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BBC obtains Hampden redesign images; Celtic trophy parties would be incredible

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BBC Scotland have obtained some exciting images about what Celtic’s second favourite ground Hampden Park could look like in the future.

Celtic have had an incredible record at the National Stadium in recent years, lifting 11 trophies there over the past seven seasons.

We have had so many good memories there in recent times but the stadium still isn’t to everyone’s fancy.

Celtic v Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Scottish Cup Final
Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

The views at Hampden aren’t great if you find yourself in a corner or behind one of the goals, but that may not be forever.

Last month, SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell promised that Hampden improvements were coming with the stadium set to host matches at UEFA EURO 2028.

Those changes are unlikely to be major. However, we can still dream of a redeveloped stadium.

The BBC have obtained images of a new-look Hampden made by architects.

In 2020, Glasgow-based firm Holmes Miller were commissioned by the SFA to come up with a redesign.

While the plans were put on hold due to the collapse of the 2030 World Cup bid and the Covid-19 pandemic, the designs on the Holmes Miller website are still exciting.

They show a completely two-tier stadium with the East and West ends brought much closer to the pitch.

It’s fair to say that Celtic’s trophy parties would be taken up a notch in this new Hampden.

Celtic v Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Scottish Cup Final
Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

For a start, there would be more Celtic fans there than ever, with the capacity able to go up to 65,000 in the plans.

Intriguingly, there would also be curtains lowered down for matches with a crowd of less than 30,000 — keeping in the atmosphere.

The plans look really exciting but it is worth emphasising that none of this has been signed off by those in power.

They’ll need to find the money for that, first.

In other news, the apparent new Celtic away kit has appeared online and it’s a beauty