VENUE #120 CARDIFF CITY Cardiff City Stadium

CARDIFF CITY STADIUM

After spending 99 years at their former Ninian Park ground, the Club in 2009, moved only a quarter of a mile away to the new stadium. Although with far superior facilities than Ninian Park, the design of the stadium itself was rather uninspiring.

GROUND LAYOUT

 A   NINIAN STAND

In 2014 the Club after being awarded the hosting of the UEFA Super Cup Final, set upon increasing the capacity by 5,000 seats chiefly by expanding the Ninian Park Stand on one side. This stand was originally single tiered, but has since had a small second tier and then an overhanging third tier added, making it the tallest and largest stand at the stadium. However, it's most striking feature is its roof, which is simply huge, elevating and extending quite a distance forward to provide cover to those below. A little reminiscent of the East Stand at Elland Road, the Ninian Stand is far more attractive having more of a distinctive look with clear windshields to either side.

 B   GRANDSTAND

Located opposite is the Grandstand. Named after the corresponding stand at the old Ninian Park, this stand is two tiered, with a small second tier of seating that overlaps the back of the lower tier. In this area at the rear of the lower section there is a row of executive boxes. Whilst at the back of the second tier there is visible a glassed frontage to and area used for corporate entertainment. The team dug outs are located at the front of this stand.

 C   CANTON STAND

Both ends are virtually identical, being single tiered, all seater affairs. The roofs above these stands are situated quite high above the seating areas, with a large back wall, part of which contains Perspex panels to provide more light to the playing surface. The stadium is completely enclosed with all four corners having spectator seating. Above each end there is digital video screen. In view of its multi purpose nature the stadium has in each corner a large access tunnel.

 D   GRANGE STAND

 E   AWAY SUPPORTERS

Away fans are located in one corner of the stadium, between the Ninian & Grange stands. Up to 1,800 fans can be accommodated in this area. The Club operates automatic turnstiles, where you have to put your ticket (which has a bar code on it) into a slot reader, which then allows the turnstiles to admit you.  As you would expect from a new stadium the view of the playing action and facilities are good. The acoustics are also good, with the stadium having a loud p.a. system. The concourses are spacious, have televisions to keep you entertained and serve the usual fayre of food. 

FIRST MATCH AT THE CARDIFF CITY STADIUM

 CARDIFF CITY V SOUTHAMPTON AT THE CC STADIUM

     Only two matches have been played between these two clubs at the Cardiff City Stadium and the honours are even.

                            28th September 2011   Championship                     

                      CARDIFF CITY                                 SOUTHAMPTON
                                  2                                                          1
               Kenny Miller  56, 63                                                  Steve De Ridder  90

26th December 2013   Premiership

                                        0                                                          3

                                                                                                          Jay Rodriguez  14, 20

                                                                                                          Rickie Lambert  27

THIRD HOME WIN ON THE BOUNCE HELPS CARDIFF MOVE UP TO 

FOURTEENTH PLACE

CARDIFF CITY ... 1   SOUTHAMPTON ... 0

     Neil Warnock's Cardiff City have found their home form which could save them from a return visit to the Championship while the new Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl who replaced Mark Hughes in the week tastes defeat in his first game and sees his side slip into nineteenth place in the table.

     Cardiff who dispatched Wolves last weekend on Sky Sports Friday night football found Southampton a different kind of opposition this afternoon as well as having to cope with the wet and windy conditions the Saints started brightly but the first real chance of the game fell to Cardiff's Harry Arter who's shot failed to trouble Alex McCarthy in the Southampton goal.

     In the 17th minute Josh Murphy had a chance to put the Bluebirds ahead but his effort was blocked by McCarthy and again seven minutes later when Paterson slipped Murphy through McCarthy took the ball from the Cardiff number eleven as he tried to round him.

     It seemed to be an on going theme as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing had a fierce shot tipped over the bar by the Southampton first half hero McCarthy just before half time.

     Southampton had a strong penalty appeal rejected by the referee in the 59th minute when Roberto Camarasa appeared to have tripped Stuart Armstrong in the Cardiff penalty area.

     But, as we all felt that the game had nil, nil written all over it the goal came out of nowhere in the 74th minute when once again a lapse in the Southampton defence this time by Jannik Vestergaard was seized upon by Callum Paterson who hit a tame shot which beat Southampton's saviour in the first half trickling into his bottom right hand corner of the net.

     Southampton looked resigned to their fate as they failed to show any signs of coming back into the game and nearly conceded another towards the end but Sean Morrison's free header was off target and so the game ended 1 - 0 to Cardiff City.

VISIT REVIEW

     Beautiful ground  the Cardiff City Stadium, plenty of leg and bum room in the seats although the pathways to the concourse get congested horribly, they are badly designed need a bit more thought to free up spectators time during the interval. 

     Speaking of long lines of people the club shop done a raring trade with the queue almost out the door, I haven't seen anything like it since the Etihad.

     Nothing to do with the football ground but I must say seeing that Cardiff is the capital of Wales their central station is a disgrace it's dirty, horrible looking and the information on the departures board is wrong more times than not.  GET IT SORTED!  

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