The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Rising up from the site where Arms Park, the old Welsh national rugby stadium once stood, the spectacular new Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is the first in Britain to boast a retractable roof… which can be handy when you consider our weather!

As part of the urban regeneration programme in West Cardiff, the Millennium Stadium has helped improve both the built environment and the local economy. Opened in 1999, it has hosted a number of prestigious sporting and music events including the Rugby World Cup!  

Fast Facts

• At 222.4m long by 181m wide, the stadium can hold a capacity crowd of 72,500.
  
• The retractable roof has two huge 55m x 76m panels that take 20 minutes to close.
  
• Costing £126 million, the Millennium Stadium took a team of 1,200 people 2 years to build.
  
• Four 93m tall masts support the roof, making it the tallest building in Wales.
  
• The turf is laid out on 7,400 pallets which can be removed so the stadium can be used for concerts, exhibitions and other events.
  
• The stadium has created 1,600 new permanent jobs in the area.
  
  And for those of you think it's just a rugby ground...
  
  
• As well as hosting the 1999 Rugby World Cup, the Millennium Stadium has been used for 2000, 2001and 2002 FA Cup finals.
  
• All Wales's home Six Nations rugby games are played there.
  
• In Dec 2003 the Stereophonics will have been in concert.
  
• The stadium hosted wale's Euro 2004 qualifiers.