Eirias Stadium

Stadiwm Zip World

File:Eirias Stadium logo.jpg
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	27 September 1933
Renovated	1987, 2011
Tenants
Wales U20's (2012 – present) RGC 1404 (2009 – present)

Eirias Stadium (Welsh: Stadiwm Eirias), known for sponsorship reasons as Stadiwm Zip World, 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 low key community sporting events, until its redevelopment in 2011, where it now can host international televised events.

History

The original Stadium pre 2011, had been used for various sporting events. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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. In 2013, the IRB again chose Eirias Stadium as a venue to host an International fixture, with Japan winning 40–13 against Russia.

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

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.

List of concerts held at Stadiwm Zip World
Year	Day/month	Headline artist	Supporting artists
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
2017	8 July	Little Mix	Ella Eyre, Sheppard
	9 July	Bryan Adams	Jamie Lawson

See also

• List of stadia in Wales by capacity

External links

• Media related to Eirias Stadium at Wikimedia Commons