IT was built to host some of the world’s best athletes, but now a landmark stadium has run its course, city leaders have confirmed.
Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh was created for the 1970 Commonwealth Games, when the international contest came to Scotland for the first time.
It became the first Commonwealth venue to welcome the Games twice when the capital was again selected in 1986, and has since been used for football, rugby and boxing events.
Its velodrome — which closed earlier this month — is the home track of bike hero Chris Hoy.
The venue has also played host to performances by acts including Snow Patrol, Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails.
However, Edinburgh City Council has now confirmed the facility will close on December 3 to make way for a new state-of-the-art facility on the site.
Architect designs released yesterday show the vision for the new centre, which will include two Fifa-standard 3G pitches, a martial arts combat studio and an outdoor athletics track with seats for 500 spectators.
It will be partly funded by neighbouring residential and commercial development on parts of the existing site that are not needed for the new complex.
The proposals have not yet been submitted to planners, but officials are shooting for an Easter 2020 opening date, with a special fireworks concert planned as a final farewell to the near-50-year-old centre.
The November spectacular will see pyrotechnics released in time to music which spans the venue’s 47-year history.
Tickets will go on sale via TicketSource on Monday morning.
Councillor Ian Campbell, the local authority’s vice convener of culture and communities, said: “This is the end of an era for Meadowbank and the start of a major redevelopment to support physical activity, health and wellbeing in Edinburgh for generations to come. The facility will support both the local community and clubs and it is important we get the design right.
“That is why the facility mix has been revisited, and now incorporates improved indoor athletics facilities in line with feedback from individual users and sports clubs within the budget we have available.
“The old Meadowbank has been at the heart of sport in Edinburgh for almost half a century.
“We now need this new-look venue to greatly support physical activity in Edinburgh for at least the next 50 years to come, while catering for the city’s ever demanding housing needs.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the proposals submitted as a planning application soon.”
Athletes including Liz McColgan, Daley Thompson, Kelly Holmes, Linford Christie and Mary Peters have all raced on Meadowbank’s outdoor 400m track, with javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread and boxer Alex Arthur amongst other athletes to compete at the Meadowbank Stadium venue.
However, June Peebles, chief executive of Edinburgh Leisure, said the focus is now on the future, with staff already working to determine what happens when the doors close for good.
Efforts are underway to find alternative facilities for the sports clubs that meet and train at Meadowbank, as well as the casual leisure users who exercise there.
She said: “We welcome and are obviously very excited about the prospect of a new Meadowbank.
“In the tradition of the existing centre, the new centre will provide a range of opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate in physical activity and sport.
“Our focus at the moment is identifying the relocation options for the 100 plus clubs that use Meadowbank.
“We are also working to ensure all our members and ‘pay and play’ customers are able to keep moving and stay active and healthy with Edinburgh Leisure during the closure period.”
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