Principality Stadium
If there is one thing you can say about the Welsh, it is that they are passionate about their rugby. Even during the rather difficult run the Welsh team is currently enduring, the supporters continue to turn up and make an international match at the Principality Stadium a very special occasion.
The stadium itself has a huge advantage over many modern stadia: it is slap bang in the centre of Cardiff. You can walk out of the station and almost straight into the stadium, while the city centre's pubs, restaurants and shops are all on the doorstep. For a day out, it is difficult to beat.
Of course, that is also its biggest disadvantage.
On a big international match day Cardiff city centre effectively grinds to a halt. Roads are closed, thousands of people descend on the city and the railway station becomes absolutely packed. Getting into Cardiff isn't usually the problem; getting out after the match can be a different matter altogether. Thousands of supporters all trying to use the station at roughly the same time makes for a fairly unpleasant experience, so if you aren't in a hurry, finding a pub and letting the crowds disperse isn't a bad strategy.
The stadium itself is impressive, but it has one rather quirky feature: the leg room varies enormously depending on where you are sitting. In some areas there is perfectly adequate space, while in others your knees seem to be somewhere underneath your chin. Some of the seating is also extremely steep, which isn't ideal if you suffer from vertigo. Look down from the wrong place and you may find your head wobbling.There is an alcohol-free section, which is useful for those, like me, who want to avoid the drinking culture, although unfortunately it isn't necessarily located in the best parts of the stadium.
Food and drink prices are also worth mentioning. The Principality isn't exactly cheap, but compared with some of the other Six Nations venues, it is reasonably priced. You also have the enormous advantage of Cardiff itself being immediately outside the doors, so there is no shortage of alternatives if you prefer to eat and drink before or after the game.
But the real reason you come to the Principality is the atmosphere.
It is excellent at any big international, but becomes something else entirely when the roof is closed. The sound is trapped inside the stadium and when the Welsh supporters start singing the anthems, the noise is absolutely enormous. You don't have to be Welsh to appreciate what is happening around you.
The build-up to the game is also particularly good. Rather than simply opening the gates and waiting for kick-off, there are choirs, bands and plenty going on before the match, gradually building the anticipation. By the time the teams emerge, the crowd is already well and truly warmed up.And that is what makes an international at the Principality different from simply going to watch a rugby match. The match is only part of the experience. The city, the supporters, the music, the singing and that enormous roof all combine to create something unique.
The stadium has its faults, particularly the wildly varying leg room and some decidedly vertigo-inducing seats, while the location can make travelling home something of an ordeal. But these are minor irritations compared with the atmosphere generated inside.
Even when Welsh rugby isn't having its best period, the supporters haven't lost their enthusiasm. And perhaps that is the most impressive thing about the Principality.
Old Moaner verdict: A superb rugby stadium in a superb rugby city. The central location is both its greatest asset and its biggest problem, but close that roof, add a few thousand passionate Welsh supporters and the atmosphere is something very special. And at least they don't charge quite as much as some of their Six Nations rivals.
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