Nantporth

Nantporth (known for sponsorship purposes as Bangor University Stadium) is a football stadium on Holyhead Road in Bangor, Wales. Bangor City F.C.^[1] moved from their previous ground, Farrar Road, that opened in the 1920s but changed to Nantporth during January 2012.^[2]

Previously the ground was used occasionally by Bangor University football and rugby clubs, as well as practical lectures by the University's 'Normal Site' campus, which is home to the Sports Science and Education faculties. The main pitch overlooks the Menai Strait, with stunning views in both directions along the coast.

Building work started on the new stadium in August 2011, and was completed in January 2012. Click Here to see photos of the ongoing development.

The stadium was built by developer Watkin Jones as part of a joint project with Morbaine Ltd. Both companies formed a further company "Deiniol Developments" for the purpose of the Nantporth construction and the development of the football clubs former home at Farrar Road into an ASDA supermarket. The work was undertaken on behalf of Bangor City Council the site owners. Under this agreement the developers installed 805 seats in the main stand. The club have installed a further approx. 300 seats in the Menai Stand on the opposite side of the pitch. A Planning application HERE has been submitted for further seating to be installed. Should Bangor City qualify for European football at the end of the 2011/12 season they will be able to play some of their home games at Nantporth after the FAW applied for a 1-year dispensation for clubs with a 1000+ seater stadium.^[3] Bangor City hope to take the overall seating to over 1500 in time for Bangor to play any European matches there at the end of the 2012/13 season should they qualify.

A previous planning application has already approved the installation of a full-size astro-turf training pitch on the same site.

Attendances

The five largest attendances for Bangor City in League or European matches at Nantporth have been:

There was also a crowd of over 1,200 for a North Wales Coast Challenge Cup match for Bangor against Caernarfon Wanderers F.C. on 24/01/2012 (which was in fact the opening match at the stadium) and a crowd of over 1,000 for the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup Final against Caernarfon Town F.C. on 13/05/2013. There are however, no official figures published for these matches and they are considered minor cup matches.

Wales Under 21's have also played UEFA qualifiers at Nantporth and received crowds of 1,023 vs Finland on 14/08/2013, 403 vs Lithuania on 11/10/2013 and 278 vs San Marino on 15/10/2013.

Wales Women's team played a 2015 World Cup Qualifier vs Montenegro at Nantporth on 8/05/2014 and received a crowd of 573.

The 2011-12 Welsh Cup Final took place at Nantporth and had a crowd of 731.

There was also a crowd of over 1,015 for a Welsh League Cup Third round match for Bangor City against Caernarfon Town on 8/9/15

Sponsors

References