Principality Stadium, after 20 years at 74,500, has a new maximum capacity of 73,931.
The iconic, multi-facility Cardiff venue has permanently reduced its seating for pitch-based events, in order to increase its disabled access by up to 30%.
Building work, costing around £100,000, has been completed to create 46 new wheelchair bays, taking the total number to 214, doubling the Stadium’s offering for ambulant disabled access and providing extra seating (up to 111 seats) for additional carers.
Wales’ Guinness Six Nations meeting with England on Saturday 23rd February, the first event of its 20th Anniversary year – and the first at the new capacity – has sold-out to its rafters, leading Stadium manager Mark Williams to call for fans to arrive at turnstiles as early as possible (Gates open at 1.45pm).
“This is a huge fixture in the Principality Stadium’s sporting calendar, it’s the first game at our new capacity, but also the first time we will host England with our full search procedures in place,” said Williams.
“We are extremely proud of the safety and security measures we employ in Cardiff and we have spent the last two seasons hammering home the message to Wales’ fans that they need to ‘get in early’ to ensure they are in their seats in time for anthems and kick-off.
“But this will be the first time for many England supporters so, even though there may now be a few hundred fewer fans, it is vitally important that they get the message to arrive early and without unnecessary bags so they can be processed through search lines quickly.
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“We will show France’s clash with Scotland in its entirety on Principality Stadium big screens from 2.15pm so there will be plenty to entertain everyone in the build up to the big one.
“And, probably the best incentive of them all, is I know Warren Gatland and the players will want to hear Welsh fans in full voice during their warm-ups, drowning out any opposition favourites!”