Stadium Progressing

New Stadium Continues To Take Shape

Click Here For More Pictures Of The Development

It was back in the last 1960s that an idea for a new stadium for the Swans was first discussed. The idea never went away but never seemed to progress either for 30 years as the jokes passed in between Swansea fans that they would have a new stadium. We all remember a famous statement “The bulldozers move in as soon as the stereophonics stop” – well that must have been the longest concert in history but towards the end of last year, that is exactly what did happen. The bulldozers moved in and what was the Morfa stadium was no more. White Rock was being born.

Work has continued daily on the site since that date with the underground work now completed and the new stadium becoming visible on the ground. With the retail park also taking shape the other side of the river, the development is on target for the start of the 2005/2006 league season – next season will be the last one at the Vetch Field.

The 20,000 all seater stadium will also consist of 28 hospitality boxes, a 400 person capacity banqueting suite, a 200 person conferencing venue. It will play host to both football and rugby clubs and the council will form the final third of the management committee that will make the decisions in the running of the stadium itself. It is expected that the stadium will be finished itself early next year and the football club will then relocate it’s offices to the new venue.

Debate continues to run on amongst the football support in particular as to the naming of the stadium although it will be almost definite that the stadium will have a sponsors name when the council finally put this out for tender. Calls have been made over the past two weeks for the stadium to carry the name of the late John Charles but a sponsors name will be placed on the stadium in due course I have no doubt. However, there is a glimmer of light that the stadium may have a statue of John outside it as a memorial to Swansea’s greatest sportsman.

On the retail front, both B&Q and Morrisons will have outlets there together with 12 other shops. There is also believed to be three restaurants on the retail development together with a leisure and fitness club.

Despite the belief from many sectors that this project would never get off the ground it is now proving that it will and Swans fans are hopeful that it will contain everything that they desire within a stadium including a supporter’s bar and club shop. Full plans for the inside of the stadium have yet to be released although these are expected within the course of the next few weeks.

Further debates on JackArmy.net have been over the colour of the seats with 80% of fans believing that these should be black and white to reflect the colours of the teams that are playing there. Fans are also concerned that the council will not be incorporating everything into the stadium that is required and many are also suspicious that plans for the stadium have not yet been released. The council have answered a series of questions on the site from readers but this did little to alleviate the fears of some.

Fans have also asked for a safe standing area within the new stadium to try and recreate some of the atmosphere generated at the Vetch but the council have said that this idea was considered but rejected by the football league licensing authority due to the requirement that all new football stadia should be all seater. The Football League has also informed the council that the football club will have priority over fixtures at the stadium. Despite the concerns that the pitch will not last the number of games it will play host to during a season, the management company are convinced that they will be able to maintain the pitch to a high standard. There will be a tunnel in each corner of the stadium to allow wind to get in to maintain the quality of the pitch.

Over the course of the coming months, the shape of the new stadium and retail park will continue to take place and, as we have done since the demolition of the old Morfa stadium, we will continue to bring you the very latest news, views and pictures from White Rock. Our aim is to build up a comprehensive library of the stadium from it’s first day of work right through to the official opening in Summer next year. You can keep up to date with the progress of White Rock stadium by clicking this link and bookmarking it!

The Swans are finally getting a new home!

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Why not check out the latest Vetch Verdict on the BBC site?