Eirias Stadium

Eirias Stadium (Welsh: Stadiwm Eirias), known for sponsorship reasons as Stadiwm Zip World,[1] is a rugby union stadium that is part of the outdoor complex of the Eirias Events Centre in Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, Wales. It is home to the Principality Premiership team, RGC 1404. The stadium had been used for sporting events, until its redevelopment in 2011, where it now can host international televised events.

Stadiwm Zip World

Eirias Stadium
Location	Colwyn Bay, Wales
Coordinates	53°17′28″N 3°42′46″W
Operator	Welsh Rugby Union
Capacity	6,080 (Sporting events) 15,000 (Concerts)
Field size	123 m × 76 m (404 ft × 249 ft)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Opened	June 1955
Renovated	1987, 2011
Tenants
Wales U20 (2012–present) RGC 1404 (2009–present) Colwyn Bay F.C. (1983-1984)

History

In the early 1950s the Council developed a sports arena and running track on land which had been used for 350 allotments during the Second World War. The arena was officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant, Colonel J. C. Wynne Finch in June 1955.[2] Prior to 2011, it had been used for various community sporting events and in 1987 improvements saw a new synthetic running track, terracing and a new all seated grandstand built.

Colwyn Bay F.C. had played on three different grounds at Eirias Park during their history. The Arena was a temporary home during the early 1980s prior to the club's move to their present Llanelian Road home ground. The Seagulls faced Liverpool's reserve side, which included future England international Jamie Carragher, in a pre-season friendly at the Stadium in August 1995 in a game which finished 1-1. The Stadium has hosted Wales youth football internationals over the years, including Wales Under-16s' friendly match against Poland in 2012 which featured future Welsh senior internationals Harry Wilson, Daniel James and Joe Morrell [3]

In 2008 the park had been identified by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) as a venue for the newly founded rugby union team RGC 1404. The team was initially planning to join the Welsh Premiership, with an eventual goal of becoming the fifth Welsh rugby region, for domestic and European tournaments.[4][5] In light of this, the park was in need of a number of improvements to reach international standard and so that it could be officially considered a stadium. In January 2010, the proposed redevelopment was approved by the local council, with work starting later that year.[6]

Eirias Stadium in 2006 before redevelopment

The new £6.5 million stadium opened in 2011, featuring a 'Grade A' rugby and football pitch which is to international standard, as well as a 'Grade A' Athletics Track. The stadium now has the potential to host events for up to 15,000 spectators. However its common use for football and rugby, means it normally holds up to 6,080 though the 2,580 capacity grand stand and terracing for a further 3,500.[7] The installment of floodlights and team changing facilities, means the stadium has the capability to broaden their events to other sporting activities and night time kick offs.

Colwyn Bay F.C. were linked with a return to Eirias Stadium in 2011 because of Conference ground regulations and then manager Dave Challinor was impressed with the facilities but the club remained at Llanelian Road.[8]

Since the stadiums reopening, they have hosted numerous international events from sport and music. Sporting wise, the stadium is now official home to RGC 1404 and the Wales U20's rugby union team.[9] The International Rugby Board (IRB) has recognized the standard of the stadium, and in 2012 the stadium was host to a number of Test matches featuring Canada, Russia, Samoa, Tonga and the United States.[10] In 2013, the IRB again chose Eirias Stadium as a venue to host an International fixture, with Japan winning 40–13 against Russia.[11]

The opening ceremony of the 2014 Wales Rally GB was held at Eirias Stadium.[12] Since 2012 all Wales' home under-20s games in the Six Nations. Wales held a training camp at Eirias Stadium ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. A Wales side beat RGC 1404 88–19 in a warm-up game ahead of the 2017 summer tour.[13]

Wales' final game of the 2020 Six Nations Under 20s Championship against Scotland on 13 March 2020 was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 outbreak.[14]

International rugby union matches

List of rugby union matches at Stadiwm Zip World
Date	Country	Score	Country	Use
9 November 2012	United States	40–26	Russia	2012 International Rugby Series
9 November 2012	Canada	12–42	Samoa
17 November 2012	United States	13–22	Tonga
17 November 2012	Canada	35–3	Russia
17 November 2013	Russia	13–40	Japan	Test match
7 November 2014	Canada	17–13	Namibia	Test match

Since 2012, it has hosted Wales home matches in the Six Nations Under 20s Championship.

Concerts

Tom Jones in concert at Eirias Stadium

Since 2012, the Stadium sees over 15,000 people at the park for the annual Access All Eirias Music Festival. This includes singers like Olly Murs, Pixie Lott, Cover Drive, Little Mix and Welsh performers Tom Jones and Rhydian Roberts.[15][16]

List of concerts held at Stadiwm Zip World
Year	Day/month	Headline artist	Supporting artists
2006	17 November	BBC Children in Need	Jamelia, Ronan Keating, The Feeling
2012	27 July	Only Boys Aloud	Mike Peters, Sophie Evans, Côr Glanaethwy, Sioned Terry
	28 July	Olly Murs	Pixie Lott, Cover Drive, A*M*E, Diana Vickers
2013	20 July	The Overtones	Rhydian Roberts, Sophie Evans, Tenors of Rock
	21 July	Little Mix	Conor Maynard, Wiley, Loveable Rogues, The Vamps.
2014	25 July	Tom Jones	James Walsh, Sally Barker, Loveable Rogues, The Vamps.
	26 July	Jessie J	Lawson, Neon Jungle, Hollywood Ending.
2015	6 June	Elton John	Bright Light Bright Light.
	7 July	The Vamps	Foxes, Hometown, Joe Woolford, Only Boys Aloud.
2016	19 June	Lionel Richie	Corinne Bailey Rae
2016	11 September	BBC Proms in the Park	Tony Hadley, Wynne Evans, Amy Wadge.
2017	8 July	Little Mix	Ella Eyre, Sheppard
	9 July	Bryan Adams	Jamie Lawson
2018	14 July	Paloma Faith	Jack Savoretti , Nia Wyn
2018	8 September	BBC Proms in the Park	Katherine Jenkins, Lee Mead, Lauren Zhang.
2019			A concert featuring Jess Glynne scheduled for 7 July was cancelled.
2020			The Westlife concert on 5 July and the Little Mix concert scheduled for 11 July were cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

See also

• List of stadia in Wales by capacity

References

1. Davidson, Tom (9 August 2017). "New name for Parc Eirias revealed".
2. https://colwynbayheritage.org.uk/barn/
3. Wales Under-16s v Poland Under-16s
4. WalesOnline (11 December 2008). "New home for North Wales rugby revealed".
5. "Colwyn Bay venue for rugby team". 11 December 2008 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
6. Council approves Parc Eirias proposals
7. "Eirias Stadium". Archived from the original on 2012-11-29. Retrieved 2017-09-24.
8. https://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/colwyn-bay-fc-considering-move-2686783
9. "Wales Under 20 return to Eirias". www.wru.co.uk.
10. Wales to host IRB International Rugby Series Archived 24 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
11. "Newsroom - Welsh Rugby Union - Official Website : Japan to play Russia in North Wales". www.wru.co.uk.
12. http://www.s4c.cymru/en/sport/ralio/post/424/wales-rally-gb-ready-to-go/
13. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40140833
14. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51843823
15. "Access All Eirias Music Festival". Archived from the original on 2016-10-15. Retrieved 2017-09-24.
16. "Access All Eirias - Colwyn Bay Concert Music Festival 2013".

External links

• Media related to Eirias Stadium at Wikimedia Commons