Glamorgan County Cricket Club's proud new facility in the heart of Cardiff was completed just in time for the start of the 2008 Season. During 2007 season, the old ground (better known as Sophia Gardens) was redeveloped into a magnificent new stadium, with a 16,000 capacity. The impressive new ground will host the First Ashes Test between England and Australia in July 2009, and a 1-day International vs. South Africa in September 2008.
The new ground certainly has all the trappings of a Test Match Arena - large stands, lots of corporate hospitality boxes, splendid Members' Pavilion, electronic scoreboard, and state-of-the-art Media Centre. What it lacks is atmosphere and character: it is what it is - a metal and plastic stadium, built to budget, functional and unlovely. It has not developed gradually through the years, like Lords or Trent Bridge, and so lacks the feel of those places.
Nevertheless it is a fine place to watch cricket, with plenty of refreshment stands, as well as a very good restaurant facility, managed by an executive chef who likes to feature locally produced foods. read more