If the Millennium Stadium has a closed roof why is the pitch in such a state?

Question

If the Millennium Stadium has a closed roof why is the pitch in such a state?

Answer 1

I agree with all they answers above but another reason why it's in a terrible state is the amount of games that have been played on it in the last 3 weeks, it's been used about 7 times for various football and rugby games plus all the teams have at least 1 training session on the surface too. So it's just generalwear and tear.  They replaced the turf straight after the all blacks game

Answer 2

I`m sorry to have too admit too this but we have to graze our sheep somewhere. Other than that it`s got to be th stupid idea of having a pitch grown on pallets. Where is thei sense a good pitch needs good roots and surely that aint goin to happen on 6 inches of turf. A bit of ultraviolet light wont hurt either, I got a couple of plants that thrive in these conditions regardless of how many sheep pass through.

Answer 3

It doesn't get the proper amount of air and light and so is always damp.  I understand that a new ventilation system is to be installed.

Answer 4

The WRU know what the solution is...Big UV Lamps (currently used at twickers)..

Why it is still like this after seven years has to be due to WRU ineptitude.

Answer 5

I'm suprised we haven't had a load of answers from our Welsh colleagues here.

There are a number of reasons. As your first respondent has said there is not enough air circulation, however this is not the major reason or cause, although it is a factor.

When the project was originally conceived, the idea was that the pitch would be grown on a large number of pallets. It was also planned that there would be more than one pitch, the idea being that as one pitch became worn, the pallets making it up would be removed and new pitch installed that had been growing outside for some months in natural conditions. The worn pitch would then be taken away and allowed to recover in natural conditions, so that it could be used again at a later date.

This was a good idea apart from two things which had been overlooked. The first was the difficulty of ensuring that all the pallets of turf were at the same height and level, when installed, to provide an even playing surface and the second was the length of time it would take for the turf at the edge of the pallets to knit together with the ajoining pallets of turf. This was never resolved and resulted in the pitch being relaid in situ inside the stadium to overcome the uneveness issue.

Again a good idea as long as growing conditions inside the stadium are adequate. A further two problems here. The roof, when open, only uncovers the pitch area. This means that only when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, around midday for two and a half hours, does it shine onto the playing area. Not the best conditions for an ideal grass growing environment. The second point is that due to a dispute with Cardiff RFC, a piece of land that was going to be part of the stadium was unable to be purchased. This meant that although the original intention had been to have the pitch aligned East to West, therby allowing maximum sunlight into the stadium down its length, it had to be aligned North South, meaning that the only the narrowest width of the roof was available to admit sunlight. Then, as stated previously, there is not enough air circulation to allow the pitch to dry properly.

I have been to the stadium many times and the problems with the pitch are a shame because it is a magnificent stadium.

Don't get me started on what is wrong with the bars! Suffice to say that the stadium authorities boast they can pour/serve approximately 70,000 pints an hour. All very well, however assuming the crowd is 70,000, of which 20,000 at least are going to be male of drinking age, this does not compute in terms of a fifteen minute half time break, with 20,000 trying to get at least two pints down their necks.