Cardiff Arms Park

Cardiff Arms Park (CAP)
Rugby ground
Cardiff Arms Park in the foreground and the Principality Stadium in the background
Cardiff Arms Park (CAP) is located in Central Cardiff
Cardiff Arms Park (CAP)
Cardiff Arms Park (CAP)
Location of Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff city centre
LocationCardiff, Wales
Coordinates51°28′47″N 3°11′1″W / 51.47972°N 3.18361°W / 51.47972; -3.18361
Public transitCardiff Central railway station and Cardiff Central bus station
OwnerCardiff Athletic Club
Capacity16,500 (1969)[1]
12,125 (present day)[2]
Surface3G Artificial turf
Construction
Broke ground1967
Opened1969
ArchitectOsborne V. Webb and Partners
Main contractorsG. A. Williamson and
Andrew Scott and Co.
Tenants
Cardiff Rugby
(2003–2009; 2012–present)
Cardiff RFC
(1969–present)

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
Cricket ground

Aerial view of the cricket ground
Map
LocationCardiff, Wales
Coordinates51°28′47″N 3°11′1″W / 51.47972°N 3.18361°W / 51.47972; -3.18361
OwnerCardiff Athletic Club
Capacity7,000[3]
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened1848
Closed1966
Demolished1966
Tenants
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
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 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.[4] 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,[5] 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.[6] The National Stadium also hosted many music concerts including Michael Jackson, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones and U2.

  1. ^ Thomas, Simon (22 June 2007). "Time Blues quit Arms Park?". icWales. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  2. ^ "Cardiff Blues ready to install temporary stands at Arms Park for Amlin Challenge Cup final as Bath and Northampton fans protest about venue". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales". Cricinfo (ESPN). Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Reminiscences was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Post-war developments in Sophia Gardens". Glamorgan County Cricket Club & Cricket Archive. Archived from the original on 27 July 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Glanmor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).