Celtic Park Refurbishment – The stage is set, but work now needs to be done

Extending the capacity of Celtic Park is a pipe dream, but a refurbishment of the Main Stand is clearly possible and frankly, it’s long overdue…

Celtic Park
Celtic Park ahead of the match between Celtic and Motherwell on 26th December 2024. Picture by Mark Runnacles Shutterstock

For a long time now it’s been argued amongst supporters that the capacity at Celtic Park should be increased with reconstruction of the main stand the focal point of that belief. The subject has even been put forward to the Celtic hierarchy who explained that while it’s been discussed, such a project would be financially unviable in the foreseeable future

The Celtic Board has a point

The Celtic Board has a point to a degree as we already have a sixty thousand seater stadia which is the biggest in Scotland, and one of the biggest in the entire UK, meaning we are under no great pressure whatsoever to extend that further.

Celtic Park
Celtic Park ahead of the match between Celtic and Motherwell on 26th December 2024. Picture by Mark Runnacles Shutterstock

It could be argued that as we have between ten to fifteen thousand on a season ticket waiting list it could prove to be a worthwhile investment, but the figures estimated for any extension might be seen as a big financial gamble which the club don’t need to take.  And the logistics would be terribly difficult trying to play football at the stadium while any development work was undertaken. Anyone who was there remembers our season playing at Hampden with a cold shudder.

Long overdue is a stadia refurb

So while increasing the number of seats in Paradise is something of a pipe dream at the moment, one thing that is possible and long overdue is a stadia refurb, with the main stand the focus of attention.

READ THIS…‘Crazy’ Paradise can help Hoops roll over Swiss Champions reckons Arne Engels

The new facade at Celtic Park in 1988
The new facade at Celtic Park in 1987/88 season. Photo from former Celtic director Tom Grant.

The front entrance was last refurbished back in late 1980s during the centenary season and while it’s still a beautiful sight or Celtic supporters, it could be doing with a modern upgrade. We have the means to make it possible, and it’s something well worth exploring.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Schmeichel protests after Bobby Wales scores during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Celtic and Kilmarnock at Celtic Park on January 18, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

14 Comments

  1. There’d be no need for Hampdump (I doubt we’d be willing to give the SFA the money these days TBH), we played at CP with a stands needing built, dong the main stand wouldn’t require a move but it’d need to be reducued capacity for a season (obviously).. Doable, and as for not financially viable? Mair board PISH!! Tens of millions in the bank FFS, any bank would give us a loan to spread the cost, as we’re not the basket case basket of assets across town and liable to liquidate at any monent.

  2. An extra 20 thousand season ticket holders at CP would give an extra 12 million GBP per year in revenue. In less than 7 years it would have paid for itself if we take the current boards estimate of around 85 million GBP. On top of that, a big reason why CFC are a club like no other is the atmosphere generated at big UCL / Glasgow Derby games. Players want to come here to experience it and legends of the game talk about it as the most electric stadium they have played in. Imagine what 20 thousand extra seats would create atmosphere wise? Also, a big reason why we have been so good in the last 30 years is because of the advantage the extra revenue gives us year on year. If we can all agree that the main stand needs redeveloping, why would we waste time and money tarting up the old stand when we could be spending that time and energy completing a stadium that could be viable for European finals and taking the name of the club to an higher level.

    • there is up to 10k that only turn up to big games. The Scottish cup match against Killie was full of tourists and newbe’s. and extra 20k would mean more empty sears against anything not considered to be a big match. Where does all the main stand go when they do the refurbishment?

      • Simple. If the seats are reserved for season ticket holders and the club institutes a scheme whereby fans who can’t attend can sell their seats up to say three says before the game you’ll know in advance the expected attendance level. With that knowledge the club could move fans around (they can just use e-tickets or an app that can be live updated with seating changes) and close sections of the upper tiers. These sections could be covered with large tarps or something that could be used to sell advertising space. Doing both of these things (ticket resell and ads) would be extra revenue generators for the club for quiet games and when it comes to CL nights the place would be rammed! As for the filthies…their players are already intimidated by CP imagine how much they’d fail with an extra 10k Tims laughing at them!

  3. 20 thousand seats would give us an extra 12 million GBP per year in ticket sales. If the boards current estimate of a new stand is quoted as upwards of 85 million GBP then we would have it paid off in 7 years. On top of that, the atmosphere generated on big UCL / Glerby games would be incredible, not to mention the stadium being given top tier status to host Euro finals which would also be further revenue for the club. If we can all agree the main stand needs redevelopment, why would we spend time and money tarting up the old stand when we could just build a new one and complete the stadium. Fergus knew then that if you build they will come and 30 years of success later we haven’t looked back.

  4. Scott brown said the waiting list was 28,000. My mate was on it for four years before getting a seat this season.
    Could easily get the stadium up to 70 or 75,000 without too much fuss.

    • Did Liverpool not build a stand working towards the stand which was still available?. So could celtic not start halfway at the celtic way ground work steal fixing, working towards south stand which maybe done last. You’d need a good project manager , don’t scrimp lawewell as barrowfield should have allowed fans.womens football up and coming academy.. would attract a crowd q fiver tenner pie bovril . Short term no ambition in a gray suit

  5. Why does the board build the hotel thay would pull in a fortune the hotel would be full all year round from Celtic fans from all over the world.thay could have weddings party’s buissnest meetings it would be booked all year round and the money would could be used for the rebursment of the stadium

  6. Liverpool has expanded their stadium by building tiers above existing structures.
    Celtic could do that also, particularly with the main stand although the corners may prove problematic.
    The issue we have is filling it. It is fine saying we have fifteen thousand on a waiting list but the reason the waiting list exists is because we don’t have the capacity. It is that which makes people renew a season ticket.
    If the capacity is there, and the waiting list disappears or drops to under a thousand, then where is the incentive to but a season ticket?
    Ironically the club may end up losing money as people can mostly pick and choose the matches they attend.

  7. You build the corners up first! Make the stadium symmetrical start work in the march when days are longer these 2 corners could be done in 6 months then the following season we build new main stand on similar template to the North stand giving us a truly majestic arena with 72,000 seats . Also the corners been done first negates any issue with moving as that covers all season tickets. I get sick of the nonsense” we don’t need it” well we didn’t need 60,000 in 94 when Fergus unveiled the plans , no stadium is ever built on the assumption its funked every week but we filled it alright especially in the current champions league format and we could easily make season books part of that experiment we sell them out no danger! I worked in building work in uk and Australia and this can be achieved no problem. I also build new hotel into thus structure and museum we have plenty room on our stadium site for everything get it done! A real cool would be pushing that but alas we have ” employee type risk averse accounts and ex lawyers running h our club no real self made men apart from Desmond and he never showed the interest for this sadly. Its crazy we have plenty capital and we can morgage it out for 10 even 20 years it would take us to a new level but I fear they don’t want to finish ” der hun” off again pathetic if that’s the thinking. We should have our stadium at its best for us fans anyway, as at present those poles are embarrssing at each corner really sells us short