Stadium’s branding to be taken down ahead of game

THE iconic home of Welsh rugby is to be officially renamed as the National Stadium of Wales in 10 days’ time.

The makeover will see the giant Principality branding at the front of the ground temporarily taken down in the week commencing Monday, May 22, and put into storage until after the Uefa Champions League final showdown between Juventus and Real Madrid has taken place.

The highly unusual move has been insisted upon by Uefa, which wanted a “clean stadium” with no commercial title as part of the deal to bring the world’s biggest club match to Wales.

A further 3,000 signs inside the ground, which promote the Welsh Rugby Union’s commercial partners, are also to be covered up until the match is over on the night of June 3.

The venue reverts back to Principality Stadium the next day and the signage will be restored.

The front of the arena bears the words Stadiwm Principality Stadium following a 10-year, £15m naming rights deal struck with the building society for the beginning of last year.

It was initially thought it would simply be covered up as part of the Uefa request, but a decision has been made to physically remove the name Principality for a two-week period.

The words Stadiwm and Stadium will remain in place. There are no plans to erect National Stadium of Wales signage.

Stadium owners the WRU have had to cover up commercial branding inside the ground for showpiece occasions in the past, including FA Cup Finals staged in Cardiff.

However, never before have they actually had to change the name of the arena.