July 29, 2004

Upgrade for Scotstoun

Posted by Editor on July 29, 2004 11:53 AM | 5 comments | Print | E-mail author

Glasgow Warriors's new home?
A return of professional rugby to Scotstoun Stadium seem to have taken a major step forward after the announcement that £50 million worth of public funding will be available for new state-of-the-art sports facilities in Scotland.

Among the projects into which funds will be pumped are two, 6,000 seater municipal stadia – at Scotstoun in Glasgow and Sighthill in Edinburgh.

Scotstoun will have two new stands, office space and an indoor training area, with work due to be completed in 2007.

Such stadia could provide a home for a professional rugby team as well as access to the latest in training facilities.

"This is wonderful news for Glasgow Warriors, especially coming on the back of the very successful IRB Under 21 World Championship that was held in Scotland last month with excellent support from the Scottish Executive and Glasgow City Council among others," Bill Nolan, Glasgow Warriors's chairman, told the official Glasgow website "We look forward to continuing that partnership with the Scottish Executive and Glasgow City Council in utilising Scotstoun's new facilities for Glasgow Warriors in the near future."

David Jordan, Glasgow Warriors's chief executive, and the coaching personnel have been in talks with the City Council over the proposed developments at Scotstoun. Today's news, bringing those discussions closer to fulfilment, means that Glasgow could have the opportunity to move into a purpose-built home at Scotstoun in four or five years' time.

Glasgow's player are already making good use of Glasgow City Council's new weight-training facilities at the Palace of Arts.

Scottish Rugby's chief executive Phil Anderton welcomed the news, telling the Official SRU website: "Scottish Rugby is delighted to learn of this major investment in the future of sport in Scotland. We are particularly encouraged that the emphasis is on providing quality facilities for elite athletes while at the same time remaining true to the ethos of sport for all in making these facilities available for the wider community."

Comments
Posted by Big Blue on July 29, 2004 01:05 PM | Reply to this comment

Two comments made without seeing any detailed plans. Firstly, I assume the athletics track will remain? Secondly, it looks like a six thousand capacity stadium. Is the existing stand not protected in some way, eg "listed"? From memory, it is an Archibald Leitch creation. Assuming (again) it will still be used, that would suggest a 4,500 or so stand on the back straight. Doesn't sound too big but remember the stands at Perth hold about 2,500 each. There would be lots of room under the new stand, I'm sure, for offices, hospitality, bars, etc.

There are a lot of positives from a move to a revamped Scotstoun. Modern facilities (including bars!), Glasgow Rugby playing, training and administered on the one site with consequential savings. Negatives would be the track and accessibilty. Not as handy as Hughenden. Atmosphere could disappear, too, with the open ends.

Posted by Jamie on August 4, 2004 08:51 AM | Reply to this comment

It's a shame we couldn't get upgrades to Hughenden - the West End is an ideal location, and I for one will miss the opportunity of heading to Byres Road before or after a game.

Posted by alex.mack on August 4, 2004 05:40 PM | Reply to this comment

Great to see something might be happening at Scotstoun at long last,but what about Hyndland Rugby Club who have played at Scotstoun for the last 71 years,nobody has told us anything.

Posted by hugh on August 6, 2004 10:48 AM | Reply to this comment

Alex I am suprised that you are suprised Victoria Park AAC discussed this type of development with the then Glasgow Corporation in 1962 and then never heard anything

Posted by Andrew on August 9, 2004 11:49 PM | Reply to this comment

Scotstoun should remain an Athletics stadium first and foremost, whatever the redevelopments. At present the ground doesn't host any of the main competitons in Scotland, apart from odd things now and again, such improvements would make Scotstoun a more lucrative venue for the SAF to select to host matches.

With Edinburgh at Meadowbank it was easy to see how the atmosphere gets affected if there is great distance between fans and the action, and I for one wouldn't be in favour of losing that element from Glasgow's home games.

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