Wales are hosting France tonight in a crucial Six Nations match, which expects to be furiously fought on the pitch and create a fantastic atmosphere both in the Millennium Stadium and the city centre.
But many local businesses are not happy with the game being played on a Friday evening rather than the more traditional Saturday afternoon as they are set to lose trade. Although there is a difference of opinion, the consensus is French fans will not stay for as long as they would if the game was played at the weekend, Wales fans will not spend all day in town as they ordinarily do because of work commitments, and all this at a time of economic difficulty.
Tony Schiczo, manager of Bar Sicilia on Cowbridge Road East, Canton, said: “We will lose out.
“When it’s an early game you get the best of both worlds – you get the trade before and after the game. When it’s in the evening you do not really get much.
“With the French we are losing out big time because they normally stay the whole weekend – Friday, Saturday and Sunday – and they are big spenders as well.”
On a rugby day Mill Lane bars and restaurants open early and by late morning are filled with fans drinking and eating. They spill over onto extra tables which are laid out on the pavement, but Matt Lloyd, assistant manager of Le Brasserie which normally benefits from this, is concerned by the game being on a Friday night: “The French spend well and they like a good party.
“But with the game not on a weekend we look set to miss out on the Welsh fans drinking and eating through the day as they will still be at work.”
Colin Cole, general manager of The Royal Hotel on St Mary’s Street which overlooks the stadium, agreed the city will be less busy than normal, and said: “It’s difficult to know why it is.
“Whether it is France or because of the recession, but generally business from the Six Nations appears to be down this year.
“It is better when its France or Italy for hotels than the other teams because they need somewhere to stay, but there are still plenty of rooms in Cardiff whereas normally a month before everything is booked up.”
Tickets are still available for this evening’s game in the Millennium Stadium, but the Welsh Rugby Union will be benefitting from television payments with the game being at prime-time. Instead its local firms which seem set to miss out because of the change.
