Ibrox Stadium – stadium description

Before Rangers moped in to Ibrox in 1899, they player on a pitch adjecent to the land for over a decade. However ownership issues made them buy the plot nearby. Then the club changed its legal status, sold shares and with this means gathered funds for a new ground. Unfortunately, the structure made primarily of wood proved very weak. After three years of operation, on April 5^th 1902 highest rows of terracing gave way, killing 25 people and injuring 517 others.

Renovations were carried out for 15 years, but it wasn’t until 1929 that the ground received a major revamp. A new main stand was opened then. Designed  by Archibald Leitch it boasted an amazing façade, that is a B-listed historical building from 1987. After this change Ibrox remained almost unchanged for decades with oval shape and most terracing located on artificial hills, creating a bowl. The ground could host a stunning number of fans – 139,940.

A complete makeover came in 1970’s and 80’s, prompted by the second tragedy in Ibrox’s history. In 1971 major crush at one of the staircases took 66 lives. After this the bowl was basically torn down and replaced one after another by three freestanding grandstands. With almost all standing room replaced by seating it could then accommodate only around 44,000 people. Further modifications came in 1990’s, setting capacity at just above 51,000 of which over 21,000 seats are located at the main grandstand.