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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Andy Howell & Katie Sands

The huge events happening at the Principality Stadium this summer and how it will be transformed

Cardiff's Principality Stadium has already played host to some unforgettable memories this year already, with Wales' Six Nations campaign ending with a Grand Slam in back March.

Now, it's almost time for the home of Welsh rugby to be transformed to make way for a series of huge events heading to Cardiff this summer.

After Ed Sheeran, Anthony Joshua and Beyonce helped the WRU post record revenues last year, work begins next week to remove the stadium's hallowed turf to make way for the likes of the Spice Girls, Pink, Take That and Manchester United in the coming months.

But before then, the last of this season’s rugby events have been taking place at the iconic venue this week with close to 30 being staged.

Judgment Day kicked them off with the Dragons producing a stunning upset to beat the Scarlets and the Ospreys overcoming Cardiff Blues.

Then, the community clubs' three national finals were held on Sunday with Cardiff RFC, Brecon and Abergavenny lifting the trophies on offer.

Monday saw an inclusion festival, which included walking and mixed ability rugby before a gay rugby match was held between Cardiff Lions and Swansea Vikings.

There were three schools' finals and an Emerging Wales Women versus an England Under-19 Development team on Tuesday, with four more schools' finals taking place on Wednesday.

Another four schools' finals take place an the stadium on Thursday, with the rugby programme closing out with the Women’s Super Cup final and the Girls National Youth final on Friday.

Then it's time to prepare for events that will see hundreds of thousands of music and football fans pass through the stadium gates.

Here's are all the huge events taking place at the Principality Stadium this summer

Monster Jam

First up, it's Monster Jam will be the first putting the stadium flooring to the test on Saturday, May 18, with the motorised beasts generating 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower as drivers compete for top honours.

Spice Girls

The world's most successful girl band - minus Posh Spice - bring their reunion world tour to Cardiff on Monday, May 27.

The tour will see Scary, Sport, Baby and Ginger play songs from their hit-packed back catalogue, while Jess Glynne will be supporting them on tour.

The Spice Girls will perform in Cardiff in May (Daily Record)

Take That

The pop trio take centre stage at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, June 8.

Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen are on the road for their Greatest Hits Live tour, playing a string of shows across the UK and Ireland before heading to France.

Their Cardiff show - their last show before heading abroad - will be broadcast live into more than 600 cinemas across the UK and Ireland. The entire concert, plus exclusive cinema content, will be shown from 8pm, with the event forming part of the band's 30th anniversary celebrations.

The trio will be in Cardiff in June last year (PA)

Pink

International pop icon Pink brings her world tour to Cardiff on Thursday, June 20, with tickets selling out in less than 15 minutes when they were released.

The UK dates for her P!NK Beautiful Trauma World Tour 2019 also see the star visit  Liverpool, Glasgow and London.

This will be the first time she has performed in the UK for five years.

Pink on the Beautiful Trauma tour in Perth (Getty Images)

Manchester United

Cardiff also play host to Manchester United when they take on Italian aristocrats AC Milan on Saturday, August 3, in the International Champions Cup.

Manchester United v AC Milan tickets: How much are they and where can I get them?

Wales' World Cup warm ups

Alun Wyn Jones of Wales talks to his players after beating England in the Six Nations (Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

Wales' World Cup preparations move on when they stage two warm-ups against England and Ireland in August.

They face England on Saturday, August 17 (2.15pm kick-off) at the Principality Stadium, followed by Wales v Ireland on Saturday, August 31 (2.30pm kick-off) in Cardiff.

Wales' Rugby World Cup fixture dates, pool stage opponents, training squad and warm-ups  

When will work at the stadium begin?

Work begins next Tuesday (May 7) to remove the hallowed turf from the Principality Stadium, upon which Wales secured a Grand Slam by beating Ireland.

The turf will be removed using a special machine over two days.

It will then be replaced by a top-of-the-range protective [turf protectors] Terraplas cover, made up of 8,678 tiles and measuring 10,500 square metres. That cover will take three days to lay.

Mark Williams, manager of the Principality Stadium, said: "Our pitch system strengthens our reputation as one of the world’s leading multi-event venues, giving us the flexibility to deliver a wide range of events all-year round.

"They attract hundreds of thousands of new visitors to the city centre, generating significant investment for Welsh rugby."

The new pitch system replaced the old palletised pitch, which took up to a week to remove.

The new system consists of a high-density polyethylene surface, which functions as a temporary drivable roadway for heavy-duty vehicles and cranes, and will take a static load of 737 tonnes per square metre - the equivalent of an armoured fighting vehicle.

A new grass pitch will be laid following the Pink concert, giving it time to mature ready for Manchester United’s football meeting with AC Milan and Wales’ Under Armour rugby Summer Series against England and Ireland in August.

Pink, Elton John, Spice Girls, The Killers and all the huge gigs in Wales this spring and summer  

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