| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 18:27 - Mar 29 with 5211 views | johnlangy |
This is my initial response to the suggestion from Noel Mooney that the FAW invest in expanding the CC Stadium to 45,000. I’d imagine the cost would be at least 20 million and that’s an absolute bare minimum. It would probably cost far more.
You would expect me to disagree with this idea being a Swans supporter but in reality it’s just plain wrong on so many levels.
The FAW is supposedly there to support the game in the whole of Wales and to come up with ideas to strengthen every part of the structure of the game in the country.
They are talking about possibly doing this to help strengthen the chances of the National team in qualifying for major tournaments. Having a bigger crowd to support the team would be a positive. But the best way of achieving success is to have a better team. And that means better players coming from every part of the country.
We know what a tremendous boost it made to football in South West Wales having the Swans in the PL and the same can be said for Cardiff and now even possibly Wrexham. If all three clubs were able to maintain a solid Champ status with hopefully promotion to the PL now and then that would be the best way of promoting the game around the whole of the country.
When I write elsewhere about investment in Wales I regularly refer to the ‘Rest of Wales’ which is a desert regarding investment while everything goes to Cardiff. This would be exactly the same thing.
This is a quote from Noel Mooney in a Nation Cymru article about football in Wales.
“Kids are wanting to play the sport and you can feel the surge of energy that runs through the country”. Meaning when the team does well.
Someone should tell him that there are ‘kids’ all over the country, not just in Cardiff. Imagine the boost at grass roots level that £20 or 30 million would give.
Cardiff has already had one handout to expand their stadium. The last extension was not paid for by the Club. There was some arrangement which I can’t quite remember details of where the stadium was extended in order for it to be big enough to stage one of the European finals. Perhaps one of you remember where the money came from.
Meanwhile in the ‘Rest of Wales’ Swansea and Wrexham will have to pay up themselves for any ground extension using money that, if they had an extension paid for by others, could possibly be used to strengthen the squad helping to maintain Champ possibly PL status.
Out of interest I checked what Wales games were played at the CCS in 2025. There were six. And one of them was a friendly v Canada. The crowd was 15,000. The other games were against North Macedonia, Bosnia, Belgium, Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan. Other than maybe Belgium would any of the others sell out a 45,000 stadium ? And in 2024 there were just five games. All that investment for four or five games a year ?
It is blindingly obvious that the main beneficiaries here would be CCFC not the national team.
Cardiff’s ground is more than big enough as it is but if it did happen that a game between Wales and perhaps England for example were to come about and they needed to accommodate a bigger crowd someone should point out to him that there does already happen to be a bigger stadium just down the road. |  | | |  |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 19:02 - Mar 29 with 3695 views | Whiterockin |
Bit of a waste for a league one club. They should invest in the ground of the Premier club in Wales and show some ambition. |  | | |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 19:59 - Mar 29 with 3625 views | KeithHaynes |
For those who havent read the feature outs below.
And thanks John, an excellent post. Canada was at Swansea 👍
This post has been edited by an administrator |  |
| |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 20:41 - Mar 29 with 3550 views | JACKMANANDBOY |
The point about grass roots football is a strong one, you need a strong broad base if you want a pyramid to go high. There is a huge amount of risk throwing money at Championship level activity, no point having lots and lots of empty seats. |  |
| |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 20:43 - Mar 29 with 3546 views | KeithHaynes |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 20:41 - Mar 29 by JACKMANANDBOY |
The point about grass roots football is a strong one, you need a strong broad base if you want a pyramid to go high. There is a huge amount of risk throwing money at Championship level activity, no point having lots and lots of empty seats. |
Especially just for ‘big games’ | |
| |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 20:49 - Mar 29 with 3519 views | JACKMANANDBOY |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 20:43 - Mar 29 by KeithHaynes |
Especially just for ‘big games’ |
At £50 a seat, you'd need 20 big games to get to break even. | |
| |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 20:52 - Mar 29 with 3515 views | KeithHaynes |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 20:49 - Mar 29 by JACKMANANDBOY |
At £50 a seat, you'd need 20 big games to get to break even. |
Whether Cardiff do make it to the premier league is a long shot. And that seems to be the caveat. | |
| |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 21:03 - Mar 29 with 3494 views | JACKMANANDBOY |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 20:52 - Mar 29 by KeithHaynes |
Whether Cardiff do make it to the premier league is a long shot. And that seems to be the caveat. |
Yes, the FAW should not really be gambling £20M on top flight football when there is a huge difference to he made to grass roots football, maybe they have been talking to the WRU. | |
| |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 21:42 - Mar 29 with 3468 views | swancity |
It’s best to rise above any perceived Cardiff City preferential treatment from the FAW / Noel Mooney otherwise you get into a “ my father is taller than your father “ childish discussion.
You can see the logic of this. But it’s unlikely to go ahead in the foreseeable future anyway given that Cardiff are only a League One club.
I’d prefer that the bigger Wales games are played at the Principality Stadium using Cardiff and Swansea stadiums for other matches dependent on demand.
As for Noel Mooney, he’s done a superb job. The FAW too are working hard to try to ensure that a lot of money ( eg profit from the last World Cup ) filters down the FAW pyramid system so that clubs at lower levels can benefit from grant funding for ground improvements for instance. | |
| Only an idiot would eat a turkey curry on Christmas day |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 22:20 - Mar 29 with 3429 views | johnlangy |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 19:59 - Mar 29 by KeithHaynes |
For those who havent read the feature outs below.
And thanks John, an excellent post. Canada was at Swansea 👍
This post has been edited by an administrator |
Just making sure everyone's awake Keith .  .
Yes, I should have remembered. As it happens that's an excellent argument for games at the Liberty. 15,000 for a friendly is excellent. | | | |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 22:26 - Mar 29 with 3420 views | johnlangy |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 21:42 - Mar 29 by swancity |
It’s best to rise above any perceived Cardiff City preferential treatment from the FAW / Noel Mooney otherwise you get into a “ my father is taller than your father “ childish discussion.
You can see the logic of this. But it’s unlikely to go ahead in the foreseeable future anyway given that Cardiff are only a League One club.
I’d prefer that the bigger Wales games are played at the Principality Stadium using Cardiff and Swansea stadiums for other matches dependent on demand.
As for Noel Mooney, he’s done a superb job. The FAW too are working hard to try to ensure that a lot of money ( eg profit from the last World Cup ) filters down the FAW pyramid system so that clubs at lower levels can benefit from grant funding for ground improvements for instance. |
I for one see no logic at all.
If Cardiff get to the PL, we (the FAW) pay all that money to extend the CCS. Wales play 4/5 games there each year. Cardiff play 19 PL games a year.
Please tell me who benefits. | | | |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 09:28 - Mar 30 with 3238 views | bennytheblue |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 20:52 - Mar 29 by KeithHaynes |
Whether Cardiff do make it to the premier league is a long shot. And that seems to be the caveat. |
Can’t see us getting back there with Emperor Tan in charge but hey ho you never know. Next season will be interesting that’s for sure, not hearing a dicky bird from him this season has been one of the most refreshing aspects of it. We have a young core of decent players that cost us nothing, can we keep players with obvious talent like Lawlor? Joel colwil? Will he plug off if he gets his £100 million from Nantes this week? Fingers crosssed eh
I’m not sure Wales need a bigger ground anyway, I can’t see us having at better team than 2016 again and it was fine then. The only way we need a bigger ground is if we can get and stay in the PL and become a Brighton, Fulham, Brentford Bournemouth type club that is run very well. We averaged 32000 last time and it wasn’t exactly a great season.
When I first started going to Ninian park crowds were 2/3000, the ground held 30/40000. No one cared. Some if the best days….. |  | | |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 09:49 - Mar 30 with 3218 views | johnlangy |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 09:28 - Mar 30 by bennytheblue |
Can’t see us getting back there with Emperor Tan in charge but hey ho you never know. Next season will be interesting that’s for sure, not hearing a dicky bird from him this season has been one of the most refreshing aspects of it. We have a young core of decent players that cost us nothing, can we keep players with obvious talent like Lawlor? Joel colwil? Will he plug off if he gets his £100 million from Nantes this week? Fingers crosssed eh
I’m not sure Wales need a bigger ground anyway, I can’t see us having at better team than 2016 again and it was fine then. The only way we need a bigger ground is if we can get and stay in the PL and become a Brighton, Fulham, Brentford Bournemouth type club that is run very well. We averaged 32000 last time and it wasn’t exactly a great season.
When I first started going to Ninian park crowds were 2/3000, the ground held 30/40000. No one cared. Some if the best days….. |
Thank you for a reasonable response Benny.
If you get to the PL again and stay then you may well need a bigger ground. But the question is, should we all be paying for it through the FAW ? The answer is a simple no.
The argument that it would benefit the International team when they'd play there just 4 or 5 times a year is ridiculous. | | | |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 10:23 - Mar 30 with 3206 views | bennytheblue |
Sure, we should pay for it if it happens at all.
Would you guys like the liberty expanded? And if so, what to? 28000? What is the next level for example, if it was the east stand, does that add 8000? Or a stand behind the goal, 4000? Are they doable? Obv you have to bear in mind with say 28k it could be half empty most of the time if you were as you are now mid table championship, does that bother ? Or just go for it anyway.
I think the faw would be better off upgrading your ground or Wrexham’s so we have more choice. | | | |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 11:48 - Mar 30 with 3156 views | KeithHaynes |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 10:23 - Mar 30 by bennytheblue |
Sure, we should pay for it if it happens at all.
Would you guys like the liberty expanded? And if so, what to? 28000? What is the next level for example, if it was the east stand, does that add 8000? Or a stand behind the goal, 4000? Are they doable? Obv you have to bear in mind with say 28k it could be half empty most of the time if you were as you are now mid table championship, does that bother ? Or just go for it anyway.
I think the faw would be better off upgrading your ground or Wrexham’s so we have more choice. |
Discussions about all manner of changes for our stadium are underway. The club own the lease now it’s just some issues that were agreed a few years back that need ironing out. | |
| |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 11:55 - Mar 30 with 3144 views | union_jack |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 11:48 - Mar 30 by KeithHaynes |
Discussions about all manner of changes for our stadium are underway. The club own the lease now it’s just some issues that were agreed a few years back that need ironing out. |
I hope they don’t think ‘build it (the ground) and they will come’ because that’s not going to happen and will lessen the atmosphere considerably.
Build it (the team) and they may very well come. |  |
| |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 12:34 - Mar 30 with 3129 views | Whiterockin |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 11:55 - Mar 30 by union_jack |
I hope they don’t think ‘build it (the ground) and they will come’ because that’s not going to happen and will lessen the atmosphere considerably.
Build it (the team) and they may very well come. |
Exactly this. Match day turnover is much smaller that tv revenue, team's with similar or smaller capacity are surviving well in the Premier League, get there then think about expansion. I hope its not the owners just egotistically doing some penis waving. | | | |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 12:55 - Mar 30 with 3114 views | KeithHaynes |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 11:55 - Mar 30 by union_jack |
I hope they don’t think ‘build it (the ground) and they will come’ because that’s not going to happen and will lessen the atmosphere considerably.
Build it (the team) and they may very well come. |
No different to Cardiff, if you aren’t a success then your hardcore 15k or so won’t be added to. | |
| |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 12:56 - Mar 30 with 3113 views | bennytheblue |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 11:55 - Mar 30 by union_jack |
I hope they don’t think ‘build it (the ground) and they will come’ because that’s not going to happen and will lessen the atmosphere considerably.
Build it (the team) and they may very well come. |
And then if you make it possibly close a whole stand for a season in the PL and hope you stay up with possibly a limited home crowd? As for next season, looking at the 3 likely to come down and all the clubs already in the championship, it’s going to be a tough season. Even clubs that struggled last season like hull, Derby and Stoke seem to be well free of the drop, in fact two looking at playoffs. | | | |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 13:07 - Mar 30 with 3106 views | Whiterockin |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 12:56 - Mar 30 by bennytheblue |
And then if you make it possibly close a whole stand for a season in the PL and hope you stay up with possibly a limited home crowd? As for next season, looking at the 3 likely to come down and all the clubs already in the championship, it’s going to be a tough season. Even clubs that struggled last season like hull, Derby and Stoke seem to be well free of the drop, in fact two looking at playoffs. |
I think there would be very limited closure, the old plans were to cantilever over the top. | | | |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 14:09 - Mar 30 with 3050 views | swancity |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 22:26 - Mar 29 by johnlangy |
I for one see no logic at all.
If Cardiff get to the PL, we (the FAW) pay all that money to extend the CCS. Wales play 4/5 games there each year. Cardiff play 19 PL games a year.
Please tell me who benefits. |
“ Please tell me who benefits “
Well clearly both the FAW and Cardiff City would benefit. If they are allowing their ground to be used by Wales then they should benefit. Some money will come from other sources too.
I can’t see a problem. It would make sense but it’s a long way off ( probably ) Anything that can help the Wales team get to World Cup finals is beneficial all round. Right down through the pyramid structure as I’ve said.
It’s easy to slag off someone like Mooney without knowing the full picture. He does a great job. The FAW are in a good healthy position. Football in Wales has over taken rugby. It’s going well. | |
| Only an idiot would eat a turkey curry on Christmas day |
| |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 15:15 - Mar 30 with 2993 views | felixstowe_jack |
Why on earth waste money on a bigger stadium. We already have a far bigger stadium in Cardiff. The National stadium or whatever it is called at the moment can easily host the Big Welsh games. No investment is needed by the Welsh FA just a match by match rental agreement.
We use to regularly play football internationals there until the Welsh team was so poor nobody wanted to watch them.
Cardiff city FC currently struggle to average 18,000 despite being promotion candidates.
If the stadium is good enough to host the English FA Cup Final and EFL play offs, when Wembley was being redeveloped, it is good enough to host Welsh games.
It also has a decent train station and city centre pubs a short walk away. | |
| |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 16:56 - Mar 30 with 2931 views | ReslovenSwan1 |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 15:15 - Mar 30 by felixstowe_jack |
Why on earth waste money on a bigger stadium. We already have a far bigger stadium in Cardiff. The National stadium or whatever it is called at the moment can easily host the Big Welsh games. No investment is needed by the Welsh FA just a match by match rental agreement.
We use to regularly play football internationals there until the Welsh team was so poor nobody wanted to watch them.
Cardiff city FC currently struggle to average 18,000 despite being promotion candidates.
If the stadium is good enough to host the English FA Cup Final and EFL play offs, when Wembley was being redeveloped, it is good enough to host Welsh games.
It also has a decent train station and city centre pubs a short walk away. |
It called the Principality stadium but you knew that right? They are a local successful Building Society. There is a branch in most Welsh towns in the south at least.
One option would be to do some big money moves and buy a 50% share in the Principality for a cool £150-200m. This makes sense to me. If WRU are really in the pits buy 100% at a knocks down price. This would give FAW extra income.
This provides cash for the regions to rumble on for another decade. The doubling of events there from the football would cover the 50% of takings lost form the 6N and Autumn international. |  |
| |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 18:46 - Mar 30 with 2898 views | bennytheblue |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 15:15 - Mar 30 by felixstowe_jack |
Why on earth waste money on a bigger stadium. We already have a far bigger stadium in Cardiff. The National stadium or whatever it is called at the moment can easily host the Big Welsh games. No investment is needed by the Welsh FA just a match by match rental agreement.
We use to regularly play football internationals there until the Welsh team was so poor nobody wanted to watch them.
Cardiff city FC currently struggle to average 18,000 despite being promotion candidates.
If the stadium is good enough to host the English FA Cup Final and EFL play offs, when Wembley was being redeveloped, it is good enough to host Welsh games.
It also has a decent train station and city centre pubs a short walk away. |
Hey we average just shy of 20,000, which isn’t too bad for league 1 surely? A few bigger crowds coming for last 4 home games no doubt, probably 25 plus. Put it this way I didn’t think we’d average 5000 more than you this season, although I did joke about it post relegation….. | | | |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 12:23 - Mar 31 with 2759 views | howenjack |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 18:46 - Mar 30 by bennytheblue |
Hey we average just shy of 20,000, which isn’t too bad for league 1 surely? A few bigger crowds coming for last 4 home games no doubt, probably 25 plus. Put it this way I didn’t think we’d average 5000 more than you this season, although I did joke about it post relegation….. |
I think to some extent we are all missing the elephant in the room .By that I mean the War in Iran. We can look to the future but we have to live in the present first . Not many games left this season but they will surely be affected by the rising costs of petrol/diesel. Some people will simply say I cant afford the travel costs /parking fees on top of ticketing .
Cardiff have a distinct advantage here as their fan base has far better rail provision to access their ground. All clubs will be affected though to a greater or lesser extent.
Its a short turnaround to next season and hopefully the middle east situation will be resolved but who knows ?? Theres talk now of petrol / diesel rationing with essential services like rail , HGV ambulances fire getting priority. Reeves hasnt helped by not reducing costs like other countries have. | | | |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 12:42 - Mar 31 with 2744 views | KeithHaynes |
| Expansion of the CCS to 45,000 on 18:46 - Mar 30 by bennytheblue |
Hey we average just shy of 20,000, which isn’t too bad for league 1 surely? A few bigger crowds coming for last 4 home games no doubt, probably 25 plus. Put it this way I didn’t think we’d average 5000 more than you this season, although I did joke about it post relegation….. |
What is perceived as success brings out all sorts.
The expectation was promotion by a canton mile. | |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.