Wales consider different venues

August 25, 2009

Wales are considering switching their remaining qualifying games for the 2010 World Cup away form the Millennium Stadium as dwindling crowds have resulted in a lack of atmosphere.

During qualification for Euro 2004 Wales were the best supported nation with crowds of over 70,000 but since then there has only been one attendance over 30,000.

Wales narrowly missed out to Russia in qualification for Euro 2004 and since have been going through a transition with a lot of players such as Gary Speed, Ryan Giggs, Robbie Savage, Mark Delaney, John Hartson, Andy Melville and Mark Pembridge retiring from international football. This has resulted in a transition period for Wales where they are bringing in a lot of young players to fill these positions.

“We aren’t generating anything,” Bellamy said.

“What a nice place it is to come and play at the moment. Opposition teams must be very comfortable here.

“You come to a nice city, a very good stadium. No pressure. No atmosphere.”

So moving some qualifiers away from the Millennium Stadium is to be on the agenda for the FAW’s next International Committee meeting.

The Welsh FA are to end their Millennium Stadium qualifying season ticket initiative at the end of this campaign as the association considers taking Wales’ qualifiers on tour.

Wales will continue to play big box office opposition at the 74,000-capacity Millennium Stadium - Europe’s 13th biggest sporting arena - if the Welsh are drawn against nations such as Germany, Italy and England.

But the FAW hope the smaller grounds will create a more intense atmosphere to spur on Toshack’s Wales when they face less attractive opposition.

Wales will then play the second tier European nations at the recently-opened £50m Cardiff City Stadium, which has a capacity of 26,500, while Swansea’s 20,500-capacity Liberty Stadium will also be considered to host qualifiers.

Llanelli’s 15,000-capacity Parc y Scarlets is the only other ground in Wales that meets Uefa’s qualifying stadium criteria for competitive games but Wrexham’s Racecourse ground will be considered once it is redeveloped to meet Uefa standards.

So Wales’ final home 2010 World Cup qualifier against Russia on Wednesday, 9 September is to be their last guaranteed qualifier at the Millennium Stadium.

Wales used to play qualifiers at the old Ninian Park, the old Vetch Field and at the Racecourse before the FAW decided to make the most of the potential capacity of the Millennium Stadium in 2000.

The Welsh FA do not have to tell Uefa where they are to host their qualifying matches until 60 days before each fixture.

The Uefa 2012 European Championships qualifying draw will take place in Warsaw on 7 February.

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