Scottish Premiership football club Rangers has detailed plans to increase the capacity of Ibrox as part of a wider project that will provide improved facilities for disabled fans at the stadium.
A phased series of works has been agreed by the club’s board, with the project aiming to provide Ibrox with the best disabled facilities of any stadium in Scotland and become one of the most accessible sports venues in Europe.
The work will begin this summer, with further construction scheduled for the summers of 2024 and 2025. The summer periods have been chosen to ensure Rangers matches during the season are not disrupted by the work.
Rangers said the “significant investment” will take the number of spaces for wheelchair users up to 270, with 700 general access seats to also be added. The capacity of Ibrox will be in excess of 51,500 upon completion of the project.
The Rangers board has also reaffirmed its intention to improve facilities for all supporters, with a phased programme of concourse and toilet refurbishment under review.
The first phase will commence in the coming weeks and will include key structural works in the Broomloan and Copland Stands. The work will not impact season ticket holders in these stands and will include extending the concourses to create space for additional accessible toilets, creating additional accessible kiosk points, and alterations for the installation of lifts to the accessible platforms.
Phase two will be undertaken ahead of the 2024-25 season, with fans in the Broomloan and Copland Stands affected by the work to be consulted throughout the process and alternative seating to be identified. This phase will include the creation of new platforms to accommodate new wheelchair spaces, as well as the construction of cantilevers to house new general-access seating.
The third phase will then take place in the summer of 2025, with the Sandy Jardine Stand becoming the focus. The work will include the installation of additional accessible seating, which will involve the loss of some seats. This will be mitigated with additional seating in the Broomloan and Copland Stands.
John Spiers, Rangers’ disability access officer, said: “These fantastic plans will provide Rangers’ disabled supporters with some truly world-class accessible facilities. The club are aware our current offering for disabled supporters is not good enough for a club of our standing, however, these works will ensure that Rangers will provide the highest standard of accessibility for our disabled supporters.
“They will be able to attend matches in significantly more comfort, with hugely improved access to the stadium, as well as fully accessible facilities and views of the match. I look forward to the completion of these works and to welcoming so many more disabled supporters to Ibrox in the coming seasons.”
Rangers first revealed plans to expand the capacity of Ibrox back in December. The stadium, which opened in 1899, currently has a capacity of around 51,000.
