The stadium will be host to the athletics during the scaled-back version of the Commonwealth Games
With the 2026 Commonwealth Games officially set for Glasgow, Scotstoun is poised to take centre stage as it hosts the athletics in the scaled-back event.
Known for its distinctive blue track, the stadium plans to expand its current capacity from 4765 to accommodate between 10,000-11,000 spectators with temporary seating.
The decision to host the Games in Glasgow comes after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to rising costs.
Glasgow has a strong track record in hosting the event, having successfully managed the Games in 2014 with the athletics taking place at Hampden.
Hampden accommodated 40,000 athletics fans while the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham welcomed 30,000 for the Games in 2022.
Scotstoun’s more intimate setting will be a unique atmosphere as the smaller version of the Games will be distinctly different.
Scotstoun Stadium (Getty)
Jon Doig OBE, the Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation Scotland, said: “We have been working on this for just under 12 months, looking over it in terms of the concept and if we could go through and deliver it.
“The earliest thing we had to look at was athletics and whether we could deliver athletics in Scotstoun Stadium and the answer we got back in terms of feasibility was yes.
“We have obviously already got a main stand at Scotstoun but the rest of the seats will be wrapped around with temporary seating.
“The temporary seating will take the number to 10,000-11,000 and in that aspect we can create an absolutely brilliant atmosphere when the athletes are competing and running around.”
Dwain Chambers (Getty)
The stadium holds a historic legacy in athletics that dates back to the late 1890s, when it first hosted cross country events.
From 1903 to 1913, the Scottish National Cross Country Championships took place annually at Scotstoun, with the exception of 1907, when they were held in Portobello, Edinburgh.
It has also been the home of Victoria Park AAC since its foundation in 1930.
Since its renovation with the all-weather track in the mid-90s, the stadium has hosted numerous prestigious events.
The British Milers’ Club held grand prix meetings at the stadium in 1999, 2000 and 2001, attracting top athletes from across the UK.
International events were also held, including in 2000 when Great Britain & Northern Ireland took on the USA, in…
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