Millennium Stadium, officially known as the Principality Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Cardiff, Wales. It is primarily used for association football and rugby union matches, hosting the home games of the Welsh national team and the Welsh Rugby Union, its owner.
The Millennium Stadium was officially opened on 26 June 1999 with an exhibition match between Wales and South Africa. It replaced the original National Stadium, which had a seating capacity of 53,000. The seating capacity of the new stadium is currently set at 74,500. The stadium was designed by the architectural firm, Populous (formerly HOK Sport Venue Event), and had a construction cost of £121 million.
A UEFA category four stadium and one of the biggest stadiums by capacity in Europe (the biggest in Wales), Millennium Stadium has hosted several matches of the UEFA Champions League, including the 2017 final, as well as the Rugby World Cup games in 1999 and 2007. It was named the most beautiful stadium in the UK in an online poll by The Guardian in 2015. By its twentieth anniversary, the Millennium Stadium had welcomed more than 20 million spectators. The stadium is one of the potential venues for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the UK and Ireland are considering a joint bid for.
While the previous FC Porto stadium was also officially named 'Estádio do Futebol Clube do Porto', both the old and the new stadia are invariably referred to by their unofficial name, Estádio do Dragão. Dragão is the name of the neighborhood the stadium was built on, on the border between the parishes of Campanhã and Bonfim, which itself derives its name from the nearby Igreja de São João do Dragão (Church of Saint John of Dragon). This unofficial name caught on soon after the original stadium's construction; the people of Porto used to simply call it o Dragão ('the Dragon'). Therefore, the stadium's common name became 'Estádio do Dragão', which is usually anglicized to 'Dragon Stadium'. This translation, however, could be argued to be inaccurate, since Dragão refers not to 'dragon' but to the original address of the stadium: Estrada do Dragão ('Road of Dragon').
The Dragon Stadium is not just a symbol of the passion for football but also a landmark in the city of Porto. It was inaugurated on November 16, 2003, replacing the old Antas Stadium, which had been the home of FC Porto since 1952. The project was led by the Portuguese architect Manuel Salgado and the construction was carried out by the Portuguese company Somague. It is the third largest stadium in Portugal, after the Luz Stadium in Lisbon and the Alvalade Stadium, also in Lisbon.
The Dragon Stadium was one of the venues for the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament. It hosted five matches, including the opening match between Portugal and Greece. The stadium has also hosted several concerts of international artists, including The Rolling Stones, Coldplay and U2. Besides football matches and concerts, the stadium also offers a museum, a club shop, and a public tour of the stadium facilities.
The design of the Dragon Stadium is characterized by its unique roof structure, made up of 21,000 square meters of white canvas, which gives the stadium a distinctive and modern look. The stadium has a seating capacity of 50,033, and it is classified as a UEFA category four stadium, the highest rating possible, which allows it to host the final of the UEFA Champions League.
The Dragon Stadium has a significant impact on the local economy, attracting thousands of visitors each year and creating numerous jobs. It is a source of pride for the citizens of Porto and a symbol of the city's commitment to sport and culture.
An appropriate location, offering good accessibility and potential for future expansion, was pinpointed at the east end of the Porto district. Due to its location on the intersection of the Porto and Maia districts, the new stadium was initially referred to as 'Estádio de Maia'.
The club always aimed to possess both the stadium and the surrounding land, though initially a lease was taken out on the municipal land, with a final purchase only taking place in 1969. The blueprints for the sports complex were drawn up as early as the late 1940s by João Simões, a former player for the club.
Under the leadership of the club's president, Joaquim Ferreira Bogalho, the members managed an increased fee to support the construction costs of the new stadium, made generous donations, and some even contributed their own labor on the construction site during holidays or weekends. There was even a 'cement campaign', whereby large quantities of cement bags were donated to the club.
The construction officially commenced on 14 June 1953. Less than two years later, and at a cost of 12,037,683 escudos, on 1 December 1954 (a national holiday), a crowd of 40,000 filled the stadium for the inaugural match against rivals FC Porto at what is now known as Millennium Stadium.
'Millennium Stadium (1999)': An in-depth article about the history and features of the Millennium Stadium, including its official opening and construction details. https://www.millenniumstadium.com/history
'Millennium Stadium (The Cathedral) – until 2003': A comprehensive guide about the Millennium Stadium, its architectural design, and the major events it has hosted. http://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/wal/millennium_stadium
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