Stadium

History of the stadium

Welcome to the home stadium of Celtic Football Club, Celtic Park. The ground is one of the most iconic stadia in the world and dates back to 1892. It is the biggest stadium in Scotland with a capacity of over 60,00, also making it one of the largest stadia in the United Kingdom.

Celtic Park is often referred to as Parkhead owing to its location in the East End of Glasgow. While supporters also affectionally call their stadium Paradise and it was built by throngs of volunteers. They spent six months building a stadium over the road from the first Celtic Park.

The Bhoys originally leased six acres of land on Dalmarnock Street in November 1887 to host their fixtures. Celtic would erect one of the most state-of-the-art stadiums in Scotland at the time. But the club moved sites in 1892 after their landlord significantly increased their rent.

The Bhoys built a new Celtic Park and their home in 1892

Celtic took over a plot of land at the disused brickyard at Janefield Street and spent the next six months building their new stadium. The six-acre site soon earned the nickname Paradise after a local journalist referenced their move away from a plot of land that sat adjacent to a cemetery.

Further development at Celtic Park saw the stadium become the first in Britain with a press box in 1894. While the Bhoys erected a stand on the southern side later in the decade. But a fire in 1904 damaged the north stand and work in 1929 would also replace the southern Grant Stand.

Celtic’s now famous Jungle would eventually take the place of the northern stand when the club rebuilt the stand. While 1959 saw the Bhoys play a home game under the spotlights for the first time. And further changes would also see the club unveil a new main stand in September 1971.

The main stand would also later form a part of Celtic’s centenary anniversary in the 1987/88 campaign. Celtic completely altered the image of the stand with a red brick façade. But great changes were to come when Fergus McCann bought the club and set about a major rebuild.

Fergus McCann funded a major redevelopment of Celtic’s stadium in 1994

McCann sought to make Celtic Park the 60,000 all-seated stadium it is today in 1994 with an overhaul of the ground. The Bhoys switched to Hampden Park for the 1994/95 season while work began with the demolition of the Jungle and later returned as their project continued.

Celtic finished work on a new north stand first of all in 1995 before opening the Lisbon Lions Stand a year later. The Jock Stein Stand then later marked the completion of their project in 1998. All of the work set the Glasgow giants back in excess of £40m to rebuild their ground.

The Bhoys also got permission to add rail seating in 2015. While Celtic improved the stadium with a £4m project in 2018. The club spent £2.3m on an entertainment system featuring LED lights, £1.3m on a hybrid pitch and installed panels to the Jock Stein and Lisbon Lions stands.

How to get to Celtic Park

Fans can get to Celtic Park by a number of ways with Celtic’s stadium accessible by car, foot, bike and public transport. The ground is around a 45-minute walk from Glasgow city centre and either the Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street train stations for fans travelling by foot.

Traffic around the stadium can make access to Celtic Park difficult for those arriving by car or private-hire vehicles approaching kick-off. But those using such means can get to Celtic Park on the M74 or M73 and the M74 (East) and take the A74 exit before following London Road.

Fans travelling on the M8 can use junctions 12, 13 and 14. But Celtic Park only offers limited first-come, first-served parking near Janefield Street. While the stadium has bike racks at the Billy McNeill statue and superstore with the ground around 10 minutes from the city centre.

Trains leaving Queen Street take fans to around one mile from Celtic Park at Bellgrove. While fans can get to within half a mile of Celtic Park with trains leaving Glasgow Central or Argyle Street to Dalmarnock and Bridgeton. The nearest bus stop is at the Forge Shopping Centre.

Stadium tour info

Celtic offer fans wanting a behind-the-scenes look at their stadium one-hour guided tours of Celtic Park. The tours provide a chance to learn about Celtic’s history and also access to the boardroom, tunnel, dressing room and dugout Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers occupies.

There are various types of stadium tours available at Celtic Park from a standard guided tour to a tour and dine experience. Visitors with groups of 10 or more can also book a group tour. While the tour and dine option includes a three-course meal in Celtic’s Number 7 restaurant.

Tours of Celtic Park take place Mondays to Fridays at 11:00 and 13:30, whilst stadium tours on non-matchday Saturdays and Sundays start at 11:00, 11:30, 12:30, 13:00, 14:00 & 14:30. The tour and dine option is only available on Saturdays and Sundays and lasts three hours.

Address:

Celtic Park: Kerrydale Street, Parkhead, Glasgow, G40 3RE