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Glasgow Attractions
Hampden Park Glasgow
Built in 1903, Hampden Park Glasgow is Scotland's national stadium. The stadium is known by all football fans for holding Scottish international matches. But the stadium primary is the home of Queens Park FC.
Queens Park have always played at a venue called Hampden, since the year 1873, the Hampden Park of today is their third home. The very first site called Hampden is now a bowling club, and their second home was across from the bowling club, at Cathcart Road.
But in 1903 the club finally settled, at what is today's present location. The ground is located in Glasgow's south side, in the Mount Florida area. The club set about building, the largest and most, technical stadium of its time.
Hampden Park, would remain until 1950, the worlds largest stadium. It was only in 1950, with the opening of the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, that Hampden Park capacity was suppased.
In its hay day, Hampden Park would attract crowds of 100,000, these spectators created what was known as the Hampden Roar. Many teams that came to Glasgow, had never played in front of such large crowds, and was hugely intimidated. The noise level was so high, that homes several miles away could hear the game being played.
It is belived that it was against the old enemy England, in a game in 1929 that the roar was born. Scotland had played the entire second half, with just ten men. When in the final seconds, they managed to equalise, and such a roar from its 100,000 fans was heard, and the Hampden Roar was born.
The stadium today, holds far less than its original crowd, with a capacity of just 52,103. Plans though to enlarge the capacity, are being looked at, which would bring the capacity, up to about 70,000 in the future.
The Scottish Cup Final is played at Hampden Park every year in May, when clubs compete for the world's oldest national trophy. In many football fans eyes, Hampden Park in 1960 held one of the games greatest ever matches. The European Cup final match between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt was watched by 130,000, with Madrid winning 7-3.
The stadium is already looking ahead to 2012, were it will host some stages of the Olympic football tournament. Further ahead in the year 2014 Hampden, will be the key stadium for the Commonwealth Games. Hampden Park is also, well used for summer concerts and has welcomed such artists as Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Bon Jovi, U2, Oasis and the Eagles, just to mention a few. Hampden can hold up to 90,000 for some concerts, when the stage is at the end. If the stage should be placed on the side, a smaller crowd of 55,000 can attend.
If you should be thinking of visiting Hampden Park, the closet station is at Mount Florida.
