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Designed by stadium specialist Populous, Cardiff Arena is being developed by Cardiff Council in partnership with a consortium comprising Live Nation and Robertson Property.

The £300m venue’s interior design is being delivered by Jump Studios, a Populous company. McLaren Construction was appointed as the main contractor earlier this year. The arena is scheduled to open in 2028.

Inspired by Cardiff Bay’s historic role as the centre of the region’s iron trade, the arena’s façade will feature patinated, corrugated panelling, offset by an aluminium soffit in a contrasting matte gold finish.

The south elevation that confronts arriving visitors features extensive glazing, a large LED screen and a distinctive architectural ‘swoop’. Additional glazing on the east and west elevations evokes the rolling hills and valleys of South Wales, the designers say.

The seating bowl has been designed to be compact, minimising the building footprint and placing spectators close to the stage, with optimal sightlines. Unlike most arenas, hospitality seating is not separated from general admission, reducing any sense of disconnect within the crowd.

The arena sits in the middle of Cardiff Council’s proposed masterplan for the development of the Atlantic Wharf area of the city. This includes food and leisure amenities, a new cultural centre, a public square, a four-star hotel, office space, and up to 1,100 new homes.

Populous senior principal Declan Sharkey said: “We are delighted to continue our longstanding relationship with Live Nation on this project to create this new, world-class arena for Cardiff. Live Nation has a truly inspiring vision for the future of the music and entertainment industry, focused on the creation of sustainable venues that are authentic to the communities they sit within, and those values are exemplified within the Cardiff Arena project. Our design will deliver an elite arena that will become the venue of choice for the South Wales region, for both spectators and performers alike. We are extremely excited to see it come to fruition and witness the transformative effect it will have on the surrounding area as part of Cardiff Council’s ambitious masterplan for Atlantic Wharf.”

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