html. Retrieved 4-3-2010.
- ^ "Stadium name puzzle for fans". BBC News. 21 July 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3914539.stm. Retrieved 21-07-2004.
- ^ "City stadium takes sponsor's name". BBC News. 18 October 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/4352630.stm. Retrieved 18-10-2005.
- ^ "City stadium ready for kick-off". BBC Sport. 22 July 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/4704083.stm. Retrieved 22 July 2005.
- ^ "Swansea 1–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 23 July 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/4708067.stm. Retrieved 23 July 2005.
- ^ "Swans unveil Allchurch monument". BBC Sport. 15 October 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/4337944.stm. Retrieved 15-10-2005.
- ^ "The Who to play Liberty Stadium". City and county of Swansea. 2007. http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=15652. Retrieved February 2007.
- ^ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/06/30/liberty-rocks-to-rocket-man-elton-john-91466-21170964/
- ^ "Singer Pink to rock Swansea's Liberty Stadium". South Wales Evening Post. 2009. http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Singer-Pink-rock-Swansea-s-Liberty-Stadium/article-1478890-detail/article.html. Retrieved 3-11-2009.
- ^ http://www.swanseacity.net/page/Latest/0,,10354~2296448,00.html
- ^ "Brit winners JLS to play Swansea's Liberty Stadium". BBC News. 24 January 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-12266130.
- ^ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/showbiz/2011/01/24/jls-announce-june-liberty-stadium-gig-91466-28045473/
- ^ "Swansea City Attendances". Swansea City. 2011. http://www.swanseacity.net/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10354~20107,00.html. Retrieved 03-06-2011.
- ^ "Ospreys attendances". Magners League. 2010. http://www.magnersleague.com/statzone/attendance.php#3543. Retrieved 15-07-2010.
External links
Swansea City Association Football Club History Home Stadium Vetch Field · Liberty StadiumTraining ground Teams Reserves · LadiesRivalries Related articles Premier League venues Current Anfield · Britannia Stadium · Carrow Road · City of Manchester Stadium · Craven Cottage · DW Stadium · Emirates Stadium · Ewood Park · Goodison Park · Liberty Stadium · Loftus Road · Molineux Stadium · Old Trafford · Reebok Stadium · St James' Park · Stadium of Light · Stamford Bridge · The Hawthorns · Villa Park · White Hart LaneFormer Bloomfield Road · Boleyn Ground · Boundary Park · Bramall Lane · City Ground · County Ground · Elland Road · Fratton Park · Hillsborough Stadium · KC Stadium · Madejski Stadium · Oakwell · Portman Road · Pride Park Stadium · Riverside Stadium · St Andrew's · St Mary's Stadium · Selhurst Park · The Valley · Turf Moor · Valley Parade · Vicarage Road · Walkers StadiumDemolished Wales national football team General Football Association of Wales · ManagersVenues Home venues · Millennium Stadium · Aberdare Athletic Ground · Anfield · Cardiff City Stadium · Liberty Stadium · Ninian Park · Old Racecourse Ground · Parc y Scarlets · Penrhyn Park · Racecourse Ground · St. Helen's · The Arms Park · The National Park · The Oval · Vetch FieldStatistics Results and Fixtures · Records · Word Cup record · Hat-tricksPlayers Alphabetical · 25+ caps · World Cup & Euro Championship squads · Born outside Wales · Other categoriesWorld Finals Other tournaments Other FAW teams Teams Rivalries Related articles Celtic League venues 2011–12 Cardiff City Stadium • Firhill Stadium • Galway Sportsgrounds • Liberty Stadium • Murrayfield Stadium • Thomond Park/Musgrave Park • Parc y Scarlets • Ravenhill • Rodney Parade • RDS Arena • Stadio Luigi Zaffanella / Stadio Giglio • Stadio Comunale di Monigo
Festivals List of venues Guildhall • Brangwyn Hall • Dylan Thomas Centre • Dylan Thomas Theatre • Grand Theatre • Patti Pavilion • Townhill Theatre • Taliesin Arts Centre • Castle Square • Singleton Park • Tabernacle Chapel • Liberty StadiumMuseums and galleries National Waterfront Museum • Swansea Museum • Gower Heritage Centre • Glynn Vivian Art Gallery • 1940s Swansea Bay • Egypt Centre • Dylan Thomas CentreRecreation Swansea Central Library • LC2 • Brynmill Park • Cwmdonkin Park • Victoria Park • Clyne Gardens • Singleton Park • Wales National Pool • Plantasia • Swansea Beach • Swansea Marina • Mumbles PierEntertainment Wind Street • The Kingsway • Aspers CasinoShopping Swansea Market • Quadrant Shopping Centre • St. David's Shopping Centre • Oxford Street • Parc Tawe • Parc Fforestfach • Morfa Retail Park • Swansea Enterprise ParkEconomy of Swansea Main commercial employers
(excluding national retailers)Main public sector employers Companies with a local headquarters CGram Software Ltd • First Cymru • Hurns Brewing Company • South West Wales Publications • Swansea Building SocietyRetail Retail parks (Morfa • Fforestfach • Parc Tawe • Pontarddulais Road • Enterprise Park) • Shopping centres
(Quadrant • St. David's • City centre • Market)Regeneration and Development Tourism Dylan Thomas Centre • Glynn Vivian Art Gallery • LC, Swansea • Mumbles Pier • National Waterfront Museum • Plantasia • Swansea Beach • Swansea Marina • Swansea MuseumIndustrial history Categories:- Football venues in Wales
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