CARDIFF, WALES - JANUARY 14: Detailed view of Cardiff Arms Park with the Principality Stadium in the background during the European Rugby Challenge Cup match between Cardiff Blues and Toulouse at Cardiff Arms Park on January 14, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)
By Shane Williams
IT’S 2018, but I will always remain a rugby traditionalist and that’s why I’m firmly of the belief Cardiff Arms Park has to remain in its current guise moving forward.
The Arms Park is one of Welsh rugby‘s most famous venues and the future of the ground worries me. It would represent a nightmare scenario if the land on which the stadium stands was to be sold off for development and the famous old ground flattened. That can’t be allowed to happen.
This week I was pleased to see a Welsh Rugby Union bid of close to £20m for the Arms Park site rejected by Cardiff Athletic Club, who own the freehold to the land. The WRU’s intentions at the moment are unclear.
What concerns me most is that no-one knows what’s going to happen should the land end up being sold. The WRU aren’t saying anything publically on their plans and that’s a concern.
Anything could happen and what’s vitally important from my point of view is that the Athletic Club, Cardiff Blues and Cardiff RFC are given some assurances over what may or may not happen.
I’m no property lawyer or expert businessman and I’m sure these discussions are complex and cover a wide range of potential options.
I also understand that time moves on, it’s modern-day sport, and we always have to be open to options which can be of benefit to those both on and off the field.
But at the moment there are too many issues muddying the waters and that makes me uncomfortable.
I love the Arms Park and part of the reason I feel so strongly about its future is down to nostalgia. Of course before the Millennium Stadium – now the Principality Stadium – existed, the Arms Park was the home of Welsh rugby and I remember going there as a child. It was amazing.
One of my first memories of the ground was watching a Schweppes Cup final between Neath and Llanelli and then, years later, I was fortunate to run out at the same venue as a player.
I’ve got fond memories of charging around at CAP. It was almost always blowing a gale and every single time it would be a tough game against the Blues. Of that, there was no doubt.