Stadium Watch

What a Liberty! It's not fine for fans

2006-01-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

25 January 2006 - Western Mail

YOU pay your £15 entry fee, £3 for a programme ... and after the match hand over £30 for your parking fine.

That is the kind of match day more than 500 Swansea City and Ospreys fans have been "treated to" so far this season at the club's 20,000-seater new Liberty Stadium. That's a total £15,000 in fines so far. Plus several fans' illegally-parked cars have been towed away leading to sums of around £100 being paid to recover them from pounds.

Many have criticised the stadium's limited available parking but operators Stadco pointed out it has organised park and ride services so fans can access the stadium. But there are still many who have parked in residential streets in nearby places like Hafod or Morriston, leading to rich pickings for police and parking wardens.

At the club's last home game against Hartlepool last Saturday, police said one car was towed away and 28 drivers received fixed penalty notices. A quick calculation makes that almost £1,000.

The action came after police received a surge in complaints from residents about the number of illegally-parked cars on match days over the last few months. Police said the car towed away last Saturday was causing a considerable obstruction.

Some fans say they try to use the council's park and ride but add that on Saturdays buses are reserved for shoppers and head for the city centre, not Liberty Stadium.

Swans supporter Nigel Davies, editor of the fanzine A Touch Far Vetched, criticised the parking situation yesterday, saying some enterprising people living near the ground offered £5 for "watched car parking" on their private property.

He said, "It was inevitable this would happen and parking fines have become a cash cow for the police. A long-term solution must be the building of a multi-storey car park which would also provide money for the council. Or possibly a rail link directly to the ground which was part of the original transport plan but which has now been forgotten about.

"Some fans have complained about break-ins when they park in legal spots around the ground, so security is an issue too. For the elderly supporters, how can they park a few miles away and walk? It's been badly thought out."

But South Wales Police say last weekend's fixed penalty figures were lower than those of earlier matches showing "some drivers had listened to the message". They totalled 47 in the previous game - raising around £1,400.

Chief Inspector Keith Bowman said, "The Liberty Stadium operators and other partners have been working very hard to provide extra parking spaces during match days and with an extra 450 parking spaces provided last Saturday, there is no excuse for parking in areas other than legal spaces.

"The towing was one of our last resorts and we don't implement this policy unless absolutely necessary. We will keep the towing scheme as an option for any future games. However, the most important message we would like to send to match visitors is that they should use designated parking areas provided by the stadium and local authority."

FOOTBALL FAN COULD SUE STADIUM BOSSES

2006-01-06T11:00:00.000-08:00

6 January 2006

An angry Swansea football fan is considering suing bosses at the city's new £27 million stadium.
He says their decision to scrap a park and ride service from the west of the city to the Liberty Stadium goes against their travel plan for getting fans to the ground.

John Jones, of Baglan, said that when the stadium at Landore was being planned and concerns were raised about the lack of parking, developers argued that three park and ride services would ferry supporters from different parts of the city.

When the stadium first opened, three were set up. But that has now fallen to two, with the axing of the service from the Recreation Ground next to St Helen's.

StadCo, the stadium management company, stopped the service and asked fans to use regular service buses, arguing it would mean quicker journey times.

But fans have been left angry and waiting for buses for up to three-quarters of an hour after matches, as thousands queue for a ride home.Mr Jones says he cannot understand the decision to stop the popular service.

He said: "I am a bit frustrated by what is going on. I have been told it was the stadium's decision to axe the service.

"I did talk to the stadium and they said that they wanted to offer the best facilities for supporters so they had decided to dispense with the park and ride.

"They felt it would be better if the supporters had free parking at County Hall and got the number 54 bus."

But Mr Jones says the new system just is not working.

He said: "Why have they stopped what was a good thing? It was such an effective system. The main problem with the latest idea is coming back. People go up in dribs and drabs but when we come out of the ground we are talking about hundreds of people at the same time."

Mr Jones want to know the reasons behind the decision and said he was considering legal action.

He said: "That is what I am exploring, I think I have been badly done by, and thousands of others.

"Their website still says there is a park and ride in the west of the city on their travel plan. That document doesn't make any exceptions. It said the philosophy of the stadium was to provide park and ride.

"I am aggrieved they have reneged on their promise to provide park and ride facilities."

A spokeswoman for Swansea Council said no planning conditions had been broken.

She said: "The travel plan is the subject of ongoing review and all other conditions have been, or are being, complied with."

A spokesman for the stadium management company said: "The original planning conditions for the stadium required the production of a travel plan, which has been fully complied with.

"In fact, this plan is continually reviewed and updated to take into account the evolving needs of the stadium and its visitors."

CALL FOR HEAT AFTER GAME CANCELLATION AT STADIUM

2005-12-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

30 December 2005

Swansea's £27 million Liberty Stadium is to be fitted with under-soil heating next summer. The issue was brought firmly into the spotlight after the Swans game there with Gillingham on Wednesday was frozen off.

And today manager Kenny Jackett revealed the £1 million pitch would be benefiting from an underground heating system.

"There is a cost of around £180,000 for under-soil heating to be fully installed and there are plans in place for that next summer," he said.

"You never get everything. There is not much missing at the Liberty Stadium, which is a fantastic arena.

"I don't know if it was an oversight. If it was they haven't left much out. It's a first-class stadium and whether you can do everything straightaway and bang on I am not sure.

"There have been very, very few teething problems but this is obviously one."

Plaid Cymru group leader on Swansea Council Darren Price will quiz the authority's ruling administration on why the stadium had not been equipped with under-soil heating.

"I am totally bemused with the fact that this stadium does not have the under-soil heating that so many top class stadia across the world have in this day and age," he said.

"It is very disappointing that this crucial game was called off, when most fans would probably have expected the stadium to have under-soil heating."

I had certainly taken for granted that an under-soil heating system was included as part of the package.

"There is no doubt in my mind that such a heating system should have been included in the stadium's design brief at the planning stage."

He added: "The costs involved with a postponed match are quite significant when you consider that the stadium, the teams involved, the council and the local police, not to mention the fans, all suffer some costs as a result.

"Balancing these aggregated losses against the initial outlay of an under-soil heating system would, in my view, put the initial cost into perspective.

"I would suggest that the payback period may be significantly shorter than people might think."

Wednesday's eagerly awaited West Wales rugby derby between Llanelli Scarlets and the Ospreys also fell victim to a frozen pitch at the last minute, much to the anger of the capacity 10,800 crowd which had packed into Stradey Park.

The Scarlets are due to move to a new 15,000 capacity state-of-the-art stadium at Pemberton for the 2007/08 season.

No details have yet been released as to whether it will have under-soil heating.

CLUB'S PLEA FOR FANS TO REDUCE COSTS

2005-11-03T11:00:00.000-08:00

3 November 2005

The cost of policing football matches at the new Liberty Stadium is the equivalent of two new players a season for Swansea City, it emerged today. Fans are now being asked to do their bit to keep the cost of patrolling games down amid fears that the club could be forced to spend an extra £50,000 on security fencing.

The club is already handing over £5,000 a game to the police to cover the cost of watching over the crowds - the equivalent of £100,000 every season.

Now Swans bosses have issued a plea to their supporters asking them to be on their best behaviour.The fans' own goal is infuriating them.

Huw Jenkins, the club's chairman, said he would rather be spending the money on new players.

But he warned that the price of security could go up unless fans did their bit to help prevent trouble.

He said: "At the Vetch Field, we had what can only be described as natural segregation of fans because of the close proximity of the houses and streets in the area.

"Now we have a totally different set-up and one that's a little more difficult to manage.

"This season's policing costs so far are roughly £5,000 per game and throughout the season this will equate to over £100,000.

"A large proportion of this cost relates to the policing of a few hundred away fans to and from the stadium for each game. These costs could perhaps be reduced if we had the help and cooperation of our supporters in allowing the away-fans to quickly leave the stadium.

"While inside the stadium we certainly want to generate an intimidating but trouble-free atmosphere for the visiting fans - outside the stadium we need the help of our fans.

"Swansea City Football Club does not want to spend extra money on external fencing which could cost us £50,000.

"Also, if the policing charges continue to rise at such a high level, there can be no doubt the club will be asked to pay more into stadium managers StadCo to offset some of these charges.

"Please help us to minimise these extra costs with our new stadium which in turn will allow us to spend more money on our playing squad."

LET'S IGNORE NEW NAME

2005-10-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

24 October 2005

Well, well, so we now have a name for our new stadium - and what a boring, insipid, uninspiring, weak offering it has turned out to be.

Messrs Holley and Clement may be crowing about it from the comfort of County Hall but the sad reality is that yet again a local authority in Swansea has taken little notice of what a great many of its rate-paying, vote-casting residents want. It has taken the first (and most probably the only) offer that has come its way in relation to the stadium naming rights. The stadium is already a massive hit with Swans fans and most certainly will play a huge part in helping the club move up the divisions.

However, the process of seeking a main sponsor has been as farcical as a Brian Rix production where, unfortunately, the perennially funny trouser-dropping part has been replaced with a most embarrassing clanger-dropping scene.

It has taken the council a year since declaring the stadium clean, to accept a paltry offer from a local company of no renown and has left supporters of both codes, and not least the people of Swansea, with a five-year legacy of blandness.

The sponsorship deal says nothing good about Swansea and clearly illustrates that the council was so desperate to finalise the deal - any deal - that it has sold the rights to the city's flagship stadium down the Tawe.

I cannot comment on the financial effect that the deal will have on the Ospreys or indeed on council coffers, but as a Swans fan I certainly believe that it will make little difference at all to that club and will likely be swallowed up in any event within that inefficient, non fan-friendly entity that is StadCo.

I sincerely hope that wherever and whenever possible, media organisations refrain from using the name and that the people of Swansea show their disdain by ignoring it too.

I am sure that the vast majority of Swans fans will continue to refer to the stadium by its well-liked, strong name of White Rock.As for the council, it may yet rue the day when it chose (yet again) to ignore public opinion. Registered voters have long memories.

Paul Morris, Parcgwernfadog, Ynysforgan, Swansea

WHAT'S THE GOING PRICE OF LIBERTY?

2005-10-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

19 October 2005

Bosses at Swansea's £27 million super-stadium are refusing to say exactly how much they have sold the naming rights for. The Post yesterday exclusively revealed the showpiece ground at Landore will be known as The Liberty Stadium. But bosses are refusing to put a precise figure on the deal.

Instead they have given what they say is a ballpark figure of around £500,000. Swansea-based property developer Liberty Properties has signed a five-year deal for the rights to have its name emblazoned on the new 20,000-seat stadium.

With the stadium home to division one high-fliers Swansea City and the Ospreys regional rugby team, The Liberty Stadium will receive extensive media coverage.

Head of stadium management firm StadCo, Councillor Gerald Clement, and Liberty Properties director Philip Morris were asked to put an exact figure on the deal at a press conference held to announce the deal.

But they refused to do so, citing commercial confidentiality." £500,000 is a ballpark figure," said Councillor Clement. Mr Morris also declined to put a precise figure on the deal, saying it was "in excess of £500,000".

He would give no details. The stadium is the first in Wales to be sponsored.The deal follows months of wrangling over what it should be called. During construction it was known as White Rock. Then it took on the bland-sounding title of The New Stadium Swansea.

Now it will carry the name The Liberty Stadium.But the £500,000 figure falls far short of the £800,000 deal that was talked about earlier in the year. In March a council spokesman said: "The £800,000 is a total budget for the naming rights sale, not an annual figure. "So it is entirely consistent with the quoted estimate of £250,000 per annum being our targeted value."

Yesterday's press conference was told the £800,000 figure had included items such as the sponsorship of individual stands and hospitality suites, not just the naming of the stadium. A £500,000, five-year-deal would net StadCo £100,000 per year, which Councillor Clement said was in line with the stadium's business plan. Earlier this year the council loaned StadCo £2 million. Councillor Clement said the £100,000 per year income was what was expected when the loan was made. Both parties declared themselves happy with the deal.

Several companies were thought to be in the running for the deal and Councillor Clement confirmed that Liberty had offered the most cash."It was the best net offer," he said.

The deal will run for the next five years. During the final 12 months of the arrangement negotiations will start on extending the deal.

"It was an initial bid of five years," said Mr Morris. "We expect the five years to become 10 years."

Council leader Chris Holley said a five-year-deal was the right one for the stadium because its value might increase during that period and StadCo could get a better deal in future."It is quite right that both parties have the right to renegotiate the deal," he said.

"I think StadCo are quite right to have gone for a short-term deal that they can renegotiate later."

It was also confirmed at the press conference that StadCo is still in negotiation with various organisations about the sponsorship of other elements within the stadium.

"We are still talking to interested parties," said Councillor Clement.

Mr Morris added: "Our sponsorship is for the naming of the stadium and does not impinge on the stadium seeking other sponsors."

Sports fans yesterday gave the thumbs up to the name.

Geraint Clark, of Stanley Terrace, Mount Pleasant, said: "It sounds impressive. I think it's something people will remember.''

Huw Jones, of Drumau Park, Skewen, said: "The main thing is, it is a name that will last.''

Stadium sponsorship has become a regular feature of football in recent years. Clubs eager for funds to plough into the transfer market have looked to businesses to boost their bank accounts, in return for a big plug sponsoring a stadium box stand or the ground's name itself.

In 1997 the Britannia Building Society paid £1.3 million up front to sponsor Stoke City for 10 years. The cash was used to help build the club's new £14.7 million stadium. The deal has recently been renewed between the building society and the team, for a reported similar sum. Current Coca-Cola Division One leaders Huddersfield Town played at the McAlpine Stadium for 10 years after a deal was struck between the club and construction company Alfred McAlpine over the building of the new ground.

Pharmaceutical firm Galpharm has become the latest company to sponsor the ground, a deal thought to be worth around £100,000 a year.

Welcome to the new Liberty Stadium

2005-10-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

Oct 19 2005
Paul Rowland, Western Mail

BEING called Liberty has never caused a certain New York statue too many problems, but supporters groups yesterday gave the new title of Swansea's flagship stadium a decidedly lukewarm welcome.

The ground will be known as The Liberty Stadium after locally- based property developers Liberty Properties yesterday signed a five-year deal worth £500,000 to sponsor the shared home of Swansea City and the Ospreys.

But fans of Swansea City, who have been based at the ground since leaving the Vetch Field at the end of last season, were yesterday unimpressed with the new moniker.

Phil Sumbler, of the Swansea City Supporters Trust, claimed the new name "could have been a lot better", and said fans would have preferred council chiefs to stick with the working title of White Rock Stadium.

Mr Sumbler also revealed he was disappointed with the financial terms of the deal, with the tie-up bringing in little more than £100,000 a season.

"It's very disappointing that it's taken this long to come up with a name, and to be honest, it's a pretty low amount of money for the naming of a stadium," he said.

"Having said that, it could have been a lot worse - we could have ended up with some farcical name. To a lot of supporters the stadium will still retain the name White Rock anyway - people are still referring to it as that. It's hard to say how things will work out, but in my view White Rock is far more powerful.

"But at least Liberty won't create a laughing stock immediately and there are other plus points with Liberty being a local company which is run by local people who have an interest in the club.

"It could have been worse, but it could have been a lot better. What we've got is a five-year deal, but if Liberty want to be involved after five years, we have to rethink it again.

"If there was a title in there, something like the Liberty White Rock Stadium, the sponsor could have been renewed and the name could have been kept, but that's not what's happened."
Ron Knuszka, the trust's chairman, said financial considerations had forced the selection of a corporate name, but urged stadium bosses to incorporate the heritage of the area, and the club, into the stadium in other ways.

"There are compromise possibilities," he added.

"If they can't introduce White Rock into the title, I would have thought they could give some consideration to using the name for some part of the ground, be it a street, a stand or a bar.
"There are options available for introducing some history into the stadium. The history of a football club is extremely important. We have got to go forward, but a name is extremely important for fans to use and be proud of."

But Scott Gibbs, the former Wales and Ospreys star, who now works as Liberty's development manager, said it was time thestadium had a fitting name.

"There have been so many working titles attributed to the stadium, it's good that that's been finally put aside and the stadium has a name that can take it forward," he said.

"It's a fairly distinctive brand name, and also a strong corporate title, so we're hoping that will be reflected on the field - more so with the Ospreys than the Swans, because they're already up the top of the league!"

New Stadium Scores With Liberty Properties

2005-10-18T11:05:00.000-07:00

Press Statement by Councillor Chris Holley

From today Swansea’s new stadium will be known as The Liberty Stadium after property company, Liberty Properties Plc, signed a sponsorship deal to secure the naming rights for the £27million facility.

The deal, which is understood to be in excess of £500,000, means that the 20,200-seat home of the Swans and the Ospreys will be known as The Liberty Stadium for the next five years.

Liberty Properties is one of the UK’s leading commercial property development and investment company specialising in office, retail and leisure schemes. With offices in Swansea, Chester and London, Liberty operates throughout the UK and has a current development programme worth in excess of £150million, with an additional £150million of projects planned for the next 12 months. Renowned for its pioneering and innovative approach, Liberty has developed some of the UK’s most cutting-edge and prestigious commercial property developments. It is, therefore, seen as the ideal brand fit for the flagship stadium.

The board of the Stadium Management Company considered a shortlist of bids after an official tendering process which saw interest from a wide range of national and international companies. The agreement with Liberty was signed today at the stadium by Chairman of the Stadium Management Company, Cllr Gerald Clement, and Director of Liberty Properties, Philip Morris.

Chairman of Swansea Stadium Management Company, Gerald Clement, said: “We’re delighted to announce that Liberty Properties have signed a five-year deal to be associated with Wales’ top regional stadium. We have been working very hard to find the right top name sponsor and we are thrilled to have Liberty Properties as our partner.

“Liberty Properties is a market leader in its field and is, therefore, the ideal partner for the stadium and we look forward to working closely with them. Liberty is a strong, confident name in its own right and offers us all the right positive associations. I’m confident that The Liberty Stadium will soon become a watch word amongst sporting fans for the very best in sporting and entertainment facilities.”

Liberty Properties Development Manager, Scott Gibbs, said: “We’re tremendously proud and excited to be investing in the new stadium in Swansea. We saw the chance to sponsor such a flagship stadium as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the company. We’re a national company but our roots are firmly based in Swansea and so we’re thrilled to be able to support and celebrate such an important landmark for the area. From a business perspective, the partnership works to reinforce our progressive and innovative values, and the naming will also help raise awareness of the Liberty brand and provide us with the ideal launch platform for us as we prepare to diversify into more consumer-focused markets.”

Leader of City and County of Swansea, Councillor Chris Holley, said: “The Council is delighted that the right sponsor has been secured to give the Stadium a strong and distinctive new name. The Liberty Stadium will be a beacon for sporting success in South Wales and indeed throughout the UK.

“As Wales’ top regional sporting venue, Liberty Stadium will shine out as a landmark that will be the envy of many other towns and cities throughout Britain. It was never in doubt that the Stadium would get a top name sponsor and I am even more pleased that a Swansea-based national property company has come forward. I know that Liberty Stadium will become a name associated with all that is great about rugby, football and Swansea.”

The concept of a sponsor being given naming rights to a stadium is fairly new to the UK but has been common practice in the US for some time, with companies paying big amounts to have baseball and American football stadiums named after them.

Improbably, the first ground in the UK to be names after its sponsor was Scarborough’s stadium, which was named after the frozen chips company McCain’s, while Bolton Wanderers’ new ground was christened the Reebok Stadium when it opened its gates in 1997. Wigan’s JJB Stadium houses the city’s football club and rugby league team, and is named after the sports retail chain.

Ends.

STADIUM GETS A NAME AT LAST!

2005-10-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

18 October 2005

Swansea's £27 million new stadium finally has a new name and sponsor. Sports fans in the city have a new place to call home - the Liberty Stadium. The Post can today reveal city-based developers Liberty Properties has been unveiled as the new sponsor for the home of both Swansea City and the Ospreys.

The six figure deal, thought to be worth in excess of £500,000, finally draws a line under the saga of what the stadium will be called. Football and rugby fans in the city have waited more than 14 months to learn what the Morfa stadium would be called after the popular tag of White Rock was dropped.

Council bosses said they wanted a blank slate in a bid to attract a new sponsor and simply called the ground The New Stadium Swansea.

But that is now in the past as Liberty, which has offices in the enterprise park as well as London and Chester, has been confirmed as the new headline sponsors for the stadium for the next five years.

Scott Gibbs, Liberty's development manager, said: "We're tremendously proud and excited to be investing in the new stadium in Swansea.

"We saw the chance to sponsor such a flagship stadium as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the company.

"We're thrilled to be able to support and celebrate such an important landmark for the area.

"Stadium bosses said there were a number of national and international companies interested in sponsoring the stadium.Councillor Gerald Clement, chairman of stadium management firm StadCo, signed the deal today.

He said: "We're delighted to announce that Liberty Properties has signed a five-year deal to be associated with Wales's top regional stadium."We have been working very hard to find the right top name sponsor and we are thrilled to have Liberty Properties as our partner.

"Liberty is a strong, confident name in its own right and offers us all the right positive associations.

"I'm confident that the Liberty Stadium will soon become a watchword among sporting fans for the very best in sporting and entertainment facilities."S

wansea Council leader Chris Holley said there was never a doubt that a sponsor would be found for the stadium.

He said: "I know that Liberty Stadium will become a name associated with all that is great about rugby, football and Swansea."It is not known who the other bidders in the naming race were, although at one stage communications company ntl and motor dealership FRF were thought to be interested.

One Swans fan said today: "It is good news and a strong name for the future."

VENUE'S NAME TO BE UNVEILED

2005-10-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

17 October 2005

The new name of Swansea's showpiece sports and entertainment venue will finally be unveiled tomorrow.

An announcement is due mid-morning by the board of the new stadium, revealing the new sponsor and the new name. Council leader Chris Holley felt the fans - most of whom continued to call it White Rock - would be quick to adopt the new name.

He has given no hint as to who the winner of the bidding war is, but property development company Liberty is being generally touted as the hot favourite.

Other possible contenders are thought to include FRF Motors and communications company ntl.

Mobile phone company Communications Direct has also claimed to be in the running.Tomorrow, all will be revealed when the stadium board discloses the new sponsor.

Councillor Holley said: "We are delighted to be bringing a top sponsor to the new stadium.

"We are sure that the new name will become a favourite with the fans and will raise the profile of the stadium even further.

"We have worked hard to ensure that the sponsor is the right one for the stadium and the city itself.

"After considering a shortlist of potential sponsors, we feel the successful company's offer sits most comfortably with the values of the stadium and will help to ensure success, both on and off the field.

"Swansea's £27 million landmark stadium, home to the Swans and Ospreys, will become the first sponsored stadium in Wales. Stadiums named after their sponsors first came to the fore in the early 1990s when US IT networking giant 3Com secured naming rights for San Francisco's Candlestick Park, renaming it 3Com Park.

In the UK, it was Bolton Wanderers's 1997 deal with Reebok that led the way.

That was followed by Arsenal's multi-million pound sponsorship deal with Emirates.Interest in sponsorship of the new 20,200-seater stadium is said to have been widespread.

A spokeswoman for the stadium management said: "A number of blue-chip companies put forward bids, which saw interest from a wide range of companies both national and international."

WE ARE LAUGHING STOCK IN EYES OF OTHER CLUBS

2005-09-24T11:00:00.001-07:00

24 September 2005

Once again the occupants of County Hall have managed to make our city a laughing stock in the eyes of Britain's football clubs.

They are not content with the mishandling of Swansea's heritage - for example, the Slip Bridge, Mumbles lifeboat station and many more - but have now managed to make fools of us by turning our pride and joy, The New Stadium, into a fiasco. What a pathetic bunch of wallies!

They seem to ruin everything that they touch. We have new buildings going up next to rundown relics.

Their new suggestion is to place a car park when they demolish the Unifloc building. How pathetic is that?

Imagination seems to be a word that our leaders have never heard of.

When you look around Swansea and see all the buildings to decay and rot, it just makes me sick.

The whole of Swansea and the Jack Army are calling the new stadium White Rock.

Why don't the councillors at County Hall listen, or do they want to go the same way as the last lot?

Mrs J. Rice, Hanover Street, Swansea.

WE'RE BEING FLEECED

2005-09-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

24 September 2005

The other day, I intended to order two tickets from StadCo for the Swansea City games against Nottingham Forest and Blackpool. I buy my tickets well in advance to ensure I get to see the match. I do not have a season ticket as I am a shift worker and may not be able to attend every game.

As always, I pay with my debit or Master Card via telephone, but on this particular day I was informed there would be a £1.50 admin. charge and, as I required two tickets for two different matches, that would entail a £3 charge, even though I was making only one transaction.I

asked the gentleman when this charge was implemented, as I have never had to pay the charge previously, and he informed me it came into force that day.

What are StadCo trying to do, drive away the fans of Swansea city?

Instead of paying £30 I am expected to pay £33.

I will, of course, buy the tickets as I want to support my football club, but I do not intend to pay over the phone or by debit card in future.

One would think with all the adverse publicity StadCo has received, they would not invite any further controversy.Once again, they are fleecing the fans.

A. George, Gower View Road, Penyrheol, Gorseinon

NEW SYSTEM JUST NOT FANS' TICKET

2005-09-22T02:32:00.000-07:00

22 September 2005

Sports fans claim they are being ripped off by a new ticketing system at the city's landmark stadium. It comes as questions are again raised about the search for a site sponsor.

A new ticketing system has been put place after complaints from supporters. But fans now say they are not happy at charges being added to prices.

Andrew George, of Gorseinon, wanted to buy tickets for Swansea's upcoming home games against Nottingham Forest and Blackpool.

"I buy my tickets well in advance to ensure I get to see the match," he said.

"I do not have a season ticket as I am a shift worker and may not be able to attend every home game.

"As always I pay with my debit or credit card via the telephone, but I was informed there would be a £1.50 admin charge.

"As I required two tickets for two different matches that would entail a £3 charge even though I was only making one transaction."

The situation is the same for online customers as well and applies to both rugby and football fans.

The new system was introduced last week after widespread criticism of ticketing at the stadium.

Hundreds of fans complained to Stadco ahead of the first game at the stadium when tickets did not arrive on time.

When the Welsh international team played the first friendly in Swansea for 17 years, some fans got no tickets while others were sent double.

A spokeswoman for Stadco said: "The system in place at the new stadium is the same as that which other stadia have in place when taking telephone and online bookings, as well as cinemas and theatres.

"The system was brought in to cover the costs of being able to offer customers the convenience of being able to book online or over the phone."

Meanwhile, Labour councillors are pressing for answers over the naming row after being told talks are ongoing - eight weeks after the first game.

It was hoped that a major company would stump up £250,000 a year for the right to have its name on the stadium.

Group leader David Phillips submitted an official request to council leaders as signs for the both the Swans and the Ospreys were put up at the ground.

Managers had hoped to announce the sponsor ahead of the new season.

But they were forced to adopt the official name - The New Stadium Swansea - much to the annoyance of both rugby and football fans, who favoured White Rock.

Councillor Gerald Clement, chairman of Stadco, reiterated that there are still a number of companies involved in talks.

"No timescale is being fixed for concluding those discussions," he said.

"What is important is attracting an appropriate sponsor at an appropriate price."

MATCH DAY TRAVEL STILL AN ISSUE

2005-09-19T23:00:00.000-07:00

19 September 2005

Huge crowds have flocked to Swansea's New Stadium for the opening games of the rugby and soccer seasons. But many have travelled by car rather than using the park and ride facilities. SHAUN GREANEY reports on the evolving traffic and parking situation in and around The New Stadium.

Swans fan Alan Owen drives to matches at The New Stadium from his home in Port Tennant. Like thousands of others, he hopes to park near the ground. But, he says, the traffic situation on match days and the search for a parking space is making life difficult.

"Why they don't open up the park and ride site at Landore for soccer games, I don't know," he said.

"There are lots of spaces there and it would make life that bit easier, especially for people going to games from the east of the city and beyond.

"To have to go to Swansea Vale or the Recreation Ground in Brynmill to park for evening matches is a bit much, especially when you can't park across the road."

Stadium bosses have been dogged by parking and ticket problems since the venue opened for its first match on July 23.

They were forced to pull the plug on one of the three park and ride sites - at County Hall - ahead of the international with Slovenia, after it was revealed just a handful of people used it.

And sports fans attending evening matches at The New Stadium have been barred from using the giant car park directly across the road.

Drivers trying to use the Landore park and ride site for evening matches, when it is empty, have been told they can not go in.

The site holds hundreds of cars and is not used at night. It is also just yards from the stadium gates.But bosses say it will stay off limits, despite its convenience.

The situation has been condemned by commentators, as it means motorists have to park miles away and catch a bus to the stadium.

Many have risked it by parking where they should not and 214 have ended up with parking tickets.

A total of 38 were fined for parking offences when the Swans played Bristol and 27 rugby fans fell foul of the restrictions when the Ospreys played Leinster.

To cash in on the problems, local businesses and even a school - Plasmarl Primary, which is just a stone's throw away from the home of the Swans and the Ospreys - have been opening up private car parks.

The primary school opens up its car park on match days, charging £4 a car.

All proceeds go straight back into buying resources for the pupils.

If every space is taken for each match, the school could make up to £10,000 a year from the facility.

But local newsagent Adrian Brown, of Wern Road, Landore, said he thought parking problems at the stadium had not been as bad as feared.

"It has been very good. It was bad in the beginning.

"There was parking on the top of the hill.

"But they are not parking all over the place. People have realised where they can park.

"The only thing I would say could be sorted out is at the end of the matches. They close the bottom road, the dual carriageway.

"What happens at the bottom of Siloh Road is that you have a little gap and everyone is gathered by the pub and the traffic is coming down through these people.

"There is also a bottleneck by Rossi's."

Police have tried a 20-minute road closure outside the stadium after some matches to allow pedestrians to clear.

Inspector Bill John has said: "While this may create some inconvenience, it is necessary to allow the crowds to exit safely.

"I would also appeal for members of the public not to park anti-socially or in residents' bays, as fixed penalty notices will be given out."

A review of parking and traffic arrangements around The New Stadium is to start within weeks.

Among the issues to be examined is the impact the stadium and the crowds of around 16,000 are having on residents in the Landore area of the city.

Traffic flow and the mingling of people and cars is another factor to be addressed.Landore councillor Rob Speht said there had been "teething problems" with the set-up, but said these should be ironed out when the situation was reviewed in about a month's time.

"In general, I would say it is going quite well," he said.

"When you have a new facility like the stadium, there will be queues.

"There's a lot of new parking bays and double yellow lines and that. By and large, it has worked quite well.

"There are a few little pockets in Plasmarl, in Salem Road and one or two other patches.

"A review of transport arrangements around the ground was always planned to take place after a trial period, said Mr Speht.

"We didn't actually know how it would work on match days," he said.

"It was agreed that two or three months after the opening, we would all sit down and review which bits were working and weren't working and would tweak the system."

He pledged that ward councillors would consult the residents of Landore.

"I would want to hold a couple of public meetings and maybe a focus survey to have some input from residents," he said.

Shops on the giant Morfa retail park have said that trade has slumped on match days.

TK Maxx manager Wayne Lewis said: "What we are finding is people are deciding not to shop with us on match days and supporters are using our car parks instead.

"Perhaps some people think they won't get a parking space and may feel intimidated by the large crowds.

"But I would like to reassure them they will be able to get here and park."

Swansea Council is urging sports fans to make full use of the park and ride facilities in the city.

A spokesman said the authority and the stadium management company worked closely with the police, First Cymru and other partners to provide a travel plan that ensured fans could arrive and leave as quickly and easily as possible.

"The plan more than caters for the demands of the stadium, even at full capacity, if fans follow it," said a spokesman.

"A massive amount of research and consultation went into the travel plan, including a number of fact-finding meetings with the police forces running the operations at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and St Mary's in Southampton.

"Nevertheless, we do need fans to co-operate with us and use the specified park and ride sites at Swansea Vale and the Recreation Ground, or public transport to get to and from the game.

"This will help us greatly in ensuring that everyone has a safe and enjoyable day out."Thanks to all this planning and effort by everyone involved, there is no need for people to park in residential areas close to the ground.

"Those who do park in residential areas should expect to face fines on their return from the game, because restrictions are in place and the police are actively patrolling these areas."

The Swansea Vale park and ride has about 2,500 car parking spaces, with free buses to the stadium. The charge is £5 for parking.

The Recreation Ground has approximately 800 spaces and is served by about 20 buses. Parking there is free and the charge is £2 for adults and 50p for under-16s for buses to the stadium.

The council spokesman added: "The Landore park and ride service, which has been developed to serve the city centre, is completely independent of the new stadium and is not an auxiliary car park for match-goers."

New stadium tackles ticket delays

2005-09-09T23:00:00.000-07:00

BBC Wales New Website - 9 September 2005

Stadium officials undertook a 'thorough review' of operationsSwansea's new sports stadium is trying to avoid a repeat of fans being stuck outside the ground after kick-off by opening six new ticket booths.

Large queues have seen some football supporters give up and go home,claiming there are not enough sales points.

Officials said the extra booths for Saturday's game against Bristol City would speed up entry to the ground.

But they said fans should still turn-up at least 30 minutes before kick-off or buy tickets in advance where possible.

Since the stadium opened in July management company Stadco has come under fire for its ticketing operation.

At the home game against Barnsley on August Bank Holiday Monday there were reports of queues stretching the width of the South Stand and around towards the East Stand.

It was claimed as many as 2,000 people just gave up and went home.

Phil Sumbler, who runs the JackArmy fans' website, said: "The problems have been they've got one ticket office and you can't pay on the day at turnstiles."

The extra booths will sell tickets to home supporters for cash only from 1300 BST.

Bristol fans have been banned by police from making their own way to the ground and will be turned away unless on an official coach because of concerns of a repeat of violence the marred the fixture in 2000.

A Stadco spokesman said that with the Swans in the top six in League One they were expecting a bumper crowd.

"We've consulted with other stadiums and performed a thorough review of our ticketing systems and this is the first outcome of the review.

"We're confident that these new booths will offer a significant improvement and help us deliver a quality service."

Mr Sumbler said the success of the move could only be judged at kick-off on Saturday.

But he added: "It's a step in the right direction."

WHITE ROCK CLOTHES LAUNCH

2005-09-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

7 September 2005

To the company searching for sponsorship, it is definitely The New Stadium Swansea. But to fans, Swansea's new sporting stadium has always been White Rock and always will be. And now a new range of clothing has been launched proudly bearing the name.

It comes as Stadco, the company responsible for seeking naming rights to the ground, still tries to identify a potential sponsor.

The business is the brainchild of Phil Sumbler, editor of Swansea City FC supporters' website Jack Army, who unveiled the designs yesterday.

He said: "The council keeps telling us that the company selling the naming rights tells them a clean stadium name is a better option. But this better option is clearly not working as we enter another month with no stadium sponsor.

"And people are still using the name White Rock. It is the name fans refer to it in the pubs.

"And of course all the time that passes means the name of White Rock Stadium sticks more and more with the fans until everyone will just call it that, no matter who buys the naming rights."

The clothing, which can be ordered via the Jack Army website, includes T-shirts, vests, baseball shirts and women's tops.

Each reads: White Rock Stadium, Swansea, Est 2005. An alternative logo reads: Once White Rock...Other merchandise includes baseball caps, sun visors, badges, mouse mats and even wine.

Stadco had hoped that by giving the home of the Ospreys rugby team and Swansea City FC the name The New Stadium Swansea, it would be more attractive to companies considering sponsoring the ground in return for its naming rights.

SKY SPORTS

2005-09-05T11:00:00.000-07:00

Sky Sports become first to break stadium name media embargo

STADCO? WE HAVE A FIASCO!

2005-09-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

3 September 2005

My wife and I are both avid Swansea City supporters and full season-ticket holders and delighted with The New Stadium Swansea - or White Rock to give its proper name. However, the frustration of having to put up with a management company that cares less for the paying public is starting to annoy many, many people.

For example, why can't the ticket issues be sorted out?

Hundreds of supporters did not get into White Rock on Bank Holiday Monday to watch the Swans against Barnsley because of the farcical ticketing arrangements - all costing the Swans money.

Secondly, the quality of the food in the concourse together with the excessive pricing is putting people off. Fast food (in this day and age) is all that is on offer - madness.

I would like to point out I have e-mailed my concerns to Councillor Gerald Clement (StadCo chairman) but have not had a reply.

We have a wonderful opportunity to showcase The New Stadium, instead we discuss the failings of the management company to get to grips with running a sporting arena.

Welcome to White Rock - the new Leisure Centre fiasco.

Stadco, please sort it out, or get out.

Rob Park, Heol Tircoed, Penllergaer, Swansea.

SERVICE? IT'S HARDLY THAT

2005-09-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

3 September 2005

When is StadCo going to realise it does not own the White Rock stadium? It is owned by the City of Swansea and ultimately the good citizens of Swansea.

Stadco's management of White Rock is a farce. Its telephone answering service is impolite and inefficient. How many fans have rung the infamous hotlines and other numbers and been met by a constant engaged tone?

Last weekend's shambles was the icing on the cake. After the great win at Walsall you would have expected tickets to be on sale on Sunday and/or pay at the gate.

However, initiative does not come easy to StadCo.Swansea Council please do something. Take the initiative. Don't let Swansea's jewel in the crown be spoilt.

Dominic Jones, Bryn Road, Brynmill, Swansea.

EXCITING ERA IS BEING SPOILT

2005-09-03T11:00:00.001-07:00

3 September 2005

Who would let the council run anything even remotely commercial? Its interference and incompetence in the running of The New Stadium through StadCo has spoilt the start of what should have been an exciting new era for the Swans and the Ospreys.

The ticketing fiasco is costing the Swans dearly in lost income and disillusioned fans.

Those of us who live outside Swansea who make the most effort to attend games are being persuaded not to attend by the disaster that is the ticket office and the no-pay-on-the-turnstile policy.

Kevin Mahoney, Bendrick Road, Barry.

THE FANS ARE TURNING AWAY

2005-09-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

3 September 2005

I Read the Evening Post whenever I can get my hands on it, primarily for news on the Swans. As you are probably aware, there have been many cases of poor management shown by StadCo after Tim Howells resigned.

Tickets have been given to the wrong people and the ticket office has been closed the day before important home matches.At the Barnsley game, approximately 2,000 fans gave up queuing for a ridiculous length of time and went home.

At the moment we are averaging roughly 14,000-15,000 in attendances - the second best in the league behind Nottingham Forest.

When everyone in Swansea is back from holidays and as the season progresses, there will be larger demand for tickets. StadCo simply will not be able to handle it and will cost our club support and money. Something needs to be done.

Ashley Crathern, John Street, Cockett, Swansea.

LEAVE CLUBS RUN THE AFFAIRS

2005-09-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

3 September 2005

For anyone who thinks that StadCo is a partnership between Swansea Council, the football and rugby club think again. It is effectively the council. How on earth can you have council officials running a private enterprise? Swansea City Football Club and the Ospreys are businesses.

They need to listen to their customers in order to maintain a successful company, but when have the council listened to their customers (the electorate)? They are amateurs at best.

But they are not playing with public services here.They are interfering in a private enterprise.

They must allow the football and rugby clubs to take care of their own businesses before they ruin the biggest sporting opportunity this city has ever had. Get out StadCo and leave our clubs alone.

Gary Evans, Station Road, Fforestfach, Swansea.

STADIUM IN BOUNCERS LAY-OFF ROW

2005-09-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

2 September 2005

A Third of the bouncers working at the New Stadium Swansea are claimed to have been laid off. Some 45 security staff were taken on at the stadium when the new season began.

They were meant to police the hospitality, VIP area, Riverside Bar and gold and platinum lounges.

Now the Evening Post understands 15 have been laid off.

Stadium managers have refused to comment on the claims.

But one of those who was working at the stadium said he and 14 others had gone.

He said: "I am angry.

"They asked us to go in to work and they laid 15 of us off," he said.

"They said they could not afford to have us there.

"There were too many of us, they said."

He said the bouncers - many of whom worked in pubs and nightclubs in Swansea city centre in the evenings - were offered the chance to become match stewards inside the ground instead.

Security is a serious issue at the new stadium.

Only last month, away fans were attacked with concrete building blocks after a league game there.

Visiting Doncaster supporters were shocked when breeze blocks were hurled through the front window of a van they were travelling in.

Police at the time said a minority of Swansea fans still seemed to think they could get away with yobbishness at the stadium.

The stadium is owned by Swansea Council and leased to Swansea Stadium Management Company, which runs it.

A spokesman for the company neither confirmed nor denied the job cuts.

"It is not the policy of the Swansea Stadium Management Company to comment publicly on staffing issues," said a spokesman

SORT OUT THIS TICKET MESS

2005-09-01T11:00:00.002-07:00

1 September 2005

The ticketing chaos at The New Stadium Swansea is a major problem that needs sorting urgently. We have a magnificent, £27 million facility. The Swans are riding high in League One and last Friday the Ospreys attracted a crowd of more than 18,400 at their first match in the ground.

But these achievements are being sullied by the stadium management company's inability to sort out ticket sale problems.

StadCo may dispute claims that 2,000 supporters were left queuing for the Barnsley game on Monday but whatever the figure it is clear many fans were dissatisfied with the ticket arrangements. These are people who might decide not to bother again.

There have been calls for turnstiles to be introduced at the stadium but this is not the way ahead for today's modern facilities.

Even so, it is not fair to expect supporters who might live some considerable distance away to buy their tickets in advance. Anyone should be able to arrive at the ground an hour before kick off and expect to get a ticket in time for the start of the match.

One of the season's biggest fixtures is with Bristol City on September 10. Stadco needs to have got the ticketing mess sorted by then.

STADIUM'S HOLY TRINITY

2005-09-01T11:00:00.001-07:00

1 September 2005

Stadco was created last year to run the New Stadium. The football club, the rugby club and Swansea Council are all shareholders in the company.

Each of them own third shares in StadCo, although the council retains a 51 per cent voting rights on major issues.

These include the removal of a director and anything that would breach the law or risk the financial position of the new company.

Profits from ticket sales are split between the partners, with a slice going into a central fund held over for repairs and maintenance.

The council has refused to say exactly how the cash from ticket sales is split.

Swansea Council invested £155,000 when StadCo was set up.

Over half of that money went on legal fees and a further £25,000 went on management consultancy fees.

The three partners each stumped up £50,000 to become shareholders in the company.

Swansea City FC, The Ospreys and Swansea Council each have two directors on the board of StadCo.

Councillors Gerald Clement, the cabinet member for culture and recreation, and Gareth Sullivan, the cabinet member for economic and strategic development, are the authority's representatives on the board.

The council is also entitled to put on up to 12 community events a year at the stadium and keep the income from them.

JUST THE TICKET, OR FANS' NIGHTMARE?

2005-09-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

1 September 2005

It is £27 million worth of all that is great about sport.The New Stadium Swansea has won high praise for what it offers fans and players in the few weeks since it first opened its doors. But it hasn't been without its hiccups, as the Post's Chief reporter CHRIS DAVIES has been finding out.

STORM clouds are gathering over Swansea's glitzy new stadium - although there's nothing wrong with what is going on its field.Both the Swans and Ospreys games staged there so far have been huge crowd-pullers.

Thousands have filled its seats at every game. The fear is, though, that even more could have watched the show.For there are claims emerging some fans are being left out in the cold by the stadium's ticketing and entry systems.Stadium bosses say they are happy.

But there are allegations surfacing that ticketing problems are costing thousands of pounds in lost revenue.

Angry football fans are now calling for action after they claim up to 2,000 supporters queued for more than an hour in the rain before kick-off for Monday's win over Barnsley.

They say the majority of them gave up and headed either for the pub or home.

Fans have now called for changes to the system ahead of two big league clashes later this month.

They claim it isn't working as it should. So much, they say, that hundreds, if not thousands, were left outside the ground as Monday's match got underway.

It is the latest row to centre on ticketing.Games last month saw confusion set in when some fans received double their allocation for matches, and others none at all.

That was blamed on teething troubles. Fans insist, however, they are not going away.

"It's crazy,'' said Swans supporter Peter Reynolds, aged 36, of Gendros.

"I was outside queuing for a ticket on Monday. I gave up after an hour. I just couldn't be bothered to wait.

''Some fans have suggested as many as 2,000 were left out in the cold.

StadCo, the stadium management company, today dismissed the claims, labelling them "totally inaccurate.''

A spokesman added: "A small number of people turned up five to 10 minutes before kick-off expecting to get in immediately, and were late to their seats by a maximum of 30 minutes totally due to their late arrival."

Fans disagree, and are calling for action from StadCo.

Phil Sumbler, webmaster for the unofficial Swans site Jackarmy.net, said some fans waited more than an hour to get in to the ground.

He said: "There were a lot of people talking about it, the queue was along the length of the stadium. I thought if I was turning up now I wouldn't bother."

Mr Sumbler said the failure of StadCo to open the ticket office on Sunday, ahead of Monday's game with Barnsley, added to the problems, especially given Swansea's big 5-2 win against Walsall on the weekend.

He said: "Opening on Sunday would have avoided a lot of the problems. It is the nature of football, one good result on Saturday will make them turn up at the next game."

Mr Sumbler said the lack of turnstile entry at the ground, where you could just hand over your cash and walk in, was also causing delays.

He said: "Turnstiles is supposed to be something that they are considering. But this is something that has got to be done now rather than Christmas or a month's time.

"If they are turning people away these people don't come back. Once fans go it is very difficult to get them back.

"Every person that doesn't go in the ground is worth £15, that's £30,000 if 2,000 turn away."

The StadCo spokeswoman said: "Everyone was in their seats by 3.30pm. Management have no knowledge of anyone being turned away, and there was no loss of revenue to the Stadium Management Company or the Swans.

"Some initial issues with the ticketing have occurred as the system bedded in, but the Stadium is working hard to deal with these and they are being resolved.

"As has always been the case with Swans games, fans are advised through the club website and in match programmes to purchase their tickets early. This kind of advice to fans is common in football.

"Most fans understand this and are happy to accept the advice. A minority of fans continue to ignore the advice and are turning up on match days close to kick-off expecting to be able to buy tickets and get in on time. That is unreasonable especially given the increasing interest in football at the stadium because of the Swans' success and the attraction of the stadium as a venue.

"The advice to them is the same as the advice to everyone else, buy a ticket in advance.''

Mr Sumbler, however, said: "People have pointed out the problems since day one. The next two matches are going to be the biggest of the season against Bristol City and Nottingham Forest.

"Fans will be thinking, if I can't get in to see Barnsley, how are we going to get in for them?

"What we are seeing is certainly not progress, it is the worst I've seen it.

"Something has to be done."

There are also worries future gateside troubles could lead to a tougher police stance.

There have already been 16 arrests at Swans home games in and around the stadium. It is not known if any were linked to entry problems.

Police are warning they will not tolerate troublemakers, who could find themselves banned from future games.

Swans fan Jenna Lewis, aged 21, a civil servant living in Courtney Street, Manselton adds: "I love the game and my team."The ground itself is fantastic.

"But after the problems I had on Monday when I arrived at 1.30 in the afternoon and still wasn't inside the ground at kick-off, I am not sure when I will be back.''

FANS COMPLAIN TO BOSSES ON TICKETS

2005-08-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

30 August 2005

Angry Swans fans have complained directly to club bosses about ticketing problems for games at The New Stadium Swansea, it has emerged. It follows angry rows during the first few opening games at the £27 million showpiece stadium in which some supporters had major problems getting their correct ticket allocations.

It left some with too many and others with none at all.

Members of the club's supporters' trust have now made their views known to Swans chairman Huw Jenkins in a meeting last week.

Nigel Davies, who writes the club's unofficial fanzine A Touch Far Vetched, and who was at the supporters' meeting with Mr Jenkins, claimed the ticketing issue had turned into a fiasco.

He alleged: "It is proving to be a disaster.''Another fan said: " The stadium is great, a real showpiece.

"But I know a lot of people have been left very unhappy at the way ticketing for it has gone.''

A spokesman for stadium operators Stadco said 50,000 people had gone through the turnstiles to watch soccer and rugby games in its first month of operation.

He added: "Some initial issues with the ticketing did occur as the system bedded in and these are being resolved.

"Friday night's Ospreys match was a huge success, and suggests that the early teething problems are being overcome.

"Obviously Stadco will continue to monitor the situation in order to make sure customers get the best possible service."

SPORTS FANS IN ROW ON PARKING

2005-08-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

25 August 2005

Sports fans attending evening matches at The New Stadium Swansea have been barred from using the giant car park directly across the road, it has now emerged. Drivers trying to use the Landore park and ride site for evening matches when it is empty have been told they can't go in.

The site holds hundreds of cars and is not used at night. It is just yards from the stadium gates. But bosses say it will stay off limits despite its convenience.

Soccer fan Dan Griffiths, who drove from his home in Carmarthen to watch the Wales match against Slovenia a week ago, branded the move daft.

He said today: "It's crazy that you have to go to Swansea Vale or the Recreation Ground at Brynmill to park for evening matches but you can't park across the road.

"I was told I couldn't park at Landore but I could use other park and ride facilities outside town.''

Stadium bosses have been dogged by parking and ticket problems since the stadium opened for its first match on July 23.

They were forced to pull the plug on one of the three park and ride sites - at County Hall - ahead of the international with Slovenia after it was revealed just a handful of people used it.

Sports fans from the Swansea Valley then called foul over new park and ride charges at Swansea Vale.

And while fans using the Recreation Ground are charged £2 for parking and riding by bus, those using Swansea Vale are being asked to pay £5. The council said the costs would balance out if supporters shared cars.

A council spokesman said: "The new stadium has a bespoke travel plan which was developed during the planning stages which provides sufficient facilities to cater for crowds of up to 20,000 at the stadium.

"These facilities include match day park and ride sites at Swansea Vale and the Recreation Ground. There are frequent bus services serving the stadium site, and an attractive and informative travel plan leaflet is available from the stadium, the clubs or the Stadco website at www.swansrad.com

"The Landore park and ride service has been developed to serve the city centre. It is completely independent of the new stadium."

SEARCH FOR BOSS CONTINUES

2005-08-24T11:00:00.001-07:00

24 August 2005

Swansea's new £27 million sports arena still has no-one at the helm more than two months after its stadium boss sensationally left, it was revealed today. Former chief executive Tim Howell has not been replaced despite the New Stadium's big opening last month and first rugby match this week.

Council bosses admitted the search is still on for the man or woman who will be brought in to mastermind its running.

Mr Howell, who was brought in to oversee its day-to-day operation, left in June five weeks before the stadium's kick-off.Details of why he left did not emerge - only a statement saying he was moving on to "different challenges".

Swansea Stadium Management Company chairman Councillor Gerald Clement said: "Tim's done a superb job and will be sorely missed, however we fully understand that this is the time for him to move on to other challenges elsewhere.

"We will continue to build on the great start given to this stadium through Tim's hard work.''

STADCO ISN'T DELIVERING

2005-08-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

24 August 2005

I applied for two tickets for the Wales v Slovenia friendly by filling the application form, complete with cheque for £48 (including 10 per cent administration fee and £4 for obligatory special delivery). As the special delivery did not appear to be forthcoming, I telephoned the stadium ticket office and was told that the tickets had been dispatched.

The Saturday before the match arrived, still no tickets had come, so I turned up in person at the ticket office, complete with a copy of my bank statement showing that my cheque had been presented.

The young man at the ticket office found my name and address on the computer, and asked me if I had paid for the tickets. Once again I was told that the tickets were in the post.Wednesday arrived, my brother and myself turned up at the stadium ticket-less. And again, I was asked if the tickets had been paid for.

Mervyn and myself were a little irked by the whole procedure and were finally given two tickets for east stand, row X, where the view was excellent, even allowing for our X location.

Talk about Fred Karno's Army. However, I am sure StadCo bosses probably do not realise the significance of the comment.

Maybe the StadCo organisation has a saboteur in its midst, or more likely is just not up to the job. We even doubt if there will be any recompense.

Between us, my brother and I have spent nearly 120 years supporting the Swans, along with many other loyal fans, so this treatment of supporters is just not acceptable.

One more point I would like to make - why is the ticket office not open for 9am instead of 11.30am? Once again a lack of consideration.

Bill Rundle, Summerland Lane, Newton, Swansea

OUTRAGED AT BOX BUYS

2005-08-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

22 August 2005

I Have just learned that at the expense of the council tax-payers of Swansea, councilors have bought themselves not only one but two hospitality boxes in The New Stadium Swansea. Is this what an open-and- above-board council is all about?

A L Hancock, Mysydd Road, Landore, Swansea.

Sales low for Wales' city return

2005-08-17T23:00:00.000-07:00

From BBC Wales Website

Wednesday, 17 August 2005

The Football Association of Wales has said it is disappointed that Wales' first game in Swansea for 17 years may be played before a half-empty stadium.

Twenty-four hours before the friendly against Slovenia, around 10,500 tickets had been sold for the 20,000-capacity New Stadium.

It follows ticketing problems ahead of the game which saw some fans issued with and charged for duplicate tickets.

The company running the venue, Stadco, said the problems had been resolved.

FAW spokesman Ceri Stennett said the organisation had hoped for a larger crowd to mark the national side's return to Swansea, adding that "lessons need to be learned" over the ticket problems.

He told the BBC Wales news website on Tuesday: "Around 10,500 tickets have been sold. Tickets are on sale at the stadium until 2pm on the afternoon of the match, but realistically we are expecting 12,000.

"We're disappointed - we were hoping to get nearer a capacity crowd.

Prices were reasonable, but people may have had problems in other areas - there have been teething problems (with ticketing).

"Although those problems have been resolved, it hasn't been straightforward and lessons need to be learned for the future."

Some fans who are due to attend the match have said they still have concerns over ticketing.

Supporter Tony Jeffries said: "We applied for eight tickets, but were sent 16.

"Going to Swansea to return the eight tickets we didn't want, it was found out the 16 tickets we had received had been sold to someone else.

"If we would have turned up with those tickets on Wednesday, we would have been sat in someone's seat or someone would have been sat in ours.

"I can see Wednesday night being mayhem."

Fellow supporter, Gwyn Davies, added: "My concern is for the match is that two or three people might be allocated the same seat and that could lead to all sorts of chaos."
Stadco, which runs the stadium, said the problems had been rectified.

A spokesman said: "There was an initial error in the ticketing arrangements. That issue has now been resolved.

"Any supporter who has been overcharged will be fully refunded.

"Anyone who hasn't received their ticket can either contact the ticket office on 08700 400004 or come along to the ticket inquiry desk which will be open from 2pm until kick-off on Wednesday."

Several senior players including Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Simon Davies have withdrawn from the Wales squad.

Supporter Neil Dymock said the withdrawals and the early-season date for the Slovenia game were to blame for the anticipated low crowd rather than problems with the Swansea venue.

He added: "The stadium should be selling tickets right up to kick-off to make it easier for people to go.

"But at the end of the day, this is a friendly in August against Slovenia.

"If it was a qualifier, or a game against someone like Spain, it would have been a full house.

"Supporters from north Wales aren't going to take two days off work to travel to this game."

Ticket 'glitch' for Wales match

2005-08-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

12 August 2005

Football fans who bought tickets for Wales' friendly against Slovenia next Wednesday have complained of being issued with two sets and charged twice.

There have also been complaints that tickets have been issued for different parts of the New Stadium in Swansea than the seating areas requested.

Management company Stadco said there had been "an initial ticketing error" and apologised for any inconvenience.

A spokesman said anyone who had been charged twice was being refunded.
The BBC has been contacted by several people, including one fan, Duncan Jardine from Blackwood, who said he ordered 10 tickets but was sent 20.

"I ordered 10 tickets about six weeks ago and heard nothing until three envelopes arrived.
"There were the 10 tickets I had ordered in one envelope, with another one containing four for the north stand in another and six more for the north stand sat away from the four in another. And I got charged for all 20," he said.

Mr Jardine said that he was not happy with the way the stadium handled his complaint.
"I managed to get through to the stadium to sort it out and they told me to rip up the 10 tickets I hadn't ordered and that I wouldn't be charged for all 20.

"But when I checked my credit card statement and surprise surprise I have been charged twice.
"I was told that only a few people had been affected by a temporary computer glitch but I know of at least a dozen other people who have had problems.

"I am just waiting to see if I am going to be reimbursed for the tickets I didn't order.
"It is a total farce - it is just ridiculous," he added.

An FAW spokesman urged fans who have had problems to be patient.

"We are aware of it (ticketing problem)," said Ceri Sennett from the FAW.

"The tickets are handled by the New Stadium in Swansea and it is an issue for them. It is a new stadium and will have teething problems.

"Of course it is unfortunate and I would say please bear with us as it is very much in its infancy.
The Stadco spokesman said: "Due to an initial ticketing error, we have issued a very small number of fans with replacement tickets. Anyone who has been charged twice are being refunded very quickly.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused, but we can reassure fans that the initial problems have been overcome and ticketing arrangements are now progressing very well.

"Anyone with any queries or fans who want to buy tickets should contact the ticket office on 08700 400 004."

OUR STADIUM HAS GOT WORST NAME IN WORLD

2005-08-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

South Wales Evening Post - 10 August 2005

It's official - the general public wants the name of Swansea's new sports stadium changed. A website poll carried out by city-based design and marketing company Bluesky Media rejected the title of The New Stadium Swansea, which was given as an interim name while a sponsor is found.

It got a four per cent share of the votes, whereas White Rock, the original working title for the Landore stadium, got a whopping 85 per cent.

Morfa got four per cent and other names made up the balance.Bluesky's marketing consultant John Davies said: "The name of the stadium is an emotive issue and these results reinforce the perception that the White Rock title has already stuck.

"The introduction of a 'clean' name has been introduced too late in the game and at this stage will only serve to damage the stadium's branding."

Phil Sumbler, webmaster for unofficial Swans' Jackarmy website and Swansea City Supporters' Trust board member, said: "The results are of no real surprise. Fans have still been calling it White Rock in the two or three weeks since it was officially named The New Stadium Swansea.

"I don't think that is going to change."

And he disagreed with the StadCo contention that a clean name was vital in attracting a sponsor.

"It almost defeats the object now," said Mr Sumbler.

"The fans are calling it White Rock and I think a sponsor would be happy to put its name alongside that. Any other name would never take off."

Ian Davies, who writes a column for unofficial Swans website SCFC, said: "The working title of White Rock Stadium was unceremoniously removed 'to encourage potential stadium sponsors' but none have been found," he said.

"We have the most advanced new stadium in Europe and the worst name in the world.

"I can't see how a potential sponsor would be more dissuaded by the name White Rock Stadium than New Stadium.

Gerald Clement, chairman of stadium management company Stadco, said that any sponsor wanting to incorporate the White Rock into a new name would be free to do so.

"There would be no problem with that," said Councillor Clement, the council's cabinet member for culture and recreation.

"I admit it has caught on with people."

But he was adamant that the company was right to come up with what he said was the deliberately bland New Stadium Swansea name.

"We were told that if we used the name White Rock it would be the death knell for any deal," said Councillor Clement.

"We attempted to make this plain to everyone.

"It was made pretty obvious that the name was deliberately bland so we could attract a sponsor."

OLYMPIC BID FOR SWANSEA

2005-08-08T11:00:00.002-07:00

Swansea Council Press Release - 8 August 2005

Swansea is ready to capitalise on the spin-off benefits of the successful bid to stage the 2012 Olympics in London. Read more about Olympic Bid For Swansea

LET'S CALL IT WHITE ROCK

2005-08-08T11:00:00.001-07:00

8 August 2005

The Evening Post has reported that more than three-quarters of people taking part in their poll have voted for the name White Rock. In the past, the media was asked to abandon that name was because it did not want to put off potential sponsors.

They complied with this request but that was nearly a year ago and the asking price has dropped from £800,000 to £250,000 and The New Stadium Swansea is now making us a laughing stock.

The Evening Post is on record as saying that it disapproves of the temporary name. So why not join the majority of fans and start using the name White Rock as well?

If a sponsor does eventually appear then we will all expect the new name to be used.

Mark Spiller, Bond Street, Swansea

WHITE ROCK IS FANS' FAVOURITE

2005-08-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

8 August 2005

Pressure on Swansea's new showpiece sports stadium to restore its name to White Rock was expected to increase today. The results of a special fans' survey on the name were being published and were expected to back the former working title White Rock.

It was undertaken by city-based company Bluesky Media in the light of Stadco's unpopular decision to name it The New Stadium Swansea.

The company intends presenting its findings to Stadco chairman Gerald Clement.

The survey was prompted by an approach from Phil Sumbler, webmaster for unofficial Swans website Jackarmy.net, who said the voice of the people was being ignored.

Ian Davies, who contributes to the other Swans supporters' unofficial website SCFC, said: "The New Stadium Swansea. What an absolute joke."

U-TURN HOPE ON BAR BAN AT STADIUM

2005-08-06T11:00:00.000-07:00

6 August 2005

Managers at The New Stadium Swansea hope to resolve a licensing problem that has seen some season ticket holders barred from one of its bars. The stadium's Riverside Bar is intended to create a club atmosphere for season ticket holders, but licensing regulations mean that under 14-year-olds cannot be admitted, and those aged 14 to 18 only in the company of an adult.

Managers are now hoping to renegotiate the terms of the licence, but it was not resolved before today's Swans game against Tranmere.

Swansea City director David Morgan said: "Unfortunately some people have been turned away from the Riverside Bar.

"Hopefully, it will be resolved with the licensing authority shortly."

STADIUM BELONGS TO FANS

2005-08-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

4 August 2005

What StadCo, The New Stadium Swansea's managing company, has to understand is that the stadium belongs to the fans. I would urge them to come up with a name the fans want. Stadco can call it the Mickey Mouse Stadium if it wants, but the fans want it to be known as White Rock.

David Ackerman, Ffordd y Brain, Ravenhill, Swansea

New stadium gives Swansea lift

2005-08-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

BBC Website - 3 August 2005

NEW NAME IS FARCICAL

2005-08-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

2 August 2005

Inspirational, Irresistible, Invigorating . . . all words that fail miserably when describing Swansea Council's decision to name the new stadium The New Stadium Swansea. I wonder just how many consultative meetings and long business lunches it took to come up with that one.

The decision is nothing short of farcical when you consider that most people in Swansea already refer to the place as White Rock and that this name has become accepted. One can only wonder why the council wishes to fly in the face of such overwhelming public opinion.

Members should remember that the stadium was paid for through the sale of publicly owned land plus a large grant obtained by the Swans. The council is a publicly elected body and is there to reflect the wishes of its electorate.

I say - wake up and listen to the people: White Rock is what we call it and that is what it will remain. Give it the name officially without further delay.

W P Morris, Heol Caerllion, Parcgwernfadog, Swansea.

CAR PARK 'RIP OFF' PRICES FANS AWAY

2005-08-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

1 August 2005

Sports fans from the Swansea Valley are calling foul over new park and ride charges for the New Stadium. Swansea council has set up three park and ride schemes for match days.

The ones leaving from County Hall and the Recreation Ground next to St Helen's are charging £2 for the service.But supporters using the third at Swansea Vale are being asked to pay £5.

A spokeswoman for First Cymru said the charges were determined by Stadco, the company which runs the stadium, and Swansea Council.

The council claims the costs will balance out if supporters share cars, as the Swansea Vale price was per car for parking, with a free bus, while the other sites offered free parking but a £2 bus ride for each adult.

"The prices are broadly comparable to other stadia and cover the costs of bus travel and the cost of providing a brand new park and ride site," said the council's spokeswoman.

"While parking at County Hall and the Recreation Ground is free, bus fares from there are charged per person, at £2 each.

"The cost of parking at Swansea Vale is per car and bus travel is free.'

'This means that if people are sharing a car - which we would encourage them to do - the £5 charge is shared between them.

"Two friends travelling together, for example, would pay the equivalent of £2.50 each.

''Three friends travelling together would pay less than £1.70

."But some fans say the system is unfair to supporters travelling from Swansea Vale to matches on their own.

Nigel Thomas, a 35-year-old teacher from Bryncoch, said: "They haven't thought this through at all, everything seems to be geared to the Swansea end. It's a poor show.

"People coming from Neath and the Swansea Valley have to use the Vale park and ride and they are being charged more.

''It should be called a Park and Rip-off.

"It would work out cheaper if you share cars but you can't always arrive at the same time.

"They build a 20,000-seater stadium with only a couple of thousand parking places and they are just for the privileged few who can afford executive seats."

STADIUM NAME GOES TO VOTERS

2005-07-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

30 July 2005

White Rock or not White Rock? That is the question being asked of sports fans following the controversy over the naming of the new stadium at Morfa.

Two weeks ago it was revealed that the newly constructed £27 million home of the Ospreys and Swansea City was to be named The New Stadium Swansea.

Stadium managers insist the bland name was chosen so as not to deter potential sponsors who might be discouraged from backing a stadium with a strong, established name.

But the decision was greeted with disappointment by fans of the two teams, who had hoped it would be named White Rock.

An internet and texting poll organised by the Evening Post shows an overwhelming number of fans are behind the White Rock name.

Out of 148 texts sent in by supporters, 112 are back White Rock.Online, so far there have been 597 votes for White Roc, 23 for the New Stadium and 148 votes for various other names.

The team behind Swans fanzine A Touch Far Vetched has also organised an online poll to determine whether White Rock really is the people's favourite.

The poll will run for one week only to provide a test of how popular the name is - and to determine whether supporters believe it would be a deterrent to potential supports.

John Davies, of internet company Bluesky Media which established the website, said: "The stadium has always been known as White Rock, and while we appreciate the logic of a clean name, we have taken an historical perspective of what the market expects. Creating a strong identity is synonymous with this prestigious new venue and is paramount to its success.

"We welcome the views of the general public as to what The New Stadium Swansea should really be called. And we are pleased to provide the people of Swansea with a way of expressing their views.

"When the poll closes next week, the results will be collected and analysed before being passed onto Stadium management company StadCo.

The poll ends on Thursday and can be accessed by visiting http://www.bluesky-media.net/vote

WE NAME CITY'S MEN OF VISION

2005-07-29T05:24:00.000-07:00

29 July 2005

We name city's men of vision

CITY LOAN WILL BE PAID BACK

2005-07-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

27 July 2005

Your correspondent J S Moran, of Birchgrove, makes a number of points in regard to the announcement that the council is to extend its loan to The New Stadium Swansea by some £337,000. J S Moran makes out that this amounts to a gift, but lets make it clear - this is a loan which will be paid back to the people of Swansea. J S Moran also attempts to mix up the issue with the cleanliness of the city centre - something which the council is urgently trying to tackle after decades of neglect.

What is more, this loan is essential for the new stadium to get the best launch possible and will ensure that it delivers for Swansea a stadium which will pay back dividends to the people of this city far beyond a mere repayment of a loan.

To penny pinch and deny a relatively modest increase in an existing loan agreement would be ridiculous at this stage in The New Stadium Swansea's birth. I would find it difficult to believe that anyone with a real care about this city and its future would want to see the stadium fail.

However, on checking the electoral register for a J S Moran in Birchgrove, no such name actually exists, so I am left wondering as to the writer's identity and real motivation in trying to cast false doubt on our city's proud new stadium.

Councillor R H KinzettLiberal Democrat (Mayals Ward)Gower RoadSketty

New Stadium opening a wonderful day for Swansea

2005-07-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

Swansea Council Press Release - 26 July 2005

Flying start for Swans' new home

2005-07-23T11:00:00.002-07:00

BBC Website - 23 July 2005

NOTE THE NAME

2005-07-23T11:00:00.001-07:00

23 July 2005

So the people of Swansea have decided that Swansea's new stadium should be called White Rock. In fact, our poll showed they preferred almost anything than the official title, The New Stadium Swansea. The Post believes Swansea Stadium is the best title but note should be taken of the feelings of the people who paid for the new stadium, the city's council taxpayers.

WHITE ROCK STADIUM

2005-07-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

23 July 2005

So, what's in a name? Tradition, identity, and pride if Swansea fans are anything to go by. And those are characteristics that are most definitely missing from the one bestowed upon the city's new £27 million sporting arena in Morfa, say the fans.

Just days before its official opening and after months of speculation, the company behind the new home of Swansea City and the Ospreys finally revealed what the stadium is to be called.It may not be inspiring. It may sound bland. But no-one could argue that it isn't accurately descriptive.

The new stadium in Swansea has been named The New Stadium Swansea.Self-explanatory it may be, but popular it is not.

The Evening Post asked the public for their say on the ground's new name, and for suggestions on what it should have been called instead.

The response has been an overwhelming thumbs-down for The New Stadium Swansea.

And, of all the alternatives suggested, there is one which emerged as a clear favourite - White Rock.That name was originally in the frame while the stadium was being cons- tructed, and had popular support.

But Stadco, the stadium's management company, maintains there are important business reasons for naming the 20,000-seat ground The New Stadium Swansea. They still hope to attract a sponsor for the ground and believe that a strong name would be a disincentive for potential investors.

A company spokesman said: "We understand people's concerns but if we give it a more specific title, even a temporary one, it really will be a less attractive proposition for potential sponsors."

But for some, that argument raises questions as to why one hasn't yet been secured.

Nigel Davies, co-editor of Swans fanzine, A Touch Far Vetched, which is keeping its name, said: "We are not surprised by the name but we are very disappointed.

"White Rock is a name that the people liked and connected with.

"Questions have to be asked why a sponsor has not been secured yet.

"It has been a bit of shambles, what with the problems with tickets as well.

"I think a lot of people will just call it White Rock now anyway." His conviction would seem to be supported by Swans website Jack Army, where up to 1,000 people have signed an on-line petition calling for the name White Rock to be given to the stadium.

One fan, Andrew Fraser-Cole, aged 31, from Manselton, said: "It is very disappointing, although I can understand why if they want to attract a sponsor.

"But it's not very exciting is it?"

Other names suggested to the Post by fans include the Tawe Stadium, the Morfa Stadium, and, taking its inspiration from the Swans and the Ospreys, the Aviary Stadium.

Roberto Martinez was leading his team out this afternoon for the very first match at The New Stadium Swansea.

The fans, however, hope he will soon be leading them out in a stadium with a more fitting name.

THE NEW STADIUM SWANSEA

2005-07-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

22 July 2005

The £27 million stadium in Morfa has finally been named - it will be known as The New Stadium Swansea. It has taken months to come up with the name announced today just hours before its official opening tomorrow afternoon.

There had been fierce speculation over what it might be called. It had been hoped a sponsor would step in and buy the naming rights in a £250,000 deal. But although talks have been taking place, no agreement has been reached over the showpiece 20,000-seat ground, home to both The Swans and The Ospreys.

The move has been described as disappointing by fans and worrying by opposition councillors.Stadco, the stadium's management company, settled on The New Stadium Swansea, in the belief that a more distinctive name might prove a discouragement to potential sponsors.

Stadco chairman and Swansea councillor Gerald Clement said: "We are committed to finding a major brand to take on the naming rights.

"If we give it a more specific title, even a temporary one, it will be a less attractive proposition for potential sponsors.

"It really is a venue to be proud of as it demonstrates the ambitions and success of both the city of Swansea and the region as a whole."

The Stadco board confirmed that discussions with potential sponsors would continue. Council leader Chris Holley added: "Stadco has already held detailed discussions with a number of leading companies which are interested in the naming rights.

"However, it is vial that any future deal reflects the best interests of the stadium and the people of Swansea".

The first game at The New Stadium Swansea, when Swansea City take on Premiership side Fulham tomorrow, has been eagerly awaited by thousands of fans for more than two years. The new name has received a mixed reaction from both football and rugby supporters, many of whom had supported the initial proposal to name the ground White Rock.

Chairman of Swansea City Supporters' Trust Ron Knuszka said: "I think many thousands of fans will be disappointed with this name.

"It is disappointing because it is a form of identity. Any new stadium needs one that the fans will relate to."

David Phillips of the council's Labour opposition labelled the name as "pathetic."

"It is also worrying,'' he added.

Fan Peter Gibson, of Newton Road in Mumbles, added: " The Swansea Stadium would have been better, even if only as a temporary measure. I can't believe this is the best they can come up with.''

But Jonathan Harvey, Ospreys media manager, said: "I can understand that some people may be disappointed with the name, but it is a commercial world and the stadium has to pay for itself.

"We understand that it is important to be able to offer value to a potential sponsor and that it should not have established itself with a strong name.

"Traditions have to be put to one side if it means helping to create competitive teams".

FANS ASSURED NEW STADIUM TICKETS 'ARE IN THE POST'

2005-07-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

21 July 2005

Swans bosses have promised ticketless fans they are pulling out the stops to ensure they get to see the first match at Morfa's new stadium on Saturday. The newly-promoted League One side take on Premiership team Fulham on the weekend in a showcase game to herald the opening of the £27 million ground.

But following yesterday's report that some supporters have been frustrated at problems with the system of ticket allocation, the Evening Post has been inundated with calls from fans who are demanding to know what is going on.

Many of the complaints have centred around the ticket hotline, with fans complaining that they have been unable to get through or are confronted with a repeated recorded message.

But others who have already paid money for the Fulham game say they are growing increasingly anxious because they are yet to receive their promised tickets.

Stadco, the company which has assumed responsibility for ticket allocation, has blamed some of the problems on the unprecedented demand for tickets.According to a spokesman, the ticket office has been selling more than 400 tickets an hour for the Fulham game.

"The unprecedented demand has obviously caused some technical difficulties but these have now been solved and every telephone- ordered ticket for Saturday's match was posted out yesterday at the latest," he said.

"As tickets are nearly sold out, the remaining tickets will only be available to fans who purchase them in person from the ticket office at the stadium."

Meanwhile, fans who have tickets for the match but are still awaiting the arrival of their season ticket can bring the receipt for their season ticket along with their match ticket and entry will be allowed as normal."

The new ground has a capacity of 20,000, but it is reduced to just 12,400 for the first match due to safety regulations.

That has contributed to the huge demand for tickets, with thousands of supporters wanting to be present to witness the beginning of a new era in the club's history.

Swansea City FC director David Morgan wants supporters to help create a perfect atmosphere for the inaugural game, and has promised that the club is doing everything it can to assist fans.

He added today: "We have been assured by Stadco that every single ticket for the match on Saturday was posted out first class by yesterday."

Labour ambivalence undermines the new stadium

2005-07-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

Extract from Inside Swansea Council
16 July 2005

Considering that the new stadium is only in place because of the actions of certain Labour councillors it is strangely ironic that now they have lost control of the council, the Labour Party are doing everything they can to undermine the stadium and its future success.

Coors clinches Swansea stadium deal

2005-07-15T11:00:00.002-07:00

Jul 15 2005
Western Mail

COORS Brewers has secured the contract to supply drinks to Swansea's new £27m sports stadium over the next five years.

The company, which produces the UK's best-selling beer, Carling, has won pouring rights for the new stadium in an undisclosed deal, which will see Carling become the official beer of Swansea City FC, while regional rugby side the Ospreys has a similar deal with beer brand Worthington's.
Diane Rees, regional director for Coors, said, "Coors is a major player in the international brewers stakes, and the fifth largest brewers in the world.

"Coors through Carling is a major sponsor of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and through Worthington's is proud to support and sponsor Welsh rugby.

"We look forward enormously to working with the stadium at Morfa, Swansea City FC and the Ospreys over the next five years."

'NO PLACE, NO FUTURE' SAYS LEADER OF SCHEME

2005-07-15T11:00:00.001-07:00

15 July 2005

The future of a Duke of Edinburgh scheme in Swansea is under threat because the team responsible for running it has been left homeless. Organisers say they are disappointed because a promise to re-house them at the new stadium in Morfa has come to nothing.

Swansea's Opens Award Centre runs the scheme for young people who attend schools that do not take part in Duke of Edinburgh schemes.

It provides help and equipment to people aged up to 25 who want to take part in the charity's programme of activities and challenges.In recent years the centre has been based at Vetch Field, thanks to the generosity of Swansea City FC, which has provided them with a meeting room and space to store equipment.

But with the closure of the historic ground at the end of last season, the team has been looking for a new base.

And according to unit leader Adrian Crowley, the group believed that they had secured a space at the new stadium in Morfa, thanks to an agreement with former chief executive Tim Howell.

Mr Crowley, who was made an MBE in 1995 for his work with young people, said: "We had a meeting with Mr Howell and he told us he had identified a room at the stadium that we could use.

"But two weeks later he resigned, and when we contacted the stadium mangers again they said that they couldn't do it because it would be very difficult to accommodate such a big group.

"It means we are not able to run as normal at the moment.

"If we can't secure a place, we will have to consider our future".

The centre currently has more than 120 young people on its books taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, and 25 volunteer staff.

They have been provided with a temporary shelter at the TA Centre in Glamorgan Street, but the room is too small to house them all, and cannot be guaranteed for the future due to the TA's own obligations.

So their next meeting will see the Duke of Edinburgh participants in separate venues because they cannot be accommodated in one.A spokesman for stadium managers StadCo apologised that they could not provide space, but promised to help out with future awards ceremonies and in the search for a new venue.

"We recognise the very valuable contribution the Duke of Edinburgh scheme makes to the personal development of young people in our city," said a spokesman.

"Unfortunately, however, we cannot accommodate the group as there are clashes with match days and other events in our conference and hospitality areas.

"Nevertheless, we are keen to host their annual awards and are working closely with the council to help find a suitable alternative venue for them to use."

COUNCIL BACKS £337,000 LOAN FOR NEW STADIUM

2005-07-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

15 July 2005

Councillors have agreed to pour more money into Swansea's new stadium - but they insist that council taxpayers will not be out of pocket. An extra £337,000 is being loaned to the Stadium Management Company to help complete work on the showpiece stadium in Morfa which is due to open on July 23.

It comes just four months after members agreed to a deal to provide an extra £2 million towards the total cost of £27 million.

Cabinet members are adamant that the money will be paid back after agreeing to the move yesterday - but they are refusing to say how the money will be underwritten.The decision could now end up on the desk of the district auditor.

Deputy chief executive Bob Carter said today that the cash could come from grants and Assembly funds if the management company defaulted on the loan.

He said: "It is not as straightforward as to say that it will be left to council taxpayers to pick up the bill.

"The council is funded by a number of sources such as through the Assembly.

"At the moment the authority is satisfied the Stadium Management Company is a going concern.

"Its business plan indicates that it is in a position to meet the cost of this loan.

"If the event arises where it has to default, that is an issue which will need to be considered as it arises."

Councillor John Newbury, cabinet member for finance, told council colleagues that the money would help improve the finished product.

He said: "This money is needed so that the company can complete the stadium to a world-class standard.

"What is already obvious is that these facilities will prove to be quite a pull.

"The extra money will come at no cost to us as a council."

But the decision to splash out extra money on the stadium has been condemned by opposition leader David Phillips.

The Labour councillor said his group was considering taking the matter to the district auditor.

He said: "I am seriously concerned about this. There have been insufficient safeguards put in place for the spending of public money.

"If this goes wrong, the only consequence is that the council tax will go up to pay for it."

FINAL PAYMENT

2005-07-14T11:00:00.001-07:00

14 July 2005

Swansea taxpayers are being asked to pour another £337,000 of their money into finishing off the city's showpiece stadium at Morfa. It has emerged there isn't quite enough money in the kitty to complete some of the work.

Councillors were this afternoon being asked for the additional cash on top of millions already poured into the scheme

.Councillors insist that the extra money is not a large sum and say it will only be used as a fallback in case of any last-minute hiccups.But agendas for today's meeting say £337,000 is needed to complete the fit out.The stadium itself has cost £27 million. The council agreed a £2 million loan as recently as March to help after costs for the overall scheme including new roads and parking suddenly went up. Now thousands more are being asked for.

The entire bill for the stadium which will be the new home for both the Swans and the Ospreys football and rugby clubs has been paid for by the council. Much of it has come from a deal to develop the Morfa Retail Park alongside it. Coalition spokesman Councillor Rene Kinzett said today that the stadium would soon pay back the money. Sporting and music events are expected to bring millions to the city when the new site opens.Councillor Kinzett said: "It is not a great deal of money but it will give us some breathing space.

"This is just to ensure the stadium gets a cracking start without any last-minute emergencies. It would be a shame for the stadium to have any cutbacks at this crucial stage of development.

"We don't want to penny- pinch as this site is going to pay dividends to the city in years to come."It is a loan and the money will come back to the council as the site is used in years to come."

Members of the Cabinet were set to decide whether to go ahead with the additional loan today.I

n a report to councillors, the authority's chief accountant Roger Pike said: "The increase of £337,000 is required to complete the fit out and to maximise income.

"The business plan provides for the repayment of the additional loan costs."A Swansea Council spokesman added that the money would be repaid.

He said: "The loan is part of the on-going plan to re-fit the stadium and create one of the finest venues of its kind in Europe."It is a loan agreement and, therefore, the council will be repaid by the stadium management company."

The much-admired stadium which opens on July 23 has had a number of problems in recent months.The boss's chair still remains empty since chief executive Tim Howell sensationally quit last month.

His surprise departure left the management team facing unexpected challenges in the run-up to the showpiece opening of the ground.

There has also been concerns raised about parking. A sponsor who wants to pay for its naming rights has also still to be found.

Swans fan Tryst Jones, of Quarr Road in Clydach, said: "I still think it is a brilliant venue. The extra money is needed and I am sure it is not a lot for the council as part of its overall budget."

WHITE ROCK IS ADMIRED

2005-07-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

14 July 2005

White Rock is an original name which soccer and rugby fans have given the nod to. White Rock, as a name, appears to be admired by other visitors, internet or otherwise. White Rock would also fit well with a sponsor.

Who really thought Swansea Council would follow something original, that could be formalised very quickly and that already had the full endorsement of supporters.

The name was on the stadium signposts as well.

A Tucker, Oakwood Drive, Gowerton

STADIUM NAME TALKS GO ON

2005-07-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

12 July 2005

Talks aimed at securing naming rights for Swansea's new £27 million stadium are continuing. Fans of the Ospreys and Swansea City Football Club have been waiting eagerly to learn what their new home will be called. But management at the £27 million ground are playing their hands close to their chest with just days to go before it opens.

They would not say if they were confident of having a name in place by the time the Swans take the pitch against Fulham in Alan Curtis's testimonial a week on Saturday.

A spokesman would also not be drawn on whether StadCo, the stadium's management company, were happy with the way the saga over naming rights was dragging on.

Fans have been waiting since last year for an answer to the naming question after a decision was taken to drop the working title of White Rock, a popular name still used by many fans.

Instead, signs directing visitors to the 20,000 seater venue simply say "stadium".

Stadium bosses had hoped to announce a deal for the naming rights at the Morfa development by the end of June but nothing has materialised.

A spokesman for StadCo did say the sale of other advertising at the stadium was going well.

He said: "Sales of the pitchside advertising is progressing extremely well, as is the sale of other advertising spots within the venue.

"Specific negotiations are also taking place to provide stand sponsors."

He also confirmed that a deal for the stadium's bars was also due to be agreed this week.

But with the season edging closer the pressure is mounting for the stadium to be given a name.It is one problem facing Ashley Donlan, of stadium VIP ticket managers Bastion, and Steve Evans from the council who are now leading the project after chief executive Tim Howell left the stadium last month, after only six months in post.

The reasons behind his departure have not been disclosed but have surely added to the problems facing the new stadium.

A spokesperson for Stadco said: "We want to ensure we get the right deal and the right company to sponsor the stadium."

STADIUM IS JUST SIMPLY A STADIUM!

2005-07-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

11 July 2005

What's in a name? Not a lot, is the answer if you're intending to make your way to the new £27 million Swans and Ospreys stadium at Morfa. For signs have gone up announcing the imminent arrival of Swansea's prestigious new sporting home, bearing the name - Stadium.

Developers of the soccer and rugby stadium put a reported £250,000 price tag on the ground's naming rights earlier this year.

Since then there has been little or no news over what it will be called.

The consortium behind the stadium invited tenders from companies and hoped to have a main sponsor in place by June 30.

Bosses had said there were a number of well-known companies in talks earlier this year.

But the waiting goes on for eager sports fans wanting to know what their knew "spiritual home" will be christened.

Brewer Scottish Courage, the makers of John Smith's bitter, was one of the companies in the running to sponsor the stadium.

But it is not just about a name.

For the deal on naming rights is understood to include a range of different sponsorship opportunities ranging from £5,000 upwards.

The entire package is worth £500,000 a year.

Today StadCo, which is running the stadium, said: "We are negotiating with interested parties at the moment."

The ground at Morfa originally had the working name of White Rock, although that was dropped last year. The stadium will play host to music concerts and other events.

The first football ground in the UK to be named after its sponsor was Scarborough's stadium, named after frozen chip company McCain.

Bolton Wanderers has the Reebok Stadium while conference side York City renamed its ground Kit-Kat in a £100,000 sponsorship deal with the chocolate bar manufacturer.

SEASON TICKETS BLUNDER

2005-07-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

7 July 2005

An administrative blunder has caused some Swansea fans to receive the wrong season tickets. The club are asking any supporters who have been issued with the wrong tickets to return them to the ticket office at your convenience at the new stadium at Morfa or when they purchase their Fulham and Blackburn Rovers tickets.

Any plastic card season ticket holders who need their card amending should also return their card in time for a replacement to be sent out prior to the first home league match on August 6.If you are unable to attend the stadium to return your season ticket the club ask you to return it by post.

The club said in a statement: ''It has been brought to our attention that a small number of season ticket holders have received the incorrect season tickets in the post.'

'The season ticket books were printed and despatched by an outside organisation and all concerned apologise for the mistake.'

''Anyone who has received an incorrect book will issued with a replacement as soon as possible.

''The club also now has the facilities to receive payments for tickets by credit cards.

TRAVEL PLANS AIM TO AVOID GRIDLOCK AT NEW STADIUM

2005-07-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

7 July 2005

Rugby and football fans bound for Swansea's new showpiece stadium have been pointed in the right direction to give them a smooth passage there. And residents living in its shadow have also been given assurances about the effect of their lives on match days, which kick off next month.

Thousands of new park and ride spaces are being created across the city to ensure supporters arrive at the Morfa venue quickly, easily and safely.

They form part of a travel plan drawn up by the council, the stadium management company, police and bus operator First Cymru.

It was developed after thousands of hours of consultation including visits to St Mary's Stadium in Southampton and the Madjeski Stadium in Reading.

Three large park and ride sites have been set aside at Swansea Vale, County Hall and the Recreation Ground, off Mumbles Road.Buses will run frequently to and from matches - dropping fans off and picking them up directly from the 20,000-seater stadium, which will be home to Swansea City Football Club and the Ospreys rugby team.

First Cymru will be laying on extra buses from the Quadrant bus station and fans will be met by bus at Swansea's main rail station.T

here will also be a regular service for Ospreys supporters from Neath.

Car drivers will be encouraged to share journeys by registering on the regional car-share database swwitch2share.com. Information about car-sharing, public transport and how best to access the venue will all be provided in a plan being given to every season ticket holder.

The stadium can also be reached on route 43 of the national cycle network, with fans able to store their bikes in new racks provided by the developer.

Council cabinet member for culture, recreation and tourism Gerald Clement said: "The plan more than caters for the demands of the stadium, even at full capacity, if fans follow it.

"Residents in the vicinity of the stadium will be protected from disruption on match days by extensive parking restrictions on their streets which will be strictly enforced."

Swansea police inspector Bill John said: "We have conducted a large amount of research and consultation in planning for the operational policing response to the opening of the new stadium, which has involved visits to new stadia at Reading and Southampton.

"We have considered some of the traffic management plans for those football grounds in our planning processes.

"Nevertheless, we do need fans to co-operate with us and use the specified park and ride sites or public transport to get to and from the game.

"This will help us greatly in ensuring that everyone has a safe and enjoyable day out.

"Over the coming months we will also be utilising police helicopters and traffic analysis experts to see if we can improve the system even further."

Justin Davies, managing director of First Cymru, added: "I am delighted that we have been able to be involved in this project for the stadium, a key project for Swansea.

"We know many people will come to Swansea for sporting events at the new stadium, and knowing that you do not have the hassle of trying to find a parking space when you visit the stadium will be a great relief to many.

"First Cymru is committed to providing direct transport links - and where possible we look for integrated solutions. The service we shall operate will enable visitors to travel by train or by bus, or use the bus connections direct from the train station to the stadium.

"We will continue to work closely with Swansea Stadium, the council and the police to ensure that Swansea has a safe, reliable and frequent public transport system."

STADIUM SETS 12,000 LIMIT FOR OPENER

2005-07-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

5 July 2005

Tickets for the opening of the new stadium at Morfa go on sale this week. Swansea City's pre-season friendly against Premiership side Fulham on Saturday, July 23, will be the curtain-raiser for the new 20,000 all-seater stadium.

However, the Alan Curtis Testimonial match will only have 12,000 tickets available as the new stadium has to pass football licensing regulations that were put in place following the Taylor report.

Season ticket holders will be given priority with one ticket per season ticket holder.

A capacity for the Blackburn Rovers match the following has yet to be decide, but it is likely that the stadium will once again be run at a reduced capacity.

Tickets for the Fulham game go on sale at 11.30am for season ticket holders in East Stand rows K to Q on Thursday.Season tickets holders in the East Stand rows R to Y will be on sale on Friday, tickets for the East Stand rows A to J and South Stand rows A to J will be available on Saturday.

The ticket office will be closed on Sunday.

On Monday, July 11, fans with season tickets for South Stand R to Y have their chance to buy their tickets, while all West Stand season ticket holders can purchase their tickets on the Tuesday.

All season tickets holders, 12-game voucher holders and Swans Trust members are free to purchase their tickets on the Wednesday and Thursday.

Any remaining will go on general sale at a date to be announced.

Tickets for the game with the gates opening at 12pm, with the opening ceremony starting at 1.15pm, will cost £10 for the South Stand, £12 for the East Stand and £15 for the West Stand - children £5 for all stands.Letters have been sent out to season ticket holders who will be able to buy their tickets on their own allotted day.

They will need to bring either their season ticket receipt or proof of name and address along with them.

Supporters who have written to Swansea City, the Trust, the Ospreys and Stadco regarding disabled parking at the new stadium at Morfa should have received a letter setting out the criteria to secure a permit for either all the football or rugby fixtures.

Season ticket holders will receive priority for a season long pass for one of the designated disabled parking bays. Five spaces will be kept aside for visiting clubs.

There will be an additional drop off/pick up zone available at the stadium for disabled fans who are not driving themselves to matches.Certain guidelines are in place to guarantee that only genuine cases will be considered for a parking permit.

If any supporters have not yet received a letter from Stadco they should write to the stadium immediately so that a letter describing the criteria maybe posted out to them.

WEDDING GOAL FOR STADIUM

2005-07-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

1 July 2005

It won't only be the Swans wearing white at the new stadium in Morfa if bosses have their way. Stadium managers want the venue to be made available to brides, and have applied for a licence to allow the ground to be used as wedding venue.

And already they have received a number of inquiries from rugby and football fans about whether they can hire the place to tie the knot.

Sian Morse, marketing adviser to stadium management firm Stadco, said: "The idea to use the stadium as a wedding venue came up a little while ago, and it's been part of our plans for some time. We have submitted an application, but at this stage it is still pending.

"But we hope that it will be granted."We have already had a few inquiries about whether it is available, mainly from Ospreys and Swansea City fans.

"It's not a typical venue, so I suppose that is why it attracts interest.

"If the application is granted, the stadium - which is still to be named - would join a list of other grounds around the UK which allow marriages. And it is expected to prove a real draw among sports fans wanting to prove that it's not just their team that they are passionate about.

For many it will be the only opportunity to use the facilities enjoyed by their sporting heroes.

But the festivities will be limited to the function rooms, and the pitch will remain out of bounds.The hallowed turf will remain sacrosanct in order to protect it from possible damage.

Anyone wishing to raise objections to the proposed licence allowing weddings at the £27 million stadium has until the middle of this month to do so. But the management is not expecting any opposition, and hopes to be able to announce that the venue is available for nuptials later this summer.

A council spokesman said: "A notice has been advertised relating to a marriage license for the new stadium.

"There will now be a statutory period of consultation for anyone to express objections. If no objections are received, the license will be granted."

STADIUM TAG NO BIG DEAL, SAYS BAILEY

2005-06-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

30 June 2005

The man who helped deliver Swansea's new £27 million stadium says there are more important issues than what it will eventually be called. The Morfa ground is due to open in a matter of weeks but still has no name as bosses continue their search for a deal on naming rights.

But Councillor Lawrence Bailey, the man who oversaw the deal that provided the cash for the development, has warned its long-term financial success needs to be guaranteed.

He has called on stadium management firm Stadco to be more open, especially about the sudden departure of former chief executive Tim Howell.

He left the £50,000-a-year post just six months after taking the top job without explanation.

Councillor Bailey said Stadco should tell all.

He said: "Recent history shows that it is a mistake for anyone to think that they can continually trade on the goodwill of the fan base.

"If they are up-front about the issues, then they will find that the support that fans can provide is second to none."

Stadco had said they expected to announce a deal for the naming rights by the end of the month but were remaining tight lipped earlier this week.

Councillor Bailey came up with the working title of White Rock for the stadium, which proved popular with fans but was later ditched.

He says he hopes a sponsor for the stadium can be found soon but says it is one factor in making sure Swansea's biggest asset is a success.

Councillor said: "People need to concentrate less on packaging and spend more effort on making sure Swansea doesn't get lumbered with a stadium that needs public subsidy to survive.

"But if there is a viable commercial package in the offing that can secure the stadium's future, and continue to provide a first-class setting for sport in Swansea, then we should work together to ensure that it happens."

WHO WILL BE THE NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE?

2005-06-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

28 June 2005

A new boss has yet to be appointed to run Swansea's £27 million sports stadium. The chief executive post has been vacant ever since Tim Howell sensationally resigned a fortnight ago, just weeks before the first match is due to kick off.

Mr Howell quit his position with the Glamorgan Health and Racquet Club at Llandarcy a year ago to take over the new post at Morfa.

He had been brought in to oversee the opening of the impressive new home of the Ospreys RFC and Swansea City FC.

But his surprise departure left the management team facing unexpected challenges in the run-up to the showpiece opening of the ground.

Swansea Stadium Management Company, which runs the ground, is still in the process of looking for somebody to replace Mr Howell.

In the interim, Swansea Council has provided a project manager and project director to assume Mr Howell's responsibilities, with Swansea Stadium Management Companycontributing towards costs.

The company maintains that all other aspects of the stadium's management remain unaffected.

A spokesman for Swansea Stadium Management Company said: "The board has already put in place a process to appoint a new chief executive and is currently considering replacement options.

"Mr Howell's sudden departure left the company with outdated PR publicity material featuring the former chief executive, which had only been made public 24 hours before his departure.

But the company's spokesman added: "There are no material costs attached to reproducing literature as a result of Tim Howell's departure.

"Swansea City's first game at the 20,000 all-seater venue, against Premiership Fulham, is scheduled to go ahead as planned.

STADIUM'S STEEL QUALITY CHECK AFTER POLICE PROBE

2005-06-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

27 June 2005

A Safety review is to be carried out at Swansea's £27 million stadium, it emerged today. Engineers are to check the quality of the steel used in constructing the 20,000-seater stadium after an inquiry at the Llanelli firm which provided some of the steel.

Dyfed Steels is being investigated by police after a former employee made claims of irregularities in quality certificates issued for the company's steel - an allegation strongly denied by the company.

Engineers Rowecord have confirmed they used Dyfed Steel materials for part of the construction of the Landore stadium.

John Blackwell, managing director of Rowecord, said no safety checks were necessary at the time as it did not have to be upgraded steel. But he has confirmed that the company will now look at the issue.

Mr Blackwell added today: "We will review the steel bought from Dyfed Steels.

"We confirm Dyfed supply less than three per cent of our steel with the balance being delivered from Corus.

"Dyfed Steels supplied 4.6 tonnes of steel on the White Rock stadium in Morfa in a total of 2,705 tonnes."

The concerns over the quality of the steel were raised by a former Dyfed Steels employee. He alleges that original impact steel test certificates issued by Somerset-based testing experts Bodycote were later falsified for upgraded passes. Steel industry accreditors UKAS and Bodycote are now investigating along with police.

David Thomas, Dyfed Steels managing director, said: "We have made the facilities of the company available to all parties who may wish to pursue this matter.

"We have been aware of the allegations you refer to for a number of months and would like to refute them in the strongest terms.

"Investigations we have carried out internally on testing since 1996 shows no amended test certificates in our possession."

A police spokesman said: "Llanelli CID are investigating alleged irregularities in respect of quality certificates for steel products supplied by Dyfed Steels."

FANS IN SHOCK AT LOSS OF NEW STADIUM CHIEF

2005-06-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

18 June 2005

Swansea City fans have reacted with shock to the Post's revelation that the man behind the city's new £27 million home of sport has departed. Stadium boss Tim Howell sensationally left the as yet unnamed venue yesterday, just a year after being brought in to mastermind its grand opening.

It is not yet known whether he jumped or was pushed but senior councillors moved quickly to insist his departure would not affect next month's big kick-off.

However, the club's main supporters' group reacted to the news by saying it was a "huge loss" to the long-awaited base for the Swans and Ospreys.

Opposition councillor Robert Francis-Davies, who helped put the groundwork for the project in place, said it had plunged the future of Swansea's new arena into doubt.

Swansea City Supporters' Trust spokeswoman Marilyn Croft said: "I have had a few meetings with Tim and he has been to a few fans' forums.

"So when I heard he had gone it took my breath away. He always came across very well and spoke very enthusiastically about the future.

"He was always ready to answer any of the fans' questions in a very open and honest way, so I think it is a great surprise.

"He will be a huge loss to the stadium and we are very disappointed that he has gone. We had thought everything was going very well until know."

Lifelong fan Huw Cooze said: "I am shocked, I really don't know what to say at the moment."

Former cabinet member for culture and recreation, Councillor Francis-Davies said: "I'm concerned if Tim Howell has gone. Why has he gone, and what were the differences of opinion? It seems as if things are going from one problem to another."

Swansea Council's deputy leader Gerald Clement, who chairs StadCo, the company set up by the council, the Swans and the Ospreys to manage the new stadium, said: "The new stadium remains on course to give a massive boost to the profile of our city. To suggest otherwise is a gross over-reaction to recent events. This project is far bigger than any one person.

"The management team at the new stadium will continue to make the final arrangements in the run-up to the opening game on July 23."

Bonkers of Morriston strikes again

2005-06-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Extract from Inside Swansea Council
17 June 2005

We understand of course that Councillor Robert Francis Davies is anxious to rehabilitate himself after he closed the Leisure Centre but we are not too sure whether making alarmist, unsubstantiated and ever so slightly wacky claims is the way to do it.

His suggestion today that the new Swansea stadium may be wide open to a Malcolm Glazer-style takeover is just malicious nonsense. As Chris Holley says "Carefully drawn-up legal agreements ensure that it cannot be bought-out without the council's consent. This is the people of Swansea's stadium and will remain so."

We are beginning to think that the loss of power and status he suffered in June 2004 is beginning to affect his judgement.

MORFA BOSS QUITS

2005-06-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

16 June 2005

Swansea's new £27 million sports arena today sensationally lost its boss just weeks before its big opening. Stadium boss Tim Howell who was brought in to mastermind the opening of Swansea's long-awaited base for football and rugby has left.

The bombshell has come just five weeks before Swansea City kick off the first match in the new stadium at Morfa.

Few details of exactly why the chief executive has gone are available. But project bosses at Swansea Council insisted today Mr Howell, from London, was simply moving on to "different challenges".

A statement said Mr Howell, who was brought in a year ago, has completed the job he set out to do.Mr Howell, who quit his job at the Glamorgan Health and Racquet Club at Llandarcy to take over at Morfa, also refused to go into any detail.

He said: " Being chief executive of the new stadium during this critical phase has been a fantastic and extremely rewarding challenge.

"The new stadium is now more than capable of establishing itself as one of the best stadiums in the UK and the leading sporting, entertainment and cultural venue in South West Wales.

"With my task now successfully completed, I feel it's now time to take on a new, equally rewarding challenge."

Swansea Stadium Management Company chairman, Councillor Gerald Clement, said: "Tim's done a superb job and will be sorely missed, however we fully understand that this is the time for him to move on to other challenges elsewhere.

"We will continue to build on the great start given to this stadium through Tim's hard work.

"The new stadium remains on course to give a massive boost to the profile of our city and our winning football and rugby teams as they enter their new season of sporting success.

"Stadium bosses also confirmed arrangements for Swansea City's first match at the new 20,000 all-seater venue against Premiership Fulham will not be affected.

Mr Howell's shock departure however is likely to cause some problems in the run-up to the showpiece stadium's opening.

There had been no hint of Mr Howell's leaving with PR publicity material about him and new staff members being released just 24 hours before his departure was confirmed.

A spokesman added today: " A temporary management team will be put in place before Mr Howell's permanent replacement is found.''

Link - New Chief Hails £27 million stadium

NAME SAGA AT GROUND NEARLY OVER

2005-06-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

1 June 2005

The long-running drama over what to call Swansea's new £27 million stadium could be over by the end of the month. Bosses of the eye-catching new facility in Morfa say talks with private companies over naming rights are going well and that they expect to be able to make an announcement at the end of the month.

It will end the saga of what the stadium will be called - much to the relief of fans.

The new stadium will be the home for both Swansea City Football Club and the Ospreys.Both teams are currently on a high with the Swans newly promoted to Coca-Cola League One and the Ospreys Celtic League champions.

Stadium bosses are confident of giving the teams a name for their new home.A spokesman for StadCo, the stadium management company, confirmed that progress was being made with the talks.

He said: "Negotiations with companies are ongoing.

"We are still looking to make an announcement around the end of June."

Marilyn Croft, of the Swans Supporters Trust, said she was pleased there was finally light at the end of the tunnel.

She said: "I suppose I just hope that the chosen company is in keeping with a family-based stadium.

"I think there is a mix of reaction among fans. Some want a good name to go forward but a lot of people would like the name Vetch incorporated in it to link our past with our future."

Fans have been in limbo since last July over what the name their new home would have.The council announced it would no longer be using the working title White Rock which had proved hugely popular with fans.

It said that a clean slate was needed to help attract companies interested in taking on the naming rights and that it should be referred to simply as Swansea's new stadium.

Fans called for a rethink but the title White Rock was cast aside.

Mrs Croft said: "There are fans who like White Rock and still use the name, it was very popular with some.

"Whatever the final name for the 20,500-capacity ground is, it can be sure of a rousing welcome when it opens this summer.

Sales of Swans season tickets have been going extremely well with more than 6,400 sold already - 3,000 more than the previous record.

Mrs Croft said: "We are counting down the days. I think the level of support has been marvellous because it shows really the promise that the club has for the future.

"I think it helped that we went up a division. I think a lot of people want to be part of the whole thing."

And she added: "It is a new era, a new stadium and we all hope the team can do well."

STADIUM: IT COULD BE A SELL-OUT

2005-05-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

27 May 2005

Officials are predicting bumper crowds for Swansea City in League One as season ticket sales continue to soar. With 6,400 tickets already sold - almost 3,000 more than the previous record - Ashley Donlan, boss of the company running ticket sales, is predicting average crowds of up to 17,000 next season.

The demand for tickets has been so overwhelming that the stadium at Morfa had to close yesterday so that staff could carry out an in-depth account of all the seats sold so far.

''I have been astounded by the number of tickets sold and I think that we are still on course for reaching 12,000,'' said the Bastion chief executive.'

'The Swans have incredible support and I think that the average crowd here next season will be around 16,000 to 17,000.

''I also think that there will be at least 10 sell-outs and if the club get off to a good start there could even be a few more.'

'The next stage of selling tickets is to allow supporters to visit the 20,000 all-seater stadium to choose their seats for the new season without booking an appointment through the ticket hotline.

However, over the Bank Holiday weekend, the stadium will be closed on Sunday and Monday, but will reopen on Tuesday.

''Hopefully we won't get too overcrowded by doing this and people won't all come down at once,'' Donlan added.'

'There is no sign of sales slowing down and we are on target to reaching that 12,000 figure.

''But we had to close yesterday, so that the staff could count all the seats sold and make sure that the stickers have not fallen off the seats.

''The staff have been working incredibly hard. They have been working 12-hour shifts.

''Meanwhile, Leon Britton yesterday became the first Swansea player to say he will be signing a new contract.

The 22-year-old midfielder is poised to sign a new one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months depending on appearances.

"Everything is sorted, it is just a case of me signing on the dotted line," Britton said."I had a long hard think about my future and with the manager (Kenny Jackett) looking to change his formation it was a big factor in me deciding to stay."

WALES STADIUM MATCH THREAT

2005-04-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

7 April 2005

Wales's planned friendly with Slovenia at Swansea's new stadium looks like being scrapped because of a row over ticketing. And there will be little chance of any international football coming to the 20,000 all-seater in Morfa in the future unless the dispute can be sorted out.

John Toshack's side had been pencilled in to play the Slovenians in August to mark the opening of Wales's new second stadium.

But the EVENING POST understands the Football Association of Wales are poised to abandon the Swansea game and search for an alternative friendly match elsewhere.

The FAW are angry over demands made by StadCo, the company created to manage the new stadium on behalf of Swansea Council, Swansea City and the Ospreys.

It is believed StadCo has asked for 85 per cent of gate receipts, which is beyond what the FAW are prepared to give.

Welsh football chiefs are also opposed to StadCo's request to control the sale of tickets, thought to have been made because of the company's commitment to Premier Club members who have been promised entry to every event the arena hosts.

No-one at the FAW was available for comment this morning, though a spokesman told the Evening Post last month that the game could be under threat because of a disagreement over where proceeds would go.

Meanwhile Fulham will play at the stadium in Alan Curtis's testimonial in what could be the opening game.Former Swan Chris Coleman, now manager at Craven Cottage, has agreed to bring his side back to his home city on July 23.

The game will be treated as a serious warm-up for the new season, and the Premiership outfit are expected to bring a first-team squad to South Wales just 48 hours before they fly out for a pre-season trip to America.

That means the likes of Andy Cole, Luis Boa Morte and Edwin Van der Sar should all be involved.

The home side are unlikely to field any special guests though Curtis, who has served Swansea for most of the last three decades, hopes to play some part.

As yet it is unclear how many fans will be allowed in for the match because of safety regulations which state that new stadiums should gradually build towards hosting a capacity crowd, as happened at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

It could be that another game is arranged beforehand, possibly against Bristol City, to allow a bigger crowd for Curtis's testimonial.

The Fulham fixture is the only one so far confirmed in Swansea's pre-season programme, which is not expected to include a tour of Holland for the first time in four years because of the move away from Vetch Field.

The club are refusing to reveal further details of their plans at the moment, though it is understood they are hoping to host a major game at their new home the weekend before the new season gets underway.

Swansea fans are reminded that Saturday's trip to Lincoln City is pay on the day for travelling fans.

Tickets for the meeting with Oxford United a week tomorrow - the last floodlit game at the Vetch - are selling well and supporters are advised to buy now for all parts of the ground.

With all home tickets for the final league match on April 30 now sold, visitors Shrewsbury are only selling their 1,000 allocation to Shrews fans who live in the Shropshire area. No postal applications are being considered.

PLEDGE OVER NAME FOR NEW STADIUM

2005-04-06T11:00:00.000-07:00

6 April 2005

A Number of companies are looking at sponsoring Swansea's new £27 million stadium, according to bosses. But they insist the success or failure of Swansea Football Club's promotion push will not affect any deal.

The club are currently in third place fighting for automatic promotion to Coca-Cola Division One.

But bosses at StadCo, the company managing the stadium, say the result of their fight will not affect their search for a sponsor for the 20,200-seat ground.

They say the negotiations for the deal are still ongoing and have denied that sponsors are holding back to see which league the Swans will be playing in next season before putting pen to paper.

A spokesman for StadCo said: "The naming rights package is a great opportunity for a brand to play a long-term role in one of Europe's finest new stadiums.

"If Swansea City do gain promotion then obviously it would be a fantastic boost for both the city and the new stadium.

"However, it is a long-term proposition which isn't based on one season of success.

"There are a number of brands who are already interested in taking the naming rights, regardless of the Swans' promotion fortunes."

Stadium bosses are hoping to have a main sponsor in place by the end of June.Work is nearing completion on the facility which will be ready to welcome the Swans and the Neath-Swansea Ospreys to their new home next season.

A high-profile curtain raiser is being planned by representatives from both clubs and the council, who make up the management company.

A number of big names from the worlds of football and rugby have been linked with the event at the stadium with, as yet, no name.

Councillor Gerald Clement, the cabinet member for culture, recreation and tourism, is confident naming rights for the ground will be secured soon.

The Ospreys have already been crowned champions but stadium bosses say whether or not the Swans follow their lead and gain promotion, the deal for naming rights will go ahead.

The spokesman said: "The negotiations with interested brands are ongoing.

"We are still looking at a figure of approximately £250,000 per season for a brand to obtain the stadium's naming rights."

DAY OUT AT RACES DEFENDED

2005-03-31T11:00:00.001-08:00

31 March 2005

Senior officials of the company in charge of Swansea's new sports stadium have defended a trip to Cheltenham Races. StadCo representatives spent a day at the races as guests of the stadium's new caterers.FMC has been given the contract for the as-yet-unnamed Landore facility which will be home to Swansea City and the Neath-Swansea Ospreys from next season.

An unofficial council monitoring website picked up on the trip, calling it a junket."Despite all the financial stringencies and safeguards at the stadium, it seems that junkets are an acceptable part of doing business," it said.

The site labelled the visit a jaunt and questioned the need for it.StadCo said its representatives were guests of FMC and the only cost was £20 for petrol.

Ashley Donlan, the stadium's corporate hospitality adviser, said: "When it opens this summer the new stadium will provide the best conference and corporate hospitality facilities in South Wales.

"In order to successfully anticipate the staffing numbers and structures required for this type of extremely high-pressure catering event, senior StadCo representatives were invited to learn from FMC's work at the Cheltenham Festival. These systems will now be adapted to the corporate hospitality facilities at the new Swansea stadium, ensuring that the venue will be offering the highest level of service and professionalism anywhere in Wales."

Loan deal for iconic stadium

2005-03-31T11:00:00.000-08:00

Swansea Council Webiste
31 March 2005

Swansea Council’s Cabinet has agreed a £2m loan to help fitting-out costs at the city’s new stadium that’s on course for a summer opening.

The prestige home of Swansea Football Club and the Ospreys Rugby team will be one of the best venues for sport and culture in Wales.

Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism Gerald Clement said that the main contractor at the stadium would be handing over the building this month to Stadco, the company set up to manage it.

But in order to provide a fully complete stadium ready for use, Cabinet agreed that the council should loan Stadco £2m it needed for fit-out items including furniture, lockers, kitchen and other equipment.

Cllr Clement said, “In the original plan for the stadium there never was provision for the kitchen fit-out. It was envisiaged that an outside contractor would be given the catering contract and they would pay the cost of the kitchen.

“But by doing it this way Stadco will be able to maximise its returns on the operation of the kitchen which will be in the best interests of the long-term future of the stadium.”

Cllr Clement stressed that the loan was not interest-free, nor would there be a cost to the authority or council taxpayers. Income generated through sponsorship and other sources would be used to pay the loan and interest.

Cllr Clement said, “The stadium is going to give a massive boost to the sporting and cultural profile of Swansea. It’s being delivered on time and I’ve no doubt that it will deliver also on its rich promise as an landmark for our city.”

GROUND SMOKE SIGNAL DELAYED

2005-03-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

30 March 2005

A Decision on whether to ban smoking at Swansea's new sports stadium has been put on hold. Officials in charge of the new Landore facility were due to have ruled on the issue this month.

But the board of Stadco, the company running the stadium, will not now decide for another six to eight weeks.

That will still leave plenty of time for the public to be informed of the smoking policy at the ground before it starts staging Swans football and Ospreys rugby matches next season.

Another decision yet to be taken - and one much- anticipated - is the naming of the stadium, formerly known as White Rock.

It is thought likely this will be revealed at the end of June, just weeks before it opens.

Official tenders invited for naming rights opportunity

2005-03-15T11:00:00.000-08:00

15 March 2005 (Swansea Council Website)

The bidding process to find a sponsor to take on the naming rights for the 20,200 capacity new stadium is being formalised.

Sports marketing company Bastion have revealed details of the package, rumoured to be worth around a quarter of a million pounds per season.

Following tentative discussions with a number of major brands, Bastion is now inviting official tenders for the stadium’s ‘Naming Rights’ with a view to securing a headline sponsor.

In terms of comparable advertising value alone, the naming rights package is worth in excess of £500,000 per season. This includes full on-stadium branding, on-pitch advertising, access to stadium hospitality and conference suites, a corporate box, complimentary tickets, billboard advertising and full roadside signage. Both clubs also receive widespread media exposure, both in Wales and across the whole of the UK.

From 3Com Park in San Francisco to the Reebok Stadium in Bolton, major sponsors are buying the naming rights to the homes of successful sports teams. Already being heralded as one of the best in Europe, the new stadium at Swansea will be home to the city’s renowned rugby union and football sides - The Ospreys and Swansea City FC.

As well as being the UK’s first specially-built, dual-purpose, rugby union/football stadium, the venue also features a 30,000 capacity for music events, plus 29 corporate hospitality boxes and conference space for 1000 guests.

Ashley Donlan is Chief Executive of Bastion, the company which has been tasked with finding a sponsor to take on the naming rights said,

“The new stadium features some of the best facilities outside the FA Premiership and is the perfect home for two of Wales’ best sides. With more than 500,000 passionate fans expected to watch the Ospreys and the Swans next season, we’re looking to work with the right brand to ensure success both on and off the field. This is a huge opportunity for a major brand to really work with two highly ambitious clubs and become part of the city’s social fabric.”

The new stadium, completely enclosed with four covered stands merging to form one arena, has also installed some of the best facilities in the UK in order to attract new supporters, especially women and families.

As Donlan explains, “We’ve worked extremely hard to get this right from the state of the art pitch to the focus on providing all fans with a great match experience.”

For further information please contact Ashley Donlan of Bastion on 01792-480045 or 07968-240024.

ARENA CASH FLOW WORRIES DISMISSED

2005-03-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

4 March 2005

Swansea Council has dismissed cash flow concerns at the city's new £27 million stadium. The authority has agreed a £2 million loan to StadCo, the company set up by the council and the city's football and rugby teams to manage the facility.

It will be used to buy equipment to fit out the stadium and cover the budgeted £800,000 that was expected to be generated through naming rights at the stadium.

This week an annual price tag of £250,000 was placed on the deal, raising concerns that there was a serious cash shortfall.

But a council spokesman played down the concerns.

He said: "The £800,000 is a total budget for the naming rights sale, not an annual figure."So it is entirely consistent with the quoted estimate of £250,000 per annum being our targeted value."

There have also been concerns about the security of the £2 million loan to StadCo.

A source at Swansea Council, who didn't want to be identified, said: "Some are worried that two of the three parties making up the company, the Swans and the Ospreys, have no sizeable assets so if StadCo was to fail to make the repayments only the council would have any worthwhile assets."

But the council spokesman insisted that public money was not at risk.

He said: "The loan from the council to StadCo will be at a full cost recharge rate, that is no cost to the council.

"The business plan for StadCo allows for the cost of payment of the loan repayments and interest. The detailed loan terms will ensure that the repayments and interest must be met by StadCo with a legal charge on the equipment in favour of the council.

"In the unlikely event of default on the payments, then the equipment would revert to the council."

Council bosses have also insisted there are no problems with the marketing of the stadium.

Bastion, the company now in charge of selling the naming rights, this week announced it was opening the bidding process and was expecting firm offers from major brands.

It says it expects to be able to name a headline sponsor by the end of June and said that the £250,000 price tag would buy £500,000 worth of advertising.

COUNCIL IN £2M LOAN TO EQUIP NEW GROUND

2005-03-03T11:00:00.000-08:00

3 March 2005

Swansea's new stadium is being loaned £2 million by the council to help fit it out. Cash is needed to fully equip the new 20,200-seat ground in Landore ready for its summer opening.

The money will buy kitchen and bar equipment, lockers, furniture and other items.

The bulk of the cost will be met by the stadium's management company StadCo, which is made up of representatives from Swansea Council and the city's football and rugby clubs.

But the council will fund purchases with a £2 million interest-free loan to the company.

Money is needed because the overall cost of the scheme, which includes transferring sports facilities to other parts of the city, has risen to £43.4 million from the last estimate of £41.8 million.

A report to councillors says: "As is inevitable in a scheme of this size and complexity, a number of elements within the budget have needed variation with, as a consequence, some cost increases and some reductions.

"In addition, the budget for fit out has been found to be inadequate."Part of the £2 million loan will cover the £800,000 that has so far failed to materialise for naming rights at the stadium.

Bastion, the company in charge of selling the rights, has now invited official bids and hopes to have a main sponsor in place by the end of June. It says advertising rights could be worth around £500,000 a year.

The report to councillors said: "In order to provide the capital funding, it is proposed that the council make a loan to the company of up to £2 million repayable at no net costs to the council.

"This revised proposal places the risk of raising sponsorship income with the stadium management company and allows up to an additional £1.2 million of investment at no cost to the council.

"The loan will be over 20 years and will be secured on the equipment it buys but the report warned: "Nevertheless there is a remaining risk to the council should the company default on its repayments."

As well as the £2 million loan, Swansea Council has given £6.8 million to the scheme, £450,000 more than was originally planned.

The project will deliver the new stadium, which cost £27 million to build, including the cost of moving facilities from the old Morfa stadium to elsewhere in the city.

The new ground is expected to open in July.

WALES FRIENDLY MATCH AT NEW STADIUM UNDER THREAT

2005-03-02T11:00:00.002-08:00

2 March 2005

Wales's proposed friendly with Slovenia to mark the opening of Swansea City's new stadium could be scrapped. The Evening Post understands there has been a disagreement over how proceeds from the game will be shared between the Football Association of Wales and Swansea.

But Vetch Field chairman Huw Jenkins is still hopeful John Toshack's men will play at Morfa as part of the new 20,000-seater stadium's opening celebrations.

"We're hopeful that Wales will play in Swansea," he said.

"It's just that things like this take a long time to sort out."Negotiations are on-going between ourselves and the FAW to try finalise a deal to bring international football to our new home."

Toshack's men will definitely play a friendly in August ahead of World Cup qualifiers against England and Poland in September.

FAW chiefs have indicated that Swansea would be the preferred venue, but the failure so far to rubber stamp the fixture has left them looking at other options.

"We have been offered friendlies abroad and it may be that we have to look elsewhere," said an FAW source.

"We all hope we can play at Swansea's new stadium - it would be terrible not to mark its opening with a Wales game.

"But something has to be sorted out soon.

"As time goes on, you would have say that the game is increasingly under threat."

Morfa venue seeks big name sponsor

2005-03-02T11:00:00.001-08:00

Western Mail - 2 March 2005

£250K PRICE FOR NAME

2005-03-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

2 March 2005

Developers of Swansea's new football and rugby stadium have put a £250,000 price tag on its naming rights. The consortium behind the £27 million stadium are inviting tenders from companies and hope to have a main sponsor in place by June 30 - a few weeks before it is expected to open.

Bosses say a number of well-known companies have already been in talks.Rumours of possible names have been circulating in fan's circles but nothing solid has emerged.Brewer Scottish Courage, which makes John Smith's bitter, has been in talks over supplying the stadium's bars but played down talk of naming the new ground.

The deal for naming rights is understood to include a range of different sponsorship opportunities ranging from £5,000 upwards. The entire package is worth £500,000 a year.It includes everything from on-stadium branding and on-pitch advertising to billboard advertising and road signs around the ground.

A specialist company, Bastion, has been brought in to get the best deal for the clubs and the council. It has already worked with Watford and Coventry football clubs in marketing their grounds.

The ground at Morfa originally had the working name of White Rock although this was dropped last year.

Ashley Donlan, Bastion's chief executive, said he was confident they could help secure a top name for Swansea's new home of sport.

He said: "The new stadium features some of the best facilities outside the FA Premiership and is the perfect home for two of Wales's best sides.

"With more than 500,000 passionate fans expected to watch the Ospreys and the Swans next season, we're looking to work with the right brand to ensure success both on and off the field.

"This is a huge opportunity for a major brand to really work with two highly ambitious clubs and become part of the city's social fabric.

"Major work on the 20,000 seat stadium is finished with specialists now being brought into fit out the facility and to seed the pitch.

The stadium will be home to both Swansea City Football Club and the Neath Swansea Ospreys. It will also host music concerts and other events.

Mr Donlan said: "We've worked extremely hard to get this right, from the state-of-the-art pitch to providing fans with a great match experience."

The first football ground in the UK to be named after its sponsor was Scarborough's stadium named after the frozen chip company McCain. Bolton Wanderers has the Reebok Stadium while Conference side York City has just renamed its ground Kit-Kat in a £100,000 sponsorship deal with the chocolate bar manufacturer

£250k price tag on stadium name

2005-03-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

BBC Website - 1 March 2005

RESPECT THE FANS' VIEWS

2005-02-26T11:00:00.000-08:00

26 February 2005

I Don't think I have read a more compelling argument for reinstating the name White Rock for Swansea's new stadium than the one put forward by Paul Edwards (Have Your Say, February 22). As he correctly points out, the travelling fans' radius is far greater than the city of Swansea and it makes good commercial sense to capitalise on every aspect of this impressive new sporting facility, not just the stadium name.

All too often, the downfall of sporting enterprises happens when sentiment or stubbornness at the top gets in the way of a sensible business strategy.

The main income stream for the stadium is always going to come from the fans and their views should be heard and respected.

Nigel Banfield, St Helen's Road, Swansea

White Rock or Bust

2005-02-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

Extract from Inside Swansea Council
Wednesday, February 23, 2005

A letter in last night's Evening Post seeks to ressurrect the name of White Rock for the new stadium. It is not going to happen. The powers that be seem to have settled on "The City of Swansea Stadium" prefaced by the name of whoever pays up enough cash.

The letter writer adds that "It does not take much imagination to work out that you can actually raise more money by doing sponsorship deals on different parts of the stadium."

He should rest easy, even Swansea Council have thought of that one and when the name is decided it will be as part of a whole package including the sponsorship and naming of the stands.

WHITE ROCK IS JUST RIGHT

2005-02-22T11:00:00.000-08:00

22 February 2005

Despite efforts by the marketing gurus, the name White Rock stubbornly remains embedded in the local sporting scene. This is because it is a powerful name that conjures up the right image of confidence.

To my mind, no-one has come up with anything better for the new Swansea stadium.You ask why it should not be called The City of Swansea Stadium. Surely the answer is that, just like the Evening Post's circulation, the fan-base of the Swans and the Ospreys is much wider than Swansea's civic boundaries.

This is probably why a recent poll on the Jack Army website found that six out of 10 voted for the name White Rock.

As a matter of interest, more people voted for Dave than City of Swansea.

It does not take much imagination to work out that you can actually raise more money by doing sponsorship deals on different parts of the stadium.The Hyder Stand in the Millennium Stadium is an example of this approach.

Those in charge should be a bit more mature and reinstate the name.

Paul Edwards, Danygraig Road, St Thomas, Swansea

STADIUM NAME

2005-02-16T11:00:00.001-08:00

18 February 2005

Regarding the name for the stadium in Morfa, Swansea, if Fosters Gnoll was acceptable why not sponsor it White Rock Stadium or, alternatively, Taweside.

G M James, Venables Close, Fforestfach, Swansea

STADIUM SPONSOR TROUBLE REJECTED

2005-02-16T11:00:00.000-08:00

16 February 2005

Swansea Council has dismissed rumours that there are problems over naming rights for the city's new £27 million stadium. They have insisted rumours that the ground's bosses are likely to get only half the expected £800,000 in stadium sponsorship are simply not true.

The opening of the new home for football and rugby in Swansea is just months away, but the impressive-looking venue still has no name. That has caused increasing concern among interested onlookers.

Some fans have expressed regret at the dropping of the White Rock working title in favour of chasing a money-generating commercial choice.

The council insisted that progress was being made but that has not stopped sources on a website suggesting the behind-the-scenes negotiations to pull off a big-money deal were faltering.

The site, named Inside Out @ Swansea, said the speculation among PR consultants is that talks over naming rights for Swansea's new stadium have gone belly-up.

It added: "Consultants who were talking in terms of more than £800,000 in sponsorship now apparently admit figures of less than half the original sum are more likely.

"The council was keen to distance itself from the content of the website.

A spokeswoman said: "Swansea's new stadium offers potential sponsors a wonderful opportunity to be associated with one of Europe's finest regional sports venues.

"It presents a fantastic package of sponsorship opportunities connected to the stadium naming rights, stand sponsorship and right to supply the bars. The unsubstantiated rumours on an anonymous website are untrue."

The website is the latest one to give its own take on the naming of the stadium.

Earlier this month, Jack Army, the Swansea City football supporters' website, claimed it would be called The City of Swansea Stadium. And should a sponsor be found, the name would change slightly to accommodate it, the site claimed.

A spokesman for Swansea Council refused to comment on the suggestion.

CALL THE SITE WHITE ROCK

2005-02-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

8 February 2005

The problem in selecting a suitable name for the sports stadium at Morfa is difficult since it will be the home of the Swans and the Ospreys. Unless a suitable name incorporating both clubs can be found, a simple title must be considered. White Rock Stadium seems fine to me and since it was the original title I'll settle for that.

Gwyn Evans, Garth View, Ynysforgan, Swansea

New Chief hails £27 million new stadium

2005-02-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

The new Chief Executive of Swansea’s £27 million stadium has hailed it the best regional sports venue in Wales.

The state-of-the-art stadium will be home to the Ospreys regional rugby team and Swansea City when it opens in time for the 2005/6 season.

Tim Howell, who has been appointed as Chief Executive of Stadco, the stadium’s management company, believes the 20,000-seat stadium will become a major venue attracting people and businesses to a wide variety of events.

Mr Howell said, "This is the best 20,000-seat stadium I have ever seen. I base a lot of my career decisions on gut feeling and when I visited the stadium for the first time it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

"I've always been sports mad so this is a dream job for me. I love watching The Swans and The Ospreys and, whenever I can, I enjoy all forms of sport.

"Hopefully, knowing both the clubs well will help me to support them in their pursuit of sporting excellence."

Mr Howell, who was previously General Manager at the Glamorgan Health and Racquet Club, plans to broaden the appeal of the stadium by encouraging business opportunities through match-day hospitality and commercial lettings at the stadium.

He also plans to involve the local and wider community in the stadium – creating a people’s stadium.

Mr Howell said, "I am determined to give as much support as I can to local businesses to maximise their earning potential on the back of events at the Stadium.

"The implications of the new stadium are obviously enormous for both the clubs, but go much wider than that. It’s a massive leap for the city as a whole and is the best regional stadium in Wales.

"As the Chief Executive of Stadco, my remit is to turn the stadium into a premier venue. Rugby and football are imperative but I also want to see us staging some fantastic events, making the stadium and Swansea a premier destination.

"We want this to be a venue for everybody in Swansea and the surrounding area, whether our guests wish to join us for lunch, host a business conference or watch a fantastic home match. It will be an "all year" venue accommodating activities as diverse as educational visits, community events, large banquets and even weddings!"

The stadium – the first purpose-built football and rugby stadium in the country - is being funded by Swansea Council.

Gerald Clement, Swansea Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, said, we are delighted to have Tim on board. He brings a wealth of experience and an exciting vision to the stadium.

FACTFILE
Tim Howell hails from Brighton but he moved to Swansea in 1994 after marrying his Swansea-born wife whom he met at university.

He has more than 20 years experience in leisure management in both the public and private sectors.

He was previously Operations Director for three large health clubs in Brighton and spent six years managing council-owned leisure centres in Swansea.

In 2000 he became General Manager of The Glamorgan Health and Racquet Club at Llandarcy.

The Club has developed into one of the most successful leisure clubs in Wales. During the past two years both The Swans and The Ospreys have become members.

Link - Morfa Boss Quits

Henson and Trundle getting ready to roll

2005-01-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

Jan 23 2005
Wales on Sunday

SWANSEA'S state-of-the-art stadium, known under its working title White Rock, will open in six months, showing west is best. PETER SHUTTLEWORTH finds out that Dylan Thomas was right: 'Ambition is critical.'

ALL the world's a stage - and for Swansea's great entertainers, this is how they like it.
Gavin Henson and Lee Trundle are wizards with their respective shape footballs and were born to grace the sparkling £27m stadium rising out on the industrial ashes in the lower Swansea valley on the banks of the River Tawe.

Swansea's latest sporting addition has the finesse of a five-star hotel and the facilities to match. The 22,200-capacity arena has ensured Wales' second city, that boasts Wales' only Olympic size pool and will benefit from a new £3m athletics arena, is stepping firmly out of Cardiff's sporting shadow to challenge the capital.

"I walk around stadiums for a living and there's not a better one in the world in the 20,000-30,000 category than Swansea's new ground," insisted Ashley Donlon, the stadium's corporate chief. "Every minute detail has been considered and there's nothing you could improve; the finish is first class."

Britain's first dual-purpose stadium took almost 15 years from the initial brainstorming process to the first sod being removed. Building work, that began in September 2003, will take little more than 18 months.

Stadium chiefs might well wax lyrical about their state-of-the-art stadium, but it is the players' opinions that count.

For Swansea City's footballing heroes and The Ospreys regional rugby side, their riverbank den will be home. Trickster striker Trundle and versatile back Henson are twin towers in sport Swansea; both need to be comfortable in their new surroundings.

"It feels like you're at a Premiership stadium," said Trundle. "This is where any player would like to play their football. Playing at the best grounds bring out the best in you. We want to move forward as a football club and a big part of that is moving to this phenomenal new stadium."
Henson added: "It'll be an inspirational place to play rugby."

The £27m bill was footed by Swansea Council selling retail plots adjacent to the splendid structure and a £2.5m grant from the football federation, which, along with Football League requirement, stipulates the football club get priority over ground usage.

Swansea stadium's shell is complete and the building work will be finished by early March so the interior designers can take over; but already its grandeur is apparent.

"The finishing touches will be more five-star hotel than football ground," said Andy Edmonds, associate director of contractors Interserve, the company that revamped Murrayfield.

"This ground will be way ahead of any football stadium of its size in Europe."

Donlan added: "The Telstra Stadium in Sydney cost almost $700m while Cardiff's Millennium Stadium cost the Welsh Rugby Union £126m, but the finish of work is not the quality of this."
If Swansea's own golden girl Catherine Zeta-Jones wants to renew her vows with Hollywood hubbie Michael Douglas, the city's new ground will be the only venue big enough to host such a big glamour bash.

Its plush, 800-capacity hospitality suite is twice the size of its biggest city rival. On match days, this is where the 1,175 corporate members, paying up to £125 per month, will be fed and watered.

The stadium's 29 hospitality boxes, costing between £14,000 and £25,000, are already selling like Joe's ice cream on a warm summer's day.

But the most crucial cog of a sports stadium is often overlooked. A genius isn't needed to point out that the state of the pitch needs to be perfection, a simple point that is often ignored. But there are almost a million reasons why critics couldn't accuse Swansea of ignorance. More than £900,000 has been spent on a 21st Century surface, the latest in designer pitches.

The pitch will have plastic grass reinforcements to strengthen the playing surface and provide improved playing conditions.

It will be able to suck moisture away from the surface and blow air underneath to keep it aerated.

Glass panels make up a majority of the stadium's roof to ensure maximum sunlight at all times of the day; the four stands are separated by tunnels in all four corners of the ground to guarantee good ventilation.

Said Trundle: "The pitch is crucial because some new stadiums are excellent but the pitch isn't up to much. For footballers and rugby players, it doesn't matter what is around you, players are only as good as the pitch they play on. They are spending a lot of money on the pitch and that gives the players confidence because they know what we require.

"If the stadium hasn't a good pitch, you can't get the ball down and play football. A bad pitch would nullify our strengths."

Welsh international Henson added: "The Millennium Stadium is a great arena, but the surface isn't always the best; when I'm kicking my left standing foot often slips away. That's always in my mind as I run up to kick the ball so it affects my kicking.

"The Millennium Stadium has a firm surface but the top two inches are wet and greasy and that's why the footballers always tend to slip.

"It's good that we're ground-sharing with Swansea because at least we know their pitch has to be perfect for football otherwise the ball wouldn't travel right. Hopefully we won't mess it up for them! The pitch will be awesome."

Millennium Stadium chiefs are forced to replace their 'pallet style' pitch at least twice annually at approximately £300,000 a time. Swansea hope they'll never have to replace their surface.

The White Rock Stadium at Morfa is the unofficial working title as the stadium's management company are reluctant to formally name as they hope to raise revenue by attracting a sponsor.
Stadco, the tri-partner ground's management company, hope to recoup an estimated £1.5m over the next seven years by selling the stadium's naming rights. BT, Asda and Walkers have been suggested and Stadco, made up of Swansea City and Ospreys board members and Swansea councillors, will probably make an announcement regarding a deal within the next six weeks. Swansea are chasing a League Two promotion spot and Trundle said: "The new ground is great for the club because it'll help attract new players.

"We're on course for promotion; we're in a good spot so it's up to us to secure it. We can only let ourselves down but moving into the new stadium is a big incentive for us to be in a new division as well next season. And there's no reason why we can't push for back-to-back promotions.

"Promotion and our new home will hopefully snowball as we'd attract new fans as families might want a day out and see what this ground is all about. That'll make for an even more intimidating atmosphere."

Henson's Ospreys are leading the Celtic League. He said: "It'll be great to move into the stadium as champions. It is showing what a professional region we are both on and off the field."

No name yet for Swansea stadium

2004-10-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

Oct 29 2004
Western Mail

WALES' newest sports venue remains "the stadium with no name" even though the finishing touches are now being applied.

Council leaders say discussions are going on with a number of possible "big name" sponsors for the £27m arena at Morfa.

Ironically, the most popular name for the 20,000-seater facility is the one Swansea City and County Council gave it in the hope that people would forget it.

The White Rock Stadium was a working title for the project, currently coming to the end of its construction phase on a site along the banks of the River Tawe traditionally known as White Rock.

The authority dumped the name fearing potential sponsors would not want to offer a fat fee for naming a stadium which already had a popular local name.

Swans fan Phil Sumbler, who runs the popular web site JackArmy, said, "White Rock was imposed on fans but many, myself included, have felt it grow on them."

A long list of names has been suggested by fans including The New Vetch, the Swansea Bay Stadium, The Robbie James Stadium (after the late Wales and Swans midfielder) and the John Charles Stadium after the legendary forward. Others have included the Swansea Bowl, The Tawe Arena and the Swans Nest.

Trevor Parsell, 75, of Ammanford would like to see the Tawe Stadium. He said, "After all it's on the banks of the Tawe. But I also think the title White Rock is a good solid one."

Swans fan James Price, 29, of Llanelli, will not be forgetting the club's old Vetch Field ground - and neither will his daughter.

She was named Imogen Chloe Vetch Price when she came into the world earlier this year.

And some fans have turned to poetry to remember the old ground.

One ode written on a web site went:
The first time I saw her was one wet Wednesday.
I guess you could say that I'd really seen the light.
I knew then that from August to May
I'd spend half my life down by ol' Swansea Bay.

West Glamorgan Deputy Lord Lieutenant Edward Harris has suggested the George Prowse Stadium after one of two VC winners who came from Swansea.

George Prowse was killed in action and his body never recovered on the Western Front in 1918.

He won a DCM for bravery in attacking a machine gun post and later received a posthumous VC for other brave actions at Logeast Wood.

The naming of stadiums can be lucrative but controversial, as Arsenal discovered with the North London club's £100m sponsorship deal with airline Emirates.

It means the club's new ground at Finsbury Park due to open in 2006 will be known as the Emirates Stadium for its first 15 years.

But the move has not been popular with fans, some of who have vowed not to set foot in the Emirates Stadium.

It remains to be seen whether fans of the club will refer to the ground as Ashburton Grove, which it is known as now, or The Emirates.

The new stadium at Morfa, whatever it is called, will house Swansea City and the regional Ospreys rugby team from next August.

A new company, Stadco, has been established by Swansea City and County Council to manage the stadium, which will also be used for concerts.

The council has refused to be drawn on the identity of any possible sponsors.

It said yesterday, "The capital budget from the stadium includes an assumed income from the selling of naming rights.

"The council has formally appointed agents for marketing the opportunity and is in discussion with prospective firms.

"The process is ongoing and confidential due to its commercial sensitivity and is it not appropriate at this stage to give any further information."

Meanwhile a visitors' centre is to be established at the new stadium from next month where fans can book seats for its opening season.

As the build-up to the opening of the new stadium begins, fans are hoping for a "compromise" name for the new building.

What do you think? What should they call the new Swansea stadium? Email the Western Mail newsdesk on newsdesk@wme.co.uk

Fans' petition over stadium name

2004-07-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

BBC Website - 26 July 2004

Stadium name puzzle for fans

2004-07-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

BBC Website - 21 July 2004

Stadium work ahead of plan

2004-05-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

BBC News Website - 22 May 2004

New sport stadium on track

2004-01-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

BBC News Website - 5 January 2004

STADIUM TO RISE OUT OF THE GROUND

2003-12-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Swansea Council Press Release - 10 December 2003

Why I'm All For White Rock

2003-10-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

Jack Army Website - 18 October 2003

As I've been in favour of this name for over three years, and have made no secret of the fact, I feel obligated to put my head above the parapet and attempt to provide a favourable appraisal of its choice.

To me its selection is almost as much a rejection of the alternatives as being a positive decision in favour of the name White Rock.

Let's consider some of the alternatives:

The New Vetch - I cannot possibly take to this. I don't want to leave the Vetch - there can never be another Vetch. But - as we have no alternative to making a new start, let's make it a new start with a new name.

Morfa - time to move on from that name - it conjures up thoughts of a 12 year + delay in seeing our dream come to fruition, and should be consigned to history for what it was - a bog standard, mediocre athletics stadium.

Peoples Stadium - sounds like something from a Communist/National Socialist republic - most frequently used for mass executions of dissidents.

Phoenix Stadium - a word that usually applies to business organisations that have risen from the ashes and invariably go bust again.

Swansea Stadium - OK, but lacks any imagination whatsoever.

Named after a player - whatever we think as football fans, it isn't going to happen.

It isn't exclusively a football stadium. I have no problems with stands and function rooms being named after our heroes, but personally I've never been in favour of stadiums being named after individuals.

Now consider WHITE ROCK

Arrived at almost by default - it doesn't have the history and associated stigmas that any of the above have.

It most certainly has a history - the area (albeit the Eastern side, where the retail development will be) was the site of the White Rock copper smelting works, and there was a White Rock Ferry operating on this stretch of the river. There were at one time upwards of nine copperworks in the Lower Swansea Valley, which made Swansea the centre of the world's copper smelting industry in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (producing 90% of the entire UK output), and it is a fact that Swansea was one of the most important industrial areas in Britain, and one of the places in which the Industrial Revolution was born.

Moving on from the history, other reasons to warrant it.

The name has a Swansea connotation - with the "white" in it

White Rock - sounds like a fortress - a perfect follow on from the perception of the Vetch.

White Rock - does not need the word "stadium" attached to it. The word does not feature at Anfield, Old Trafford, Highbury, Hillsborough. Why is there a need to tag on Field, Park or Stadium ?

White Rock is easily substituted for Vetch Field in the Swansea City song.

A big plus - UNIQUE to us.

For those who say that White Rock does not sound like a football stadium :
1) In 1912 did the Vetch Field sound like a football stadium ? No, it sounded like what it was - a climbing form of vegetation.
2) White Rock will not be (much as I am disappointed) purely a football stadium. It will host other sports and activities (although I do not think as many rugby games as we fear), and will be a total community stadium.

Out of interest, the other Copper works names that I have been able to identify in the area are Landore, Llangyfelach, Hafod, Morfa, Fforest, Middle Bank and Upper Bank.

Final point - this could all be academic, as the Council are likely to sell the name to the highest bidder, but it's up to us to put enough pressure on to incorporate OUR preferred name, whatever that may be, into any ongoing commercial title.

Now it's time to duck back down below the parapet !!

White Rock Not A Great Hit With Fans

2003-10-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

Jack Army Website - 14 October 2003

A current poll on this web-site shows (as near as damn it) a 50/50 split over whether the fans like the working name or not.

Last week, announcing the choice, Council leader Lawrence Bailey claimed the name was being promoted by a large number of fans.

However, initial reactions to the naming are stating otherwise with fans suggesting that maybe the stadium should reflect more it's relevance to the City with many claiming that they were not aware of the relevance between White Rock and that area of the city.

The name has come from the colour of the rocks which line the River Tawe along that stretch of the River. The name stretched back as far as the 18th century when there was a White Rock copper smelting works set up in 1737 by Coster Bros & Joseph Percival on land previously occupied by an old flour mill.

Commenting on the change, Ugo Vallerio from FOSCFA commented "White Rock is better than Morfa and fine for the moment. But it is pretty naff and I hope that's not going to be the final name. It will need to be changed. I wouldn't like the council to have the final say - it should be put to the public so the supporters can decide. I know it has an historical link but they may as well call it the Landore Steel Works Stadium. I don't know why it just can't be called the Swansea Stadium."

Ugo's views are echoed by many on the internet with fans calling for the council to allow them to decide the name of the stadium from a short list of potential names. Although commercial rights are undoubtedly going to be involved somewhere surely it could also have a name that has been chosen by those that are going to use it the most often?

Keith Haynes from the Midlands, Avon and Gloucester Swans commented "If you keep saying the name White Rock there is no doubt that it will grow on you. A few of us over this side of the bridge discussed this over a few beers last weekend and we have decided that maybe a more appropriate name would be 'Dave' "

Umm, right Keith!

There are fans that are for this name of the stadium and claim that at least it keeps a link with the area and the history of the new stadium site.

The name came as something of a surprise to me when I first heard it and although I have no massive reservations against the name, I can see why it has not proved the success that maybe the council would have liked.

This is a stadium that will not only carry the Swans into the 21st century but the city as a whole. With both sporting sides playing their matches there and the promise of pop concerts and other events being attracted to the city through it then there is certainly an argument that maybe the stadium should carry the name of Swansea loud and proud to the rest of the country.

I certainly agree that the supporters of both clubs (Football and Rugby) should have a say in the naming of the new stadium although I do appreciate that there will be some commercialism involved in there somewhere (money talks usually)

I would be interested in Councillor Bailey's comments about the large number of fans promoting the name already as it was certainly something that I had not heard 'en masse' before last week's announcement.

Whichever way you look at it, it has generated some great discussion amongst the support and although some of the names have been unworkable I am now trying to imagine 20,000 people heading to watch an FA Cup tie at the Stadium Dave!

WHITE ROCK STADIUM PROJECT STARTS TO ROLL

2003-10-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

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."