Stradey Park

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Stradey Park
nickname = Parc Y Strade


location = Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales
broke_ground = ?
opened = 1879
closed = Open (November 15 2008)
demolished =
owner = Llanelli RFC Ltd.
operator = Llanelli RFC Ltd.
surface = Grass
construction_cost = ?
architect = ?
former_names =
tenants = Llanelli Scarlets (Celtic League)
Llanelli RFC
seating_capacity = 10,800

Stradey Park (Welsh: "Parc Y Strade") is a rugby union stadium located near the centre of the town of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is the home of the Llanelli Scarlets region and Llanelli RFC rugby teams. The stadium is a combination of seating and standing with a total capacity of 10,800. With the Llanelli Scarlets moving to a new stadium in Pemberton, Stradey Park is due to be demolished in late 2008 and replaced with housing.

History

The ground originally opened in 1879 for use by Llanelli RFC.

The ground has seen many memorable games including the defeat of Australia in 1967 and the All Blacks in 1972. It also hosted the match between Argentina and Samoa during the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Due to the ground's owners, Llanelli RFU Ltd., having financial difficulties following the game turning professional, Stradey Park was sold to the Welsh Rugby Union in 1997 for £1.25 million. The ground was repurchased by Llanelli RFU Ltd. in 2005. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4397448.stm] Stradey Park bought back from WRU]

When the Llanelli Scarlets region was formed in 2004, it was decided that they would play the majority of their home fixtures at Stradey Park. Llanelli RFC continue to play their home matches at the ground. The stadium is also host for the Llanelli A.F.C. UEFA Cup games in the 2006/07 season.

Future

Stradey Park was sold to developer Taylor Wimpey in February 2008. A new stadium is under construction at Pemberton on the Eastern Outskirts of Llanelli, financed by Carmarthenshire County Council and will cost an estimated £45 million. The funding will come partly from the re-development of the Stradey site and also from the sale of a fast-food outlet and hotel on the site of the new stadium.

It is due to open in December 2008. Stradey Park Stadium will be demolished and a small garden of remembrance placed on the site to remember the sporting heroes who played there and the fans whose ashes were scattered on the pitch. Residents at Stradey still oppose the high density housing development on the stadium site and the threat to nearby Sandy Lake which may be lost by planned diversion of the Cille River to allow building of these new homes.

This has caused some controversy as the ground is built on what has been designated by Carmarthenshire County Council as 'Recreation Land', and this has led many local residents to petition for no houses to be built on this land and instead for Stradey Park to be renovated [ [http://www.scarletfever.org/index.php?id=151] Stradey Development – a “people” issue] .

Layout

The ground is divided up into 6 separate blocks for the purposes of accommodating spectators. There are two standing terraces at the far ends of the ground, known as the East Terrace (which has no roof) and may also be referred to as the Town End, or more informally the Tanner Bank, and the West Terrace or for sponsorship reasons the CSA Covered Terrace which as suggested has a roof. The West Terrace may be referred to as the Pwll End. There are two seating blocks, the North and South Stands. Again for sponsorship reasons the North Stand is known as the WRW Stand. In front of both stands are standing areas called the North and South enclosures respectively.

There are several bars located around the ground both inside and out. Also outside of the ground are the car park, the ticket office and official Llanelli Scarlets shop.

One unusual feature of the ground is the scarlet saucepans placed atop each goalpost. The utensils are a reference to the past of Llanelli as a major tin plating centre, as well as to the traditional club anthem, "Sosban Fach" (Welsh for "little saucepan").

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.scarlets.co.uk/ Scarlets Regional Rugby Team]