Residents object to late finish for Fury v Joshua at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium
Residents have objected to plans for the Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua all-British heavyweight fight, scheduled for 11 December at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, to run into the early hours of the morning.
Organisers expect the event to finish at 03:00 GMT on 12 December to align with prime-time viewing in the United States, and Cardiff Council has received representations raising concerns about anti-social behaviour, noise, traffic and public safety. The stadium normally operates a curfew until 01:00 when the roof is closed but has applied for licensed activities, including the sale of alcohol and the playing of music, to continue until 03:00 on 12 December, with the venue remaining open until 03:30.
One resident who lives directly opposite the stadium said they supported the event taking place but asked for extra conditions "to protect residents living immediately around the stadium". The same person added: "My representation relates to the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder," and called for a dispersal plan for streets around the stadium, stewards in place until crowds have cleared, no amplified music outside the stadium after midnight and for street-cleaning to be completed by 08:00 on 12 December.
Three other residents wrote to the council asking for the application to be rejected, with one arguing the "noise and late-night disturbance" would not end when the event finished. Another submission warned that "Music, amplified sound, large crowds, shouting, vehicles, taxis and people leaving the stadium can all result in disturbance continuing well into the early morning," while a parent with young children said the event running into the early hours would "cause absolute chaos for those of us living right next to it" and that "shouting and singing" would "completely wake the whole house up and leave us with exhausted, stressed children".
Others supported the licence variation, with one writer saying the event would bring a "significant economic boost" to businesses in the city and another suggesting it could attract more tourists from the United States. The Principality Stadium is in Cardiff city centre, which is part of its attraction, but there are residential properties nearby.
When the fight was proposed, organisers put forward numerous venues, including New York's Madison Square Garden, before focus shifted to the UK after Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn "refused to budge on their contractual right to stage the fight on British soil". Wembley Stadium was also suggested, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan urging promoters to get in touch, but its strict 23:00 event curfew proved an issue given Netflix's preference to broadcast during prime time hours in the US.
The stadium's late finish is not without precedent; in 2007 Joe Calzaghe's super-middleweight unification victory over Mikkel Kessler did not start until 02:00 local time to satisfy US television network Showtime. The Principality Stadium's application has been made according to the Licensing Act 2003, triggering a 28-day consultation during which representations can be made on prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance and protection of children from harm, and the council says that if objections are received the licensing sub-committee "may modify the conditions of the licence or reject the whole or part of the application". The Principality Stadium has been asked to comment.
The council's licensing sub-committee will meet to consider the proposals on 25 November, when it will hear any objections and decide whether to modify or grant the variation requested by the stadium.
