Principality Stadium Cardiff
Everything you need to know
Despite welcoming over 70,000 fans, the Principality Stadium feels surprisingly manageable for a teenager's first big stadium show.
Hosting everyone from Taylor Swift and Harry Styles to Take That, the Principality Stadium has quietly become one of Britain’s great concert venues. Sitting in the heart of Cardiff, it’s surprisingly easy to travel to and from, making it an appealing alternative to Wembley Stadium or London’s O2 Arena.
Best for
ages 12+
74,500
seats
Support
act 6pm
Main show
finishes 10.30pm
No outside
food or drink
What to expect from Principality Stadium
Nothing prepares you for the full scale or energy of the Principality Stadium. Although you’ll admittedly be watching most the acts on the big screens, you will feel the energy of over seventy thousand people singing at the top of their lungs, dressed in tribute to the their idol.
Yet despite the spectacle of the event, which will almost certainly move you to tears when everyone starts waving their phone lights in unison, it’s a surprisingly ordered affair. It’s easy to park nearby with lots of friendly ushers on hand to point you in the right direction.
Where to sit at Principality Stadium
The first time I took my teenage daughter to the Principality Stadium to see Lana Del Rey, we were literally in the back row. We had a better view of the pigeons than the stage, but it didn’t matter. The stadium is surprisingly intimate and you can see everything on the giant screens.
For Take That we were much nearer the front, off to one side. We could still have justified binoculars, but the atmosphere was electric and the mass karaoke just as good. Unless your teen is desperate to stand for over five hours for a close-up view, you’ll probably be very glad of a seat. At least until everyone stands up to dance.
Principality Stadium facilities
Abundant merchandise stalls on the way in and out provide ample opportunities to spend more for a permanent moment of your visit. There are no fewer then 82 sets of toilets, 34 bars and 16 food outlets at the Principality Stadium. Although the crowds are huge, everything is professionally run and we never had to queue for long.
Just bear in mind that the support acts tend to come on quite early, so if you want to enjoy those, eat and drink before you come so you can enjoy the show. You can’t bring your own food or drinks in, as bags are searched. Leave in the car for snacks on the way home.
How to get there and back
When my daughter was lucky enough to go to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour with a friend, they got the ‘Swifty Train’ from Bath to Cardiff. It was filled with young fans singing songs and exchanging bracelets, which they loved. They were then collected by car.
No one I know has risked missing the last train home. As it’s very easy to drive in and out of Cardiff, we use JustPark to park at a local school just a ten minute walk away. It means a guaranteed space and avoids the congestion near the stadium.