Murrayfield to replace Hampden as national stadium in 2020?

[Diclonius]

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/bt-murrayfield-could-replace-hampden-1-3670880

[Pretty Boy]

Whilst Hampden is a pretty rubbish stadium I'm not sure Murrayfield is the answer to the problem.

Maybe it's just me but I don't really rate Murrayfield as a stadium either. Fans are still well back from the pitch, especially on the main stand side where the running track is and there's a fair few areas with poor views.

Personally I wouldn't mind Scotland following the lead of the likes of Spain and Italy and using a variety of stadiums for internationals and finals. Celtic Park, Ibrox, Pittodrie, Easter Road, Rugby Park and even McDiarmid Park are all perfectly suitable venues for a variety of different types of games.

[Bronson]

National stadium in the capital, as it should be.

[Kaff]

I go to all the home Scotland games and Hampden is good enough imo. When we went to Ibrox for the Georgia game the crowd found it hard to get any joined up chants going which were imo due to the different surroundings, Ireland game at Parkhead was different but that was far bigger game and noise was constant throughout the game although again chants were clashing all over the place.
Biggest problem though was the fact there was no regular routine for turning up and at both games loads of people missed ko, these are grounds used to holding capacity crowds but moving games around the country there has to be a lot of learning what is a suitable time to leave for the turnstiles, Parkhead was a disaster for many, i missed the anthems at both but know others that missed 20 mins of Ireland game.
I know if regular games were to be held at these grounds then it would help a lot of the issues but i like having one specific ground for internationals and cup finals, cost of having that is a different argument of course.

[Eyrie]

The only reason we had a national stadium was to provide the Ugly Sisters (deceased 2012) with a neutral venue when their bigot-fest was a cup semi or final.

I'd rather save the money and invest in youth development, with some used to rent club grounds. The biggest matches would still be held in Glasgow, using Ibrox or Parkhead, but other games could be taken to the fans at Pittodrie or Easter Road.

[Carheenlea]

For all it's faults, I still like Hampden. Murrayfield is starting to look dated compared to our neighbours in England, Ireland and Wales, who all have first class stadiums now. The sight lines at Murrayfield are poor for a large chunk of the ground, and if we are to move from Hampden then my preference would be to use existing proper football stadiums.
In an ideal world we would build a modern stadium for football and rugby internationals along with cup finals in the Scottish capital.

[Bishop Hibee]

Murrayfield is in worse condition than Hampden. The SRU are desperate for cash. Easy to get a ticket for any home 6 nations game if you want it.

What a wasted opportunity when Hampden was rebuilt. While I'm for a Hampden refurbish, if it meant money going to clubs and grass roots football then the SFA should ditch it. After the booing of Levein at ER, the SFA are blanking our stadium for any game.

[Sir David Gray]

The national stadium should be in the capital but I wouldn't mind it being in Glasgow if Hampden was actually a half decent stadium.

It's a horrible place and a poor excuse for a national football stadium.

In my opinion, there should be a brand new stadium built in Edinburgh, with a capacity of about 70,000 and that should be our new national football stadium.

It will never happen though and the national stadium will be at Hampden for many years to come.

[macca70]

Hampden is located in an absolute dump, sont like heading through there at all.

Murrayfields location is ideal, walkable from city centre. Haymarket just along the road, tram stops outside and right side of town for fans coming from North over the bridge or coming from west on M8.

Guessing it's easy enough to to segregate as you can send fans out in opposite directions.

Been to a few 6 nations games, the view and facilities have always been decent.

Would like to see it full for a footy game to see what the atmosphere would be like

[Stax]

Hampden is a dump. The millennium stadium in Cardiff was funded by UK government money iirc, to be fair for whatever reasons (political) Hampden wasn't. A stadium to be proud of in the capital of the country should be a no brainer but we're talking about the SFA ffs

[Geo_1875]

A purpose built stadium in Central Scotland with decent transport links to the north of the country would provide a truly neutral venue and a boost to the local area. IIt's the only sensible solution and it will never happen.

[macd123]

A purpose built stadium in Central Scotland with decent transport links to the north of the country would provide a truly neutral venue and a boost to the local area. IIt's the only sensible solution and it will never happen.

That was proposed in the 90s for a site between edinburgh and glasgow. East of hamilton iirc.

The SFA refused to even discuss. Ernie Walker said, "There is not a snowballs chance in hades the national stadium will move outside of glasgow. Glasgow is the home of scottish football - it always has been and it always will be."

[CentreLine]

Personally I think Murrayfield is an fantastic stadium and not in the least dated. The transport and communications links with it are way superior to most of the other stadia and the atmosphere in a full Murrayfield is hard to beat. Contrary to previous comments there seem to be very few of the more affordable tickets remaining for the Welsh or Irish games. I haven't looked at Italy. The Six Nations matches are a fantastic spectacle IMO

All that said I believe the National Stadium should be in Stirling, right in the heart of the routes through the country and accessible to all. If we are ever considering a rebuild for me that's the place for it

[Cameron1875]

Its no coincidence that the 'refurbishment' of Hampden Park consisted of a shiny new main stand with loads of offices then basically just a roof over the other 3 stands.

The Weegie blazers need their offices in Glasgow simply for convenience.

Therefore the SFA will never leave Glasgow.

[Smartie]

The Stirling idea is a nice, romantic one and practical on several levels but I don't really see it working, mainly because Stirling is quite a small town.

It needs to be in an area with a reasonable population size.

Our "joined-up thinking" in this country is really, really poor at times. Parochial traditionalism winning over practicality every step of the way.

Rugby should be played there, football played there, concerts held there, major events attracted there, offices based there, good transport links and it should be constantly used. Not like the white elephants that we seem to specialise in in this country.

We're a small country but have occasional needs for a big stadium. The Millennium in Cardiff is ideal for its purpose.

The "blazers" are such a blight on this country it is frightening.

[lord bunberry]

Going to a semi final at Murrayfield wouldn't be the same for me. I enjoy the whole day out going to Hampden, even if it isn't the best stadium in the world.

[Geo_1875]

Going to a semi final at Murrayfield wouldn't be the same for me. I enjoy the whole day out going to Hampden, even if it isn't the best stadium in the world.

You don't have to cut your day short just because the game would be in Edinburgh. Just don't tell your wife.

[Dashing Bob S]

Hampden is a white elephant and a tatty one at that. It's a total irrelevance and should be razed to the ground. A Tesco's is more suitable for the dreary area of South Glasgow it sits in.

Murrayfield has possibilities, but needs an upgrade.

[offshorehibby]

The refurbishment of Hampden was done on the cheap, a bit of roof here a bit of roof there, throw some new seats in and then the built the new stand.

Hampden should have been flattened and a new stadium built without the stupid running track. There was a severe lack of government support for the rebuilding of Hampden (sure maggie was still on the throne when it started).

Wembley and the Millennium stadium had more government and lottery money thrown at it than you wouldn't believe.

The SFA wont move the National stadium out of the weege.

[lord bunberry]

The refurbishment of Hampden was done on the cheap, a bit of roof here a bit of roof there, throw some new seats in and then the built the new stand.

Hampden should have been flattened and a new stadium built without the stupid running track. There was a severe lack of government support for the rebuilding of Hampden (sure maggie was still on the throne when it started).

Wembley and the Millennium stadium had more government and lottery money thrown at it than you wouldn't believe.

The SFA wont move the National stadium out of the weege.

I've got a feeling that the huge overspend on the Scottish Parliament had an impact on how much money we got for a new stadium

[Hibby Bairn]

Hampden is a white elephant and a tatty one at that. It's a total irrelevance and should be razed to the ground. A Tesco's is more suitable for the dreary area of South Glasgow it sits in.

Murrayfield has possibilities, but needs an upgrade.

Too close to Asda.

[Alfred E Newman]

Hampden is located in an absolute dump, sont like heading through there at all.

Murrayfields location is ideal, walkable from city centre. Haymarket just along the road, tram stops outside and right side of town for fans coming from North over the bridge or coming from west on M8.

Guessing it's easy enough to to segregate as you can send fans out in opposite directions.

Been to a few 6 nations games, the view and facilities have always been decent.

Would like to see it full for a footy game to see what the atmosphere would be like

I can think of lots of worse areas in Glasgow than Mount Florida.

[NAE NOOKIE]

The question is why the hell do the SFA have to pay rent for Hampden anyway? Queens Park have been taking the piss for years. Apart from the odd Madonna or Take That concert it would be a massive White Elephant, without its use as a football ground the place would be derelict.

In reality Queens Park have put no money into the ground whatsoever. Even if any grants or sponsorship lavished on Hampden were applied for by Queens Park the only reason the money was forthcoming was because the ground is used by the SFA and SPFL. Can you imagine the government or B.T. giving tens of millions to an amateur football club who play in front of 200 folk on a Saturday so they could maintain their 52,000 capacity stadium, not a chance !!! .... but they have the cheek to not only take advantage of the Golden Goose, but charge it for board and lodgings too.

The SFA should be utterly blunt on this with Queens Park. Here's the deal, sell us the ground for £1 and we will allow you free use of it on a Saturday ... turn that down and see how long you can keep the place going on your own.

[Pete]

I really like Hampden. The terracing rake and bowl like structure add to the experience and are nostalgic. It might not be the best view in the world but that's not what it's all about for me. That big curved terrace behind the goal is a "proper end" and it's a great atmosphere when they are both full.

Hampden over yamden for me.

[WeeRussell]

I really like Hampden. The terracing rake and bowl like structure add to the experience and are nostalgic. It might not be the best view in the world but that's not what it's all about for me. That big curved terrace behind the goal is a "proper end" and it's a great atmosphere when they are both full.

Hampden over yamden for me.

Took me til right at the bottom of the page but.. :top marks


Hampden might no be the most glamorous stadium in the world but I don't know any Scotland fans that go to the games regularly that have an issue with it. It has become one of the cool things to slag-off... mainly by people who are never in it. A quality stadium in Edinburgh would be nice right enough but Hampden does fine - I've still never experienced a better atmosphere than the Hampden Roar.

I'd sooner stay there than ever have to go back to Ibrox and it's surroundings to support Scotland.

[Phil MaGlass]

Would be great if it was Murrayfield, as much as I love Hampden and the days out for Scotland games and cup semis and finals, Murrayfield is a world class stadium deserving of the football fans of Scotland. I dont care that it is owned by the SRU, they are struggling to fund the ground maybe if it was joint owned that might help.
Great stadium and great facilities. Bars in the vacinity, proper transport to and from stadium, plus it would generate large amounts of income for Edinburgh, I am all for it.
It would be great to see the SFA move outside Glasgow and reside in Edinburgh.

[Bristolhibby]

Took me til right at the bottom of the page but.. :top marks


Hampden might no be the most glamorous stadium in the world but I don't know any Scotland fans that go to the games regularly that have an issue with it. It has become one of the cool things to slag-off... mainly by people who are never in it. A quality stadium in Edinburgh would be nice right enough but Hampden does fine - I've still never experienced a better atmosphere than the Hampden Roar.

I'd sooner stay there than ever have to go back to Ibrox and it's surroundings to support Scotland.

Getting back into Glasgow is my major gripe with Hampden.

Many a rainy night I've hoofed it into town, or tried in vain to hail a taxi.

The Millenium in Cardiff is a proper stadium. Front and center in the city.
Even grounds like the Aviva work because of the brilliant transport links. Dart straight in.
I have to say I was impressed by Murrayfield and the new team station. Was up for the All Blacks game and was back in town about 20 minutes after full time. Can't remember that ever happening after a game at Hampden.

J

[offshorehibby]

I've got a feeling that the huge overspend on the Scottish Parliament had an impact on how much money we got for a new stadium

The first part of the redevelopment of Hampden started away back in 1981 nearly 20 years before the Scottish parliament was built. The tory government of the time refused point blank to give any substantial amount of money to the project. Because of that Hampden was redeveloped in many phases from '81 onward.

The Millennium and Wembley stadiums were built 20 years later and the 'brittish' government were falling over themselves to give money to both projects and also many Millions from the lottery fund.

I've not got a problem where Hampden is the problem i have is it should have been demolished and a state of the art modern day stadium built.