Scottish FA to take Hampden Park ownership

Article posted by Coliseum, July 18^th, 2019

Image: eveningtelegraph.co.uk

The Scottish FA has concluded its agreement to purchase Hampden Park and will take ownership of the national stadium on August 1, 2020, the BBC reported.

The governing body agreed a £5m deal with owners Queen’s Park in September 2018, after discussing a possible move to Murrayfield, the report stated.

The League Two amateur club have now accepted the final and binding deal. The stadium, built in Glasgow’s south side in 1903, has been hosting Scotland matches since 1906.

Since its construction, it has hosted all but 16 Scottish Cup finals and all but seven League Cup finals, along with three European Cup finals, two European Cup Winners’ Cup finals and a Uefa Cup final.

The record attendance of 149,415 was for a Scotland v England match in 1937, while the last refurbishment came in 1999.

With a capacity of just under 52,000, Hampden will stage three group fixtures at the 2020 European Championship and one last-16 knockout tie, before the Scottish FA takes control and the end of its current lease period.

“The real work begins now to ensure Hampden Park can continue to serve the needs of the game and be an inspirational home for Scottish football in the future,” said Scottish FA president Rod Petrie.

Queen’s Park, the oldest association football club in Scotland – founded in 1867, will relocate to Lesser Hampden.

“Whilst it is a sad day for the club as proud owners of the national stadium, the conclusion of these protracted discussions and negotiations, will allow the club to fully focus on building our future at an upgraded Lesser Hampden,” said a statement.

“We must now look forward to ensure we remain a vibrant and competitive football club within Scottish football. To this end we will be shortly commencing works, on what is presently known as Lesser Hampden, to convert it into a licensed ground for our competitive matches.”

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