Glasgow City Council have moved to save Hampden from the axe by asking the SFA to extend their lease by up to five years.
Council bosses are anxious to keep the national stadium as Scottish football’s neutral acre and want the game’s leaders to ditch plans to quit in 2020.
They have requested time to examine all options for the future of Hampden, which which may even include partial re-development to make it more spectator friendly.
They are also keen to examine how it could be made economically more viable, perhaps with a new financial model in a partnership similar to the SECC campus, which is 10 per cent owned by private institutions such as banks and pension funds.
The council prizes its sporting, social, cultural and economic worth to the country’s biggest city and don’t want to see the famous Mount Florida site abandoned too hastily for venues around the rest of Scotland.
They will present a proposal to the SFA board next week asking them to consider an extension to their lease with Queen’s Park until 2025 to give a working party made up of council officials, Hampden Park Limited, Queen’s Park and football leaders enough time to explore all alternatives.
The council’s plans are unlikely to find favour with the city’s two biggest clubs as Celtic and Rangers are both keen to host future internationals and major cup contests, with Edinburgh and Aberdeen also in the frame for fixtures if the SFA walk away from the current site, which has stood since 1903.
Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “It is the view of the city government and wider council family that Hampden should remain the home of the Scottish national team.
“We have expressed this view to the SFA, as well as our willingness to engage with all key stakeholders to develop a positive future for the national stadium.
“We accept there are a number of challenges. However, it would be to Glasgow’s economic, cultural and reputational detriment were Hampden no longer the national stadium.
“Ahead of its meeting on Tuesday, we have made the SFA Board aware that we are prepared to commit to a football-led working group seeking to retain Hampden Park as a key sporting asset in the city.
“But the existing timescales provide limited scope for the relevant parties to come together, propose and examine whatever options may emerge from discussions on Hampden’s future.
“As such we have asked them to consider amending their current decision-making timetable by a reasonable period to allow the working group to develop potential viable options.”
Record Sport first revealed last year the future of Hampden was in the balance after it was hit by a whopping rates rise and increased criticism over its suitability as a major venue.
It will host three games, including a quarter final, at the new look Euro 2020 tournament but its future thereafter remains shrouded in doubt.
The SRU have already made a pitch for future business at Murrayfield, but Glasgow council bosses want to retain it as a jewel in the city’s sporting crown and explore ways to make it more user friendly and profitable.
The SFA declined to comment.
Council bosses are anxious to keep the national stadium as Scottish football’s neutral acre and want the game’s leaders to ditch plans to quit in 2020.
They have requested time to examine all options for the future of Hampden, which which may even include partial re-development to make it more spectator friendly.
They are also keen to examine how it could be made economically more viable, perhaps with a new financial model in a partnership similar to the SECC campus, which is 10 per cent owned by private institutions such as banks and pension funds.
The council prizes its sporting, social, cultural and economic worth to the country’s biggest city and don’t want to see the famous Mount Florida site abandoned too hastily for venues around the rest of Scotland.
They will present a proposal to the SFA board next week asking them to consider an extension to their lease with Queen’s Park until 2025 to give a working party made up of council officials, Hampden Park Limited, Queen’s Park and football leaders enough time to explore all alternatives.
The council’s plans are unlikely to find favour with the city’s two biggest clubs as Celtic and Rangers are both keen to host future internationals and major cup contests, with Edinburgh and Aberdeen also in the frame for fixtures if the SFA walk away from the current site, which has stood since 1903.
Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “It is the view of the city government and wider council family that Hampden should remain the home of the Scottish national team.
“We have expressed this view to the SFA, as well as our willingness to engage with all key stakeholders to develop a positive future for the national stadium.
“We accept there are a number of challenges. However, it would be to Glasgow’s economic, cultural and reputational detriment were Hampden no longer the national stadium.
“Ahead of its meeting on Tuesday, we have made the SFA Board aware that we are prepared to commit to a football-led working group seeking to retain Hampden Park as a key sporting asset in the city.
“But the existing timescales provide limited scope for the relevant parties to come together, propose and examine whatever options may emerge from discussions on Hampden’s future.
“As such we have asked them to consider amending their current decision-making timetable by a reasonable period to allow the working group to develop potential viable options.”
Record Sport first revealed last year the future of Hampden was in the balance after it was hit by a whopping rates rise and increased criticism over its suitability as a major venue.
It will host three games, including a quarter final, at the new look Euro 2020 tournament but its future thereafter remains shrouded in doubt.
The SRU have already made a pitch for future business at Murrayfield, but Glasgow council bosses want to retain it as a jewel in the city’s sporting crown and explore ways to make it more user friendly and profitable.
The SFA declined to comment.
