Wernick Buildings at the heart of ashes test

For millions of cricket fans around the world Sophia Gardens in Cardiff was the centre of attention when the Australian cricket tourists took on England in the first Ashes Test.  The Aussies, and particularly Shane Warne, were not happy that the first test of the series was to be held in Cardiff.  Why?  Because appearing at cricket’s historic Lord’s venue in London always adds that extra bit of kudos and excitement for a visiting side and thus a possible advantage.  However, despite Warne’s protestations the preparations for the first test at Glamorgan’s £9.6m, 16,000 seat revamped and renamed Swalec Stadium were well under way. 

So, did all the fuss about the venue make any difference to the outcome of the first test, with England managing to squeak a draw from what appeared to be a completely hopeless situation? Probably not, though the groundsmen’s preparation produced such a good wicket that no one could complain about the quality of the Swalec pitch.

With all the pre-test rhetoric and cricket’s big names getting headlines about their opinions of the venue, how were Wernick Buildings involved?  The Neath Abbey based modular buildings specialists supplied an additional Media Centre from which commentators broadcast to a world-wide audience every gasp, whoop or groan about the teams’ performances.  The floor of the 7.2 metre long Citycabin™ is in two tiers to give all the media personnel using the Centre a clear view of the pitch through it’s very large windows. It took just one day to deliver the Citycabin, crane it into position and connect it to mains services.