Scotland Fans Want To Ditch Hampden Park When Lease Expires in 2020

[Harvsky 2,364]

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A survey of Scottish football fans says just 15% of the 2,923 involved want Hampden Park to continue as the national stadium.

The survey, carried out by the Scottish Football Supporters Association, indicated that 34% of fans surveyed favour a move to Murrayfield.

Playing at grounds across Scotland is the preference of 25%, while 24% would like a "new Hampden" built.

Of those participating, 97% believe fans should have input to the decision.

With the Scottish FA's 20-year lease on Hampden expiring in 2020, the organisation's chief executive Stewart Regan confirmed last month that moving from the stadium is an option that will be discussed.

Scottish League One club Queen's Park, who own Hampden, last month questioned the SFA's claim that retaining the stadium would cost "many millions".

In the SFSA's survey it was also revealed that of those involved: 56% rate the overall experience of Hampden as bad or very bad and only 13% rate the Hampden experience as "positive".

In terms of cup games, 61% have a positive or neutral position on the atmosphere generated at Hampden, with that figure standing at 60% for international matches.

SFSA chairman Simon Barrow says "the status quo is not working" and called for "a full independent consultation" to be conducted.

An SFA spokesman said the governing body has entered into a period of consultation with "member clubs, supporters and members of the public".

"Only when the board is presented with the full documentation will they be in a position to evaluate all options available and make a recommendation," he said.

Hampden Park Ltd handles the running of the stadium and managing director Peter Dallas highlighted that "millions of pounds have been invested in improving the matchday experience" with the ground one of the host venues for Euro 2020.

"These improvements are part of our ongoing commitment to ensure Scotland's national stadium retains its reputation as a world-class football and events arena," he added.

 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42316749

[Lucas 1,255]

For a limited team such as Scotland, I think they need to source every advantage they can get. For me, playing at Hampden Park is not an intimidating atmosphere for the opposition. The fans are way too far from the pitch for starters.

Team's like Northern Ireland get inspired by playing in a raucous atmosphere and their fans manage to achieve that at Windsor Park because of the way the stadium is.

Straight away, Celtic Park and Ibrox are much better options and would be more imposing for the opposition. And I don't see why they don't give Murrayfield a go either.

Failing that, they could come up with a new alternative and design and attempt to incorporate steeper stands closer to the pitch that can hold the atmosphere in.

[Smiley Culture 1,050]

After spending money doing Hampden up a couple of years ago, I can’t see Scotland moving any time soon. 

It’s nice to have a national stadium for big games like cup finals but playing International games at one stadium just turns a country into a club. England are a basically a London club, with, mainly, the most followers living in and around London. 

[Storts 1,335]

3 hours ago, Lucas said:

For a limited team such as Scotland, I think they need to source every advantage they can get. For me, playing at Hampden Park is not an intimidating atmosphere for the opposition. The fans are way too far from the pitch for starters.

Team's like Northern Ireland get inspired by playing in a raucous atmosphere and their fans manage to achieve that at Windsor Park because of the way the stadium is.

Straight away, Celtic Park and Ibrox are much better options and would be more imposing for the opposition. And I don't see why they don't give Murrayfield a go either.

Failing that, they could come up with a new alternative and design and attempt to incorporate steeper stands closer to the pitch that can hold the atmosphere in.

Celtic Park a much better option for the Scottish national team?  

[ScoRoss 354]

Hampden is only really needed for Old Firm cup matches, other than that there are much better options for games to be played. Celtic Park and Ibrox can host any large matches that Scotland are involved in, and provide a much better atmosphere. We have seen this during the Euro 2016 qualifiers when Hampden was being used for the Commonwealth Games.

Talk of Murrayfield being used isn't much use. Murrayfield is fine for rugby but when set up for football, the pitch is so far from the fans isn't only marginally better than Hampden. However, if you had another Hibernian vs Hearts Semi-Final match, at least they could retain the flexibility to use it on that occasion. Having 40,000 fans all traveling over to Glasgow with a perfectly fine stadium on their doorstep is a strange move. Finals would be different. All finals should be retained at Hampden, just for tradition sake.

Having smaller games, especially friendlies, moving around the country is also vital to re-engaging the Scottish support. We already have all Scotland games behind a paywall and on Sky TV. There isn't the same buzz around Scotland games as there used to be. At least you could have Scotland games closer to people, which now that international games are no longer on the traditional Saturday afternoon. The 'Weekend of Football' that UEFA created has hugely damaged the Scottish national team and the support that the country feels for the team.

[Harvsky 2,364]

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Rangers and Celtic have made a proposal to the Scottish FA board to host Scotland international matches and cup finals.

Ibrox and Celtic Park each hosted one match during the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, and internationals have been held at both grounds previously.

The SFA's 20-year lease on Hampden Park expires in 2020, with a renewal option.

The governing body aims to decide in the next few months whether to renew, or quit the home of Scottish football.

It commissioned a feasibility study to consider the options, which will be presented to the eight members of the SFA's main board on Friday, and will be discussed at its meeting on Tuesday.

The study also considers the pros and cons of staying at Hampden - that case being put by its owners Queen's Park FC.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42824301

[Smiley Culture 1,050]

Cup Finals should always be played at a completely neutral venue and Scottish Cup Finals would just be an extension of Celtic Home games. 

[ScoRoss 354]

Looking at Stuttgart's stadium and this year's World Cup final venue, gives me hope for Hampden.

[Smiley Culture 1,050]

Hampden’s being redeveloped again?

[ScoRoss 354]

12 minutes ago, Smiley Culture said:

Hampden’s being redeveloped again?

Sadly, no chance.

There would be no financial sense in spending money on a stadium that is fully utilized about 15 times a year if that... I'd love to see it become a 'proper' football stadium but it's nothing more than wishful thinking.

Frankly, if someone had sense, 25 years ago (when Murrayfield and Hampden both needed to be redeveloped) they should have gotten together and formed plans for a proper national stadium. Fit for use by multiple sports and in a sensible centralized location.

[ScoRoss 354]

I'll believe it when I see it.