Location | Cardiff, Wales |
---|---|
Coordinates | 51°28′22″N 3°12′11″W / 51.47278°N 3.20306°WCoordinates: 51°28′22″N 3°12′11″W / 51.47278°N 3.20306°W |
Public transit |
Ninian Park Grangetown |
Owner | Cardiff City F.C. |
Operator | Cardiff City Stadium Ltd |
Capacity | 33,280 |
Surface | Desso GrassMaster |
Construction | |
Broke ground | September 2007 |
Opened | 22 July 2009 |
Construction cost | £48 million |
Architect | Arup Associates |
Tenants | |
Cardiff Blues (2009–2012) Cardiff City F.C. (2009–) Wales national football team |
The Cardiff City Stadium (Welsh: Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd) is a football stadium in the Leckwith area of Cardiff, Wales. It is the home of Cardiff City Football Club and the Wales national football team.
Following expansion of the Ninian Stand in July 2014, the stadium now officially holds 33,280 supporters - meaning that it is the 24th largest stadium in the United Kingdom in terms of capacity. The stadium replaced Ninian Park as Cardiff City's home ground in 2009, and is managed by Cardiff City Stadium Ltd., which is owned by Cardiff City Football Club Holdings Ltd. It also hosted the home matches of the Cardiff Blues rugby union team until the 2011–12 season, although originally the Blues had a lease until 2029.
After the Millennium Stadium, it is the second largest stadium in Cardiff and in Wales. The stadium is part of the Leckwith development, which also includes the Cardiff International Sports Stadium. A branded sponsor name will be assigned as and when the naming rights are sold. The stadium was officially opened on 22 July 2009, with Cardiff City playing a friendly match against Celtic.
The stadium was built on the site of the former Cardiff Athletics Stadium and forms part of the larger Leckwith development. The 60-acre (240,000 m2) development was estimated to cost £100m and include construction of the following:
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. In November 2002 the club and Cardiff Council signed an outline agreement for the development, subject to later agreement for outline planning permission.