A Look Back to Parc y Scarlets’ Offical Opening in 2009

It was exactly nine years ago on Saturday, 31st January 2009 that Parc y Scarlets marked it’s official opening with an historic match against the Barbarians that saw the home team notch up a 40 points to 24 victory.
Replacing the much-loved Stradey Park that was the home of rugby in Llanelli for almost 130 years, the Scarlets played an emotional final game on the hallowed turf of Stradey on 24th October 2008 before making the move across town.
The sixth largest stadium in Wales was designed by a specialist sports stadium architect firm, The Miller Partnership who boast Murrayfield as one of their other designs, and was built by Andrew Scott Limited at a cost of around £23,000,000.
Originally named ‘Pemberton Stadium’, it was officially named as ‘Parc y Scarlets’ on May 20th 2008.
The club shop, museum, ticket office, café, gym, changing rooms, function lounges and fifteen hospitality boxes are all housed in the South Stand of the stadium which is accessed by The Ray Gravell Legend Walkway with bricks representing every Llanelli RFC and Scarlets player to have been capped by Wales, along with those of supporters who have purchased into the scheme. These bricks surround the statue of the great man himself that was sculpted by David Williams-Ellis.
Included in the stadium design, as a special request from the Scarlets Supporter Trust was a terraced area in front of the North Stand that can hold up to 1,780 fans, this was almost unheard of in the building of new stadiums.
The South Stand has a capacity of 5,748, the North a capacity of 4,402 and both the East and West Stands can seat 2,095 supporters each.
As well as under-soil heating and top of the range drainage, the original pitch at Parc y Scarlets was the first in the UK that used fibre elastic reinforcing technology combined with 100% natural grass.
A crowd of just 4,000 attended the first ever match held at Parc y Scarlets on 15th November 2008 that saw Llanelli RFC secure a 32 points to 3 win over visitors, Cardiff RFC. 22 points came from the boot of Rhys Priestland, who managed a full house – five penalties, a drop goal and two conversions. Despite this match not being the official opening, Chairman, Huw Evans opened proceedings before Club Chaplain, Rev. Eldon Phillips scattered some hallowed Stradey Park soil onto the new playing surface before the start of the match.
A young Simon Gardiner, currently enjoying a second stint at Parc y Scarlets, can claim a very important place in history, as, along with Prop, John Davies, he scored a try in that historic fixture…in the 86th minute!
The Scarlets’ first match at their new home was on 28th November 2008, with a capacity of 9,000 for the visit of Munster before the capacity was increased to 11,000 on 12th December 2008 for the visit of Ulster in the then Heinekin Cup prior to the official opening and full capacity of 14,870 the following January.
The restricted capacity was due to laws that state that a stadium had to hold three events at restricted capacity before it could receive authorisation for it’s full capacity.
The official opening saw Parc y Scarlets record it’s first sell-out, a feat which has unfortunately only happened a handful of times since.
Fittingly, pre-match one of the Scarlets’ iconic anthems, ‘Yma o Hyd’ was sung by none other than Dafydd Iwan himself, before the then First Minister, Rhodri Morgan performed the official opening.
On the pitch, at Centre was a certain Jonathan Davies, with Ken Owens coming off the bench at Hooker. Despite being without their Internationals, the Scarlets team featured a number of former Scarlet favourites, including Morgan Stoddart, Iestyn Thomas, Deacon Manu, Phil John, Josh Turnbull and Simon Easterby.
Full Back, Morgan Stoddart’s attacking prowess shone through as Coach Nigel Davies’ team dominated the visitors, particularly in the first half. Tries from Wing Matthew Jacobs, Jonathan Davies and a brace from Stoddart saw the home team boast a 26 point to 5 lead at half time.
Scrum Half Martin Roberts and Centre Gavin Evans added to the Scarlets’ six try haul in response to the Baa-Baa’s four during the second half.
Following the victory, Captain, Simon Easterby was presented with the Carwyn James Memorial Trophy.
During the design and construction of Parc y Scarlets, there was scope to extend the capacity to 15,180 with the placing of a temporary stand in front of the East stand for bigger games, and to date this has never been required….until now……