The stadium might be host to the athletics in the course of the scaled-back model of the Commonwealth Video games
With the 2026 Commonwealth Video games formally set for Glasgow, Scotstoun is poised to take centre stage because it hosts the athletics within the scaled-back occasion.
Recognized for its distinctive blue observe, the stadium plans to develop its present capability from 4765 to accommodate between 10,000-11,000 spectators with non permanent seating.
The choice to host the Video games in Glasgow comes after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew on account of rising prices.
Glasgow 2026 will stage observe and subject however no marathons
Glasgow has a robust observe report in internet hosting the occasion, having efficiently managed the Video games in 2014 with the athletics going down at Hampden.
Hampden accommodated 40,000 athletics followers whereas the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham welcomed 30,000 for the Video games in 2022.
Scotstoun’s extra intimate setting might be a singular environment because the smaller model of the Video games might be distinctly completely different.
Scotstoun Stadium (Getty)
AW spoke with Jon Doig OBE, the Chief Government of the Commonwealth Video games Federation Scotland on the official launch of the Video games in Glasgow. He stated: “We now have been engaged on this for just below 12 months, trying over it by way of the idea and if we may undergo and ship it.
“The earliest factor we had to have a look at was athletics and whether or not we may ship athletics in Scotstoun Stadium and the reply we acquired again by way of feasibility was sure.
“We now have clearly already acquired a most important stand at Scotstoun however the remainder of the seats might be wrapped round with non permanent seating.
“The non permanent seating will take the quantity to 10,000-11,000 and in that side we are able to create a completely good environment when the athletes are competing and operating round.”
Dwain Chambers (Getty)
The stadium holds a historic legacy in athletics that dates again to the late Nineties, when it first hosted cross nation occasions.
From 1903 to 1913, the Scottish Nationwide Cross Nation Championships came about yearly at Scotstoun, excluding 1907, once they had been held in Portobello, Edinburgh.
It has additionally been the house of Victoria Park AAC since its basis in 1930.
Since its renovation with the all-weather observe within the mid-90s, the stadium has hosted quite a few prestigious occasions.
The British Milers’ Membership held grand prix conferences on the stadium in 1999, 2000 and 2001, attracting high athletes from throughout the UK.
Worldwide occasions had been additionally held, together with in 2000 when Nice Britain & Northern Eire took on the USA, in 2003 it was Nice Britain & Northern Eire v USA v Russia and, in 2005, the identical three nations challenged one another once more.
The stadium additionally welcomed the Scottish Senior Championships from 2001 to 2007, together with numerous different competitions, together with the Mixed Occasions Championships (2002) and the Masters Championships (2006).
The final main occasion that was held on the Glasgow stadium was the Norwich Union Glasgow Grand Prix in 2007. In 2014 the stadium was used as a coaching venue for the Commonwealth Video games.
Kelly Holmes (Getty)
In the present day, Scotstoun stays the house of Victoria Park AAC, but it surely additionally shares the house with Glasgow Warriors rugby membership, which has taken a outstanding function in recent times.
The deal with rugby has restricted the staging of large-scale occasions, because the Warriors require unique entry for his or her fixtures, typically establishing non permanent stands on the observe.
Nevertheless, the announcement of Scotstoun because the host for the 2026 Commonwealth Video games may signify a shift on this pattern. As Doig says: “Scotstoun has a really lengthy historical past of athletics and it has been there for over 100 years in numerous methods and internet hosting worldwide occasions.
“It’s nice that we are able to carry athletics again to the stadium and hopefully we can go away a legacy there as nicely for athletics.
“It will likely be a very completely different Video games in comparison with 2014, we’re in numerous instances however it can nonetheless be thrilling and a world-class occasion. It is a reset and re-imagination.
“This is not going to solely encourage the athletes who’re competing to get good performances however it can additionally encourage the kids who might be within the crowds feeling impressed.
“We’ve had a variety of our athletes that had been within the stands in 2014 now making Scottish and GB groups so we look ahead to that stimulus being there sooner or later.”
» Subscribe to AW journal right here, try our new podcast right here or signal as much as our digital archive of again points from 1945 to the current day right here
The submit Glasgow 2026 to spice up Scotstoun’s athletics legacy appeared first on AW.
