Ibrox Stadium (Glasgow)

Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium on the south side of the River Clyde in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. The home of Rangers F.C., Ibrox is the third largest football stadium in Scotland, with an all-seated capacity of 50,817.

General information

Arena capacity: 50,817 spectators

Address: 150 Edmiston Drive, Ibrox, Glasgow

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 55°51′11.54″N 4°18′33.33″W

Year of construction: 30 December 1899

Field: 114.8 × 74.3 yards (105 × 68 metres)

Seating plan of Ibrox Stadium

The Ibrox pitch is surrounded by four covered all-seater stands, officially known as the Bill Struth Main (south), Broomloan Road (west), Sandy Jardine (north) and Copland Road (east) Stands. Each stand has two tiers, with the exception of the Bill Struth Main Stand, which has had three tiers since the Club Deck was added in 1991. The two corner areas, known as the West and East areas of the Sandy Jardine Stand, have one tier of seating below a JumboTron screen.

The Bill Struth Main Stand, formerly known as the Main Stand, faces onto Edmiston Drive (A8 road). The red-brick facade, designed by Archibald Leitch, is a Category B listed building. Simon Inglis, writing in 1996, described it as an “imposing red-brick facade, with its mock neo-classical arched, square and pedimented windows, exudes prestige and power.” On each end wall the club crest is depicted in a blue and gold mosaic.

Stairtowers leading to the Club Deck (third tier) stand at each end of the Main Stand. These towers are also framed in red-brick, but deliberately contrast with the main body of the stand. The two stairtowers also support a 146-metre (479 ft) long and 540-tonne (530-long-ton; 600-short-ton) truss, claimed to be the longest and heaviest clear span girder in the world.

Through the main doors of the Main Stand is a wood-panelled hallway. A marble staircase leads to the boardroom and trophy room. Inglis compared Ibrox to Highbury, in that it combined corporate power with a sense of tradition and solidity. It was originally constructed as a 10,000-seat stand above a standing enclosure. It was redeveloped in the early 1990s with the addition of the Club Deck and seating in the enclosure.

It is now a three-tier all-seated structure, accommodating approximately 21,000 spectators. The front wall of the middle tier is one of the last surviving examples of the Leitch style of criss-cross detailing. The middle tier is split into front and rear sections, while the enclosure is split into east and west sections, either side of the retractable tunnel cover.

Opposite the Bill Struth Main Stand is the Sandy Jardine Stand formerly known as the Govan Stand. It is a two-tier stand, similar in style to the two end stand, which was completed in 1981. To the rear of the Govan Stand is the Argyle House extension, completed in 1990, which provides executive boxes, hospitality areas and office space. The Bar 72 area was added to the rear section of the Govan Stand in 2006. The Copland Road Stand, at the east end of the stadium, was completed in 1979 and now accommodates just over 8,000 fans.

It is traditionally the ‘Rangers end’ of the ground and the team normally chooses to attack that end in the second half of matches. The western Broomloan Road Stand, which was completed in 1980, is identical to the opposite end. Although constructed as separate structures, the three stands have been linked since the mid-1990s, when two additional areas of seating were added to the corner areas. All of the stands are designed using the ‘goalpost’ structure, in which a large portal frame supports perpendicular beams on which roof cladding is secured. A Rangers Megastore is located in the corner between the Copland Road and Govan Stands.

Away fans are normally accommodated in the corner of the ground between the Broomloan and Govan Stands. Ibrox is seen as being an intimidating ground for visiting supporters. Rangers banned Celtic fans in 1994 from attending games at Ibrox, citing the damage caused to the Broomloan Stand by the visitors in previous derbies. The ban was lifted after one game, as the Scottish Football League passed a resolution preventing clubs from taking that action.

When choosing a place in the stadium, use the Ibrox Stadium scheme above.

Where to buy tickets?

Rangers are pretty secretive about their ticket prices, but what we can tell you is that they vary depending on exactly who they are playing and where in the ground you want to sit. As a general idea tickets for the Ladbrokes Premiership game against Kilmarnock start at £24 for adults, £17 for concession and £6 for juniors.

How to get rangers tickets

As with most top-flight clubs the best place to start is the club’s website; Rangers have a good one so that’s an excellent place to start. You can also speak to the ticket office over the phone or call in in person, if you do phone though you will be charged 13p per minute.

How to get there?

Though not the capital of Scotland, Glasgow is nevertheless a popular tourist destination. As such there are plenty of different travelling methods for your consideration.

Train

You’ll want to take the Glasgow Subway to Ibrox Station and you’ll then enjoy a quick walk to the stadium itself.

Bus

There are a host of buses that travel from the city centre to the stadium. Head to the main bus station or have a look online for a good idea of specifically which bus to catch.

Car

Leave the M8 at Junction 24, 25 or 26 and then follow the signs. If you’re on the M74 then you’ll want to get onto the M8 before following the same instructions.

Taxi

If you were to jump a taxi from Glasgow Central Station to Ibrox it would take about fifteen minutes and should cost in the region of £10.

Parking Near Ibrox

The Albion Car Park is opposite the ground and has spaces available at £7 per car. You can take a chance with nearby residential roads but there are parking restrictions in place in a lot of the areas.

Ibrox Hotels

Glasgow has had quite a bit of experience of welcoming a lot of visitors all at the same time. Even ignoring the three major stadiums in the city, it hosted the 2014 Commonwealth Games and that tested the hotel industry in the city very well. Here are some of the best options.

ibis budget Glasgow — £30+

2a Springfield Quay, Glasgow, G5 8NP

The budget arm of the ibis hotel chain does exactly what it says on the tin. Expect thin mattresses, noisy corridors and stag dos. That said, it’s cracking value for money and is about thirty minutes walk from the ground. There’s also free Wi-Fi and free parking.

The Kelvingrove Hotel — £50+

944 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G3 7TH

Slightly more upmarket is this pleasant 3-star hotel that’s around twenty minutes away from Ibrox on foot. There are only twenty-five rooms, so you can expect personal service with free Wi-Fi chucked in to boot.

Hilton Garden Inn Glasgow City Centre — £80+

Finnieston Quay, Glasgow, G3 8HN

The finest of all of the options is this variety of Hilton hotels. It’s got a restaurant, a bar, a terrace area and self-parking. It’s less then twenty minutes from the stadium and, as is commonly the case, promises free Wi-Fi.

Pubs & Bars Near Ibrox

The Scots are known for their love of a tipple, with Glaswegians being particular up for a wee dram or two. You can expect a good night in Glasgow, especially if you head to one of these places.

The Horseshoe Bar

17-19 Drury Street, Glasgow, G2 5AE

With a brilliant menu, loads of drinking options and plenty of TVs for sport, The Horseshoe Bar is exactly the sort of place you’ll want to be heading to for a pre-match pint. It’s a Victorian bar with a lounge upstairs that occasionally hosts karaoke nights!

The Ark

45 North Frederick Street, Glasgow, G1 2BS

The Ark is a contemporary style pub that tends to be an attractive place for students to hang out. Of course, that makes sense given that it’s located right next to Strathclyde University. There’s food and drink available as well as live sport, though, so don’t discount it if you’re student days are well behind you!

The Crystal Palace

36 Jamaica Street, Glasgow, G1 4QD

This member of the JD Wetherspoon chain of pubs offers exactly what you’d expect from such an establishment. Cheep drinks? Check. Cheap food? Check. A carpet that will make your head spin if you look at it too closely? Check!

Facilities

The facilities at Ibrox are pretty much as you’d expect from a top-flight side. There are plenty of places to buy food and drink, the views are good from almost everywhere and the atmosphere is not to be sniffed at either.

Prices:

• Programme: 3.00;
• Pie: 2.50;
• Cup of tea: 2.50.

Hospitality

There are nine different hospitality options for your consideration at Ibrox. We’re not going to go through all of them, but here are some of the key ones you may want to consider.

1. The Chairman’s Club — This is one of the most luxurious hospitality packages around, with your day getting underway with a champagne reception. You’ll get a four-course menu including fine wines and liquers, half-time refreshment and a complimentary bar for an hour after the match. There’s also entertainment featuring past or present players being interviewed.
2. The Legends Lounge — As you’d expect from a suite named after the clubs’ legends, this lounge is a slightly more informal offering whilst still maintaining plenty of class. You’ll get a hot and cold buffet, half-time refreshments, a complimentary bar after the game and an appearance from a first team player — but not a club legend, oddly.
• Find the best odds for sports betting.
3. The Argyle Suite — Here you’ll enjoy a three-course carvery meal, a complimentary bar, half-time refreshments and the opportunity to meet a Rangers Legend.
4. Club Europe — Combining European stylings with a contemporary design, this lounge offers a hot and cold buffet, complimentary bar, half-time refreshments and a chance to unwind after the game.
• New predictions for soccer, tennis, hockey, basketball, etc. are created every hour.
5. The Ibrox Suite — This is the most informal of the lounges but by no means one to turn your nose up at. There’s a brilliant view of the pitch, a cash bar, a two-course carvery meal available and half-time refreshments.

Private hire

The nine different hospitality suites are only regularly used on match days. They’re all, as you might expect, available for hire the rest of the time too. Whether you’re looking to host a conference, a private party or a large meeting with breakout rooms, there’s very little you’ll want to do that Ibrox won’t be able to accommodate.

History

Ibrox is the third largest stadium in Scotland, somewhat ironically coming behind two other grounds that are located in the same city. The home of Rangers can host 50,817 people whilst Hampden Park can welcome 51,866 through its doors. Celtic Park tops the list with a capacity of 60,411. The Ibrox Disaster of 1971 led to a complete overhaul of the stadium, with the bowl-shaped terracing replaced by the more traditional all-seater stands by the start of the 1980’s. Renovations were completed altogether by 1997 and the ground was renamed as Ibrox Stadium in recognition of the works completion.

The disaster wasn’t the first to befall Ibrox. In fact, before its redesign was completed in the late 1990s the stadium had the worst fan safety record in all of Britain. Over the years the ground has hosted Scotland national team matches as well as numerous Scottish Cup finals. It has the top UEFA rating available for football stadiums. It has hosted boxing matches, however, and during the 2014 Commonwealth Games Ibrox was used to host the rugby sevens tournament.

Ibrox was initially oval-shaped, had a track circling the pitch, and mainly consisted of wooden scaffold type terraces. In its first few months it got rapidly expanded to a capacity 75,000.

Subsequent works included the construction of tree new stands, modeled on the rectangular shape of Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion. The first was the new Copland Road Stand, which opened in 1978, and which was followed by a new West Stand in 1979 and a new Govan Stand in 1981. The original Main Stand was the only one left standing.