Ibrox Stadium - Other Uses

Other Uses

Ibrox has been a home venue for the Scotland national football team 17 times, the third most of any ground. The first Ibrox Park (1887–99) hosted three internationals, giving an overall Ibrox total of 20. The ground most recently hosted a Scotland game in October 1999. It hosted several internationals during the 1990s, particularly when Hampden was being redeveloped. Hampden was redeveloped in two phases. Ibrox hosted four Scotland games in the first phase, starting with a 1994 World Cup qualifier against Portugal in October 1992. It was not a happy interlude for Scotland fans, however, as the team failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1970. Although the attendances at Ibrox were higher than at Hampden, some fans resented the fact that they were helping the finances of Rangers, the most powerful club in Scotland. Fans also complained that the ticket prices were too high. During the second period of redevelopment, however, Scotland won an important 1998 World Cup qualifier against Sweden at Ibrox.

During these periods of redevelopment to Hampden, Ibrox also hosted the 1997 Scottish Cup Final and the 1994 and 1997 Scottish League Cup Finals. When Ibrox was used for the 1994 Scottish League Cup Final, its blue perimeter track had to be covered by red matting. This was apparently because the tournament was sponsored by Coca-Cola, whereas blue is the corporate colour of its arch-rival Pepsi. Ibrox was on the approved UEFA list to host major European finals in the 1990s, but it lost out in a bid to host the 1996 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final because a convention threatened a shortage of hotel rooms in Glasgow. Ibrox continues to hold the top UEFA rating, but the Scottish Football Association put forward the redeveloped Hampden for European finals in the 2000s.

King George V visited Ibrox Park in 1917, to thank Rangers for its efforts in the First World War. His son, King George VI, opened the 1938 Empire Exhibition with a speech at Ibrox. This was used as source material by Colin Firth for his performance in The King's Speech movie. Ibrox has been used for concerts, including performances by Frank Sinatra (1990), Rod Stewart (1995), Elton John and Billy Joel (1998). Ibrox will host the rugby sevens event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.