Scottish Rugby reveal plans for new 7,800-capacity stadium for Edinburgh

(Photo: Getty Images)
By Adam Ellis
Scottish Rugby have unveiled plans for a new purpose-built stadium next to BT Murrayfield to be the new home of PRO14 side Edinburgh.
A new 7,800-capacity stadium will use a 3G pitch as a playing surface and have four covered spectator stands, with the aim being for Edinburgh to begin playing their home matches there for the start of the 2019-20 season.
It is hoped the new stadium will be widely available to the community while maintaining Murrayfield for use by the Scotland national team.
“We are incredibly excited to be in a position to be able to submit this application to give Edinburgh a new home,” Scottish Rugby’s chief operating officer, Dominic McKay, said.
“After many years of exhausting all the potential stadium and playing ground options for Edinburgh in the local area, we have taken the initiative and will be investing ourselves to develop a venue that can help the team to grow and provide a great spectator experience.
“We see this as adding increased flexibility to the BT Murrayfield site and believe we have submitted a robust, sensible application and hope it will be viewed favourably.
“I’d like to thank the City of Edinburgh Council for their support to date and look forward to working with them over the coming months.”
Richard Cockerill’s side began this season playing at the small Myreside ground only for their matches to return to Murrayfield after progressing through the pool stages of the Challenge Cup and to the knockout stages of the PRO14.
Commenting on the proposal which has been applied for planning permission, Cockerill commented: “I’ve said right from the start that Edinburgh has a lot of potential but it had lacked a strong culture and sense of identity.
“What is exciting about this new project is that as a club, as players, staff and fans we could have a home that we can begin to build something from. It will give us a focal point, excellent facilities and a chance to move the club forward both on and off the pitch.”