Hampden Park – design description

What does Hampden Park look like?

Hampden Park in Glasgow opened in 1903 and at the time was the largest stadium in the world. The venue was owned by Queens Park FC and also became the home of the Scottish national football team. It has undergone many changes over the years, with the last major upgrades taking place in the 1990s. In 2020, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) became the owner of the stadium. The capacity of the arena is 51,866 spectators.

Hampden Park is a distinguished venue with a long tradition. Although it still hosts major events today, it is considered somewhat archaic. The stadium has an oval-shaped stand layout and the auditorium is some distance from the pitch; on the other hand, there is not enough space to accommodate an athletics track (a special platform had to be built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games).

How did plans to redevelop Hampden Park come about?

From 2018, there were reports of a possible bid by the UK and Ireland to host the 2030 World Cup. In 2022, plans were changed and it was announced that the countries would bid to host the 2028 European Championships. Hampden Park was also part of the bid, as the only Scottish representative. With plans to host the mega-event, there were hopes for government support and upgrades to the stadium.

In 2020, architectural practice Holmes Miller was commissioned by the SFA, which became the stadium's owner at the same time, to create a new concept for the redevelopment of Hampden Park. The vision first saw the light of day in 2023 and sparked media speculation about a possible redevelopment.

What are the chances of Hampden Park redevelopment?

However, in June 2023, SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell stated that, given the current economic climate, redevelopment of Hampden Park was unrealistic and, according to association president Mike Mulraney, the priority for the SFA was to invest in grassroots football.

What does Hampden Park redevelopment concept involve?

The concept prepared by Holmes Miller involves a complete redevelopment of Hampden Park. The facility will receive new, steeper stands, which will be located right next to the pitch. The capacity of the redeveloped venue will increase to 65,000 spectators. The stadium will be fitted with curtains to cover the upper sections of the auditorium for smaller events.

Along the playing field, the auditorium will be divided into two tiers, and behind the goals it will merge into a high single-tier stand, making it easier for the keenest fans to create match choreography. With two such stands (the 'Kop-style' stands), the stadium will be able to accommodate two opposing fan groups (e.g. when the Scottish Cup finals are played).

The design includes the retention of part of the south stand rooms, where the VIP/hospitality areas will be concentrated. There will be numerous kiosks and pubs throughout the stadium, operating during and pre/post matches.

The stands will be covered by a permanent canopy, and there will be a lockable and openable roof over the pitch. The stadium will be covered with a translucent façade that will be illuminated in different colours, such as the colours of the teams playing at the venue. Outside, there will be parking spaces, which will be located under an elevated deck referencing the shape of Scotland's coastline.