Meadowbank Stadium

Meadowbank Stadium stands in the Meadowbank area of Edinburgh, a multi-purpose sports facility built on the site of earlier venues. It was first opened for the 1970 Commonwealth Games and later hosted the Games again in 1986, becoming the first venue to do so twice. The stadium once had its own railway station built for the 1986 Games. Edinburgh City Football Club now plays there, along with Hibernian Women’s FC and Leith Athletic. The complex also includes a velodrome that once hosted track cycling events. The stadium has a long history in football, rugby and music. Meadowbank Thistle played there from 1974 until 1995, and the venue hosted major concerts featuring bands like Muse and Radiohead. It was also used for rugby union by Edinburgh Rugby between 2002 and 2004. The velodrome, built for the 1986 Commonwealth Games, was the training ground of Chris Hoy and Craig MacLean. The rifle range inside the complex once served Olympic hopefuls before its closure. Today, visitors find a modernised stadium with a single stand holding 500 spectators. The new layout keeps the athletics track and football pitch in use. The velodrome no longer operates, but the site remains a hub for local sports clubs. The rifle range has been replaced by other facilities, though target shooting is no longer offered. The stadium’s past events, from boxing to juggling conventions, still shape its identity.