New Cardiff City stadium

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = New Cardiff City stadium
nickname =


broke_ground = scheduled September 2007
opened = scheduled May 2009
demolished =
owner = Cardiff City Stadium Ltd
operator =
surface =
construction_cost = £29,000,000
architect =
former_names =
tenants = Cardiff City F.C. from 2009
Cardiff Blues from 2009
seating_capacity = 26,500|The new Cardiff City stadium is a 26,500 [http://www.cardiffcitystadium.co.uk/index.php?view=article&catid=9%3Afrontpage&id=72%3Asteve-borley-on-progress&option=com_content&Itemid=47 Interview with Steve Borley | Official Stadium Website] ] all-seated ground in the Leckwith area of the city, which will be the new home of Cardiff City F.C. and Cardiff Blues rugby union club from the beginning of the 2009-10 season. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/7002590.stm BBC SPORT | Wales | Cardiff teams agree ground share ] ] After the Millennium Stadium, it will be the second largest stadium in Cardiff and in Wales.

Overview

The new stadium will be built on the site of the nearby Cardiff Athletics Stadium. The project also includes a retail park and requires the rebuilding of the athletics stadium to be called the Cardiff International Sports Stadium.

The overall 60 acre development at Leckwith will cost £100m, and will provide:
*A new 26,500 seater stadium
*A new athletics stadium for Cardiff
*470,000 sq ft retail development between 13 major retailers
*A housing development on the site of Ninian Park
*Brand new 70 room Hotel with bar & restaurant

Planning

Due to the scale and expense of the project, it encountered long planning delays, with construction finally beginning in late 2007. Some fans and elements of the media had speculated that the project would not go ahead at all, although since the turn of 2006, there were many encouraging developments.

First mooted as a long term target by former owner Sam Hammam, the new stadium first gained public approval after a meeting between Hammam and then Cardiff Lord Mayor Russell Goodway in January 2002, giving the club 12 months to agree a planning and business plan [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1763900.stm BBC News | WALES | Hamman's stadium plan challenge ] ] . In November 2002 the club and the council signed an outline agreement for the development, subject to later agreement for outline planning permission [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2465285.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | Hammam scores stadium plan win ] ] .

In March 2003, stories began to emerge that the Chief Executive of the Millennium Stadium wanted Cardiff City to use their stadium instead, and saw no viable plan for two 50,000+ seat capacity stadium in the Welsh capital [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2943982.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | Tug-of-war over Cardiff stadia ] ] This was increased in light of Cardiff City's promotion to the Championship in May 2003 with local fears over traffic and access problems [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3146571.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | Traffic worries over stadium plan ] ] .

However, on 20 August, 2003 Cardiff councillors gave unanimous approval to the stadium plans, although expressed concerns over the need and scale of the retail development but understood its need to fund the stadium [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3167045.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | Cardiff stadium gets green light ] ] . On 9 September, 2003 the Welsh Assembly gave approval to the plan [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3093064.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | Road clear for Bluebirds' stadium ] ] .

In April 2004, Cardiff Council gave the first phase covering the stadium with a capacity of 30,000 seats and new athletics track approval [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3649535.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Cardiff's stadium takes next step ] ] . The next phase was held up by various legal and technical delays from November 2004 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4096447.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | Stadium retail plans held up ] ] to January 2005, when the council gave approval to three detailed plans for the retail development, subject to agreement of suitable underlying business plans [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/4189805.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Work on stadium 'to start in May' ] ] .

However, although development could have then started in May 2005, the underlying need for seed financing revealed the financial status of Cardiff City football club as poor, with £30+ million of debt and the need to sell star player and club captain Graham Kavanagh to Wigan Athletic F.C. in March 2005. It was also revealed that players and staff had not been paid for a month as the club struggled to honour a wage bill believed to be £750,000 a month, while auditors were looking at possible cutbacks [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/4317345.stm BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Cardiff City | Wigan complete Kavanagh signing ] ] . On 1 March, 2005 the club delayed the development until at least July 2005 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/4309303.stm BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Cardiff City | Cardiff stadium work put on hold ] ] .

After a 1-0 home loss to Sheffield United and a mobbing by fans, on 6 March, 2005 Hammam apologised to fans, and released club accounts which showed club debt at March 2004 at £29.6 million. Effectively, this was the start of the end of the Hammam era at Cardiff City, as he could not fund the required development.

After a summer sale of players, the entry of former Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale and numerous rumours, the development was given a 90 day time period by Cardiff Council from 31 December, 2005 to finalise the underlying business plan [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/4487598.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Club's deadline over new stadium ] ] . On 31 January, 2006 the developers secured Asda as the lead retailer of the new development, which enabled the final funding of the stadium to start [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/4664942.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | 'Watershed' for city stadium deal ] ] . This allowed the council timetable to extend by four months to September 2006 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/4998356.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Extra time for football stadium ] ] .

On 24 October, 2006 Laing O'Rouke won the contract to develop the 30,000 seat stadium, which Ridsdale stated would be ready for December 2008 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/6080058.stm BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Cardiff City | Cardiff set out new stadium plans ] ] . On 27 November 2006 Cardiff Council approved the business plan for the stadium, allowing the final planning approval to be gained from the council authority and the office of the Deputy Prime Minister. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/6187810.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | New boost for Bluebirds' stadium ] ]

In March 2007, the stadium plans were altered to allow construction to begin as soon as possible. To minimise construction costs, the 30,000 capacity was reduced to 25,000 by removing three-quarters of the second tier of seating, however the plans allow the option of completing the second tier to reach the 30,000 capacity if required [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/6451593.stm BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Cardiff City | Cardiff reduce stadium capacity ] ] . The former chairman of Cardiff City, Steve Borley, said in March 2008 that "We are working to raise the capacity and right now it stands at 26,830. The task is to raise that even further, and we believe it could be almost 28,000 when the stadium opens." [ [http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2008/03/07/cardiff-director-borley-put-a-figure-on-new-stadium-91466-20573902/ icWales.co.uk | Cardiff director Borley put a figure on new stadium] ]

When work finally commenced, Peter Ridsdale stated he expected stadium to be ready by Christmas 2008, although it is now not expected to be complete until May 2009. Although some believe this slight delay was caused by Cardiff City's ongoing legal action with Langston, it was actually caused by unexpectedly poor weather during the summer of 2007. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/6983963.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | City ground 'delayed to May 2009' ] ]

Construction

Land clearance started on 21 February, 2007 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/6382017.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Work starts on Bluebirds stadium ] ] , while on May 9, final finances were put in place for Laing O'Rourke to bring equipment on site and start construction. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/6642615.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Final go-ahead for city stadium ] ]

Joint football/rugby

On September 19, 2007 it was announced that Cardiff Blues and Cardiff City F.C. had signed a Heads of Terms agreement for Cardiff Blues to become tenants of Cardiff City. On Saturday 24 May 2008, the two clubs signed a contract officially finalising the deal. The license agreement was set at 20 years, meaning Cardiff Blues will play their home games at the stadium until 2029. [ [http://www.cardiffcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~1318602,00.html CITY AND BLUES SIGN STADIUM CONTRACT | Cardiff City | News | Club News | Club News ] ]

Although Cardiff RFC chairman Peter Thomas has spoken of the sporting and commercial rewards for Wales if Cardiff Blues were to rent, opposition was expected from the Cardiff Athletic Club and the club's supporters. The Athletic Club's President, former Wales great Bleddyn Williams, said: "There is no way the Arms Park would be sold, it would be a tragedy." The club, which is a body of sports including bowls, hockey and tennis, owns the seven-acre Arms Park site, which is believed to be worth around £15m. Cardiff Athletic Club is also the largest shareholder of Cardiff RFC Ltd.

Developers and contractors

The lead developer is PMG Developments, a Cardiff based property developer led by Cardiff City director Paul Guy and former Wales rugby captain Mike Hall.

Laing O'Rourke will be contracted to build all the highway improvements necessary to cope with the increased capacity, as well as the demolition of the Cardiff Athletics Stadium and the construction of the retail park. Cowlin has been picked as the preferred contractor for the new athletic stadium.

Required analysis of soil and water for the site is being done by TES Bretby, part of the Environmental Services Group Ltd.

Tenants

Tenants signed up for the retail development include:
*Asda - In January 2006, the supermarket group agreed development of a convert|55000|sqft|m2|abbr=on store with parking spaces, totalling convert|92000|sqft|m2|abbr=on
*Costco - a retail complex of convert|135000|sqft|m2|abbr=on
*JJB Sports
*Marks and Spencer - A unit of convert|49000|sqft|m2|abbr=on
*ScS [cite news
title = ScS to open store at Cardiff City development
url = http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2008/07/17/scs-to-open-store-at-cardiff-city-retail-development-91466-21354726/
publisher = WalesOnline.co.uk
date = 2008-07-17 ]
*Next - convert|10000|sqft|m2|abbr=oncite news
title = New tenants at Bluebirds' retail park unveiled
url = http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2008/08/08/new-tenants-at-bluebirds-retail-park-unveiled-91466-21492786/
publisher = WalesOnline.co.uk
date = 2008-08-08 ]
*Hobbycraft - convert|7500|sqft|m2|abbr=on
*Mamas and Papas - convert|7500|sqft|m2|abbr=on
*Subway
*Greggs
*Ladbrokes
*Game
*Smyths Toy Stores

Matalan were named in an original planning application, but pulled out in March 2005 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/4379251.stm BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Store pulls out of stadium plan ] ] .

A facility called The House of Sport will be set up, as a "leisure and lifelong learning facility." Ninian Park itself will be redeveloped into a residential housing scheme.

chedule

Leckwith Road will be widened to a dual carriageway over 18 months, with the scheme allowing for an extra access lane to become available on matchdays.

The plan required the demolition of the previous Cardiff Athletics Stadium, of which the council insisted the replacement is built before the start of construction on the new football stadium. This was to avoid the city being without a major athletics facility for any length of time.

Work was scheduled to begin on the new athletics stadium in January 2007 with the track and throwing areas expected to be open for use by the end of July 2007. The new athletics stadium was expected to be completed by October 2007 and it was hoped that Cardiff City F.C.'s stadium would be able to open in December 2008, however the stadium is now not likely to be complete until May 2009.

Detail timetable

*27 November, 2006: Stadium business plan approved by Cardiff Council
*November 2006: Three-month period begins for possible legal challenge to deal. The council also has to receive approval from the National Assembly for disposal of the Leckwith land at less than market value.
*Early 2007: Work to start.
*Early Spring 2007: Building of the retail park can be begin along with the major highways works around Leckwith Road.
*Summer 2007: New athletics track scheduled to be finished around the middle of the summer.
*October 2007: Commence main contract works.
*Christmas 2007: Complete demolition works.
*January 2007: Commence piling.
*March 2007: Commence steelwork.
*Summer 2008: Commence cladding.
*Autumn 2008: Complete structure.
*October 2008: West stand weathertight.
*Christmas 2008: Fit-out access.
*January 2009: Power on.
*May 2009: Stadium completed. [http://www.cardiffcitystadium.co.uk/index.php?view=article&catid=8%3Anews&id=35%3Astadium-trivia&option=com_content&Itemid=48 Stadium Trivia | Official Stadium Website] ]

Naming Rights

Inevitably, the commercial needs for funding will probably mean that the stadium gains a sponsor's name. An early option was the sale to lifelong Bluebirds supporter Mike Young, the creator of the children's animation series "SuperTed."Phillips, Terry [http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/tm_objectid=17411038&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=superted-stadium--name_page.html SuperTed stadium?] South Wales Echo - 19 July, 2006]

In August 2007, chairman Peter Ridsdale revealed that the club had reduced a £24 million debt to Swiss based financiers Langston agreed under the chairmanship of Sam Hammam to £15 million, by agreeing to sell the stadiums naming rights to Langston for £9 million. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/6948498.stm BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Cardiff City | Cardiff chief rejects debt claim ] ]

ee also

*Ground improvements at British football stadia
*Cardiff Council
*Ninian Park - existing Cardiff City stadium
*Cardiff Arms Park - existing Cardiff Blues stadium
*Cardiff Athletics Stadium - previous athletics stadium
*Cardiff International Sports Stadium - new athletics stadium
*Cardiff City

References

External links

* [http://www.cardiffcitystadium.co.uk/ Official stadium website]
* [http://www.pbase.com/welshfootballnews Welsh Football News] Weekly photos of the Capital Retail Development
* [http://www.cardiffcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/4a/df/0,,10335~3202890,00.jpgPlans at Cardiff City Website]
* [http://www.pmg-plc.com/ PMG Developments plc] lead developers