Cardiff Arms Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cardiff Arms Park

Rugby ground
Cardiff Arms Park in the foreground and the Millennium Stadium in the background
Cardiff Arms Park Location in Central Cardiff
Location	Cardiff, Wales
Further information Coordinates 51°28′47″N 3°11′1″W / 51.47972°N 3.18361°W / 51.47972; -3.18361 Public transit Cardiff Central railway station and Cardiff Central bus station Owner Cardiff Athletic Club Capacity 16,500 (1969) 12,125 (present day) Surface Artificial turf Construction Broke ground 1967 Opened 1969 Architect Osborne V Webb & Partners Main contractors G A Williamson and Andrew Scott & Co Tenants Cardiff Blues 2003–2009 and from 2012 and Cardiff RFC from 1969 Major sporting events hosted 2008 IRB Junior World Championship Semi-Final 2013–14 European Challenge Cup Final Steve Robinson Vs Prince Naseem Hamed

Cardiff Arms Park

National Stadium Welsh National Rugby Ground

The West Stand of the National Stadium

Further information Location Cardiff, Wales Coordinates 51°28′43″N 3°10′57″W / 51.47861°N 3.18250°W / 51.47861; -3.18250 Owner Cardiff Athletic Club & WRU, from 1968 only the WRU Capacity 65,000 (1984) 53,000 (1997) Surface Grass Construction Opened 1881 Renovated 5 October 1912, 1934, 1956, 7 April 1984 Closed 27 April 1997 Demolished 1997 Construction cost £9 million Architect Osborne V Webb & Partners Main contractors G A Williamson and Andrew Scott & Co Tenants Cardiff RFC until 1969 Wales national rugby union team from 1964 until 1997 Wales national football team from 1989 until 1997 Major sporting events hosted 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games 1996 Heineken Cup Final 1997 Heineken Cup Final 1991 Rugby World Cup (Third-place play-off) Also see: Concerts at the National Stadium

Cardiff Arms Park

Cricket ground

Aerial view of the cricket ground

Further information Location Cardiff, Wales Coordinates 51°28′47″N 3°11′1″W / 51.47972°N 3.18361°W / 51.47972; -3.18361 Owner Cardiff Athletic Club Capacity 7,000 Surface Grass Construction Opened 1848 Closed 1966 Demolished 1966 Tenants Glamorgan County Cricket Club and Cardiff Cricket Club

Cardiff Arms Park (Welsh: Parc yr Arfau Caerdydd), also known as The Arms Park, is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. It is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World Cup, including the third-place play-off. The Arms Park also hosted the inaugural Heineken Cup Final of 1995–96 and the following year in 1996–97.

The history of the rugby ground begins with the first stands appearing for spectators in the ground in 1881–1882. Originally the Arms Park had a cricket ground to the north and a rugby union stadium to the south. By 1969, the cricket ground had been demolished to make way for the present day rugby ground to the north and a second rugby stadium to the south, called the National Stadium. The National Stadium, which was used by Wales national rugby union team, was officially opened on 7 April 1984, however in 1997 it was demolished to make way for the Millennium Stadium in 1999, which hosted the 1999 Rugby World Cup and became the national stadium of Wales. The rugby ground has remained the home of the semi-professional Cardiff RFC yet the professional Cardiff Blues regional rugby union team moved to the Cardiff City Stadium in 2009, but returned three years later.

The site is owned by Cardiff Athletic Club and has been host to many sports, apart from rugby union and cricket; they include athletics, association football, greyhound racing, tennis, British baseball and boxing. The site also has a bowling green to the north of the rugby ground, which is used by Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club, which is the bowls section of the Cardiff Athletic Club. The National Stadium also hosted many music concerts including Michael Jackson, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones and U2.

History

Early history of the site

Cardiff Arms Hotel

The inauguration of the Grandstand on 26 December 1885

The Cardiff Arms Park site was originally called the Great Park, a swampy meadow behind the Cardiff Arms Hotel. The hotel was built by Sir Thomas Morgan, during the reign of Charles I. Cardiff Arms Park was named after this hotel. From 1803, the Cardiff Arms Hotel and the Park had become the property of the Bute family. The Arms Park soon became a popular place for sporting events, and by 1848, Cardiff Cricket Club was using the site for its cricket matches. However, by 1878, Cardiff Arms Hotel had been demolished.

The 3rd Marquess of Bute stipulated that the ground could only be used for "recreational purposes". At that time Cardiff Arms Park had a cricket ground to the north and a rugby union ground to the south. 1881–2 saw the first stands for spectators; they held 300 spectators and cost £50. The architect was Archibald Leitch, famous for designing Ibrox Stadium and Old Trafford, among others. In 1890, new standing areas were constructed along the entire length of the ground, with additional stands erected in 1896.

Music concerts

Major music concerts were also held at the National Stadium from 1987 until 1996, they included Tina Turner, U2, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Dire Straits, Bon Jovi and R.E.M. The last music concert was held on 14 July 1996. Jehovah's Witnesses held their annual conventions at the National Stadium.

Singing tradition

Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir

The National Stadium was known primarily as the venue for massed voices singing such hymns as "Cwm Rhondda", "Calon Lân", "Men of Harlech" and "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" ("Land of my Fathers" – the national anthem of Wales). The legendary atmosphere including singing of the crowd was said to be worth at least a try or a goal to the home nation. This tradition of singing has now passed on to the Millennium Stadium.

The Arms Park has its own choir, called the Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir. It was formed in 1966 as the Cardiff Athletic Club Male Voice Choir, and today performs internationally with a schedule of concerts and tours. In 2000, the choir changed their name to become the Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir.

Images for kids

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  The 1934 new North Stand, rugby ground, Cardiff Arms Park

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  Cardiff Athletic Club

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  The Millennium Stadium (south ground - right) and Cardiff Arms Park (north ground - left)

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  Cardiff Arms Park including Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club

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  The Greyhound track at the Arms Park

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  Cardiff Blues versus Edinburgh, 17 May 2009

See also

In Spanish: Cardiff Arms Park para niños