Mr Edwin Poots was speaking during a visit to the home of Welsh rugby as part of an official visit to Wales in his role as Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland.
He said: “The Millennium Stadium is hugely impressive and excellent for the image of Wales. It has also been great value for money given the cost of other stadiums that have been built in the UK over the last few years. Welsh people can be proud to have an asset such as this.”
The Minister was given a guided tour by Millennium Stadium Manager Gerry Toms and the WRU Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, explained the stadium’s iconic role in Welsh life.
The Millennium Stadium is owned and operated by the Welsh Rugby Union and hosts more than 35 events each year ranging from rugby internationals, world title boxing bouts, motorsport and rock concerts through to caravan shows and community events.
It helps generate more than £105 million a year into the wider South Wales economy and is visited now one of the top ten visitor attractions in the whole of the UK.
This weekend on Saturday May 24th rugby’s European showpiece Heineken Cup Final will be held in the Stadium and on Monday May 26th a free Grand Slam Party featuring the whole Welsh rugby squad and rock bands such as Stereophonics and Feeder will be held there.
The stadium is unique in the UK as it has a closing roof which means events are guaranteed to take place whatever the weather and the pitch can be removed to allow a wide range of non sporting events to take place.
