Want to see Boy Zone? Take That? West Life? Enrique Iglesias? Pink? Then this is the best place in Cardiff to go, when these and other pop stars come to Wales. I long for Britney Spears to come and sing here. I've seen her in London, but it is not the same as it would be to be able to see her here. I really enjoyed the Boy Zone concert it was amazing, they were on roller skates and they performed scenes from the Movie Grease. This was back in their early years. It ended with fireworks and started with fireworks. Spectacular! I saw Busted there as well that was another awesome concert! I'd never had such fun in a long while, before I had been to that concert. I didn't even really care about how loud it all was, which I often do. I recommend it for all; especially teenagers, the older the better I feel. It's near Cineworld cinema, in the town centre. read more

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This is a really good arena. I've never been to it to see any sports (I don't even know if they do do sports there - sometimes places really surprise you and you realise that they have an ice rink under the floor and things!) but only music. It's a fantastic venue to see a concert. There is always a really atmosphere - and although part of that will obviously be my own excitement, a bad venue can hinder a gig. There's a good amount of seating and of standing room and the prices are always reasonable. I just wish there were more loos! That's always the problem! read more

I should really stop mentioning London, but when your from there, everything else has to measure up to the capitals assets. Luckily I don't like huge arenas and gigs, they are impersonal, cramped but a necessary evil if you want to see the more popular things in life. Good to see then that the CIA seems to have the area to house 7.5k of people and stay intimate at the same time. Really it's just a big square with the bars and toilets on the outer ring of the arena. I went to see The Mighty Boosh here and was really impressed with the acoustics. Staff here were fun and sufficient, which is want you want really at a gig. read more

As Jamie mentions the CIA manages to accommodate a fairly decent sized crowd without making the acts appear like dots to those in far back seats (if indeed you are sitting down). What's also great about this venue is that it attracts high profile acts both musical and comedic (a very good balance). In recent years I've seen acts such as Ricky Gervais who was hilariously inappropriate, and Maroon 5 who whilst very good were slightly full of themselves. Of course your personal experience all depends on who you see, but as the venue goes, no complaints here! read more

I've been here for a whole host of events over the years, and the CIA has never failed to deliver exactly what it promises: a large venue with good acoustics. What more were we expecting, really? Although not the lovely intimacy of a music venue along the lines of St David's Hall, or by no means as large as the enormous Millennium Stadium, the CIA is just the right sort of venue for a lot of acts. Think Travis, Muse, Lee Evans (I wonder if they're ever been put together in a sentence before?). This place is intriguing when it brings out its chairs. Many MANY years ago I went to a Fame Academy tour here and there were seats. It all felt a little too controlled. Although, obviously for comedy and such, I prefer to sit. My first ever concert was here. Travis at the height of their popularity. They sang the line 'There's alcohol all over the floor', and, indeed, there was. read more

Looking at previous reviews it looks like there's a nice mix of the different shows CIA caters for. Mine is slightly different ..a rock metal concert. I went to see Judas Priest and the CIA definitely delivered in putting on good show as there was plenty of room for their stage show, as well being a smooth transition between bands. What I thought was quite strange is for the seating the organizers erected a bleacher at the back of the arena, that seemingly people could just go and sit down if they felt like it. There was also plenty of room to go stand back if the mass of people towards the front of the stage go too intense. Drink prices unsurprisingly extortionate I can't remember what it was for a pint of cider and I think only bought one or two. Getting out of the CIA after the show was pretty as well as in some venues it can be a bit of a pain to get out if memory serves they opened all the exits allowing everyone inside to leave quickly and safely. The CIA certainly deserves its name as an international arena, there is always shows constantly on and the website is great for looking for up and coming gigs and shows. read more

Cardiff International Arena has covered everything and anything over the years, from live darts to beer and cider festivals. Opening its doors in 1993, the CIA has been providing all forms of entertainment to the people of Cardiff for nearly two decades. Over that time, it has housed rock icons like Robert Plant, vinyl masters such as DJ Tiesto and pop superstars like Lady Gaga. In addition to these artists, the venue has also held concerts by world renowned groups such as Kings of Leon as well as housing native Welshmen, The Stereophonics, on numerous occasions. The variety of shows on offer to the people of Cardiff has ranged from dance acts, ice skating and wrestling to children's shows, comedians and pool championships; illustrating the versatility of the venue. Organisers really have tried to cover the entire spectrum of entertainment. The venue itself holds around 7500 people at standing capacity, while that number drops to around 5000 with seating. This impressive arena consistently has exciting performers making their way through its doors so it's always worth keeping a watchful eye on the CIA's upcoming tour dates. read more

My primary experience with the CIA is probably different to most peoples as I once put on a charity gig here. When our festival licence was denied (the swines!) the events manager got in touch and offered us the venue free of charge, which was brilliant of them. It meant we could still put on all the bands, and have the brilliant facilities the CIA could provide. We had one week to get something together, which in hindsight was a bit mental but the powers that be at the CIA offered us everything we could want. We had a full stage set up, full lighting and sound rigs and stagehands and bar staff also helped out aswell. Can't fault them at all and it's not often that such a large venue would offer so many of their services as they did. I also found Michael Buble's socks in the dressing room as he had played there the night before. Good times! I've attended a couple of gigs here too and it's a decent venue which occasionally has sound issues. Although the only times I've had any difficulty hearing what's been going on has been heavier bands such as Slipknot and Slayer (I was young!) so they can be forgiven I suppose. Only criticism would be prices of booze but that's to be expected I suppose..... read more

It's an arena, what more can you say? I find it hard to get emotional about a building that's main purpose is to have space. As far as cavernous spaces with a stage at the front is concerned its as good as the next venue. The advantage with the CIA I suppose is that it is located centrally and as with all arenas its a venue that is very handy for bands / artists that cannot fill quite a stadium with over a 20,000 capacity but can do several nights in an arena with a capacity of around 6000. I don't find the CIA to be particularly charming but I guess its about the artist it host rather than the building itself which architecturally is pretty uninspiring. They have some great acts here, I have seen amongst others, Kylie Minoge, The Kings of Leon and an 80's night spectacular. So if you're a fan of live entertainment its worth going to their website and getting the email updates. read more

This is a truely amazing stadium and is worthy of all five of the stars I have awarded it! From the outside I was wowed by its size. It has a 20,000 capacity........ Pretty impressive don't you think? Once I got inside I was impressed to say the least. Unlike Earls court London this arena is well presented clean, and spacious. The CIA website has a full list of what is on and when. I am considering getting tickets for the Doctor Who show coming up in October..... To release my inner geek! and where better to do so than here! read more

It is one of Cardiff's biggest arenas that has all stars from around the world perform in. You may recognise it from the Lee Evans XL tour. This is the Cardiff International Arena. This is one of the most popular venues that I have visited on more than one occasion seeing a lot of different shows. What is so good about the CIA is the sheer size of the auditorium that can fit over thousands of people. I have had the fortune of seeing some excellent music gigs in this arena including Maroon 5 and My Chemical Romance. To say it was busy is an understatement but the atmosphere within the venue is electric and it's filled with excited people. The staff members are always at hand too to help with any facilities you need or any first aid. For musical gigs this venue in fantastic. It has also played host to live comedy performances. I went to see Michael McIntyre. Again, it was an extremely busy night but we had no problems and the ushers were very helpful if we didn't know where to sit. The CIA is a fantastic venue for all types of gigs. Not only for gigs, it does play host for exhibitions and other events. The Cardiff International Arena is a wonderful venue for any thing it plays host to. It has a full bar that is a little expensive but other than that you will have a fantastic evening to whatever you see. read more

You know what, Cardiff International Arena isn't that bad, it may get slated a bit but hell where's the nearest large arena around? Bristol is certainly lacking in this department and this will be why Cardiff International Arena will carry on setting stage for some of the biggest acts in the UK. I have seen many a concert here, even the very first gig I ever went to, which was a 3T gig and the seats barely filled half the floor space. I have fond memories of it and always thought it seemed small. However I have now been to see some bigger gigs here like Lee Evans and Will Young and realize it is pretty large. There's always your standard memorabilia stand at the entrance, a bar and a few confectionary stands. Probably not your best equipped venue but still, you're here to watch a gig. I even saw an Ice show here at the CIA where they kitted it out as an ice rink, this venue can show a diverse range of shows and for that I am pleased the CIA is here in Cardiff. read more

It's a large hall / concert venue. We were there to see Hot Chip & LCD Soundsystem. The bars were easy to get to (except for during the interval) and the toilets were large and well signed. There was a makeshift cloakroom in the entrance hall. This got mobbed as soon as the gig finished, but luckily we slid to the front of the rush and escaped before waiting too long. read more

The CIA is great since the smoking ban, prior to that it seemed even when it became 'non smoking' to not be very well enforced! Luckily it now is a far more comfortable environment to be in and acoustics were great for the concerts I've attended. As a relatively small venue(at least compared to the Millenium Stadium) it makes for a great atmosphere. It attracts some great performers, I've been lucky enough to see Dido, David Grey, French and Saunders, Damien Rice and James Blunt here and each perfomance was fantastic. On the negative side the drinks are very overpriced, extortionate even for soft drinks and seating is generally very cramped. read more

Pros: I have been to the CIA on a number of occasions and have seen bands such as Texas and Kaiser Chiefs. This is a large arena in the centre of the city. It is in easy walking distance to the train station and has car parks nearby. The arena is large and has the advantage of being indoors so no worries about getting wet. There is plenty of space inside for seating and standing. Very enjoyable venue. Always crowded when I have been which surely is a good indication of how popular it is. Cons: Gets very hot when crowded which is always the case when I have been. read more

I've seen quite a number of concerts here over the years, and haven't really had a terrible experience. I've sat nearly everywhere in the venue, from right at the back, to the side, to standing at the front, and my experience has been just as enjoyable. The staff on the door are always quite helpful, and do their job professionally. I've never really experienced a big queue here; whether that's because I turn up late or because the staff are quick at their job, I don't know! The food and drink prices are extortionate, I might add. Although in my experience concert places like this always are! It is a bit of a trek to the concert hall from the train station, and the car parks can get very busy - don't always rely on the shuttle bus. The queues for it can be massive after a concert! Cash points are quite plentiful around the venue which is always a bonus! read more

Went here as had free tickets for Mc Fly. Other than the groups of screaming 15 year olds it was a good night. I felt the security was quite poor as i saw people wandering in and out without being asked for tickets at the smoking area. Easy to get to as a short walk from the station and high street. Could do with a re vamp soon as does look quite dated. read more

What a brilliant venue, not overly big but not stupidly small this place plays host to some of the greatest shows and acts of our time. Comedians, bands, dance groups, they even get an ice rink in here and they've had a cider festival! What more can you ask of a venue? You will be searched on entry and you will have drink or suspicious objects ripped from your possession. i mean, what harm was i going to do with a bloody tape measure, measure the toilets perimeter...Oh gosh! Drinks and souvenirs are stupidly overpriced and there's not much choice in the old alcohol department... i was drinking warm, horrible larger while watching the Pussy Cat Dolls some time ago. Yuck! /anyhow thanks to the CIA Cardiff now gets the dame treatment as Birmingham and Bristol, bringing the up and coming to the up and coming city. One thing i forgot to mention, parking in the city is a nightmare, good luck trying to find a reasonable, safe place to leave your beep beep. Also, be prepared to queue to get in and queue to get out. Hope you enjoy! read more

If you are a fan of Oceana, you'll love this! Ok, perhaps the speakers aren't always playing out cheesy music. Yes, we can all relax and thank our respective deities that this place isn't home to a karaoke bar. Sure, the skirts may be a couple of inches longer. However, like our lovely Oceana, this venue does have the incredible ability to make you feel like a penned-in sheep. When you enter the CIA you can count yourself lucky if you haven't been held in a queue for an hour. You will then channelled down a planned route where the choices of movement are get straight to your seat or move hand to mouth then purse as you go through the dance move I affectionately call, 'Gasping at the Price of CIA Drinks'. The only exception to this atmosphere, in my knowledge, occurs in summer when the venue is taken over by CAMRA for the Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival. Here, this impersonal venue in the centre of the city metamorphoses into a sociable hub, full of people passionate about flavour and happy to spread their recommendations around. The dances that occur by 11pm throughout the festival are also a lot more varied and interesting, that's for sure! URBAN CHALLENGE: Try and blag a drinks discount read more

CIA is one of the best venues in Cardiff to watch some great live bands, I've seen countless bands play here, my favourite being Muse's live show is spectacular. The venue itself has a box office that doles out tickets when you're not ordering them online. There are some of the major bands playing here every year. The venue is huge inside with multiple bars, galleria seating and standing room space for an army. The experience goes like this you turn up and there's always a queue that goes all the way around the circular building when you eventually get in they search you for the usual stuff and usher you to have your ticket stub taken, go through a set of double doors and there's always the official merchandise on a sale desk. If you actually get past all this you find yourself in a massive warehouse sized room with huge PA music system and plenty of choices as to where in the crowd you want to position yourself either hang back or dive into the sweaty hot front row. Expect to pay a few quid for water and excessive amounts for beer, my advice drink before hand. The front of the building has a massive red metal dragon on it to represent Wales, which is impressive but the rest of the building is pretty awful brick built monstrosity, the architecture reminds me of a soviet prison and frequently homeless people inhabit the door wells to the side of the building. read more

Great concert venue, i used to work there and thouroughly enjoyed it. Was a great venue for our uni student Ball too .Easy to get too .Plenty of hotels around it too . read more

This arena is one of the smaller across the UK, but still attracts a host of big name bands touring as well as pantomimes, sporting and other events. This venue has 2 big drawbacks for me. The first is the temperature, it is by far the hottest venue I've been to for a gig hosting a band with more than a couple of lights on stage. Secondly, the stage is probably a foot too low down, meaning that if you're below 6 foot (which I am), you'll struggle for a good view of the stage more so than at comparable venues I've been to. read more

The CIA is a great venue although it is fairly small in comparison to other arenas throughout the UK. Ive seen some fairly big bands and singers here including Pussycat Dolls, Kanye West, Nickelback and Funeral for a Friend. It is also a good venue for comedy acts and I have seen Ricky Gervais fame tour here and more recently The Mighty Boosh! Other events that often happen here is WWE Wrestling! read more

The CIA is the main venue of gigs and live entertainment in Cardiff. It is home to musical gigs, comedy shows and sporting events (such as Boxing and Wrestling). The stewards are very helpful in finding your seat, and they ensure your visit is as comfortable as possible. My only gripe is the fact that tickets usually sell out very fast. read more

A pretty good venue for some of the bigger shows that come to the City (rock bands, conferences, wrestling etc). The drinks are, of course, extortionate but you can take your drink to your seat unlike some places which won't allow food and drink inside. They do sell food even in the midst of big gigs so you can get a panini if you forgot to eat beforehand. It is a bit odd for more formal concerts where its all seating as there are no structured seats, just rows of chairs set out by hand with the numbers chalked on the back but a chair's a chair and generally its a pretty good venue. read more

The CIA is really handy to get to as it is situated in the centre of Cardiff, so you can walk or get a bus. There are loads of different types of concerts and events held here. The comedy gigs i have been to were great and the rock gigs had great sound. I don't think the beer is to overpriced for a concert venue. read more

From big wedding parties to beer festivals, varied fairs and performing artists. The CIA is one of Cardiff's best known venues to go and see top events. This building has been host to so many different names from such an eclectic library of musical genres that the chances are you will know someone in Cardiff that has been here at one time or another. Some of my favourites that have performed here in recent years are The Prodigy, The Specials, Al Green, Lady Ga Ga, The Lost Prophets, Snow Patrol and The Mighty Boosh. I've missed a load out there but that should give you an idea of the different kind of acts you would find here. Anyone who is anyone, going anywhere and coming back again, has performed here at some point and although the main arena does remind me of a leisure centre, it is still a high ranking place to visit. Personally, I don't find the sound is all the best. I'm not certain the hall was originally designed with live bands in mind and you don't always get the best view from standing with the crowd on the floor. The prices are not cheap, security is pretty full-on with checks and the queues can be a real bore. Despite all of this, I still find myself wanting to come along when I know someone is performing there that I will want to see. read more

Some of the reviews here possibly betray why Cardiff International Arena doesn't exactly have a place in the hearts of real music geeks in the city. It's the sort of place the average one-gig-a-year-(wo)man will head to for a show, the type who can't even spell the names of the artists whose gigs they frequent. Over-the-top superciliousness out the way, CIA is in no way as much of a secret service as that acronym suggests. It's the only venue in Cardiff that regularly hosts arena-sized shows and accordingly most of the names that pass through - from 50 Cent to A-Ha - are of the household even-your-mum-would-know-them variety, with suitably wallet-emptying admission prices. The sound quality veers from impressively punishing to recreating the back of a field at Glastonbury, while drinks are overpriced, regulation pish and not much beyond. But unlike a lot of arenas, the security isn't Iron Curtain-level insane and the plentiful comedy shows fare much better in terms of views and value for money. read more

A few weeks back I took my girlfriend to see Ricky Gervais at the C.I.A and i must say i was mightily impressed with the setting of the place. I was thinking before we left that a place of that size surely cannot be a good venue for standup comedy, that surealy our seats would be far back and the funnyman would be a small blur I needn't have worried. The arena is suprisingly intimate considering the amount of people it holds and I got the chance to see my hero up close and personal, which i loved. At the interval we wondered off for a drink and eventually found the prices to be predictably hiked up (it is an international arena!) but had to take the tops off our bottles of drink as we walked back to our seats, so if you're going to get a drink make sure you don't knock it into the person in front of you (in my case, she was not happy). A few weeks after the gig, I took my girlfriend to see Westlife (please forgive me lads, it was her birthday) and the venue was absoloutly bouncing for the whole gig, showing the C.I.A's versatility as a venue. If your favourite band or comedian is touring, keep an eye out for this place on the list and it'll be a blast. read more

I have only been here once to see a band, who were great! The CIA is a great venue situated in the heart of cardiff so its easy to get to & the halls are great. read more

Cardiff international arena is the best to hold a concert for any type of music, especially pop groups

I been to this venue to see a number of concerts plus little briton, and it is ok if you get seating seats in the middle but if you are unlucky enough to have seats on the sides, the view is not great. The beer is expensive, but then again it always is at a concert. I have been to several christmas partys here too and they have always been good. read more

As always with a place like this, what you're seeing here will have an impact on your view of it. i've seen so many shows here from pearl jam and queen live, to wwe, the mighty boosh and thriller live. always been a great night, only problem is the price of food and drink, not good. read more