Finishing line in sight as Meadowbank Sports Centre announces opening date

The City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh Leisure have announced that the new Meadowbank Sports Centre will open to the public on Tuesday 19th July.  

The new £47m project is a state-of-the-art community sports facility built on the site of the original Meadowbank, which closed in December 2017. The centre will support physical activity, sport, health, and wellbeing in Edinburgh for generations to come, whilst also recognising the legacy and heritage of the old Meadowbank. 

The new venue supports accessible participation and has improved indoor facilities with two multi-sport halls with seating, gym with triple the number of exercise stations and three large fitness studios.

City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cammy Day said: I’m delighted that we can now confirm when the doors for this fantastic new venue will open to the public.

“Meadowbank, I believe, is one of the country’s top community sports centres, and features some of the most state-of-the-art fitness facilities in Britain. I very much look forward to seeing it bustling with sporting activity through the wide range of activities and classes.

“Participation and accessibility is at the heart of the Centre and the huge physical, mental and social benefits Meadowbank will bring to generations of local people simply can’t be overestimated.

“Bright welcoming spaces are flooded with natural light, providing welcoming and versatile halls, where a real variety of sports and activities will take place. Meadowbank has been an important part of Scotland’s sporting history for many years and I’m sure the new Centre will build on this legacy.”

Commenting on the announcement, Edinburgh Leisure’s Chief Executive, June Peebles, said: “I’m delighted that the finishing line is in sight, and we are finally able to announce the opening of this new flagship venue. It’s been a long time coming but I promise you it will have been worth the wait.

“The forthcoming weeks before we open, will see Donald Goldsmith, the manager at Meadowbank, and his team getting the venue cleaned, prepped and ready for our public opening, including an extensive staff training programme to ensure that when the public walk through our doors for the first time that they get the Edinburgh Leisure welcome we are renowned for.

“The new Meadowbank will pick up where the old Meadowbank left off, providing countless opportunities for generations to come to participate in an extensive range of activities. New memories will be created, and we can’t wait to welcome the people of Edinburgh and beyond, into the new venue.

“This multi-million-pound investment will provide countless opportunities for Edinburgh citizens to be active and will undoubtedly contribute to the wellbeing of our City.”

The new Meadowbank has much to offer the local community and communities throughout Edinburgh and includes the following facilities:

  • An outdoor eight-lane athletics track with a 499-seat stand and outdoor throwing and jumps areas
  • A 60m six-lane indoor athletics track and jumps space
  • Two multi-sport halls with fixed and moveable spectator seating
  • A hall for trampolining and dance
  • Two fitness studios, which include world-renowned Les Mills programme of classes, smart tech bars and weights
  • A gym with Life Fitness equipment, dumbbells up to 50kg, Watt bikes, SkiErg, row and Cybex SPARC machines
  • A Cycle Studio with Life Fitness IC7 bikes and ICG myride and Les Mills RPM classes
  • Two squash courts
  • A combat studio for martial arts
  • A boxing gym
  • Two 3G (synthetic) pitches, including one with a 499-seat stand
  • A hospitality suite and event-hosting facilities
  • Cafe and meeting rooms

More detailed plans about opening times and how to buy memberships will be announced on Edinburgh Leisure’s website and social media in the coming weeks.

Bellfield to sponsor Edinburgh City women’s football team

Edinburgh City FC Women’s team will be sponsored for the forthcoming season by Bellfield Taproom. Bellfield’s logo will feature on the team strips and the partners will hold a number of joint activities such as charity fundraisers and quiz nights.

Bellfield Taproom – in the city’s Abbeyhill district – is a stone’s throw from the club’s home base: the new Meadowbank Stadium.

The team will return to playing home matches at Meadowbank, from November this year, when the newly rebuilt stadium reopens.

Dave Armstrong, Head of Media & Communications, Edinburgh City FC Women said: “Sponsorship is crucial to our team and Bellfield is very local to our home base. Their reputation for being inclusive and ‘supporting local’ means they are a great partner for the club.

“We are ambitious and aiming to get to the top level, so we hope to make Bellfield proud of their association with the team.”

Women’s football in Scotland is growing at a rapid pace and the opportunities for brand and business awareness and promotion are increasing exponentially.

Edinburgh City FC Women’s team currently play in the SWF Championship which is one tier away from Premiership football. 

The Edinburgh City Women’s squad boasts many Scotland Internationals as well as former Hibs and Celtic players.

The team has a Turkish International in Yasemin Emek and an American No.1, Kelli Hanman.

Bellfield director Marie Brown said: “We’re pleased to be sponsoring such an ambitious and talented squad and look forward to following their progress this season.

“We’re also looking forward to meeting the players and to hosting events and fundraisers at our Taproom to help them on their way.”

It’s Meadowbank … but not as you know it!

The city council has released a computer-generated journey through its soon-to-be-built Meadowbank Sports Centre. The flythrough video, produced by Holmes Miller and Visual Lane, has been created to give future users an impression of how the new cutting-edge complex will look when it opens in 2020. Continue reading It’s Meadowbank … but not as you know it!

End of an era: Meadowbank Fireworks tickets on sale today

With Meadowbank Stadium set to close its doors on 3 December 2017 for redevelopment, members of the public will have the chance to attend a final fireworks concert on Sunday, 5 November. Tickets for the annual fireworks display, the largest in the capital, go on sale today at 9.00 am.

The annual fireworks display at Meadowbank Stadium has been a staple of the Capital’s bonfire night offering for the last 30 years. 

Produced by award winning pyrotechnic company 21cc, the fireworks will be accompanied by a sci-fi theme.  Doors open 6pm, with entertainment from 6.30pm and the fireworks starting at 7.30pm. 

Booking is strongly recommended. Tickets are available online from Ticketsource and cost £7.00 each (a booking fee applies) or telephone the box office on 0131 661 5351.

Last lap for Meadowbank as December closure confirmed

After a run of almost 50 years, Meadowbank Stadium will shut its doors on 3rd December, the city council has confirmed. The closure of the flagship venue, which was built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games, will mark the start of major redevelopment plans to create a new state-of-the-art sports centre on the same site. Continue reading Last lap for Meadowbank as December closure confirmed