Principality Stadium's incredible 20-year value to the Welsh economy
A newly published independent report has revealed that Principality Stadium has contributed £2.75billion STG in economic output during its 20-year period of operation to date
Research carried out by Econactive, on behalf of the Welsh Rugby Union, revealed that the stadium has supported around £135million of output and 2,500 FTE (full-time equivalent) jobs in Cardiff and Wales in each year since it hosted its first event on June 26, 1999. That amounts to 50,275 person years of employment in total and £1.32bn of gross value added.
The third in a series of independent reports, spanning two decades and published on Wednesday, the day of the stadium’s 20th anniversary, also estimates visitor spending has provided £1.95bn for the local economy while producing a £55m increase on the average estimated yearly impact in the last financial year alone.
Jobs supported across the region were also up by over 1,000 on the 20-year average, the report also pointing out that Principality Stadium supports around one in 10 tourism jobs.
“Twenty years ago today, when Wales played in front of a part capacity crowd to pull off the first win over South Africa in the history of our game, we all knew we had a very special future ahead of us at our brand new and already iconic national ground,” said Gareth Davies, the WRU chairman who also chairs the stadium’s board.
The Greatest Show ? https://t.co/ahVEXb0onn
— Principality Stadium (@principalitysta) June 20, 2019
“Our unique city centre location means a smaller footprint than most comparable stadia around the globe, so spectators are always in close proximity to the pitch and benefit from optimum sight lines wherever they are seated.
“This is one of the reasons we are ranked so highly in customer satisfaction terms by supporters who attend our events. We also have a fully retractable roof and adaptable playing surface and this versatility has attracted promoters and event owners from across the international music and sports industries.
“We are an iconic, chameleon-like venue whose only limitation is the imagination of our dedicated staff or of those managing visiting acts and events. Today’s report highlights the extensive and impressive positive impact we have had on both the city and the nation over the last 20 years, an impact we are all extremely proud of.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzIFinOnddp/
The first economic report of the series, published in 2007, estimated the annual contribution of the stadium to be £105m a year. In 2013 that figure was said to have risen to £130m, and the latest estimate is that £135m contribution is made on an annual basis.
The period June 2017 to June 2018 is described as a ‘particularly good year’, generating £125m in regional spending away from the stadium alone, and reaching 1.23m ticket sales across a range of events.
Key recommendations in the report for the future of the stadium include upgrading existing technology to enhance fan experience, a heritage centre on site, access to a top-end hotel – which is a project already put in place by the WRU – and improving and supporting the surrounding travel infrastructure, particularly rail.
After the magic of the Grand Slam, world-class sport returns to @principalitysta on Saturday 3rd August with @ManUtd v @acmilan in the @IntChampionsCup ? https://t.co/2a98VdyZbY#ChampionsMeetHere #ICC2019 pic.twitter.com/YUPbIN6qWM
— Welsh Rugby Union ??????? (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 27, 2019
“The stadium has become a reliable and important generator of both economic impact and visitation to Cardiff and Wales,” said Dr Calvin Jones of Econactive.
“It remains an important and consistent economic presence in the Cardiff capital city region, is a critical element of the city’s visitor offer and positively impacts upon the city’s wider profile.”
In the six years since the last economic impact report was completed in 2013, the stadium has welcomed 4.14m visitors to its events, with over 60 per cent of those being international rugby fans and around 20 per cent (720,000) at pop and rock concerts.
The report found that the stadium remains Wales’ top single site attraction by a significant margin and, despite retaining only around 15 per cent of the revenue it brings to Cardiff itself, remains a long term profitable prospect.
WATCH: Part one of the two-part RugbyPassdocumentary on what fans can expect in Japan at this year’s World Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
To me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
26 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
26 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
26 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
26 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
26 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
26 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
26 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments