WHITE ROCK STADIUM PROJECT STARTS TO ROLL

South Wales Evening Post - Saturday October 11 2003

WHITE Rock Stadium is the name for Swansea's £25 million new home for football and rugby.

The council have unveiled the working title as contractors moved in this week to start on it's foundations.

It will be the new home to the city's football club and the new Neath Swansea Ospreys will also play some of their games there.

Unveling the name, council leader Lawrence Bailey said White Rock would link the high-class facilities with its area and local heritage and also put distance between its future and the old Morfa Athletics Stadium.

"People in and around Swansea already know that the new development is not just a stadium," he said

"It's an expression of a revitalised city that is building up a track record of achievement.

"A lot of pundits and self-appointed experts were confidently predicting that this day would never come.

"Well, today they are having to eat their words.

"White Rock is a working title but one which is already being promoted by a large number of fans."

The name comes from the White Rock area near Landore where the stadium is to be located, which was the hub of the industrial revolution in Swansea.

Councillor Bailey said the possibility was still open for a company of individual to invest in re-naming all or part of the stadium as construction continued.

"This is going to be a landmark people's stadium where families will want to come to watch their favourite team or their favourite pop group and soak up the unique atmosphere in comfort and safety," he added

As well as being a sporting venue, White Rock will also be a venue for pop concerts and other major cultural events.

Swans' boss Brian Flynn said the family appeal of the stadium could lead to broader support for football in Swansea, encouraging young people to come to watch their Nationwide League team and play the sport themselves.

"The Vetch is a lovely, traditional but tired old football ground," he said

"For the club to move forward it's important for us to move physically into our new home with it's exceptional facilities," he added "A new stadium could lead to new support for the club."

Ospreys coach Lyn Jones agreed saying White Rock would play a vital part in developing rugby in the region by attracting a new audience and encouraging more youngsters to take up the sport, which would be good for the future of rugby in South West Wales.

"This is a fantastic project which is very much needed," he said

"It's an exciting time and we're looking forward to it being completed within a couple of years.
Hopefully, it will help broaden the appeal of rugby games to families as well as continuing to welcome the existing fan base."