Editing Cardiff Arms Park (section)

== History ==

=== Early history of the site ===
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 | caption2 = The inauguration of the Grandstand on 26 December 1885 
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The Cardiff Arms Park site was originally called the Great Park,<ref name="Centenary">{{cite document|year=2006 |title=The Cardiff Centenary Walk |publisher= [[Cardiff Council]]}}</ref> a swampy meadow behind the Cardiff Arms Hotel. The hotel was built by [[Sir Thomas Morgan, 1st Baronet|Sir Thomas Morgan]], during the [[reign]] of [[Charles I of England|Charles I]].<ref name="Red House">{{cite web|url=http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/large/item/GTJ73155/|publisher=Culturenet Cymru|title=Cardiff Arms Hotel, Broad Street, Cardiff, late 19th century|access-date=11 February 2011}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Cardiff Arms Park was named after this hotel.<ref name="Demolished">{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=48207 |publisher=University of London & History of Parliament Trust |title='The older inns of Cardiff', Cardiff Records: volume 5 (1905), pp. 438–445. |access-date=26 April 2008}}</ref> From 1803, the Cardiff Arms Hotel and the Park had become the property of the [[Marquess of Bute|Bute]] family.<ref name="Cricket ground" /><ref name="Bute">{{cite web |url=http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/Teach/a_recreation.html |publisher=Glamorgan Record Office |title=Parks and Gardens |access-date=26 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123035808/http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/Teach/a_recreation.html |archive-date=23 November 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Cricket ground" /> However, by 1878, Cardiff Arms Hotel had been demolished.<ref name="Demolished"/>

[[John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute|The 3rd Marquess of Bute]] stipulated that the ground could only be used for "recreational purposes".<ref name="Bute" /> 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.<ref name="Reminiscences">{{cite book |author=Red Dragon |title=''Reminiscences of the Cardiff Rugby Football Club'', "Opening ceremony of the new stands, Cardiff Arms Park", 5 October&nbsp;1912 |year=1912 |publisher=Cardiff Rugby Football Club }}</ref> The architect was [[Archibald Leitch]], who also designed [[Ibrox Stadium]] and [[Old Trafford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.structurae.de/persons/data/index.cfm?ID=d006772|publisher=Nicolas Janberg ICS|title=Archibald Leitch|access-date=24 November 2008|archive-date=9 July 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709110537/http://en.structurae.de/persons/data/index.cfm?ID=d006772|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1890, new standing areas were constructed along the entire length of the ground, with additional stands erected in 1896.<ref name="Stands"/>

=== 1912 redevelopment ===
By 1912, the Cardiff Football Ground, as it was then known, had a new south stand and temporary stands on the north, east and west ends of the ground.<ref name="Reminiscences" /> The south stand was covered, while the north terrace was initially without a roof.<ref name="Reminiscences" /> The improvements were partly funded by the [[Welsh Rugby Union]] (WRU).<ref name="Stands" /> The opening ceremony took place on 5 October 1912, with a match between [[Newport RFC]] and Cardiff RFC. The new ground was opened by [[Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart]].<ref name="Reminiscences" /> This new development increased the ground capacity to 43,000 and much improved facilities at the ground compared to the earlier stands.<ref name="Reminiscences" /><ref name="Stands">{{cite web|url-access=subscription|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Cardiff_Arms_Park/Rugby.html|publisher=Glamorgan County Cricket Club & CricketArchive|title=Rugby at Cardiff Arms Park|access-date=16 February 2008|archive-date=4 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304123920/http://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Cardiff_Arms_Park/Rugby.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1922, [[John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute|The 4th Marquess of Bute]] sold the entire site and it was bought by the Cardiff Arms Park Company Limited for £30,000. It was then leased to the Cardiff Athletic Club (cricket and rugby sections) for 99 years at a cost of £200 per annum.<ref name="Glanmor"/><ref name="Development">{{cite document|last=Harris [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire|CBE]] LLD (Hons)|first=Kenneth M|title=''The Story of the Development of the National Rugby Ground'' 7 April&nbsp;1984 |year=1984 |publisher=[[Welsh Rugby Union]] }}</ref>

=== North and South Stand redevelopments ===

[[File:Cardiff Arms Park New North Stand.jpg|thumb|left|The 1934 new North Stand, rugby ground, Cardiff Arms Park]]

During 1934 the cricket pavilion had been demolished to make way for the new North Stand<ref name="Cricket ground" /> which was built on the rugby union ground, costing around £20,000.<ref name="Record Office">{{cite web |url=http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/A_Leisure.html |publisher=Glamorgan Record Office |title=''Cardiff: the building of a capital'' |access-date=5 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020103532/http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/A_Leisure.html |archive-date=20 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, in 1941 the new North Stand and part of the west [[Terrace (stadium)|terracing]] was badly damaged in [[the Blitz]] by the [[Luftwaffe]] during the Second World War.<ref name="Millennium">{{cite web |url=http://www.millenniumstadium.com/3473_3558.php |publisher=Millennium Stadium plc |title=History of the Millennium Stadium-Cardiff Arms Park Site |access-date=29 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007045937/http://www.millenniumstadium.com/3473_3558.php |archive-date=7 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At a general meeting of the WRU in June 1953 they made a decision "That until such time as the facilities at [[St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground|Swansea]] were improved, all international matches be played at Cardiff".<ref name="Development" /> At the same time, plans were made for a new South Stand which was estimated to cost £60,000; the [[Tendering|tender]] price, however, came out at £90,000, so a compromise was made and it was decided to build a new upper South Stand costing £64,000 instead, with the Cardiff Athletic Club contributing £15,000 and the remainder coming from the WRU.<ref name="Development" /> The new South Stand opened in 1956, in time for the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.<ref name="Millennium" /> This brought the overall capacity of the Arms Park up to 60,000 spectators, of which 12,800 were seated and the remainder standing.<ref name="Stands" /><ref name="Millennium" />

[[File:Clubhouse, Cardiff Athletic Club.jpg|thumb|left|Cardiff Athletic Club]]

The Arms Park hosted the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, which was used for the athletics events, but this event caused damage to the drainage system, so much so, that other rugby unions ([[Rugby Football Union|England]], [[Scottish Rugby Union|Scotland]] and [[Irish Rugby Football Union|Ireland]]) complained after the Games about the state of the pitch.<ref name="Development" /> On 4 December 1960, due to torrential rain, the [[River Taff]] burst its banks with the Arms Park pitch being left under {{convert|4|ft|m}} of water.<ref name="Cardiff Time" /> The Development Committee was set up to resolve these issues on a permanent basis. They looked at various sites in Cardiff, but they all proved to be unsatisfactory.<ref name="Development" /> They also could not agree a solution with the Cardiff Athletic Club, so they purchased about {{convert|80|acre|m2}} of land at Island Farm in [[Bridgend]],<ref name="Development" /> which was previously used as a [[prisoner-of-war camp]]. It is best known for being the camp where the biggest escape attempt was made by German [[Prisoner of war|prisoners of war]] in Great Britain during the Second World War.<ref name="Island">{{cite web |url=http://www.islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/ |publisher=islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/ |title=Island Farm, Prisoner of War Camp: 198 / Special Camp: XI |access-date=15 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819152744/http://www.islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/ |archive-date=19 August 2007}}</ref> Due to problems including transport issues [[Glamorgan County Council]] never gave outline planning permission for the proposals and by June 1964 the scheme was abandoned.<ref name="Development" /> At that stage, the cricket ground to the north was still being used by [[Glamorgan County Cricket Club]], and the rugby union ground to the south was used by the national Wales team and Cardiff RFC.<ref name="CAP1">{{cite news|url=https://www.cardiffrugby.wales/cardiff-arms-park|website=cardiffrugby.wales|title=Arms Park|access-date=22 April 2024|archive-date=21 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421213257/https://www.cardiffrugby.wales/cardiff-arms-park|url-status=live}}</ref>

By 7 October 1966, the first floodlit game was held at Cardiff Arms Park, a game in which Cardiff RFC beat [[Barbarian F.C.|the Barbarians]] by 12 points to 8.<ref name="Cardiff Time">{{cite web|url=http://pirate.cardiffschools.net/cons.htm|publisher=Cardiff Council|title=Cardiff Timeline|access-date=29 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305021030/http://pirate.cardiffschools.net/cons.htm|archive-date=5 March 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== National Stadium redevelopment ===
[[File:The National Stadium The Arms Park Cardiff.jpg|thumb|right|The National Stadium]]

{{Main|National Stadium, Cardiff}}

The National Stadium, which was previously known as the Welsh National Rugby Ground, was designed by Osborne V Webb & Partners and built by G A Williamson & Associates of [[Porthcawl]] and Andrew Scott & Company of [[Port Talbot]].<ref name="Library">{{cite web |url=http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item10/10307 |publisher=Culturenet Cymru |title=Cardiff Arms Park, 1997 |access-date=1 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503200119/http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item10/10307 |archive-date=3 May 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=P.D. |last=Thompson |page=204 |chapter=24: The Millennium Stadium—Cardiff Arms Park |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o0BsU6JbpYAC |publisher=E & FN Spon |location=London |title=Stadia, Arenas & Grandstands |access-date=4 September 2008 |isbn=978-0-419-24040-2 |editor1-last=Thompson |editor1-first=P. |editor2-last=Tolloczko |editor2-first=J.J.A. |editor3-last=Clarke |editor3-first=J.N. |year=1998 }}</ref> In 1969 construction began on the stadium which replaced the existing rugby ground built in 1881.<ref name="pictures">{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/fascinating-pictures-show-how-different-16482100|website=walesonline.co.uk|title=The fascinating pictures that show how different Cardiff and our national stadium looked before the Principality Stadium existed|access-date=2022-12-09|date=2019-06-25|archive-date=7 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207155319/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/fascinating-pictures-show-how-different-16482100?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target|url-status=live}}</ref> The stadium was home to the [[Wales national rugby union team]] since 1964 and the [[Wales national football team]] since 1989. In 1997 the stadium was demolished to make way for the new [[Millennium Stadium]].<ref name="Demolish">{{cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/gallery/how-construction-millennium-stadium-transformed-14999082|website=walesonline.co.uk|title=How the construction of the Millennium Stadium transformed the face of Cardiff|access-date=22 April 2024|date=25 June 2019|archive-date=22 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422215554/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/gallery/how-construction-millennium-stadium-transformed-14999082|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Millennium Stadium ===
[[File:Principality Stadium May 3, 2016.jpg|thumb|left|The Millennium Stadium]]
{{Main|Millennium Stadium}}

Thirteen years after the National Stadium had opened in 1984, it was considered too small and did not have the facilities required of the time and it was demolished and a new stadium, the Millennium Stadium, was built in its place (completed to a north–south alignment and opened in June 1999). This would become the fourth redevelopment on the site.<ref name="The Stadium">{{cite web |url=http://www.millenniumstadium.com/3473_3557.php |publisher=[[Millennium Stadium]] |title=Background to the Millennium Stadium Project |access-date=5 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009115105/http://www.millenniumstadium.com/3473_3557.php |archive-date=9 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Construction involved the demolition of a number of buildings, primarily the existing National Stadium, [[Wales Empire Pool]] in Wood Street, Cardiff Empire Telephone Exchange building and the newly built [[Territorial Army (United Kingdom)|Territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve]] building both in Park Street, and the [[Department of Social Security|Social Security]] offices in Westgate Street.<ref name="Millennium"/><ref name="BBC Wales">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/436549.stm |publisher=BBC |title=Two years – and one awesome stadium |access-date=24 August 2008 |date=2 September 1999 |archive-date=18 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918120127/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/436549.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The Millennium Stadium is now on roughly two-thirds of the National Stadium, but it no longer uses the Arms Park name.<ref name="Millennium" /> Since 2016, it has been known as the Principality Stadium.