Tag Archives: Millenium Stadium

Stadiwm y Mileniwm – The Story of The Millennium Stadium

The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales is a major arena that hosts important sporting and entertainment events. It was opened in 1999, and its capacity is 74,500.

The Stadium is notable for its sliding roof, which allows for football and rugby matches to be played in dry conditions all year round. Only one other stadium in Europe also has a retractable roof.

While London’s new Wembley Stadium was being developed, The Millennium Stadium hosted FA Cup and League Cup finals, and some rugby league Challenge Cup finals. The venue is the home ground of the Welsh rugby union and football teams, and also hosted the 1999 rugby union World Cup final and some football games during the 2012 Olympics. Boxing and motorsport events have also been held at the venue.

Among the music acts to have performed at the Millennium Stadium are Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, and U2.

A Guide to The Six Nations

If you’ve been in Cardiff within the last month you may have felt a palpable buzz in the air about the Six Nations. The Six Nations is a massively popular event within the whole of Wales, which depending on the results, can make the entire country scream with joy or despair.

The Six Nations Championship is a Rugby Union competition which has been going in some form or another for over 100 years. Its current incarnation dating from 2000 consists of the Home Nations (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) along with Italy and France.

Every year these nations compete, playing each other team once for the Championship Trophy with the lowest scoring team being awarded the dreaded ‘Wooden Spoon’. There isn’t just one trophy up for grabs however, some fixtures also have their own trophy attached to them. For example whilst England and Scotland are competing for the Calcutta cup, France and Italy will be battling it out for the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy which commemorates the French born man who unified Italy. The Triple Crown Trophy can be awarded to a Home Nation if it conquers the other 3 Home Nations. Wales were the last to achieve this in the glorious Nations of 2012, where they also won the Championship.

You can find out more about how the Six Nations is going on the official website.