The Sports Archives – Astro Turf versus Normal Grass for Training in Sports

Posted on May 31, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Astro Turf was first adopted for use in sport by baseball. Its inaugural usage in the Houston Astrodome paved the way for other teams and other sports to cover their own pitches with it, and in fact coined the name as well. Originally called Chem Turf, the name was swiftly changed due to popular usage of the term Astro Turf.

Houston AstrodomeIn fact, Astro Turf itself has almost become obsolete in its original form, but the colloquialism still stands as the most popular name for all forms of artificial grass.

Why Use Astro Turf?

There were many initial advantages for the use of artificial turf in sports. It is relatively low maintenance, extremely hard-wearing and can be laid almost anywhere without sunlight and irrigation considerations. The durability makes it ideal for training, where real grass pitches could become churned up and unsuitable for use by game time. It is obviously better for indoor arenas, and resists the heavy usage likely to occur in most sports.

Drawbacks

SoccerYet some disadvantages became apparent fairly quickly – the artificial surfaces had much less give than grass fields, and players often found themselves with far more serious injuries than they may otherwise have incurred. This was especially true in sports such as soccer, where players were likely to be sliding on the ground, and kits did not cover all the skin.

New Generation

However, the new generation of synthetic grass, Field Turf, uses polyethylene fibers, which cushion a fall in much the same way as real grass does. Astro Turf and its new generation brothers make play in ball games much faster, and they give a far truer bounce as well.

The advantages of this are obvious, as players can throw the ball longer distanceSoccer Fields by utilizing a bounce, safe in the knowledge that the ball will not hit a divot and veer off to the left or right. Also, the lines for the field of play are sewn into the original design, so there is no risk of them fading and making it harder to call out.

The main benefit of training on Astro Turf or Field Turf is that it doesn’t mess up the surface of the pitch. Often, teams are reluctant to practice on their match pitches, as in some weatheRainrs it can then make the surface unplayable for days afterwards. Training on synthetic grass has no effect on the playability of the surface, so teams can go all out in practice as well as during a match.

This post was written on behalf of Hi-TechTurf.co.uk

Image attribution 1|2|3|4

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The Sports Archives – Olympic Medals

Posted on May 30, 2012 by thesportsarchives

With the London Summer Olympics just around the corner it’s natural to begin thinking about some of the traditions and rituals associated with the event. Just recently the Olympic Flame was lit in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the games. Using the power of the Sun and a parabolic mirror the flame was lit and then was passed onto the Olympic Torch which will now make its way to London via numerous torch bearers in time for the opening ceremony on the 27th of July.

2000 Olympic First Medals

Ancient Medals

At the original Olympic Games, long before their modern-day revival, the prize awarded to the top performing athlete was far from a gold medal. In fact the prize had no monetary value but was purely symbolic. An Olive branch was given to only the winning Olympian, the branch was woven into wreath crown. The symbolic nature of this prize stems from the fact that the Olive branch was taken from a sacred tree located in Olympia near the temple of Zeus. Being given a wreath with direct association to your god must have been quite an honor. To this day Olympians compete not only to be the best, and for their countries, but also for the honor of competing at the games regardless of where they place.

Modern Games

The modern Olympics really took shape with the formation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894 and the first games were soon scheduled in for 1896 in Athens. Athens had hosted a number of Olympic events in the years running up to 1896 but these were for Greek and Ottoman Empire athletes. They did however spark the creation of the IOC by Baron Pierre de Coubertin which led to the modern international games.

Modern Medals

The last time that an entirely gold medal was awarded to a winning athlete was way back in 1912 in Sweden. Since this time the gold medal has actually consisted of a silver medal covered in a layer of gold. There are strict guidelines set out by the IOC regarding the construction and presentation of the medals. This is a result of the host nation having the responsibility of manufacturing the medals to be used at the respective games, a tradition that started in 1900 when the games were hosted in Paris and the medal was produced by the Paris mint.

As mentioned, the gold medal is not entirely gold, at the same time it’s hardly gold costume jewellery either. The gold medal must be constructed of 550 grams of high-grade silver and be coated with pure gold. So the medal is still packed full of precious metals, and as such has an intrinsic monetary value. The monetary value of a medal is obviously not the motivation for winning one for an athlete. Of course there would be far easier ways to earn that kind of money than winning an Olympic event!

The silver medal, awarded for 2nd place, is exactly the same in build as the gold medal except of course that it doesn’t have the pure gold outer layer. As a result the monetary value of a silver medal is roughly half that of a gold medal. It was not until 1904 that the modern hierarchy of gold, silver, and bronze came into use. Before this time the winner would actually receive a silver medal and an olive branch and the runner-up a bronze medal and a laurel branch.

London 2012 Olympic Medals

2012 London Olympics LogoThe medals for the upcoming London Summer Olympic games are set to be the largest medals awarded at an Olympic games to date. The design was completed by artist David Watkins and is being produced by the Royal Mint, now located in South Wales. The front depicts the god Nike flying into the Panathenaic stadium in Greece with the Acropolis and Parthenon in the background. This is a generic design started in 2004 when the games returned to Athens. The reverse of the London medal comprises of geometric lines, a ribbon flowing in the shape of the Thames, and the London 2012 logo.

Citations:

If a real Olympic Medal is just out of reach this time around, then grab some gold costume jewellery, perfect for Olympic celebrations at home.

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The Sports Archives – Top 5 Mount Everest Moments

Posted on May 29, 2012 by thesportsarchives


cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by Rupert Taylor-Price

Mount Everest boasts events which have inspired awe the world over spanning more than 150 years. Only a handful of summits over six of those 15 decades have been successful. Here are the top five most memorable Everest moments.

1850s: The Discovery and Naming of the Mountain

Although officially announced and named in 1856, the mountain had been discovered during the Trigonometric Survey of India in the 1850s. Radhanath Sickdhar, an Indian mathematician, determined its height to be 29,002 feet (now amended to 29,029 feet). It was named for the Surveyor General of India, Colonel Sir George Everest.

1953: The Beekeeper and the Sherpa

The Beekeeper is Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand; his Sherpa for the amazing journey, Tensing Norgay. These two brave men were the first to reach the summit of Everest. They accomplished this amazing feat on May 29, 1953. A little known fact is that two other men dared the climb two days earlier, and missed reaching the summit by a mere 300 feet. Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans—two British climbers in Hillary’s party—were simply too low on Oxygen to make it. They did, however, break the trail and stash spare O2 as they went. This made it possible for the famous Beekeeper and Sherpa team to reach the summit.


cc licensed ( BY SD ) flickr photo shared by Kappa Wayfarer

1963: Reaching the Summit via the West Ridge

America funded a large south-side expedition to reach the summit in 1963. A smaller team split from the group and headed to the West Ridge of Everest, a discouragingly steep and serrated knife-like edge. Many thought the West Ridge was simply impossible to climb with its hurricane-force winds and precariously fragile shale. Two American men, Tom Hornbein and Willi Unsoeld, braved the conditions and, after experiencing a few nearly-lethal incidents, scrambled over the summit. They descended down the Southeast side.

1970/2000: Skiing Down the Mountain

In 1970, Yuichiro Miura, a Japanese alpine racer, was able to ski part of Everest. He started at 27,000 feet (2,029 feet below the summit) equipped with a parachute. It wasn’t until 30 years later—October 7, 2000—when a Slovenian man named Davorin “Davo” Karnicar, 38, would ski Everest from the summit. His slide-slipping and schussing journey lasted five hours ending at Base Camp on the south side.

2003: Everest Gets an ER at Base Camp

Many of the memorable moments of Everest happened at the top. This particular one is an accomplishment much closer to sea level; Base Camp. A Bozeman, Montana volunteer, Luanne Freer, founded the first clinic on Everest. Not only does the ER at Base Camp provide emergency medical care and save lives, but it also offers a place where people can get medical assistance, socialize, or enjoy a nice mug of hot tea.

This article was written by JustRopes.com the online leader in climbing rope.

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The Sports Archives – 5 Things You May Not Know About Masters Champion Bubba Watson

Posted on May 28, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Bubba WatsonSince winning the Masters back in April at Augusta, Bubba Watson has seen interest in him throughout the world grow significantly. Since donning the famous Green Jacket, a lot of attention has been focused on him, and no wonder. As the World Ranked no. 4, being one of the longest hitters in the professional game and possessing a swashbuckling style which makes him stand out from the crowd, Watson is one of the most interesting players in the world. Here are five interesting things about the Masters champion you may not know:

    • Last year, Bubba spent a cool $500,000 on a designer watch, and even wore it during last year’s Accenture Match Play tournament. Watson, despite his image as a ‘good ole boy’ from the southern US, is fond of making a few outlandish purchases, but with career earnings to date of just over $16m or £10m excluding lucrative sponsorship, he can easily afford them.
    • Speaking of splashing the cash, Bubba owns a replica of the General Lee, the car that featured in TV series The Dukes of Hazzard. He bought it just before his Masters success for $110,000 at a charity auction. A lot was made of this during the tournament in Georgia, and he described his prized purchase as his dream car.
    • While serving his apprenticeship in the game, Bubba and his friend and fellow PGA professional Boo Weekley practiced by trying to hit drives over Weekley’s parents’ house. This partly helps to explain why he’s seen as one of longest drivers to have ever picked up a club.
    • Bubba has many celebrity friends, including somewhat bizarrely, Canadian pop star Justin Bieber. Even before his Masters success, Watson was recognized as a big star because of his high status in the game, and has spoken at length about his friendship with the polarizing singer.
    • At the Alstom French Open in 2011, Watson infuriated locals, players and tournament organizers for a number of reasons. When interviewed following his first round, he struggled to name any local attractions, and was castigated for refusing to share a car with fellow players to take him to the course. Meanwhile, he was scathing of the support at the tournament, largely because he saw them as being too quiet compared to more raucous crowds at PGA events.

More information about Bubba Watson  can be found here: http://www.yourgolftravel.com/19th-hole/2012/04/10/bubba-watson-10-things-you-may-not-about-bubba/

This list was compiled by golfing holiday provider www.yourgolftravel.com, who offer breaks in golfing destinations throughout the world.

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The Sports Archives – Can Roy Hodgson win the Euros with England?

Posted on May 26, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Roy HodgsonNew England manager Roy Hodgson has announced his 23 man England squad on Wednesday 16th May. The squad will represent the first major test of Hodgson’s new position, and follows already significant media scrutiny since the West Bromwich Albion manager took over the role last month. Aside from The Sun’s front page attacks on Hodgson’s diction, there has been little enthusiasm for an experienced manager who seems to have accepted something of a poisoned chalice from his predecessor Fabio Capello as he goes into Euro 2012.

While Hodgson has a long-term contract that will make qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil a priority, the pressure remains on Hodgson to pull together a side for next month’s tournament in the Ukraine and Poland. Some of Hodgson’s key problems for taking on the tournament include a lack of time, an unsettled squad, and competition.

Time

England National Football TeamHodgson now has less than a month to meet up with his squad for a training camp in Spain, before playing warm-up games against Norway and Belgium on May 26th and June 2nd, before a first game against France on Jun 11th. In that time, Hodgson will have to work out his best first eleven, and try to make an impact on a group of players that went through qualification under Capello. Hodgson’s success at Fulham and West Brom with zonal marking and solid, workmanlike teams tends to take at least six months of hard work on the training field, and it is unlikely that his first tournament will give him the opportunity to mould England into his preferred style.

Squad Issues

Hodgson also faces the challenge of whether to rely on experience, if not energy, or blood a number of in form and younger Premiership players. Reliance on John Terry and Rio Ferdinand may create a lack of pace at the back for England, regardless of the players’ personal problems. Hodgson also has to wait to see whether he can rely on a fit Scott Parker to add stability to a midfield where Gerrard and Lampard might not be able to provide the power England will need across a tournament. Moreover, with Wayne Rooney suspended for the first few games, Hodgson will be more likely to turn to the aerial threat of Peter Crouch or Andy Carroll against France, Sweden and the Ukraine. A risk could be taken on in form strikers like Grant Holt, as well as young players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, particularly with Chris Smalling and Jack Wilshere already ruled out.

England Fans at Manchester City Stadium

Opposition

England’s chances of winning Euro 2012 look slim in this context compared to a rejuvenated France, who under Laurent Blanc have managed to overcome the infighting that saw them exist the 2010 World Cup. The recent defeat by France at Wembley will also be present in Hodgson’s minds. Sweden and co host Ukraine should, in theory, be beatable, but England shouldn’t expect any easy games. If England do get through the group stage, they will then have to weigh up whether they can overcome sides like Spain, Germany and Holland, all of which go into the tournament with much stronger momentum and squads.

Chances

It would be unfair to write off England’s chances though. Hodgson has significant international experience, having managed Switzerland the 1994 and 1996 World Cups and European Championships. He know how to make a side robust in big games, although his lack of top flight success in the Champions League will count against him. At best, fans can hope that Hodgson can provide a calming influence on the squad, and can repeat his strengths at getting the most out of players when the odds are stacked against them. This week’s squad announcement and the lineups for the Norway and Belgium will give a clearer indication over whether Hodgson will opt for caution, or experiment with England’s style.

Citations:

Habs works with live sport on tv, the definitive sports TV guide. Get the latest TV listings for over 35 different sports.

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The Sports Archives – Cagliari Calcio Is Sardinian for football – A Guide To The Italian Serie A Football

Posted on May 25, 2012 by thesportsarchives

The Italian Serie A side of Cagliari Calcio are unique in how they manage to stay in the top flight of Italian football with only a small base of fans to draw from, along with limited funds to compete with the likes of AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli and Roma.

In fact every season is a roller-coaster ride for the Rossoblu fans not knowing if it will be another fight to avoid relegation or the possibility of playing in European cup competitions. This season (2011/12) it looks like the Sardinians will not have to worry about either two scenarios occurring as they languish mid-table in 13th place.

The team was formed in the in the city of Cagliari the largest city on the island of Sardinia with a population of 150,000. Cagliari Calcio plays their home games in the Stadio Sant’Elia via Vespucci 09126 Cagliari which is located in the southeast of the city right on the Mediterranean. Built in 1920 the stadium has a capacity of 23,486 seats, which seems massive if compared to Serie A rivals A.C. Siena who have a capacity for just over 15,000.

Cagliari also had a brief spell flirting with a newly formed league in the United States called The United States Soccer Association, where along with other teams imported from Europe such as Sunderland, and Dundee United, Cagliari played for one season as the Chicago Mustangs before the league was disbanded.

CagliariAction from a Serie A match between Cagliari and Chievo, 2010/2011 season.

The Golden Year for Cagliari was 1970 when the team won the Italian Championship that season, with the team only losing two games, and conceding just eleven goals. (The fewest in any major European football league to this day).

Cagliari were Inspired when Angelo Domenghini joined the side. He played along with striker Luigi Riva, who would later play for Italy in the 1970 World Cup final with the Italians losing 4 – 1 to Pelé and his Brazilian teammates.

Of all the Cagliari players it is Luigi Riva or “Gigi” as he was most often called making his debut for Cagliari in 1963 in Serie B while improving with each passing season Gigi’s left foot was becoming a weapon that frightened the big boys of Italian football. The planets all seemed to be in line for Riva starting to become not only one of the best strikers in Italy but also in the world with the signing of fellow International Angelo Domenghini, Cagliari dominated Serie A and romped away with the title.

Riva was a man of conviction turning down all offers from other clubs to stay in Sardinia and play for the I isolani (islanders). Finally after two broken legs and numerous other injuries Riva was forced to retire in 1978 taking a back office job with Cagliari, and helping the Italian national team to World Cup victory in 2006. Cagliari retired Riva’s number eleven jersey in 2005 in honor to him and his services for the club and is the only club jersey to be retired to date.

So for an unusual football weekend away why not fly to Cagliari and watch a match. Book a Sardinian apartment and relax along the five-mile-long Poetto Beach? Enjoy some fresh Italian seafood while sipping on a glass of chilled Vermentino di Gallura white wine.

Low cost flights are available from the U.K. on Easyjet from Stansted for £110 round trip. Tickets for matches are available online from 60€. Hotel and Apartment rental costs vary but good bargains can be found, especially when accommodation is booked well in advance.

This article was authored by Nathan Griffiths on behalf of Car rentals Europe specialist e-rentals, use their comparison service the next time you need to hire a car.

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The Sports Archives – Tiger Woods Timeline Part 2: 2002 – 2012

Posted on May 24, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Tiger WoodsPart 2 of the Timeline of Eldrick ‘Tiger’ Woods is continued here in this article.

The Tiger Woods Timeline is presented in two parts. This is Part 2 of the timeline for years 2002 to 2012.  Click here for Part 1.

2004: After a rather prestigious winning streak, Tiger’s career goes onto slump after not winning a major at all throughout 2003 and 2004; the situation being highlighted after being overtaken in the rankings by Vijay Singh which breaks his record streak of 264 weeks at the top.

2005: After the two year ‘slump’, Tiger returns to his winning ways after winning the Buick Invitational, the Ford Championship at Dural and the 2005 Masters Tournament. Throughout the course of 2005, he interchanges with the number one spot a series of times up until around July when he wins the 2005 Open Championship; his 10th major.

2006: In contrast, 2006 is a year of internal turmoil after the death of his father and teacher, Earl Woods, who dies at the age of 74 after a suffering from long-term prostate cancer. Woods then takes a nine week break to be with his family during this time and returns to the field for the U.S Open wherein he misses the cut at Winged Foot. After tying second at the Western Open merely three weeks later, a return to form is mooted amongst the greens and is proven true when Tiger finishes with a par of -18 at the 2006 Open Championship.

2008: Tiger’s form continues to excel up until the spring of 2008 when he has to undergo knee surgery which means that he misses the first two months of  the 2008 PGA Tour. After winning two major tournaments during the summer, he then undergoes further knee surgery which means that he has to miss the remainder of the season. Due his absence, television ratings during the 2008 season begin to decline.

2009: Woods returns to much anticipation and performs very well despite failing to win a major competition; his first year to do so since his dry spell in 2004. During the fall of 2009, his marital infidelities come to the attention of the media wherein he announces an indefinite break from professional golf. The media attention mars his otherwise spotless reputation as a professional golfer and results in the separation of his long time wife, Elin Nordegren. After a report by UC Davis, a study finds that between $5 and $12 billion is lost in shares thanks to the fallout of the infidelity scandal.

2010: Woods returns to golf in April for the 2010 Masters Tournament where he is able to tie for fourth place. The rest of the season is a bleak run for Woods wherein he fails to win a single event for the first time since becoming professional; he nevertheless manages to finish the season ranked #2.

2011: This form continues to dog Woods throughout 2011 whereby August he finds himself ranked 58th and manages to finish the year a little more than eight places higher.

2012: At the time of writing (May 2012), Woods finds himself 7th in the world after having a much improved golfing year after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational and finishing tied second place in The Honda Classic tournament.

After such an amazing career (that is still yet to finish), it is without doubt that there are quite a few fun facts and figures surrounding the man and it would be a shame to miss them off of any list.

  • Whilst attending his first Masters dinner, Tiger is said to have consumed a total of 9 cheeseburgers whilst at the event.
  • Tiger has a total of four red Nike polo shirts and has won a total of 47 competitions wearing only one of them.
  • It is said that his alarm clock is set to 5am every single morning. Although this may seem a tad early, it makes sense when you consider that his favorite day consists of surfing, golfing, spear fishing and skiing.
  • Tiger’s average club speed is 125 mph, far beating that of the average person which is 31 mph less.
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The Sports Archives – Tiger Woods Timeline Part 1: 1975 – 2001

Posted on May 23, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Tiger WoodsProbably one of the most esteemed professional golfers to ever walk the planet, Eldrick ‘Tiger’ Woods is certainly a sporting force to be reckoned with; having spent more than six hundred weeks as the world number one, along with fourteen major championship wins, there certainly hasn’t been a player as prolific as Tiger in the long history of golf. As the achievements of Mr. Woods are so incredible, we have decided to create a written timeline in homage to the great man.

The Tiger Woods Timeline is presented in two parts.  This is Part 1 of the timeline for years 1975 to 2001. Click here for Part 2.

December 1975: Tiger is born in Cypress, California with a mix of ancestry, making him one-quarter Chinese, one-quarter Thai, one-quarter African American, one-eighth Native American and one-eighth Dutch. Woods later stated on the Oprah Winfrey that this made him ‘Cablinasian’.

October 1978:  At the tender age of two, Tiger appears on The Mike Douglas Show and putts against famous comedian, Bob Hope after being trained in the sport by his father from a very early age.

1989: Woods partakes in his first major junior tournament, known as Big I, at the age of thirteen years old. Having been paired with John Daly in the final round, Woods was beaten by a single stroke.

1994: Woods graduates from Western High School at the age of eighteen and is voted as the ‘Most Likely to Succeed’ amongst his class. He then enrolled at Stanford University under a golf scholarship and majored in economics.

1996: Tiger becomes a professional golfer and signs endorsement deals worth $60 million with Nike and Titleist. In the same year he is also voted Sports Illustrated’s 1996 Sportsman of the Year along with the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. During this time he contests in his first professional event, the Greater Milwaukee Open, and ties for 60th place along with winning two other events which means that he can qualify for the Tour Championship.

1997: This is a great year for Tiger, winning his first major event as a professional golfer. He finishes first in The Masters event and does so with a record score of eighteen under par (a 12 stroke margin from the previous record). On his 42nd week as a professional golfer he becomes the world number one in the Official World Golf Rankings which is the fastest time ever ascent to the number one spot

2000: By the dawn of the millennium Woods wins his sixth consecutive competition and becomes the youngest ever golfer to achieve the Career Grand Slam after winning all of golf’s major championships in the same calendar year. He goes on to do this another two times.

2001: Woods wins the 2001 Masters Tournament which makes him the first player to hold all four major golf titles at the same time.

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The Sports Archives – What to Consider When Choosing a Racehorse Trainer

Posted on May 22, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Horse TrainingBuying a racehorse is a long-term investment. To get the best out of your horse it is essential to choose the right trainer for both you and the horse. With a plethora of trainers to choose from, how can you make sure your horse is in the best possible hands? Here are some quick tips:

Results

The first thing to consider when choosing a racehorse trainer is their previous track record. Have they trained a number of winning horses or do they have limited success? You want your horse to be the best, so it needs to be trained by the best.
A successful racehorse trainer will have consistent results – it is not necessarily about the winning. If the trainer you choose has varying successes they may not be right for your horse. Don’t be afraid to ask potential trainers how well horses have run recently.

Facilities

In order to get the best out of a horse, the trainer you choose needs to have the appropriate facilities. Horses will perform best when they have a mixture of both indoors and outdoors training. The best trainers will have extensive gallops, as well as indoor walkers and training schools.
Many trainers will have an online archive of all of their training facilities for you to peruse. But make sure you ask to see each area when you visit. It is also important to check what rehabilitation facilities are available. Equine solariums and therapy bays are great ways to improve the performance of your horse.

Relationships

It is important that you have a great personal relationship with your trainer. A good trainer will update you regularly on your horse’s progress and keep you up-to-date with race fixtures and results.
You want a trainer that shares your passion for your horse and racing so it is important that you feel your horse is in the best possible hands. Even larger training schools should be taking the time to keep in touch with owners. Inquire about how much contact you will have and how regular it will be.

Location

The location of your racehorse trainer is also a key factor. If your horse is racing in a particular area, try to choose a training facility that is close by. It is not good for the horse to travel up and down the motorway regularly. You could also find yourself missing out on many races due to the constant traveling.
Many horses will only race in one area, and if they have already been competing a long distance move is not always the best option. Find out what courses your trainer uses, and research trainers in your local areas.

Fees

With many people tightening their purse strings it may seem tempting to choose the training facilities with the smallest price tag. However, small fees often mean quite basic facilities. When considering something as important as the trainer for your horse, it will be more beneficial to spend a bit more money.
High quality training facilities will boast the best facilities and locations for you horse. If you’re looking to produce a winner, it is a good idea to consider a sufficient investment. As with anything, it is advisable to shop around and do your research before committing to anything.

Jonjo O’Neill is one of the UK’s most successful racehorse trainers. He has an array of expert racehorse training facilities for training winning horses.

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The Sports Archives – England’s Finest Stadiums Set to Host 2015 Rugby World Cup

Posted on May 21, 2012 by thesportsarchives

When the finest rugby players set foot in England in 2015 for the Rugby World Cup, they will have the pleasure of playing in some of the finest venues England has to offer. Despite the Cup being still a few years away, the anticipation is palpable. This article details the twelve proposed sites to be used, some already confirmed, with announcements naming all of the exact sites to be made later in 2012.

This image is courtesy of steeljam, Flickr.

The Big Venues

Wembley Stadium in London is known worldwide as one of the most majestic establishments ever to house sport. The 90,000 seat stadium was built upon the grounds of the old Wembley in 2007. It is the second largest stadium in Europe, behind only Camp Nou in Barcelona. The iconic Wembley Arch branches over the stadium over 134 meters high. It will host the (American) football finals during the 2012 London Olympics.

The fourth-largest stadium in Europe with an 82,000 capacity, Twickenham Stadium will also take center stage in the World Cup. Also in London, it is known as the home of English Rugby, a fitting title for such a historic stadium that opened all the way back in 1909. The World Rugby Museum is also located there, a must-see for any fans coming to watch the matches.

Old Trafford, owned and operated by Manchester United, will also lend its services to the prestigious World Cup. Its history is just as long as that of Twickenham, opening only a year after in 1910. The 76,000-plus capacity stadium is fittingly known as the “Theater of Dreams.” Perhaps the dreams of England’s own rugby team will come true on this very pitch.

Millennium Stadium is the lone one from Wales to be utilized in the tournament. Located in the Welsh capital of Cardiff, the 74,500 capacity stadium was opened in 1999.  Millennium Stadium was built to host the 1999 World Cup, so it is a fitting site for the games to take place 16 years later. Weather will not play a factor at Millennium Stadium, as it is one of the few to feature a retractable roof.

Image courtesy of purplemattfish, Flickr

The Intermediate Stadiums

Emirates Stadium, formerly known as Ashburton Grove, opened in 2006 with a capacity of 60,355. It is the home of Arsenal in the English Premier League. The stadium has a bit of an identity crisis, being referred to as both “The Emirates” as well as “The Grove” due to its prior name.

Officially known as SportsDirect.com @ St. James’ Park Stadium, it is more commonly referred to as simply St. James Park. Located in Newcastle upon Tyne, it is the home of the Newcastle United Football Club. The 52,409 seat stadium was opened in 1892 and has undergone a lengthy expansion in recent years. It is the northernmost stadium to be used for the tournament.

Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, home of Liverpool F.C., is the oldest stadium hosting tournament play, founded in 1884. After the acquisition of Liverpool by the Fenway Sports Group, it is assumed the Anfield will be renovated from its 60,355 capacity in the near future and kept as the home of the club. The early years of the stadium’s existence featured Everton as its tenant until their departure in 1892.

Elland Road, the almost 53,000 seat stadium, has been home to Leeds United since its founding in 1919. The stadium has undergone numerous renovations and expansions since the 1897 opening. Their team faced possible relocation back in 2001 but that plan was scrapped after financial troubles.

Small Stadiums, Big Hearts

The smallest stadiums to host matches in the 2015 Rugby World Cup are all beneath 33,000 capacity. While that might be the case, the atmosphere in each of these venues should still be absolutely electric for the matches taking place. St. Mary’s Stadium is home to Southampton F.C. and opened in 2001. Ricoh Arena, known as “The Ricoh”, is Coventry City‘s home and opened in 2005. Welford Road Stadium in Leicester features the home games of the Leicester Tigers rugby team. It has hosted seven international rugby matches since 1902. Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester is the final stadium to be featured. Built in 1891, it is known as Castle Grim.

Image courtesy of mjsonline, Flickr.

Game on!

This article has been produced on behalf of Keith Prowse, a provider of official hospitality at some of the UK’s most sought after sporting events. Visit the website for Twickenham hospitality and tickets to many other sporting occasions.

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