Parc y Scarlets - Home of the Scarlets, Llanelli

Parc y Scarlets (Welsh for "Scarlets Park") is the modern home of Scarlets rugby — one of the four professional Welsh regions — and historic semi-professional club Llanelli RFC. Located in the Pemberton area on the eastern outskirts of Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, the stadium opened on 15 November 2008 at a construction cost of £23 million as part of a £45 million wider complex including a retail park, training facilities and an athletics track. Designed by sports architecture specialist The Miller Partnership (also the architects behind Murrayfield), the 14,870-capacity rugby-specific ground is the sixth-largest stadium in Wales. The current capacity can be expanded to 15,180 with temporary seating, and the all-time record attendance of 15,373 was set when Scarlets hosted La Rochelle in a memorable European Champions Cup match on 30 March 2018. The stadium is owned by Carmarthenshire County Council and operated by Llanelli RFC and the council in partnership, ensuring a community-focused approach despite professional standards. Famous features include the Ray Gravell Legend Walk at the main South Stand entrance, the bronze statue of the legendary Scarlets centre Ray Gravell, and the historic Stradey Park clock and centenary gates which were relocated from the old ground. The original Parc y Scarlets pitch was the first in the UK to use fibre elastic reinforcing technology combined with 100% natural grass.

Parc y Scarlets replaced Stradey Park — the spiritual home of Llanelli rugby for almost 130 years from 1879 to 2008. Stradey was the site of countless legendary Scarlets and Llanelli RFC moments, including the famous 9-3 victory over the touring New Zealand All Blacks on 31 October 1972 ("the day the pubs ran dry"). By the early 2000s, however, Stradey's ageing infrastructure and outdated safety facilities could no longer accommodate modern professional rugby. In March 2004, plans were announced for a new 15,000-capacity stadium at a cost of £20 million, funded in part by the sale of the Stradey Park site. The Pemberton location near the Trostre tin plate works was selected in July 2004, with full plans released a year later. The 14,870-capacity Pemberton Stadium was officially renamed Parc y Scarlets on 20 May 2008. Llanelli played their emotional last-ever match at Stradey on 24 October 2008 against Bristol. The handover took place in early November 2008 ahead of the first competitive fixture on 15 November 2008 — a 32-3 victory for Llanelli RFC over Cardiff RFC, with Rhys Priestland kicking 22 points. Scarlets' first regional fixture followed on 28 November 2008 against Munster. The official opening ceremony took place on 31 January 2009, conducted by then-First Minister of Wales Rhodri Morgan, followed by a 40-24 Scarlets victory over the Barbarians. Stradey Park was demolished between 2010-2012 and replaced with housing. Parc y Scarlets has since hosted concerts, conferences, football matches, and major rugby fixtures including the 2018 European Champions Cup match that drew the record 15,373 attendance against La Rochelle.

Parc y Scarlets offers one of the most distinctive matchday atmospheres in the URC — a passionate Welsh rugby cauldron where the famous Scarlets red turns the ground into a fortress on European nights and inter-Welsh derbies. The compact, enclosed bowl design puts spectators close to the action on all four sides, with construction director Mike Carr famously describing the way "the crowd are right on top of the rugby" as creating "a brilliant atmosphere". Fans congregate from across West Wales — Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and Ceredigion — and the singing of "Sosban Fach" (the famous Llanelli rugby anthem) before every home game is one of the most evocative pre-match traditions in world rugby. The traditional Welsh greeting at the main entrance — a parade of Welsh, Carmarthenshire and Scarlets flags with the Ray Gravell Legend Walk featuring commemorative bricks bearing the names of every capped Llanelli player — sets the tone for matchdays steeped in 150+ years of West Wales rugby heritage.

The Parc y Scarlets Heritage Tour is a guided behind-the-scenes experience showcasing the stadium and the 150+ year heritage of West Wales rugby. Adult tickets approximately £10, child £5, with family rates from £25. Tours run by appointment Monday to Friday outside of fixture and event schedules — not available on matchdays. The 75-minute experience includes the players' tunnel, home dressing room, pitchside access, the historic Stradey Park clock and centenary gates relocated from the old ground in 2008, the Ray Gravell Legend Walk with commemorative bricks bearing the names of every capped Llanelli player, all four named hospitality lounges (Quinnell, Phil Bennett, Carwyn James, Heineken), executive boxes, and the Scarlets heritage displays celebrating over 150 years of West Wales rugby. Book via parcyscarlets.com or by phone +44 1554 783900. The tour can be adapted for wheelchair users with prior notification.

Parc y Scarlets features a club museum and shop housed within the main South Stand alongside the ticket office, café and function lounges. The museum showcases the proud history of Scarlets and Llanelli RFC including the legendary 9-3 victory over the New Zealand All Blacks at Stradey Park on 31 October 1972 ("the day the pubs ran dry") — perhaps the most famous victory in Welsh club rugby history. Heritage features extend throughout the stadium: the famous Stradey Park scoreboard and clock were relocated to Parc y Scarlets in 2008, alongside the original centenary entrance gates. Outside the ground, the Ray Gravell Legend Walk features commemorative bricks bearing the names of every capped Llanelli player alongside the names of fans who contributed to the stadium's construction. A bronze statue of the legendary Scarlets centre Ray Gravell by world-renowned sculptor David Williams-Ellis takes pride of place outside the stadium.