Fears are growing among loyal bears that the ‘improvements’ to the Copland Road Stand at Ibrox won’t be ready for the start of the new season.
An additional 600 seats are being created with improved an improved Disabled Section created as well as rehousing the Union Bears to create a singing section although it will remin seated with no sign of the much promised Standing Section.
Work apparently started straight after the final SPFL home match of the season on May 14 but official updates and progress reports have been thin on the ground.
On January 4 the company announced:
FOLLOWING a significant period of consultation with supporters and numerous stakeholders, Rangers FC can now announce new seating arrangements within Ibrox Stadium effective from season 2024/25.
As has been the club’s long-term ambition, a number of new accessible viewing positions are to be added to the rear of the Copland Front, increasing our overall wheelchair-accessible spaces to 153 – the highest of any stadium in the Scottish Premiership.
Additionally, following trials earlier in the season and further to supporter and men’s first-team player feedback, the club will introduce an expanded singing section within the Copland Front.
The Ibrox atmosphere is renowned the world over, and the club are committed to enhancing that even further to ensure our famous home remains one of football’s most iconic venues.
Allied to these changes, a new cantilever will be constructed at the front of the Copland Rear with almost 1000 new seats, meaning a net-capacity increase of almost 600, with these new seats having some of the best views of the Ibrox pitch.
The SPFL season will definitely start with an away match on the weekend of August 3/4 with the Champions League Third Round qualifying round starting in the following midweek, home matches could be scheduled for August 6 and 10.
If the work isn’t completed on time the club would have to decide to play in front of a reduced capacity or to take home matches to Murrayfield. Glasgow’s biggest stadium won’t be made available with Hampden out of contention due to work taking place on the pitch.
No home pre-season friendlies have been arranged with the only match on Scottish soil coming on July 20 with Manchester United the host club at Murrayfield.
Whatever option is taken up is going to result in a loss of income, keeping the Union Bears onside could be an issue if capacity is reduced to around 42,000 which is below the number of Season Tickets that have been sold.
The first round of fixtures should include trips to Celtic Park, Pittodrie, Easter Road and Tynecastle, further away games are going to increase the difficulties facing the Clement Revolution! with only Jefte and Clinton Nsiala added to last season’s serial losers.
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