How long does the millennium stadium roof take to close? London Olympics 2012 Venues - The Millennium Stadium | Olympics News Boxing title fights come to the venue in the form of Lennox Lewis v Frank Bruno in 1993 It is also the second-largest stadium in the world with a fully retractable roof and was the second stadium in Europe to have this feature. Many feel the closed roof enhances the atmosphere - and Wales feel there is definitely some gamesmanship involved with his late decision. The clean-up operation was seen by the then Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine as an investment that would add a large area of useful land to the crowded capital. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. During the 12 months it was open there were approximately 6.5 million visitors[26] significantly fewer than the approximately 10 million paying visitors that attended the Festival of Britain, which only ran from May to September. Mentions of robotics decreased by 70% in the construction industry in Q3 2022, Whos saying what? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 14 November 2000: Michael Heseltine (MP for Henley), the Dome's original political supporter, states "I have seen the inside story, and of course, with hindsight, all of us would do it differently". October 20, 2021. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A large section of the fabric roof of the building in. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The stadium user accommodation is divided into six levels, which include food and drinks, a sports museum, childcare facilities, shops and toilets. Before its opening, the Dome was excoriated in Iain Sinclair's diatribe, Sorry Meniscus Excursions to the Millennium Dome (Profile Books: London 1999, .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}ISBN1-86197-179-6), which forecast the hype, the associated political posturing, and the eventual disillusion. It also takes about 20 minutes for the roof to open or close. Wales Vs Australia: Who Will Win The 2020 Rugby Championship? Cardiff beat South Africa New Years Day 1907 Ireland insist Millennium Stadium roof stays open Watch the most expensive roof in the history of stadium roofs open the way it was designed to! The stadium is owned by Millennium Stadium Plc, which is a subsidiary of Welsh Rugby Union and the Cardiff County Council, was designed by Bligh Lobb Sports Architecture (now known as Populous). The speed of the winches is monitored by shaftmounted encoders, which are also used for alignment control and to initiate misalignment alarms. During the 2012 Summer Olympics, the artistic gymnastics events, along with the medal rounds of basketball, were held at The O2. Does the Millennium Stadium roof close? [30] Shortly after it had closed, Lord Falconer reported that The Dome was costing over 1million per month to maintain. The leading site for news and procurement in the construction industry, "The open retractable roof is perhaps the most significant feature of the stadium, and it is the largest and first of its kind in the United Kingdom. The Millennium Stadium ( Welsh: Stadiwm y Mileniwm ), known since 2016 as the Principality Stadium ( Welsh: Stadiwm Principality) for sponsorship reasons, is the national stadium of Wales. An age in which all things, like the Dome itself, became disposable. In a 2005 report, the cost of the Dome and surrounding land (which increased to 170 acres from the initial offering of the 48 acres enclosed by the Dome) and managing the Dome until the deal was closed was 28.7 million. Closing the roof requires the say-so of both sides, and with so much riding on the match . In the event, installing the new hardware and software, and the commissioning process took less than five days, in spite of the winch houses and the control room being separated by a very long walk. How long does it take to close the Millennium stadium roof? Each seating block has rows that are numbered in ascending order starting from the lower block. The Millennium usurped two rugby venues: Cardiff Arms Park still stands next door. The Millennium Stadium - Cardiff. England coach haslanded the first psychological blow by getting involved with stadium infrastructurefor rugby showdown. Aussie Jones had indicated throughout the week that he was not fussed either way - but minutes before the 48-hour deadline when the preference has to be declared, he said the roof must remain open. Wales' Principality Stadium roof staying open for Six Nations 'to A suggestion was also made that the entire Dome be relocated to Swindon to serve as a research centre and extension of the Science Museum; this proposal only came to light when released by The National Archives in 2022.[38]. In 1995, the Welsh Rugby Union won the right to host the 1999 Rugby World Cup against severe competition from rival bids from the Southern Hemisphere. Why is the roof open in the Millennium Stadium? There were a number of other attractions both in and outside of The Dome. So that will apply to the fixtures against the All Blacks, South Africa, Fiji and Australia. It has also hosted six FA Cup . Mentions of social responsibility decreased by 35% in the construction industry in Q3 2022, How smart technology is making cities more sustainable, How weathering steel makes transport systems and construction projects greener, Preventing non-roadway collision fatalities: Technology and training with the safety experts, European Investment Bank (EIB) Headquarters Expansion, Kirchberg, Luxembourg, Te Kaha Multi-Use Arena, Christchurch, New Zealand, 10 Key Construction Markets to Watch in 2023, Whos saying what? Liberty Stadium Swansea. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The stadium features a fully retractable roof which takes about 20 minutes to close and is the only one of its kind in Britain. Therefore a retractable roof was incorporated into the design brief. [4] It has become one of the United Kingdom's most recognisable landmarks, and can be easily identified on satellite images of London. Crazy Stadium Roofs Are Now a Thing. Here Are the Craziest It closed in 2014. The all-seater stadium has the capacity for 74,500 supporters and features a retractable roof, only the second stadium of its type in Europe, and the largest football stadium in the world with this feature, by capacity. From 1989, Cardiff Arms Park becomes home to Waless soccer stars, The National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park wholly reconstructed during the 1970s The only potential source of funding at the time was the National Lottery, set up in 1994, as one of eight major UK projects of the Millennium Commission. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". DOC S1 : Stadium Roof Design - Design Decisions INNOVATION. Touring the world with friends one mile and pub at a time; southlake carroll basketball. A surplus of 25 million over costs meant that the full lottery grant was not required. December 1996: Government decides to support the project with public money after being unable to raise private capital. The interior space was subdivided into 14 zones (with the lead designers of the zones): Surrounded by the zones was a performance area in the centre of the dome. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. How long does it take for the Principality stadium roof to close? Principality Stadium One included adding a third tier to the existing Stadium, another suggested moving to a completely new site. Built on the site of the old Cardiff Arms Park, the Millennium Stadium as it was then called was completed in October 1999, at a cost of 130 million. How much does it cost to open the principality stadium roof? The main contractor of the project was Laing Civil Engineering, while WS Atkins was the structural engineer. However, re-writing was only a minor task as the functions of these units are straightforward and, apart from addressing, the software in each of the four units is identical. As reported by the Daily Mail, the roof will be kept open to minimise the spread of Covid-19. The engineering magazine New Civil Engineer has discovered the process will now take 56 minutes and 30 seconds - and recommends that the roof is shut only when the stadium is empty. model or even a full size prototype roof section or. Englands record is significantly better when the roof is open. After competition from the proposed Cardiff Bay Opera House in March 1996 the Millennium Commission agreed to support the redevelopment of the Cardiff Arms Park site by turning the Stadium through 90 degrees, developing over the existing TAVRA and BT sites, and demolishing the Empire Pool on the corner of Wood and Park streets to create an open plaza guaranteeing safe access and entrance for attending spectators. Millennium Minneapolis has several floors of dedicated event venues including three ballrooms, banquet seating for as many as 370 guests, and the popular dome with unparalleled view of the city. The Millennium Stadium, known since 2016 as the Principality Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is the national stadium of Wales. The value of the 48 acres occupied by the Dome was estimated at 48 million, which could have been realised by demolishing the structure, but it was considered preferable to preserve the Dome. ", "The stadium user accommodation is divided into six levels, which include food and drinks, a sports museum, childcare facilities, shops and toilets.". The exhibition was open to the public from 1 January to 31 December 2000. In December 2001, it was announced that Meridian Delta Ltd had been chosen by the government to develop the Dome as a sports and entertainment centre, and to develop housing, shops and offices on 150 acres (0.61km2) of surrounding land. Images and videos of the London landmark's increasingly sorry state have been circling online as Storm Eunice's 160km/h force continues to ravage its fabric covering. [21]) Outside was the Millennium Map (thirteen metres; 43' high), the Childhood Cube, Looking Around (a hidden installation), Greenwich Pavilion, the Hanging Gardens at the front of the Dome, as well as a number of other art installations and sculptures. This redevelopment was undertaken by the dome's new owners, the Anschutz Entertainment Group, to a design by HOK SVE and Buro Happold. It was during those six years that the roof almost failed the team. 1 January 2000: Dome structure opens to public as the Millennium Dome containing an exhibition to celebrate the third millennium. The speed of the winches is monitored by shaftmounted encoders, which are also used for alignment control and to initiate misalignment alarms. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Robotics in Construction Filings Trends Q3 2022, Whos saying what? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. jezebel spirit scriptures; The total construction cost of the stadium was 121 million, of which the Millennium Commission funded 46 million.Millennium Stadium. The stadium is divided into four stands, known as the North, East (Westgate Street), West and South stands. (women's football), Cardiff Corinthians (Welsh football league), Cardiff Metropolitan University F.C. The Welsh Golden Era John Dawes, Gareth Edwards, Barry John, Mervyn Davies, Gerald Davies, JPR Williams and Phil Bennett are superstars, Keith Jarretts arrival on the international scene when he scored one of the most audacious and spectacular tries witnessed at Cardiff in 1967, First Grand Slam victory by Wales for 39 years in 1950 This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. New safety regulations would mean that the capacity would be further reduced by all-seater arrangements. The event, which featured a large funfair, ice rink, and other attractions, culminated in a laser and firework display on New Year's Eve. Wales v England: stadium roof to be closed for Six Nations decider Teams agree to shut roof following heavy rain Wales need to win by seven points to retain title The Millennium Stadium. 1 Why is the roof open in the Millennium Stadium? The initial projected figure was twelve million. [31], Following closure of the Dome, some Zones were dismantled by the sponsoring organisations, but much of the content was auctioned. The atmosphere is relatively intimate, the noise enhanced seemingly tenfold should the roof ever be closed. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. As early as 1994 a group redevelopment committee was set up to look at redeveloping the Wales National Stadium and linking the redevelopment to the regeneration of West Cardiff. What more cynical monument can there be for this totalitarian cocksure fragile age than a vast temporary plastic bowl, erected from the aggregate contribution of the poor through the National Lottery. The all-seat stadium is owned by the Football Association (FA) and operated by its subsidiary Wembley National Stadium Ltd (WNSL). Due to Covid considerations, in terms of reducing the risk of transmission of the virus amid a 70,000-plus crowd, the autumn games will all be played in the open air. It was called the Stouffer's Riverfront Inn, the Regal Riverfront Hotel and the Clarion . [28], The Dome was, however, still of interest to the press, the government's difficulties in selling it being the subject of much critical comment. It is designed to host rugby and soccer matches, as well as adapting for use as a concert and entertainment venue. The Millennium Stadium was built at a cost of $194.7m. 23 December 1998: Peter Mandelson resigns from government after a financial scandal. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The Millennium Hotel St. Louis was first constructed in 1968 with an addition in 1978. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. New Zealand lose twice in 1953 but have beaten Wales there ever time since 1951 Millennium Dome roof shredded as Storm Eunice rips through the UK The Millennium Stadium redevelopment option eventually chosen and supported by the Millennium Commission became the fourth redevelopment in the history of the Cardiff Arms Park site. It is the home stadium of the Wales National Rugby Union Team. Millennium Stadium - Away Grounds The stadium's fully retractable roof can be opened in 20 minutes and is being held up by four 90-metre high masts -the two roof sections weigh a staggering 560 tonnes. Cardiff's Millennium Stadium has a 78,000 capacity. The retractable roof was constructed by Kelsey Roofing Industries, with Cimolai of Italy providing the stand frames and roof components and Freyssinet designing the roofs stay cable systems. Redevelopment begins for the Millennium Stadium in September 1997 after auctioning of parts of the old National Stadium, Great XVs from New Zealand, South Africa and Australia still draw big crowds South stand opens in 1956 ready for the 1958 Empire Games with standing room for another 47,000 spectators, Teddy Morgans solitary try in December 1905 inflicted defeat upon the first All Blacks For the large HMI panel, the situation was complicated by password protection on data files used by the original software. It does not store any personal data. A piece by Gavin Turk was sold for far below his then auction price, though Turk stated that he did not think the piece had worked. millennium stadium roof closing - fundaciongeiser.org It is also the second-largest stadium in the world with a fully retractable roof and was the second stadium in Europe to have this feature. The match will be shown live on BBC One with build-up from 4.15pm, while BBC Five Live Sports Extra will provide coverage on the radio? Ft (1,858 Sqm) of event space, designed to engage the attendees, Millennium Hotel Minneapolis is an ideal venue for social and corporate events. View our online Press Pack. Six Nations: Millennium Stadium roof to be closed for title decider. 4. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. It was decided that the new Stadium should have a roof to accommodate a requirement for multi-usage and also a natural grass pitch for rugby. The high-tech Millennium Dome in London, which was designed by British architect Richard Rogers, has been severely damaged in Storm Eunice. This announcement, which presaged a major redevelopment of the site that retained little beyond the shell of the dome, gave publicity to the dome's transition into an entertainment district including an indoor arena, a music club, a cinema, an exhibition space and bars and restaurants. [4] Although referred to as a dome it is "not a dome in the structural sense [] In this building, a dome-shaped cable network is supported on a ring of [] masts". Principality Stadium | Facts and Figures Listed as a category four stadium by UEFA, the stadium was chosen as the venue for the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final, which took place on 3 June 2017. Its roof panels can be closed over the spectator and pitch areas in less than 20 minutes, transforming the stadium into a weather-tight arena. Capacity Volume Facilities Construction Roof Pitch Fittings Electrical & Mechanical Sound Address Safety Sign-up for ticket alerts & event updates! How long does it take to close the roof of the Millennium Stadium? Millennium Stadium - WikiMili, The Best Wikipedia Reader Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. This included a number of artworks specially commissioned from contemporary British artists. 10 things you didn't know about the Millennium Stadium Located in Cardiff, it is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and has also held Wales national football . New North Stand is opened but wrecked by a land mine dropped by the Luftwaffe in 1941, Lord Bute donates the Park to the people of Cardiff Criteria that the Millennium Stadium had to meet in order to qualify for funding were: Public support The roof opening and closing operations are driven by eight hydraulic winches, each of which is equipped with proportional valves to provide speed control. The new Wembley Stadium opened to the public on 9 March 2007. Hoteliers the world over are setting the industry trend with their unusual design concepts. Browse 83,950 millennium stadium stock photos and images available, or search for cardiff millennium stadium to find more great stock photos and pictures. Schneider Electric, Services & Projects, was invited to submit proposals for a new and more versatile control system that would also provide a high level of future proofing. Fortunately, the Magelis programming tools made it possible to address these issues. Principality Stadium - Populous Cardiff Arms Park hosts concerts including Tina Turner For sponsorship reasons, during those times the arena was temporarily renamed the North Greenwich Arena. How much did the Millennium Stadium cost? millennium stadium roof closing. The project and exhibition were highly political and attracted barely half of the 12 million customers its sponsors forecasted, and so were deemed a failure by the press. Millennium Stadium roof to remain open for RBS 6 Nations opener Principality Stadium: A roof debate lasting 20 years - BBC News Cardiff Rugby Club is formed in 1876 cost of close to 121 . [23][24][not specific enough to verify], Bob Marshall-Andrews MP, Sunday Times 1 February 1998, The project was largely reported by the press to have been a failure. Millennium Stadium, Wales - World Construction Network As a preliminary step, the requirements of the application were analysed. Millennium Stadium | The Matchday Man Image courtesy of Alan. The Welsh Rugby Union decided to raise the remainder of the 114m budget from commercial sources. pentecostal assemblies of the world ordination; how to start a cna school in illinois The fully retractable roof at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is one of the venues best known features. However some stadiums, such as the Millennium stadium in Cardiff, have retractable roofs allowing it to function in all season and weathers, hosting a range of activities from conventions to opera and major cultural festivals. . Situated upon River Taft is the enormous and magnificent Millennium Stadium. How many stadiums have retractable roofs? The cladding consists of aluminium sheets covered with a layer of plaster, forming an interlocking system. Its exterior is reminiscent of the Dome of Discovery built for the Festival of Britain in 1951. Wales' first home game of the Six Nations is this Saturday against Scotland before France and Italy visit in March. [15] In the words of BBC correspondent Robert Orchard, "the Dome was to be highlighted as a glittering New Labour achievement in the next election manifesto", but criticised in the 2001 Conservative Party manifesto as "banal, anonymous and rootless", and lacking "a sense of Britain's history or culture". List of stadiums in Wales by capacity. There were no spectator facilities in the old Stadium other than toilets. It is well signposted in and around the centre of Cardiff. Its roof panels can be closed over the spectator and pitch areas in less than 20 minutes, transforming the stadium into a weather-tight arena. The purlins form the second supporting layer, while a 120m Kal-Deck aluminium tray, which is perforated for acoustic purposes, forms the diaphragm on which the fixed roof is placed. The critic Jonathan Meades has scathingly referred to the Millennium Dome as a "Museum of Toxic Waste",[13] and apart from the dome itself, the project included the reclamation of the entire Greenwich Peninsula. Does Cardiff Millennium Stadium have a roof? Principality Stadium | Cardiff | Football Ground Guide Schneider proposed a solution based on the Unity programmable controller, accompanied by one 15- inch XBTGT HMI unit for the main display and controls, plus four smaller auxiliary XBTGT HMI units, one of which would be mounted in each of the four winch houses. Second was the London Eye; third was Alton Towers, which had been first in 1999. Despite the spin, it remains a massive pantheon to the human ego, the Ozymandias of its time. Why is the roof open in the Millennium Stadium? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Sporting the first fully-retractable roof in the UK, the venue is at the leading edge as a multi-purpose, multi-faceted event venue. Is the Principality Stadium covered? - Daily Justnow It was initiated to house an exhibition for the approach of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium ce (the official start of which was January 1, 2001). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The fixed roof placed underneath the retractable roof comprises galvanised steel purlins that surround the entire perimeter. The new venue becomes a giant concert arena for a New Years Eve Millennium extravaganza as the Manic Street Preachers see in revellers with a Manic Millennium under the Stadiums now infamous sliding roof, France defeat Wales in the opening Six Nations match to be played at the venue in February 2000, The Millennium Stadium hosts its first FAW International Football matches in the summer of 2000, Jari Litmanen of Finland scores the first goal at the venue, with Ryan Giggs providing the first Welsh goal in a 2-1 friendly defeat for Wales, The Motor Show in July 2000 sees the Millennium Stadium host its first exhibition on the bowls surface, The World Cup returns to the Millennium Stadium in November 2000 only this time of the Rugby League variety as Wales host New Zealand in a pool match, The Football League Cup Final, LDV Vans Trophy, FA Cup Final and FA Community Shield come to the Stadium in 2001; Liverpool beat Birmingham on penalties in February in the Worthington Cup Final, the first of the English football showpiece matches to be staged, The FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Liverpool follows in May as the first FA Cup Final to be played in Cardiff, and confirming its status as a World Class venue the Stadium achieves a 5 Star UEFA rating, the Football League play-offs follow for the first time in June, Millennium Stadium reduces the rugby code by eight players to stage the Wales leg of the IRB Sevens Series in June 2001, British Speedway brings motorsport to the Millennium Stadiums multi-purpose capabilities also in June 2001 by staging the Grand Prix, The FA Community Shield of 2001 between Manchester United and Liverpool becomes the first football match played under a closed roof in the UK, Wales and Australia play the worlds first indoor rugby match when the roof is closed for their Autumn international clash in November 2001, Leicester and Munster contest the first Heineken Cup Final to be played at the Millennium Stadium in May 2002, Munster lose to Leicester but return victorious in two further Millennium Stadium finals against Biarritz Olympique in 2006 and Toulouse in 2008, The worlds first indoor cricket match is played as Britain take on a Rest of the World team in Power Cricket, Munster return to the Millennium Stadium to win the second Celtic League Final against Neath in February 2003, The Rugby League Challenge Cup Final is hosted for the first time in April 2003, Bradford Bulls defeat Leeds Rhinos, Manchester City and Kevin Keegan take on TNS as a UEFA Cup qualification play-off match is staged at the venue in August 2003, The Stadium hosts its first competitive Football International play-off match in November 2003 between Wales and Russia for the following summers UEFA Euro 2004 tournament, New Years Eve 2003, the venue becomes a giant dance floor for its first Stadium School Party Night, Millennium Stadiums football pedigree continues to grow with a continental friendly between Barcelona and Parma in August 2004; Ronaldinho (later 2004 FIFA Player of nthe Year), Henrik Larsson, Luis Garcia and Andrs Iniesta are amongst the Catalan talent on display, In January 2005 Tsunami Relief Cardiff sees the Millennium Stadium put on a marathon Live Aid-style music extravaganza to raise money for the victims of the disaster, Wales celebrates its first Grand Slam in 27 years when defeating Ireland in the final match of the 2005 seasons RBS Six Nations, the feat is repeated in 2008 when Wales defeat France, also in the final match of the tournament, The British & Irish Lions play their first home match at the venue in 2005 drawing with Argentina as a farewell to the fans before departing for their tour of New Zealand, A new partition-drape system allows Millennium Stadium to host an arena-style concert with REM in the summer of 2005, Developing the motorsport fuctionality of the Millennium Stadium on the back of Speedway and Supercross a Millennium Stadium stage of Wales Rally GB in the World Rally Championships takes place in December 2005; the venue also hosts the finish that year, The 125th FA Cup Final in 2006 a classic 3-3 and penalties between Liverpool and West Ham Utd is the sixth and last FA Cup Final the Millennium Stadium hosts; the seventh and last Football League (Carling) Cup Final is hosted in 2007, The Rugby World Cup returns to the venue in 2007 with Waless pool matches and a classic quarter-final encounter between New Zealand and France, Joe Calzaghe is victorious against Mikkel Kessler in a unification World Championship boxing title superfight in October of that year, Express Eventing in 2008 adds an equestrian flavour to the Millennium Stadiums sporting CV, The Millennium Stadium becomes the scene of the worlds first rugby union penalty shoot-out after Cardiff Blues and Leicester Tigers end extra-time of their Heineken Cup semi-final deadlocked, With construction work still to be done, a three-quarters complete Millennium Stadium hosts its very first match in June 1999 and Wales record their first-ever win over South Africa.