Cardiff Example Bodes Well For Belfast
30th March 2006
The Belfast Telegraph reported a couple of days ago that Belfast Traders had been issued a "warning" from a business leader, Frank Moloney, in Cardiff. Mr Mononey's statement was, in reality, little more than a list of pros and cons, and it can hardly be said that the cons outweigh the pros.
What the press here seem to have largely ignored, is the opinion of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce (of which Mr Moloney is a former chairman), who talk about how the Millennium Stadium in the centre of Cardiff has "elevated the city onto the world stage" (see February magazine). Other events at the Millennium Stadium have been worth up to £5 million to the local economy. To quote the BBC article (linked above):
David Hughes Lewis, chairman of Cardiff Retailers' Partnership, said: "When people come to Cardiff for the concerts, they more often than not arrive the night before and they'll spend the morning shopping. Where else can you go in the world where you've got a fantastic stadium right in the middle of the shops?"
So come on - build the stadium in Belfast. You know it makes sense. Sign the petition!