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 Millennium come early Showpiece stadium in Wales a deafening success
Posted: Thursday September 30, 1999 11:31 AM
CARDIFF (Reuters) -- What do you do when you've got one of the most famous rugby stadiums in the world and you want to host the World Cup? Knock it down and build a new one, of course. Five years ago the idea of demolishing Cardiff Arms Park was unthinkable to Welsh rugby fans to whom the atmospheric ground was forever linked with their glory teams of the 1970s. But now, on the eve of the World Cup, you would be hard-pressed to find a single fan who would speak out against the Arms Park's replacement -- the Millennium Stadium -- which hosts the opening game on Friday between Wales and Argentina. The Arms Park held 53,000, 11,000 of them standing -- and that was about it. Toilet facilities were basic to say the least while food and drink was limited to the odd hot dog van outside. Built in its place but turned 90 degrees, the Millennium seats 72,500 and is the only stadium in Britain to have a retractable roof. It takes 20 minutes to close, and will be closed during the opening ceremony, but it won't be in action during the tournament whatever the weather. “The Welsh rugby team would be the laughing stock of the world if they played a game indoors,” said Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) spokeswoman Liz Jones. The roof will only be closed for concerts and conferences -- after the pitch has been removed. Uniquely for a rugby stadium, the playing surface sits upon hundreds of panels which can be shifted with ease. The four space-age structures which hold the roof aloft are 93 meters high -- making it the tallest building in Wales -- and dominate the whole city. As well as money-spinning corporate boxes, there are bars and food outlets at every turn and a special bonus is the plethora of “joy machines,” which can gush forth 12 pints in less than 20 seconds. The stadium cost 126 million pounds ($207.5 million) and for a long time it looked like being a very expensive mistake. Planning wrangles, building delays and local residents' opposition made it doubtful it would be ready in time. But it opened for the first stage of its safety certificate in June and the 25,000 fans allowed in were rewarded with Wales' first victory over South Africa and the first indications of what a great ground had been built in the capital. The stadium area is still far from the finished article. An adjacent hotel and conference center is little more than a deep hole in the ground, which should come as no surprise as it is being built on the site of the old Empire Swimming Pool. “When I was here in November the stadium couldn't have held a dog show. But it seems that Wales have worked another miracle in the last year,” said Argentina coach Alex Wyllie. The rugby public of Wales turned out in impressive numbers for August friendlies at the Millennium and discovered from front row seats just five meters from the pitch that the stadium looked good but sounded even better. As 65,000 voices boomed out Cwm Rhondda before the France game, a French journalist turned to his neighbor and, shaking his head in disbelief, pointed to the goosebumps on his arms. The 80,000-seat Stade de France has nothing on it. Sound there leaks out of the back of the open stands whereas at the Millennium it rolls on to the pitch, bounces back from the steep sided stands and engulfs everything in its path. So far the fans have been watching only friendlies and the stadium has yet to seat its full capacity, but the atmosphere has been fantastic. It will be full to its shiny white rafters on Friday and those lucky enough to be there will never forget the experience. “I'm trying not to think about it to be honest,” said Wales captain Rob Howley. “When we played South Africa in front of 27,500 it was awesome. “This is completely different -- 72,500. It is quite frightening.”
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