The Liberty Stadium (Welsh: Stadiwm Liberty) is a purpose-built sports stadium and conferencing venue in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales. The stadium is all-seated, with a capacity of 20,532 making it the largest purpose-built venue in Swansea and the third largest stadium in Wales after the Millennium Stadium and the Cardiff City Stadium. It is also the home of Swansea City and the Ospreys. As a result of Swansea City's promotion the stadium is the first Premier League ground in Wales. It is the second smallest stadium in the Premier League after Loftus Road.
[edit] History
With the Vetch Field, St Helen's and The Gnoll no longer being up-to-date venues to play at, and both the Swans and the Ospreys not having the necessary capital to invest into a new stadium, Swansea council and a developer-led consortia submitted a proposal for a sustainable 'bowl' venue for 20,520 seats on a site to the west of the River Tawe on the site of the Morfa Stadium, an athletics stadium owned by the City and County of Swansea council. It was funded by a 355,000 ft retail park on land to the east of the river. The final value of the development being in excess of £50m.[1]
The first capacity crowd recorded at the Liberty Stadium was on the 1st November 2006 when The Ospreys beat Australia 24–16.[2] The stadium has also hosted four Wales Football internationals, see below.
[edit] Naming
During its construction, a variety of names were suggested for it: most commonly-used was "White Rock" stadium (after the copper works of the same name which existed on the site historically). However "White Rock" was only used as a temporary name during its construction and when work was finished, the name was dropped and the stadium owners began looking for sponsors for the stadium.[3] While sponsors were being searched for, it was called the "New Stadium Swansea". On 18 October 2005, Swansea-based developers Liberty Properties Plc won the naming rights to call it the "Liberty Stadium".[4]
[edit] Opening
On 10 July 2005, The Liberty Stadium was opened and became the home to Swansea City (replacing the Vetch Field) and the Ospreys (replacing St Helen's and The Gnoll).
On 23 July 2005, The Liberty Stadium was officially opened as Swansea City faced Fulham, (then managed by former Swansea player Chris Coleman) in an friendly match.[5] The match ended in a 1–1 draw with the first goal being scored by Fulham's Steed Malbranque.[6]
[edit] Statues
Before a league match between Swansea City and Oldham Athletic, a statue of Ivor Allchurch was unveiled to commemorate the Swansea-born star who during two spells for the club scored a record 164 goals in 445 appearances.[7]
[edit] International Fixtures
The ground has also hosted Wales football international fixtures.
[edit] Concerts
[edit] Statistics & Average Attendances
- Capacity: 20,532
- Record Attendance: 20,409 vs Arsenal, 15 January 2012.
- Record attendance for a Swansea City match: 20,409 vs Arsenal, 15 January 2012.
- First international game held: Wales v Bulgaria, 15 August 2006.
| Season |
Swansea City[14] |
Ospreys[15] |
| 2005–06 |
14,155 |
8,373 |
| 2006–07 |
12,720 |
9,027 |
| 2007–08 |
13,520 |
8,797 |
| 2008–09 |
15,186 |
8,405 |
| 2009–10 |
15,407 |
8,445 |
| 2010–11 |
15,507 |
8,105 |
[edit] Gallery
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Liberty Stadium". swanseacity.net. 2010. http://www.swanseacity.net/page/LibertyStadium/0,,10354,00.html. Retrieved 14-5-2010.
- ^ "Ospreys 24–16 Australia". BBC. 1 November 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ospreys/6094366.stm. Retrieved 02-10-2010.
- ^ "Stadium name puzzle for fans". BBC News. 21 July 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3914539.stm. Retrieved 21-07-2004.
- ^ "City stadium takes sponsor's name". BBC News. 18 October 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/4352630.stm. Retrieved 18-10-2005.
- ^ "City stadium ready for kick-off". BBC Sport. 22 July 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/4704083.stm. Retrieved 22 July 2005.
- ^ "Swansea 1–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 23 July 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/4708067.stm. Retrieved 23 July 2005.
- ^ "Swans unveil Allchurch monument". BBC Sport. 15 October 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/4337944.stm. Retrieved 15-10-2005.
- ^ "The Who to play Liberty Stadium". City and county of Swansea. 2007. http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=15652. Retrieved February 2007.
- ^ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/06/30/liberty-rocks-to-rocket-man-elton-john-91466-21170964/
- ^ "Singer Pink to rock Swansea's Liberty Stadium". South Wales Evening Post. 2009. http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Singer-Pink-rock-Swansea-s-Liberty-Stadium/article-1478890-detail/article.html. Retrieved 3-11-2009.
- ^ http://www.swanseacity.net/page/Latest/0,,10354~2296448,00.html
- ^ "Brit winners JLS to play Swansea's Liberty Stadium". BBC News. 24 January 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-12266130.
- ^ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/showbiz/2011/01/24/jls-announce-june-liberty-stadium-gig-91466-28045473/
- ^ "Swansea City Attendances". Swansea City. 2011. http://www.swanseacity.net/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10354~20107,00.html. Retrieved 03-06-2011.
- ^ "Ospreys attendances". Magners League. 2010. http://www.magnersleague.com/statzone/attendance.php#3543. Retrieved 15-07-2010.
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