Cardiff Arms Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cardiff Arms Park (CAP)

Rugby ground
Cardiff Arms Park in the foreground and the Millennium Stadium in the background
Cardiff Arms Park (CAP) Location in Central Cardiff
Location	Cardiff, Wales
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	3G Artificial turf
Construction
Broke ground	1967
Opened	1969
Architect	Osborne V. Webb and Partners
Main contractors	G. 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
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 Cardiff Cricket Club

Cardiff Arms Park (Welsh: Parc yr Arfau Caerdydd), also known as The Arms Park, is a famous sports stadium in Cardiff, Wales. It is mostly used for rugby union games and is right next to the huge Millennium Stadium. The Arms Park has a long history of hosting big events.

In 1958, it was home to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. It also hosted four games during the 1991 Rugby World Cup. The first two Heineken Cup Finals in 1996 and 1997 were played here too.

Originally, the Arms Park had two main areas: a cricket ground in the north and a rugby stadium in the south. Over time, the cricket ground was removed. A new rugby stadium, called the National Stadium, was built in 1969. This stadium was later replaced by the Millennium Stadium in 1999. Today, the Arms Park is still the home of Cardiff RFC and Cardiff Rugby.

The land belongs to the Cardiff Athletic Club. Many different sports have been played here, including athletics, football, greyhound racing, tennis, and boxing. There is also a bowling green used by the Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club. The old National Stadium even hosted concerts by famous musicians like Michael Jackson and U2.

A Look Back: The History of Arms Park

How the Park Began

The old Cardiff Arms Hotel

The first Grandstand in 1885

The area now known as Cardiff Arms Park was once a wet field behind the Cardiff Arms Hotel. This hotel was built a long time ago, in the 1600s. The park got its name from this hotel.

By 1848, the Cardiff Cricket Club started using the site for their games. The hotel was taken down in 1878. The land's owner, the 3rd Marquess of Bute, said the park could only be used for fun activities.

The first stands for people to watch games were built in 1881–1882. They could hold 300 spectators. More standing areas and stands were added in the 1890s.

Big Changes in 1912

By 1912, the rugby ground, then called the Cardiff Football Ground, had a new main stand and temporary stands. The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) helped pay for these improvements. The new ground opened on October 5, 1912, with a rugby match. These changes made the stadium much bigger, holding up to 43,000 people.

In 1922, the 4th Marquess of Bute sold the entire site. It was bought by a company and then rented to the Cardiff Athletic Club for 99 years.

New Stands and War Damage

The new North Stand in 1934

In 1934, a new North Stand was built for the rugby ground. However, during World War II in 1941, this stand and other parts of the stadium were damaged by bombs during the Blitz.

After the war, in 1953, the WRU decided that all international rugby matches would be played in Cardiff. They also planned a new South Stand, which opened in 1956. This brought the total capacity of the Arms Park to 60,000 spectators.

Cardiff Athletic Club building

The Arms Park hosted the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. This big event caused problems with the pitch's drainage system. In 1960, the River Taff flooded the park with a lot of water. Efforts were made to find a new site for a stadium, but none worked out.

By 1966, the Arms Park held its first game under floodlights.

The National Stadium Era

The National Stadium

Construction for the National Stadium began in 1969. This new stadium replaced the older rugby ground. It became the home for the Wales national rugby union team and later the Wales national football team.

However, the National Stadium was taken down in 1997 to make way for an even newer stadium.

The Millennium Stadium Arrives

The Millennium Stadium

Just 13 years after it opened, the National Stadium was thought to be too small. So, it was demolished, and the Millennium Stadium was built in its place. This new stadium opened in 1999.

The Millennium Stadium is now the national stadium of Wales. It no longer uses the Arms Park name. Since 2016, it has been known as the Principality Stadium.

Timeline

Cardiff Arms Park Today

The Rugby Ground

The rugby ground stands. Clockwise from upper left:
The North Stand, the Family Stand (east stand), the Peter Thomas Stand (south stand), Hospitality Boxes (west stand).

Today, only the rugby ground and the Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club still use the name Cardiff Arms Park. The rugby ground has two main stands, the North Stand and the South Stand.

The South Stand of the rugby ground is actually connected to the North Stand of the Millennium Stadium. This happened because there wasn't enough money to build a new North Stand for the Millennium Stadium at the time.

For a while, the Cardiff Blues rugby team moved to the Cardiff City Stadium. But in 2012, they decided to return to Cardiff Arms Park permanently. In 2013, the grass pitch was replaced with a special artificial turf. This 3G surface helps prevent bad weather from affecting games.

Future Plans

There are plans to redevelop the Arms Park. This could include a new 15,000-seat stadium. It might also have new offices and apartments around it. These plans are still being discussed.

The Bowling Green

Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club, Cardiff Arms Park

The clubhouse and bowling green

Les Spence MBE Memorial Gates

The bowling green (left) and the rugby ground (right)

While famous for rugby, Cardiff Arms Park also has a bowling green. The Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club (CABC) was started in 1923. They have used the Arms Park as their home ever since.

Cardiff Arms Park including Cardiff Athletic Bowls Club

There are special gates called the Les Spence Memorial Gates. They honor Les Spence, a former Cardiff rugby captain and president of the WRU. The club has also had Welsh international bowlers.

Sports Played at Arms Park

Football

The Riverside Football Club, which later became Cardiff City Football Club, played some games at Arms Park until 1910.

In 1989, the Welsh national football team played its first international game at the National Stadium. It was against West Germany and ended in a draw. This was the first international football match in Great Britain where everyone had a seat.

The rugby ground has also hosted football matches. In 1995, Ton Pentre played two European games there. The Wales U-21 team also played a home game in the late 1990s. University football matches have also taken place at the ground.

Athletics

The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were a huge event for Wales. The opening and closing ceremonies, along with all the track and field events, took place at Cardiff Arms Park.

Baseball

Baseball has been played in Cardiff for a long time. One of the first games at Arms Park was in 1918. British baseball matches have also been held there regularly. The annual England versus Wales international game used to be played at Arms Park every four years.

Boxing

The first boxing match at Arms Park was in 1914. Many years later, in 1993, about 25,000 people watched a World Heavyweight title fight at the National Stadium. This was between Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno. Lewis won the fight in the 7th round. In 1995, Steve Robinson lost his World Featherweight title fight against Naseem Hamed at the rugby ground.

Cricket

Cardiff Cricket Club moved to Arms Park in 1848. Glamorgan County Cricket Club also played their first match there in 1869. They continued to play county matches at the ground until 1966.

Both Cardiff Cricket Club and Glamorgan then moved to a new ground at Sophia Gardens. This new ground is across the River Taff from Arms Park.

Greyhound Racing

Part of the greyhound track at the National Stadium

Greyhound racing was a popular sport at Arms Park for 50 years. It took place from 1927 until 1977.

Rugby Union

The Cardiff RFC rugby team was formed in 1876 and also used the park. The first international rugby match at the ground was in 1884. Wales beat Ireland in front of 5,000 fans.

The Arms Park rugby ground became the permanent home of the Wales national rugby union team in 1964. The National Stadium also hosted the WRU Challenge Cup finals for many years.

The National Stadium is famous for "the greatest try ever scored" by Gareth Edwards. This happened in a game for the Barbarians against New Zealand in 1973. The Barbarians won that exciting match.

The National Stadium hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. It also held the first two Heineken Cup finals in 1996 and 1997.

Cardiff Blues versus Edinburgh, 2009

In 2008, the rugby ground hosted many games for the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship. The Cardiff Blues team returned to Arms Park permanently in 2012. In 2014, the rugby ground hosted the final of the 2013–14 European Challenge Cup.

Rugby World Cup Matches

Cardiff Arms Park hosted these matches during the 1991 Rugby World Cup:

Date	Competition	Home team		Away team		Attendance
6 October 1991	1991 Rugby World Cup Pool 3	Wales	13	Western Samoa	16	45,000
9 October 1991	1991 Rugby World Cup Pool 3	Wales	16	Argentina	7	35,000
12 October 1991	1991 Rugby World Cup Pool 3	Wales	3	Australia	38	54,000
30 October 1991	1991 Rugby World Cup Third-place play-off	New Zealand	13	Scotland	6	47,000

Rugby League

South Wales Scorpions played several Rugby League Championship 1 matches at Cardiff Arms Park. The 2015 European Cup match between France and Wales was also held there in 2015.

In 2022, Cardiff Arms Park became the new home ground for the Women's Betfred Super League South team, Cardiff Demons. The highest number of people to watch a rugby league game at Arms Park was 6,708 in 1996.

Tennis

Tennis courts were set up at Arms Park for the Cardiff Tennis Club. The club moved to Sophia Gardens in 1967. Today, it is known as Lisvane (CAC) Tennis Club.

Music Concerts

The National Stadium at Arms Park hosted many big music concerts from 1987 to 1996. Famous artists like Tina Turner, U2, The Rolling Stones, and Bon Jovi performed there. The last concert was in July 1996.

The Singing Tradition

Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir

The National Stadium was well-known for its amazing atmosphere. Crowds would sing hymns like "Cwm Rhondda" and "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" (the Welsh national anthem). This tradition of powerful singing has now moved to the Millennium Stadium.

Cardiff Arms Park even has its own choir, called the Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir. It started in 1966 and performs all over the world.

See also

In Spanish: Cardiff Arms Park para niños

• List of Commonwealth Games venues
• Sport in Cardiff