Cardiff, March 2008 – Lombard, the asset finance provider, has provided a bespoke funding package to The Millenium Stadium to allow it to use a new innovative pitch lighting system to improve root growth and the playing surface.
Since achieving iconic status hosting worldwide events such as the FA Cup, Carling Cup and Heineken Cup Finals, and legendary concerts featuring U2, Madonna and Oasis, the Millennium Stadium has cemented its reputation as the top multi-event facility on the world stage.
Yet one recurring challenge faced by the Cardiff amphitheatre, since opening its doors and sliding roof for the first time on June 26th 1999, is maintenance of the highest standards of pitch quality.
The design and nature of the Millennium Stadium is simply not conducive to growing grass, and various measures have been employed to circumvent this problem. The steep sided bowl, which creates such excellent sight lines for fans, has the side-effect of producing hostile conditions for the pitch – preventing sufficient light or air movement from reaching it.
Previous solutions have included bringing in a new pitch on demand per event and, after the Stadium trialled a new lamp system last year and achieved a near perfect ‘microclimate’, providing sufficient heat and light to encourage growth. The management team approached Mark Mountford, from the Lombard team in Cardiff, who provided a funding package to allow the Stadium to purchase the lights on a permanent basis.
Mark has provided further funding to the Stadium to allow it to upgrade its facilities in a number of ways including a new turf pallet system, office furniture for the administrative function, which is moving from the offices in Cardiff to the stadium itself, and the refit of a changing room. The total funding package amounted to £750K.
Steve Phillips, Group Finance Director, WRU Group, commented:
"The lights make a visible and very real difference to the playing surface both above and below the turf. There is no doubting that we have a magnificent multi-event venue which has the versatility to host a wide spectrum of events here in the City centre of Cardiff. Yet we feel we can improve on perfection and an established, flourishing playing surface would be one way of doing that.
"I am most grateful to Mark Mountford at Lombard, who by really understanding the various needs of the Stadium, was able to provide a tailored funding package to suit a whole range of our needs."
Mark Mountford, Relationship Manager, Lombard, Cardiff commented:
"I am delighted to have provided the required funding for the lighting which is making a significant impact on the quality of the playing surface, in addition to the general facilities. The Millenium Surface is a fantastic venue and it’s great to be involved in such an exciting project."
For further information please contact
Caroline Hill
Senior Media Manager, The Royal Bank of Scotland
Tel: 07796 182703
Email: caroline.j.hill@rbs.co.uk
Notes to Editors
Lombard is the asset finance division of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group.
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group ("RBS Group") is one of the world's leading financial services companies providing a range of retail and corporate banking, financial markets, consumer finance, insurance, and wealth management services. RBS Group operates in Europe, the US and Asia Pacific serving more than 36 million personal customers world-wide and employing more than 140,000 people. In addition to the provision of a full range of banking services under The Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest brands, RBS Group also includes Citizens Financial Group, Ulster Bank, Coutts Group, Direct Line and Churchill.
