Cardiff City – Cardiff City Stadium
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Following 99 years at their nearby Ninian Park ground, Cardiff City FC are taking up residence at a new stadium for the start of the 2009-10 season.
Despite receiving approval from Cardiff council and the Welsh Assembly by September 2003, due to financial constraints, work did not get underway on the £48 million new stadium until September 2007. The stadium occupies the site of the former Cardiff Athletics Stadium and forms part of the larger Leckwith Development.
Three of the stands at the new ground are called the Grange End, Canton Stand and the Grandstand, replicating their equivalents at Ninian Park. The other stand, the equivalent of Ninian Park’s Bob Bank, is called the Ninian Stand. The completed 60-acre development will cost in excess of £100 million and include a new international sports stadium, major retail development and a 70-room hotel. The Ninian Park ground has been sold for redevelopment.
How to get to the Cardiff City Stadium
By Road:
The Cardiff City Stadium is located in Leckwith Road, Leckwith, Cardiff CF11 8AZ.
Drivers arriving from all routes should exit the M4 at junction 33, taking the A4232 towards Penarth. Leave the A4232 at the 2nd exit after about 6 miles, signposted “Cardiff City Stadium.” At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Leckwith Road and the ground is on the right.
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By Rail:
Cardiff Central railway station, served by trains from London Paddington, is about 2½ miles from the Cardiff City Stadium. Rail travellers can catch a train from Cardiff Central to either Penarth or Barry Island. The first stop on this trip is Grangetown station, which is about a 15-minute walk from the Cardiff City Stadium.
On exiting the station, turn left, cross the main road and turn right into Sloper Road. At its end, turn left into Leckwith Road for the ground. Alternatively, there are regular buses to the ground from Cardiff Central Bus Station, which is adjacent to Cardiff Central railway station. Services X91 and 95 run throughout the day and evenings, stopping near the stadium, in Hadfield Road. Taxi services can be found outside the train station. Click here to check the current train timetables
By Air:
Cardiff International airport is about 9 miles from the ground. Hourly rail and bus links are available to Cardiff Central station, with a journey time of about 35 minutes. Click here to check the current flight times
Where to Park?
Car parking at the new stadium is very limited for visiting fans, with only about 100 spaces available for cars. It seems best to park in the city centre and use public transport to get to the ground.
Away Friendly Pubs near the Cardiff City Stadium
Visiting fans have found pubs near the old Ninian Park ground very intimidating and most advise a pre-match drink in the city centre. The exception is the Lansdowne Hotel, on Beda Road, in the Canton area of Cardiff. This is the “traditional” pub for away fans and is only a 15-minute walk from the ground. It offers a friendly welcome, a wide selection of draught ales / lagers and large-screen Sky TV, but does get very busy on match days.
The Cornwall Hotel, in Cornwall Street, within ½ mile of the ground, has received good reports from fans of real ale.
Hotels near the Cardiff City Stadium
The Copthorne Hotel Cardiff, Copthorne Way, Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff CF5 6DH is ideally located, within 4 mile of Cardiff city centre and about midway between junction 33 of the M4 and the Cardiff City Stadium. Hotel facilities include a leisure club with swimming poll and aerobic studio. Guest reviews indicate a friendly atmosphere and excellent value for money.
The 3-star Holiday Inn City Centre, Castle Street, Cardiff CF1 2XD is centrally located, close to the Millennium Stadium and Cardiff Castle. All rooms are air-conditioned, with satellite TV, direct-dial ‘phone and mini bar. On-site parking is available. Guest reviews have been excellent.
For visitors with no budgetary concerns, the Hilton Cardiff, Kingsway, Cardiff CF10 3HH is a luxurious 5-star hotel is located in the heart of Cardiff city centre, overlooking Cardiff Castle and City Hall. With spectacular views over the castle and close to the Millennium Stadium, the Hilton Cardiff is just a 2-minute walk from Queen Street, Cardiff’s main shopping and business centre and has over 600 shops nearby. The hotel is just a short distance from Cardiff Central Station. Guest reviews note efficient, helpful staff.
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Rather than park in the City centre, with its difficulty of access and arm-and-a-leg pricing, carry on straight through the roundabout as you exit the A4232 and you will find plenty of on street parking on the main road and side streets. That area (Hadfield Road) mainly consists of warehouses, wholesalers and major car sales businesses, no residential properties. It’s free and I’ve never seen an away fan get any trouble parking there.
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I visited the new stadium for our opening game in The Championship 08/08/09.
We decided to stay just outside Cardiff prior to the game for a drink and then park the car at the stadium.
As an away fan,avoid driving into the main entrance.Turn down the road which goes passed the old ground and just after passing the ground turn immediately right up a short road which leads to the away car park which costs £5 but is secure.You can access the ticket office and turnstiles from here.
The services inside were 1st class with plenty of televisions showing Sky Sports.Be prepared for a wait after the game as the general area around the ground is cleared before the away fans can exit the car park.
A tidy stadium but built in a partly residential area.The traffic was horrendous after the game.Overall a good day out with no hostilities anywhere.
have to say a great trip had by all.
our game was on the sunday afternoon at 2.05 ko so we made a weekend of it.
stayed in Travelodge right next to train station on the saturady night and had a great night out and pleasantly surprised how friendly the cardiff fans where that we met.
before kick off had a pint in city centre then few pints in The Landsdowne which was great. Staff and the Cardiff City fans great and we even walked up to the match with some of the Cardiff fans.
As for ground very decent and massive amounts of room is the thing that stood out for me. Very spacious areas at back of stand making toilet / refreshment visits very easy and the seating area was even more spacious than where i sit at St James’ Park.
After game back to The Landsdowne where again nearly every Cardiff fan made a point of speaking then back to city centre to catch our train / plane back to the North East.
All in a great trip and if you go just to have a good weekend im sure you will however i think Cardiff could still prove intimidating on certain visits.
I have to admit I did enjoy going to the ground, I went with a friend to watch the Newcastle game and was very impressed and a little envious of the facilities as well as the main structure itself.
Near the ground there are alot of great pubs where you never have to wait long for a pint of shandy.
There is also some great places for parking, we had no trouble at all finding a place suitable and safe enough to park up and leave our mobile home. I believe that alot of local hotels nearby are quite cheap, I found a great pitch in nearby Penarth that was very cheap and we were able to get connected to the mains there.
The atmosphere seemed very good with plenty of good humoured banter going between both sets of fans which I enjoyed! The food and drink in the ground seemed to be enjoyed by the fans though I cant comment as I took a picnic in for myself which I enjoyed eating in front of the great scenery.
All in all it was a very enjoyable day out and was great to see a good game of football for once, I think I will definatly be going there again soon.
I went to the Cardiff v Derby game as a neutral supporter. The ground is near the old Ninian Park and I expected a Stadium along the budget of ours. Parking was not a problem as I parked in the nearby streets. I went to Costco before the game and was very impressed with the food prices but not such good deals on TV,s
Getting my ticket and in through the turnstile was simplicity itself. I met Lindy Rees a steward from Port Talbot and he pointed me to my seat. (Thanks Lindy for not grassing me up) Sitting in the Grandstand i was aware how sacious the stadium was. No millenium stadium but a big step up from ours.
The atmosphere was electric at times but not as intimidating as Ninian Park. Football was superb, the new pitch making a big positive advantage to play on.
TV’s on the walls under the stands. Toilets were excellent . Food high as expected but the beer was good value at £3 and fast service.
Would I go again – Yes with Jane & the kids but only a night match.
Cant wait to play you all on the 9th
Regards to Ferrell, Whelan, Junkers, Lyons, Nash, Banbsey, Thomas, Frit and my good mate Lindsey.
Wales v Scotland is next visit – about time a good venue for Wales again
Carl Dickinson put the boot into us at the weekend. Absolutely gutted. Traveled down from Ayrshire for this as one as my mate’s got corporate tickets through his work. Hate to say it but it was a cracking goal. Wee Burky had a great game. Although we travelled down and got beat we still had a ball. Traveled back to Wales in a supporters bus (sang all the way), had a party with the fans which was great and then stayed at the Village Cardiff Hotel. Hopefully be down for a home game after Christmas.
I thought the day out was the worst iv had this season we got into cardiff city centre went into a pub dont know name got asked too leave soo we went for a pizza that was nice we got out and were met by a mob of cardiff fans about 10 forced too run the atmosphere was electric even though it wasnt full with banter going on between both sets of fans some lads on the edge next too the home fans experienced missiles the other end towards grangetown is the family stand so thats fine no trouble after the game probally because cardiff were disgracfull i would advise club colours being hidden around cardiff soul crew is still alive!
A decent place for away fans to pop in for a drink and park their car is the Gol Football Centre in Lawrenny Avenue and is about eight minutes walk from the stadium. Here are the directions http://golcentres.co.uk/find-gôl-in-cardiff/
They charge £4 to park BUT you get that back in the form of a bar vocuher which you can use to buy a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. They also let kids use the 5-a-side pitches free of charge.
I think the owners of the centre are big Cardiff fans but seem to like having away fans there. When I’ve heard them talk they seem to go away themselves and like to make visitors welcome.