Part of 2. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure – in the Senedd at 2:02 pm on 19 July 2017.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. I’m pleased to hear of the ongoing discussions to identify opportunities. You’ll be aware that, in the past few months alone, north Wales has successfully hosted a number of high-profile stadium concerts, from Olly Murs at the Racecourse, to the now annual epic Access All Eirias at Eirias Park, and Llanfest in your own constituency, which had the Manic Street Preachers there this year.
Flintshire is also home to the national Wales rugby league team, the only national team to actually be based in north Wales, and who later this year will compete in the Rugby League World Cup in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, supported by a lot of local organisations and businesses in my constituency, including being suited and booted by Vaughan Davies of Mold.
I’m sure the Cabinet Secretary and other colleagues will join me in wishing the Wales rugby union—rugby league team, sorry, every success in the Rugby League World Cup, but I’m also aware from constituents and others that there’s growing public support for us to be able to host major events and teams in north Wales, along with the investment in infrastructure that is needed to expand our offer.
So, can I urge a further commitment from the Welsh Government to further invest in our area, to show we have the greater capacity to host events, whether that be in iconic and historic locations like Flint Castle, existing stadiums, or perhaps one day looking at a future stadium or a location in the Flintshire area of north-east Wales?