Swansea Council take the reins at new stadium

A dazzling new stadium is being handed over to the people of Swansea by developers Interserve on time, and it means that the mouth-watering promise of top quality soccer and international rugby in one of Britain’s finest new stadiums will be realised next season.

image depicting Keys are handed to Swansea Council by Interserve

Local firm Interserve, who employ more than 200 people in Swansea and the surrounding area, began work on the site in November 2003. From the outset the company have applied the principles of "Considerate Construction", the aim of which is to promote good relations between construction projects and the surrounding community. The Stadium Project has been entered for the “Most Considerate Site in the UK.” Award and the company are hopeful of success.

Now Interserve are officially handing the reins to Swansea Council. Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Gerald Clement said, " This is an extremely exciting moment for the Council, Interserve, football and rugby clubs and fans. Swansea Council has ploughed nearly £30 million into this dazzling new stadium, and delivery of the project could not have come at a better time with the region’s top rugby and soccer teams both riding high."

Andy Edmonds from Interserve said, "As a Company with a long established Office in Swansea, we were delighted that the City and County of Swansea chose Interserve to design and build the New Stadium at Morfa.

Thanks to the huge effort from our Designers, Subcontractors and our own people and the co-operation and support of the City, their Consultants and the Clubs, we are proud to be handing over a first class Stadium to the city."

However, the handover doesn't mean the hard work is over. The process of fitting out the interior is ongoing, and the next few months will see equipment and services being installed such as ticketing equipment, catering equipment, television and filming facilities, IT and phones, and much more.

While the stadium will be the perfect stage for the resurgent Swans and the Ospreys, the 20,000 seat arena is going to be a community facility too.

But the Council and Stadium Management company have ensured the stadium is more than just a match day facility and houses modern, elegant and versatile conference and hospitality provision. It means the stadium can be used for anything from commerce exhibitions and gourmet dining to wedding receptions.

Die-hard fans will be able to celebrate their teams' victories in the dedicated supporters' bar, or buy the latest strip or fan merchandise in the club shop.

The stadium will be run by independent company, STADCO, established by the rugby and football clubs and Swansea Council.

(The picture shows (l to r): Project Manager Phil Davies (Swansea Council), Interserve's Regional Manager Andy Edmonds, Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Gerald Clement (Swansea Council), Project Director Steve Evans (Swansea Council))

Things you didn't know about Swansea's new stadium

1. There are 1,450 pre-cast concrete piles in the ground. If you laid out all the piles end to end, it would stretch almost 13 miles, the approximate distance from Swansea to Port Talbot.
2. There is approximately 150 tonnes of reinforcement in the foundations.
3. Within the building and foundations there are more than 4,800 cubic metres of concrete.
4. 24,000 cubic metres of material has been excavated from the site.
5. There is over 18,000 cubic metres of imported fill onsite.
6. The surface area beneath the stadium is a massive 26,662 m² or 6½ Acres.
7. The upper floors & roof structure are supported by 2,500 tonnes of structural steelwork, which is equal to the weight of 300 average sized African Elephants or 1,400 Ford Focus cars.
8. There are approximately 2,500 holding down bolts fixing 460 steel columns.
9. The overall area of blockwork forming the internal & external walls amounts to 27,500m² or 300,000 blocks.
10. There will be over 420 doors throughout the stadium.
11. There are 26 sets of stairs.
12. There are 12 lifts.
13. There are 30 number turnstiles.
14. There are 250 WC’s.
15. There are 200 wash hand basins.
16. There are 5,000 light fittings.
17. There will be over 10,000 trees and shrubs in the landscaped areas.
18. The pitch contains 10.1 million metres ‘Desso’ nylon inserts.

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This page last updated on April 12 2005