Sophia Gardens
Encyclopedia
Sophia Gardens currently known as SWALEC Stadium under a naming rights deal, is a cricket
stadium on the west bank of the River Taff
in Cardiff
, 1.6 kilometres (one mile) north of Cardiff Arms Park
. It was named after Lady Sophia Rawdon-Hastings. Daughter of the 1st Marquess of Hastings
and wife to the 2nd Marquess of Bute
, Lady Sophia was concerned to provide open space for recreation in the rapidly expanding city in the late 19th century, in which her husband was heavily involved. The area is currently owned by Cardiff City Council
.
. The cricket club has played first-class cricket
matches at the venue since 1967, after moving away from Cardiff Arms Park. A 125-year lease of the ground was acquired in 1995, with the previous leaseholders, Cardiff Athletic Club
, moving their cricketing operations to the Diamond Ground in Whitchurch. Beside the cricket ground is the large sports hall complex of the Sport Wales National Centre. Cardiff Corinthians F.C.
have previously used the area for football. In July 2007 Glamorgan cricketer, Mike Powell, was granted his wish to have a rib, removed during surgery, buried at the ground.
announced that the SWALEC Stadium would host a series of major Test matches over the next four years. They had already announced that the Stadium would host a One Day International between England and South Africa on 3 September 2008 and that it would host its first Test match
between England and Australia in the first match of The Ashes
series on 8 July 2009. This made the SWALEC Stadium the 100th Test match venue.
The first test match staged at the SWALEC stadium started on 8 July 2009. England winning the toss decided to bat first, with Andrew Strauss
scoring the first test runs scored at the venue and Ben Hilfenhaus
taking the first wicket. The match was drawn.
, thought to be the biggest single sponsorship by a county cricket club, giving SWALEC the naming rights to the new stadium, which is worth in excess of £1.5 million over 10 years.
The GB£9.4 million redeveloped stadium, with approximately half of the funding (£4.5m) being provided in the form of a Cardiff Council
loan. It is possible that the revamped stadium could host seven Test matches, nine One Day Internationals and two World Cup
games up to 2028, injecting at least £50m into the local economy. Construction of the redevelopment of Sophia Gardens began in April 2007, and the redeveloped stadium was first opened for competitive matches on 9 May 2008, when the Glamorgan Dragons played the Gloucestershire Gladiators
in a Friends Provident Trophy match in which the Gladiators won by six wickets.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
stadium on the west bank of the River Taff
River Taff
The River Taff is a large river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons — the Taf Fechan and the Taf Fawr — before joining to form the Taff north of Merthyr Tydfil...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, 1.6 kilometres (one mile) north of Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
. It was named after Lady Sophia Rawdon-Hastings. Daughter of the 1st Marquess of Hastings
Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings
Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings KG PC , styled The Honourable Francis Rawdon from birth until 1762 and as The Lord Rawdon between 1762 and 1783 and known as The Earl of Moira between 1793 and 1816, was an Irish-British politician and military officer who served as...
and wife to the 2nd Marquess of Bute
John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute
John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute, KT, FRS was the son of John, Lord Mount Stuart and the former Lady Elizabeth McDouall-Crichton...
, Lady Sophia was concerned to provide open space for recreation in the rapidly expanding city in the late 19th century, in which her husband was heavily involved. The area is currently owned by Cardiff City Council
Cardiff Council
The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The council consists of 75 councillors, representing 29 electoral wards. The authority is properly styled as The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff or in...
.
County cricket
The SWALEC Stadium is home to the Glamorgan County Cricket ClubGlamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
. The cricket club has played first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
matches at the venue since 1967, after moving away from Cardiff Arms Park. A 125-year lease of the ground was acquired in 1995, with the previous leaseholders, Cardiff Athletic Club
Cardiff Athletic Club
Cardiff Athletic Club is a multi-sport club in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. It is the owner of the world famous Cardiff Arms Park rugby ground, however, it is also a major shareholder of Cardiff Rugby Football Club Ltd and therefore has a large influence over the rugby club's two...
, moving their cricketing operations to the Diamond Ground in Whitchurch. Beside the cricket ground is the large sports hall complex of the Sport Wales National Centre. Cardiff Corinthians F.C.
Cardiff Corinthians F.C.
Cardiff Corinthians F.C. are a football club from Cardiff, Wales. They play in the Welsh Football League.-History:The club was formed in 1898 when players from the Alpha Cricket Club decided to form a football teamto keep in touch during the winter months...
have previously used the area for football. In July 2007 Glamorgan cricketer, Mike Powell, was granted his wish to have a rib, removed during surgery, buried at the ground.
International cricket
Five One Day Internationals have been hosted at the SWALEC Stadium since 1999. On 11 April 2008, the England and Wales Cricket BoardEngland and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales. It was created on 1 January 1997 combining the roles of the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council...
announced that the SWALEC Stadium would host a series of major Test matches over the next four years. They had already announced that the Stadium would host a One Day International between England and South Africa on 3 September 2008 and that it would host its first Test match
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
between England and Australia in the first match of The Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
series on 8 July 2009. This made the SWALEC Stadium the 100th Test match venue.
The first test match staged at the SWALEC stadium started on 8 July 2009. England winning the toss decided to bat first, with Andrew Strauss
Andrew Strauss
Andrew John Strauss, OBE is an English cricketer who plays county cricket for Middlesex County Cricket Club and is the captain of England's Test cricket team. A fluent left-handed opening batsman, Strauss favours scoring off the back foot, mostly playing cut and pull shots...
scoring the first test runs scored at the venue and Ben Hilfenhaus
Ben Hilfenhaus
Benjamin William Hilfenhaus is an Australian cricketer who plays for the Tasmanian Tigers in Australian domestic cricket. Hilfenhaus plays club cricket for Tasmania University Cricket Club. Prior to turning fully professional, he worked as a bricklayer as well as playing cricket...
taking the first wicket. The match was drawn.
Stadium redevelopment
On 4 March 2008, Glamorgan Cricket Club announced a 10 year sponsorship deal with SWALECSWALEC
SWALEC was an electricity supply and distribution company which was bought out in 1996 for £872m following the de-regulation of the electricity supply industry in the UK....
, thought to be the biggest single sponsorship by a county cricket club, giving SWALEC the naming rights to the new stadium, which is worth in excess of £1.5 million over 10 years.
The GB£9.4 million redeveloped stadium, with approximately half of the funding (£4.5m) being provided in the form of a Cardiff Council
Cardiff Council
The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The council consists of 75 councillors, representing 29 electoral wards. The authority is properly styled as The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff or in...
loan. It is possible that the revamped stadium could host seven Test matches, nine One Day Internationals and two World Cup
Cricket World Cup
The ICC Cricket World Cup is the premier international championship of men's One Day International cricket. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council , with preliminary qualification rounds leading up to a finals tournament which is held every four years...
games up to 2028, injecting at least £50m into the local economy. Construction of the redevelopment of Sophia Gardens began in April 2007, and the redeveloped stadium was first opened for competitive matches on 9 May 2008, when the Glamorgan Dragons played the Gloucestershire Gladiators
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
in a Friends Provident Trophy match in which the Gladiators won by six wickets.
See also
- Sport in CardiffSport in CardiffSport in Cardiff is dictated by, amongst other things, its position as the capital city of Wales, meaning that national home sporting fixtures are nearly always played in the city...
- List of cricket grounds in England and Wales
- List of sports venues with sole naming rights