Eirias Stadium, known for sponsorship reasons as Stadiwm Zip World, is a rugby union stadium that is part of the outdoor complex of the Eirias Events Centre in Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, Wales. It is home to the Principality Premiership team, RGC 1404. The stadium had been used for sporting events, until its redevelopment in 2011, where it now can host international televised events.
History
In the early 1950s the Council developed a sports arena and running track on land which had been used for 350 allotments during the Second World War. The arena was officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant, Colonel J. C. Wynne Finch in June 1955. Prior to 2011, it had been used for various community sporting events and in 1987 improvements saw a new synthetic running track, terracing and a new all seated grandstand built. Colwyn Bay F.C. had played on three different grounds at Eirias Park during their history. The Arena was a temporary home during the early 1980s prior to the club's move to their present Llanelian Road home ground. The Seagulls faced Liverpool's reserve side, which included future England international Jamie Carragher, in a pre-season friendly at the Stadium in August 1995 in a game which finished 1-1. The Stadium has hosted Wales youth football internationals over the years, including Wales Under-16s' friendly match against Poland in 2012 which featured future Welsh senior internationals Harry Wilson, Daniel James and Joe Morrell In 2008 the park had been identified by the Welsh Rugby Union as a venue for the newly founded rugby union team RGC 1404. The team was initially planning to join the Welsh Premiership, with an eventual goal of becoming the fifth Welsh rugby region, for domestic and European tournaments. In light of this, the park was in need of a number of improvements to reach international standard and so that it could be officially considered a stadium. In January 2010, the proposed redevelopment was approved by the local council, with work starting later that year. The new £6.5 million stadium opened in 2011, featuring a 'Grade A' rugby and football pitch which is to international standard, as well as a 'Grade A' Athletics Track. The stadium now has the potential to host events for up to 15,000 spectators. However its common use for football and rugby, means it normally holds up to 6,080 though the 2,580 capacity grand stand and terracing for a further 3,500. The installment of floodlights and team changing facilities, means the stadium has the capability to broaden their events to other sporting activities and night time kick offs. Colwyn Bay F.C. were linked with a return to Eirias Stadium in 2011 because of Conference ground regulations and then manager Dave Challinor was impressed with the facilities but the club remained at Llanelian Road. Since the stadiums reopening, they have hosted numerous international events from sport and music. Sporting wise, the stadium is now official home to RGC 1404 and the Wales U20's rugby union team. The International Rugby Board has recognized the standard of the stadium, and in 2012 the stadium was host to a number of Test matches featuring Canada, Russia, Samoa, Tonga and the United States. In 2013, the IRB again chose Eirias Stadium as a venue to host an International fixture, with Japan winning 40–13 against Russia. The opening ceremony of the 2014 Wales Rally GB was held at Eirias Stadium. Since 2012 all Wales' home under-20s games in the Six Nations. Wales held a training camp at Eirias Stadium ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. A Wales side beat RGC 1404 88–19 in a warm-up game ahead of the 2017 summer tour. Wales' final game of the 2020 Six Nations Under 20s Championship against Scotland on 13 March 2020 was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
