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Have announced that they will move to St Helens,Swansea from Season 2025/26. There will be substantial ground improvements, including a 4G pitch. Not been announced where Swansea CC will move to. St Helens will be shared with Swansea RFC and Swansea University RFC.
Bad news in my opinion. This is shrinkage in a nice new shiney box. All the benefits of shared infrastructure costs lost. They will get 8000 until the novelty wears off then it is back to 3,000. The stadium was not the problem. The rugby was the problem.
The happy clappers love Swansea seafront more than the football team. More loses for the Swans encouraged by the ratepayers and the University.
Good for the city Good for the clubs involved Good for the economy and for local business Another part of the city opening up and growing Another good reason to call for better transport systems towards Mumbles Club rugby has never pulled in big crowds apart from certain games
The initial funding for the stadium will come from the Ospreys and Swansea City Council. Swansea City Council have brokered several major financial deals over the last couple of years the Arena, the Kingsway development, Mumbles promenade to name but a few. With hardly any complaints and thousands are reaping the benefits. The larger development that will follow, the creation of a centre of excellence within sport with world-class facilities for elite teams, community sports, along with sports technology and research will be funded by Swansea Bay City Deal who funded the Arena and the Kingsway development, In conjunction with Swansea University who will obviously be involved with financing the deal. The initial capacity will be 8,000 with the opportunity to expand this when the swansea Bay City Deal is progressing over the next ten years. The full development of the sporting centre of excellence should be completed by 2033, by which time the project incorporating the medical, health, well-being part of the project will have brought 1,000 well paid jobs to the area. This stadium is only a small, but vital part of the whole development.
As I say Swansea is a vibrant expanding city which the residents should be proud of. People from the backwater with little knowledge of life in a city like Swansea and the undoubted progress it is making, albeit slowly, should try and improve their own local amenities before criticising developments they know little about.
The initial funding for the stadium will come from the Ospreys and Swansea City Council. Swansea City Council have brokered several major financial deals over the last couple of years the Arena, the Kingsway development, Mumbles promenade to name but a few. With hardly any complaints and thousands are reaping the benefits. The larger development that will follow, the creation of a centre of excellence within sport with world-class facilities for elite teams, community sports, along with sports technology and research will be funded by Swansea Bay City Deal who funded the Arena and the Kingsway development, In conjunction with Swansea University who will obviously be involved with financing the deal. The initial capacity will be 8,000 with the opportunity to expand this when the swansea Bay City Deal is progressing over the next ten years. The full development of the sporting centre of excellence should be completed by 2033, by which time the project incorporating the medical, health, well-being part of the project will have brought 1,000 well paid jobs to the area. This stadium is only a small, but vital part of the whole development.
As I say Swansea is a vibrant expanding city which the residents should be proud of. People from the backwater with little knowledge of life in a city like Swansea and the undoubted progress it is making, albeit slowly, should try and improve their own local amenities before criticising developments they know little about.
Whitey. This fills me with joy Over fifty years I’ve seen my beloved home town drift into virtual oblivion . This is great news The valleys always had an inferiority complex with Swansea but used it as a focal point for south west wales,which it is .
Whitey. This fills me with joy Over fifty years I’ve seen my beloved home town drift into virtual oblivion . This is great news The valleys always had an inferiority complex with Swansea but used it as a focal point for south west wales,which it is .
Floreat Swansea
Swansea University are trying to get up there with Loughborough and Bath Universities with regard sports science, development and centres of excellence. I have visited and been shown around both, I think Bath is attainable but Loughborough may possibly be a step too far, but possible over time, it will still be the best in Wales. Without a doubt the whole project will put Swansea on the map worldwide and if the Ospreys benefit from the facilities as well as the stadium good luck to them. Anything thats lifts the cities profile and benefits the City of Swansea is just fine by me.
Why not , they were happy to help the redevelopment of Sophia Gardens , much to the detriment of Welsh cricket.
I think you’ll find it was Cardiff City Council that wrote off a lot of the Sophia Gardens costs.
St Helens is a poor ground, it was a terrible ground when I watched cricket there back in the day. Operating 2 stadiums is a costly so it comes down to prioritising and Sophia Gardens won. I think if offers so much more than St Helens.
I think you’ll find it was Cardiff City Council that wrote off a lot of the Sophia Gardens costs.
St Helens is a poor ground, it was a terrible ground when I watched cricket there back in the day. Operating 2 stadiums is a costly so it comes down to prioritising and Sophia Gardens won. I think if offers so much more than St Helens.
I think you'll find they provided funding for its redevelopment along with its partner Cardiff City Council and its leader Russell Goodway in 2005/6. Where the focus was on the betterment of Cardiff which in turn left the rest of Welsh cricket to fall by the wayside , but hi ho who cares eh.
"In a free society, the State is the servant of the people—not the master."
I think you’ll find it was Cardiff City Council that wrote off a lot of the Sophia Gardens costs.
St Helens is a poor ground, it was a terrible ground when I watched cricket there back in the day. Operating 2 stadiums is a costly so it comes down to prioritising and Sophia Gardens won. I think if offers so much more than St Helens.
Not from the pavilion stand it wasn’t nor the boundaries adjoining the rugby side. Behind the bowlers end at the Sea end was awesome. The ground has re@ history
You really don't have a clue what is happening in Swansea. I think this development is part of the £132M investment being made by the University and partners to develop Medical Technology and Sports Technology sectors. It is proposed to create another 1,000 jobs on top of the 3,500 directly employed by the University. Also generating £150M for the local economy in the next 10 years. It's not just a couple of stands but a massive project and St Helens is just a part of it. When the big city does something it does it. We are not a little two bit valley village. You need to look at the bigger comercial implications, I have said for a while if it goes to St Helens the University will be going in big time and it looks as if they are.
But he's POTY mun, he knows everything....
This is obviously great news for the city and the ground will be a proper rugby stadium, a proper home that the Ospreys can afford to run and if properly managed can benefit and grow in. The Neath Ospreys won't be happy with it but maybe more Swansea people will back the team again. During the rebel season I used to leave the Vetch and walk to St Helens and the rugby was good, the crowds were good, often around 8000 so maybe that is why they chose that capacity and the hope they can improve it. Then we can hope our football pitch will remain a better playing surface without rugby happening on it. I'm also pretty sure that for bigger games, where the O's can sell the tickets, they will be allowed to lease the Swansea.com if they want to.
This is obviously great news for the city and the ground will be a proper rugby stadium, a proper home that the Ospreys can afford to run and if properly managed can benefit and grow in. The Neath Ospreys won't be happy with it but maybe more Swansea people will back the team again. During the rebel season I used to leave the Vetch and walk to St Helens and the rugby was good, the crowds were good, often around 8000 so maybe that is why they chose that capacity and the hope they can improve it. Then we can hope our football pitch will remain a better playing surface without rugby happening on it. I'm also pretty sure that for bigger games, where the O's can sell the tickets, they will be allowed to lease the Swansea.com if they want to.
Bravo. I had a little pithy riposte over “ hating” Neath rfc. Dead right I did. They were the Millwall of Welsh rugby.
I am certain thousands walked when Neath was used as part of the Brand
Swansea or nowt.
I would have had Swansea Cardiff Newport Llanelli as the pro regions. East valley boys could make it with Newport ,Our own valley with Ospreys and the Turks ….
I think you’ll find it was Cardiff City Council that wrote off a lot of the Sophia Gardens costs.
St Helens is a poor ground, it was a terrible ground when I watched cricket there back in the day. Operating 2 stadiums is a costly so it comes down to prioritising and Sophia Gardens won. I think if offers so much more than St Helens.
St Helens was a far suppior ground to watch cricket in than Sophia Gardens. Sophia Gardens had no stands and all cricket was watched from ground level with poor views. The pavilion at Sophia Gardens was tiny with only room for about 50 in the bar. St Helens had far better views and a far larger pavilion and better facilities.
It was the reason that England played New Zealand in a one day international at St Helens in 1973, the first time England had played a home match in Wales.
It also hosted a world Cup 50 over match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 1983.
Sadly following Hillsborough and Bradford large areas of St helens were deemed unsafe and the council were unwilling to invest in new facilities and the ground went into terminal decline .
Cardiff City Council funded the Development of Sophia Gardens in 2008. Though even then they sited the new pavilion at the side of the pitch rather than behind the wicket much to the annoyance of Glamorgan Members.
St Helens was a far suppior ground to watch cricket in than Sophia Gardens. Sophia Gardens had no stands and all cricket was watched from ground level with poor views. The pavilion at Sophia Gardens was tiny with only room for about 50 in the bar. St Helens had far better views and a far larger pavilion and better facilities.
It was the reason that England played New Zealand in a one day international at St Helens in 1973, the first time England had played a home match in Wales.
It also hosted a world Cup 50 over match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 1983.
Sadly following Hillsborough and Bradford large areas of St helens were deemed unsafe and the council were unwilling to invest in new facilities and the ground went into terminal decline .
Cardiff City Council funded the Development of Sophia Gardens in 2008. Though even then they sited the new pavilion at the side of the pitch rather than behind the wicket much to the annoyance of Glamorgan Members.
[Post edited 20 Dec 8:51]
St Helens was a legendary venue Just read a Bumble book and he has a piece on it . Very well known and loved Truly iconic
St Helens was a legendary venue Just read a Bumble book and he has a piece on it . Very well known and loved Truly iconic
Lovely old ground which now is being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century , not wanting to turn this into a Swansea v Cardiff argument but if the tables were turned does anyone truly believe that if St Helens was in Cardiff it would have been left this long to stagnate. I for one look forward to the new ground and with it an upsurge in support for the Ospreys who need it .
"In a free society, the State is the servant of the people—not the master."
Lovely old ground which now is being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century , not wanting to turn this into a Swansea v Cardiff argument but if the tables were turned does anyone truly believe that if St Helens was in Cardiff it would have been left this long to stagnate. I for one look forward to the new ground and with it an upsurge in support for the Ospreys who need it .
The crux of the matter is the ECB told Glamorgan if you want to hold international matches it has to be in Cardiff and Sofia Gardens had to be upgraded. Mainly down to the corporate side that is a major factor in cricket.
The crux of the matter is the ECB told Glamorgan if you want to hold international matches it has to be in Cardiff and Sofia Gardens had to be upgraded. Mainly down to the corporate side that is a major factor in cricket.
Thank you
"In a free society, the State is the servant of the people—not the master."
The crux of the matter is the ECB told Glamorgan if you want to hold international matches it has to be in Cardiff and Sofia Gardens had to be upgraded. Mainly down to the corporate side that is a major factor in cricket.
The ECB never told Glamorgan that. It was purely the choice of the Glamorgan committee to upgrade Cardiff despite members protests.
Lovely old ground which now is being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century , not wanting to turn this into a Swansea v Cardiff argument but if the tables were turned does anyone truly believe that if St Helens was in Cardiff it would have been left this long to stagnate. I for one look forward to the new ground and with it an upsurge in support for the Ospreys who need it .
It’s historic ,truly it is. The Whites the only club side to beat all touring sides from southern hemisphere A great club A great tradition Yeah,we love the Swans but rugby has been significant in Swansea for a century. St Helens has so many memories for me personally.
Ospreys v Scarlets tomorrow be interesting to see if they get 10,000. Only a few years ago they got 20,000 for this fixture.
The weakness of local thinking is written large. The Scales match had 20,000 a few years back and now fans are wondering if they can get 10,000.
The future is one one of downsizing and the future crowds ars guaranteed at maximum 8,000 so people will not be able to go even if they wanted to. That is with one bank being a terrace.
Think small and go bust. I hope Coleman tells them there's is a £100k fee to use the Swansea.com for the bigger games ( up front). Children do not go free this is business.
The weakness of local thinking is written large. The Scales match had 20,000 a few years back and now fans are wondering if they can get 10,000.
The future is one one of downsizing and the future crowds ars guaranteed at maximum 8,000 so people will not be able to go even if they wanted to. That is with one bank being a terrace.
Think small and go bust. I hope Coleman tells them there's is a £100k fee to use the Swansea.com for the bigger games ( up front). Children do not go free this is business.
Apparently if the current ownership took over 12 months ago, there is a very strong feeling that a deal could have been negotiated for the Ospreys to stay at the stadium.
My good friend Mark Jones has been given the task of taking the Ospreys forward. Great guy, good coach. Another Builth boy.
Swansea Indepenent Poster Of The Year 2021. Dr P / Mart66 / Roathie / Parlay / E20/ Duffle was 2nd, but he is deluded and thinks in his little twisted brain that he won. Poor sod. We let him win this year, as he has cried for a whole year. His 14 usernames, bless his cotton socks.
Bad news in my opinion. This is shrinkage in a nice new shiney box. All the benefits of shared infrastructure costs lost. They will get 8000 until the novelty wears off then it is back to 3,000. The stadium was not the problem. The rugby was the problem.
The happy clappers love Swansea seafront more than the football team. More loses for the Swans encouraged by the ratepayers and the University.
Here's a thought, if they get close to 8000 regularly then the club will have more money and so afford better players.
For bigger games they could still rent the Swansea.com.
Now if I agree the rugby was the problem can you agree that playing in a ground that was too big which then provided extra costs with shrinking crowds that saw the Ospreys unable to afford better players and indeed, saw them having to cut their budget every season, they were on a downward spiral. No good for them at all. Yes or no?
3-5000 fans look lost in a 20k stadium and it gives a very poor atmosphere. This move could re-energise the rugby side of Swansea and the O's can (with this move) maybe put themselves on an upward spiral.
Be as negative about it as you like but time will tell, sometimes you have to take a step backwards before you can move forward again.