Cardiff Arms Park

Cardiff Arms Park stands beside the Millennium Stadium in the heart of Cardiff. It is a rugby ground with a bowling green to the north. The site began as a swampy meadow behind a 17th-century hotel and became a cricket and rugby venue in the 19th century. The first spectator stands, built in 1881–82, held 300 people and cost £50. The ground hosted the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games and later the 1966 floodlit match between Cardiff RFC and the Barbarians. The Arms Park has seen several redevelopments. The 1912 south stand raised capacity to 43,000 and was opened by Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart. After war damage in 1941, a new North Stand was added in 1953. A £64,000 upper South Stand opened in 1956, bringing total capacity to 60,000. The site also hosted athletics, football, greyhound racing, tennis and concerts by artists such as U2 and Michael Jackson. Today the rugby ground has two main stands, the North and South Stands, with terracing beneath seating. The Westgate Street end Family Stand includes a club shop and executive boxes. The River Taff runs alongside the ground, and the bowling green remains in use north of the pitch. The stadium is owned by Cardiff Athletic Club and continues to host rugby matches for Cardiff RFC.