EDINBURGH - Murrayfield (67,800)

[gorgu]

it isn't actually Ibrox is built to a much higher spec, Parkhead just has more seats!

[bubomb]

Originally Posted by gorgu

it isn't actually Ibrox is built to a much higher spec, Parkhead just has more seats!

correct.

[gorgu]

Originally Posted by bubomb

correct.

Don’t get too carried away as a sheep shagger I still hate you blue noses the most

Ha ha!

[Jim856796]

The Murrayfield Stadium has a 100-metre running track beside the main stand. It apparently looked like a portion of a full 400-metre athletics track, which Murrayfield can't easily fit. Why does it even have that running track anyway?

[R.K.Teck]

Is it worth noting that the capacity of Murrayfield has been reduced by 700 seats in order to incorporate a new Large Video Screen - the largest permanent screen in the country ( not sure whether it's Scotland or UK but it's a big TV).

[sticky91]

They should take the running track out and move the pitch a few metres to the side so that it is in the centre of the stands. Then maybe they could dig down to reduce the gap between the stands and pitch and let the national football team use it. It's crazy that the stadium with the highest capacity in the country is being wasted on rugby - a sport that very few Scots care about.

[R.K.Teck]

Originally Posted by sticky91

They should take the running track out and move the pitch a few metres to the side so that it is in the centre of the stands. Then maybe they could dig down to reduce the gap between the stands and pitch and let the national football team use it. It's crazy that the stadium with the highest capacity in the country is being wasted on rugby - a sport that very few Scots care about.

Thing is, the capacity is not wasted. In competative rugby (6Nations) Scotland can guarentee that the stadium WILL be filled. Demand for tickets is extremely high for all games, even those against Italy. Rugby tickets are very expensive but that does not put Scotland spectators off.

The running track is a warm up track and I beleive that it was included in the design brief of Murrayfield as something the tennants wanted - so it was built for them.

With high demand, any future expansion will probably see, as you suggest, the removal of the track, and shifting of the playing surface towards the biggest stand (West) , and a rebuild of the smaller East stand to match the rest of the stadium. Expected capacity would be between 75000 and 80000.

There are currently no plans to rebuild the East Stand.

[CharlieP]

Edinburgh Rugby have committed to playing at Murrayfield for another five years.

Crucially, though, they want to switch all seated spectators to the East Stand (the one closest to the pitch), and allow fans to stand on the running track, to make for a much better atmosphere.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugb...gh/9426356.stm

[GunnerJacket]

In lieu of those comments and reviewing the picture below, it makes me think they should look to redo the lower stand to the left of the picture, moving it closer to the pitch and perhaps even acting like an extension of the upper tier. Then they could place some suites and premium seating in place of the upper tier on the other side. That would get people closer to the pitch and perhaps shave a little on the capacity, which sounds like a goal of theirs.

[RMB2007]

Naming rights talk:

RUGBY bosses are considering selling off the naming rights for Murrayfield Stadium in an attempt to plug a multi-million-pound hole in their finances.

The Evening News can reveal that the SRU will attempt to raise a seven-figure sum from allowing private firms to bid to have their name added to the national stadium.

Negotiations with commercial parties are already under way as the governing body seeks to pay off a £13m debt.

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/...ebts-1-2604968