Construction Begins on New Cardiff Arena

Designed by Populous, the arena is being developed by Cardiff Council in partnership with a consortium comprising Live Nation and Robertson Property. The venue’s interior design is being delivered by Jump Studios, a Populous company. McLaren Construction has been appointed as the main contractor. The venue is scheduled to open in 2028.

Populous’ design creates an authentic venue that reflects the character of the city. It will establish a world-class arena capable of hosting live concerts, sports and entertainment shows, making Cardiff Arena the preferred choice in the region for both spectators and performers.

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.

On the south elevation, extensive glazing, a large LED screen and a distinctive architectural ‘swoop’ create a striking arrival experience for spectators entering through the main entrance. Additional glazing on the east and west elevations evokes the rolling hills and valleys of South Wales, framing the VIP and reception entrances to the east and the service entrances to the west.

The seating bowl has been designed to be compact, minimising the building footprint and placing spectators in close proximity to the stage, with optimal sightlines for concerts. This will create an intimate atmosphere akin to that of a much smaller venue. Unlike most arenas, hospitality seating is not separated from general admission, reducing any sense of disconnect within the crowd. Additionally, the inclusion of a large standing area on the arena floor will further enhance the atmosphere.

The design includes provision for wheelchair-accessible viewing positions distributed throughout the venue, including in the premium hospitality clubs and each of its suites.

The arena sits at the heart 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. It will also create a new transport hub, improving connections for Cardiff Crossrail and the metro line between the Bay, City, and new St Mellon’s stations, while offering excellent pedestrian and transport links for various modes, including buses, cars, cycles and scooters.

Declan Sharkey, Senior Principal at Populous, 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.”