24 Feb 2017 09:41:54
Ed, Been thinking about the new development plans and overall future plans as part of the Celtic Triangle Project, Also talk about the South Stand being replaced is never far away from discussion with rumoured plans already in place. Do you think this is us finally flexing our muscles to totally dominate Scottish football on and off the park and laying down a marker for future income resources so we aren't soley reliable on selling our best assets, or with Peter Lawwell having more and more talks in Europe are we looking at the bigger picture and possible future change in European League structure. Finding this whole issue remarkable as we are starting to look like a massive club on and off the park again and for that i have to credit the Board who i had become demoralised with for showing no vision. We now look like a club with a plan and the future looks fantastic. Any other comments or views welcome.

{Ed007's Note - Regarding the South Stand stadium expansion I'm of the opinion that if/when Celtic announce it there will be concrete plans in place for us to leave the Scottish league - I just don't see why we need to do it just now, Stan apart from improving the look of the stadium as there's no point adding seats if you aren't going to fill them or only going to fill them 6-10 times throughout a season.}

1.) 24 Feb 2017
24 Feb 2017 16:25:23
Thanks for reply Ed, Fair point and agree a higher capacity is certainly not required for SPL games. You would think if there was plans to replace it but have the capacity as it is or extend slightly to around the 65,000 mark it would be to upgrade dressing rooms, restaurants, Hospitality, etc.

. and a bigger Trophy room.

{Ed007's Note - A lot of the stuff currently in the trophy room will probably end up in the museum. I do like your idea about refurbishing the old stand and it's facilities with maybe a minor rise in capacity. If we could refurbish the entire stand I don't see any reason why we couldn't apply to hold CL/EL finals.}

2.) 24 Feb 2017
24 Feb 2017 18:58:11
Ed if we up the capacity is that the only requirement we need to meet to get finals at paradise? Is it to do with how many stars a stadium has? A think hampden is the only five star football stadium in Scotland, am sure it's to do wae Road access or something like that? Am a on the right tracks wae that.

{Ed007's Note - The changing rooms aren't big enough and we need an enclosed area where visiting teams buses stop. Platini said years ago that for security and logistical reasons that he wanted all CL finals to be played in stadia with a minimum capacity of 70,000 but the 2014 final was held in Benfica's Estádio da Luz which doesn't hold 65,000 spectators so it's not a rule as such it was more a recommendation although no CL final has been played in a stadium with a capacity of less than 60,000.
I remember years ago the guides who gave the tours told the story that the only reason we never received the old UEFA 5* rating (that doesn't exist any longer, it's called UEFA Elite Stadiums) was because of the changing rooms size problem but because of the chances of the SFA sanctioning a bid over Hampden were so slim it wasn't financially feasible to take the gamble.}

3.) 24 Feb 2017
24 Feb 2017 19:52:56
So if Celtic were to get elite stadium status they would still need the sfa to approve our request for a final? I thought it would be down to Celtic and uefa to decide.

{Ed007's Note - The Club would need the SFA to put the application forward. It's the same everywhere, it's the FA's that apply with a nominated stadium to the UEFA Executive Committee who make the decision. Remember it's the SFA that are members of UEFA, not Celtic, for example European prize money etc is sent to the FA to be distributed to the clubs.
The SFA did apply for Hampden to be considered for the 2019 EL Final but that's going to Azerbaijan Baku’s 68,700-capacity Olympic Stadium or Atletico’s new stadium, the Wanda Metropolitano, which will hold 67,000 when it opens this summer.}

4.) 24 Feb 2017
24 Feb 2017 23:49:18
I knew a previous chief exec of celtic who told me that there are plans drawn up and good to go for rebuilding the south stand. At that time he said it would only happen if we got into the English Premiership so don't imagine much has changed now.

5.) 25 Feb 2017
25 Feb 2017 09:22:47
That's right Marty, worked there years ago (Barnes Time) and the talk then was the dressing rooms etc moving to the corner under the stand (south / west stands) and the drawings etc are all in place.

6.) 25 Feb 2017
25 Feb 2017 09:01:22
Ed there is every chance the sfa would back us now especially since all the stuff about the sfact not going to use hampden anymore so it could be either us or Murray field for international matches.

{Ed007's Note - They can't nominate us now, the stadium doesn't meet the requirements.}