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.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Starts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
2 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
2 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
228 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
87 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
228 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
228 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to comments