Make it Happen! Building the Wales Millennium Stadium

The inside story of building the Wales Millennium Stadium 1995 – 2000 in time for the Rugby World Cup 1999 by Pat Thompson.

This is Pat's story and memory of the challenges and the process of building this great, iconic stadium in the heart of the capital city of Wales. Told in his own words, it is intended as a record of a great visionary achievement delivered within a short timescale by a resolute, hardworking, talented, multi-disciplinary team of specialists.

‘It is widely agreed that this is an iconic design worthy of the capital city, with the four masts visible from different angles along adjacent city centre streets and surrounding areas.’ Pat Thompson

‘You keep your big stadiums in the city centre to keep life in the cities, and you keep the bowls as tight as you can to create atmosphere.’
Rod Sheard, Lead Architect for the Millennium Stadium

'From the outset, it was the most advanced stadium of its kind in the UK, and it remains one of the finest venues anywhere in sport.'

Pat Thompson

Born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in 1943, Pat Thompson left school at 16 to work on motorways before studying at Leeds College of Technology to obtain a Higher National Diploma in building. He then joined Shepherd of York in their Treforest office as a technical trainee to work on the construction of the Church Village Hospital. Later, Pat joined Minter London to serve as a site engineer and concrete supervisor for the construction of the foundations for the main block of the Heath Hospital in Cardiff.

After 30 years in various management and directorship roles in the building industry in South Wales, Pat set up his own company, working for Sir Terry Matthews on the first stages of the Celtic Manor Hotel and Newbridge Networks offices in Newport. Pat’s next move was to be Project Manager for South Glamorgan County Council, until his retirement in 2023 at the age of 80. During this time, he worked on many of Cardiff’s most iconic projects, including the Millennium Stadium (later renamed the Principality Stadium in 2016). Such projects included overseeing the development of the Welsh National Tennis Centre, the infrastructure for the International Sports Village and for the 2012 Volvo Round the World Race, the construction of the Eastern Park and Ride at Pentwyn, the pedestrianisation of St Mary Street, bringing back the Pierhead Clock from Alabama in the United States to Cardiff, and the provision of new visitor facilities at Cardiff Castle.

Without doubt, however, the Millennium Stadium was by far the most significant of his contributions to the development of the capital city. Today, the stadium, with its iconic retractable roof, is recognised as one of the most important multi-use stadiums in the world.

Creatively edited by Professor Terry Stevens.