Scarlets Set To Leave Stradey
Llanelli Scarlets are expected to unveil plans to leave their spiritual home of Stradey Park for a new purpose-built stadium.
The move is sure to raise emotions as it will end a century of rugby at the famous ground that first played host to Llanelli back in 1904.
Since then the ground has become one of the most famous and passionate club venues in world rugby and has witnessed historic victories over the All Blacks, in both 1957 and 1972, and more recently over the world champion Wallabies in 1992.
But the professional game has little room for sentiment with financial needs now demanding that the regional team, the Scarlets, move to a new state-of-the-art stadium.
A major factor is the absence of hospitality suits at Stradey Park which has seen the club miss out on precious revenue given their success in the Heineken Cup.
The Scarlets plan to move into the new ground, to be built on a new site in the town in conjunction with Carmarthenshire County Council, by the 2007-8 season though a name has yet to be agreed for the new ground.