EDINBURGH RUGBY HAVE looked to build on some big improvements made in the Pro12 this season by striking a deal to take them out of Murrayfield in 2017.
The home ground of Scotland’s national team has a capacity of over 67,000, but the capital club attracted an average attendance of 5,426 this season. A figure that was greatly skewed by two 1872 clashes against Glasgow Warriors – which attracted 23,000 and then 8,000 to the stadium.
Without the seasonal derby games, the average attendance drops to just 3,347 and Edinburgh players have long struggled to disguise the difficulty they feel in playing a vast empty stadium on a regular basis.
Today, the Pro12 club announced a partnership with George Watson’s College to play their home games at the Myreside ground, a mile and a half from Murrayfield, from January 2017.
A statement from Edinburgh says they have agreed to play at Myreside from January until May next year and adds that their intention is: ”to play the full 2017/18 season at the ground”.
The capacity of the Watsonians FC home venue will be increased to 6,000 with the installation of temporary stands similar to those Leinster have erected around the RDS.
Though Edinburgh slipped back to ninth place in the final Pro12 standings, Alan Solomons’ side have impressed through the season and their tally of 11 wins is another sign of improvement when judged against their win totals of six, seven, seven and 10 in the years previous.
The move of venue, where they have played sporadically over the years, also has parallels in the efforts of reigning Pro12 champions Glasgow Warriors to improve their setup from the ground up over the years. Warriors moved out of Partick Thistle’s Firhill Stadium in 2012 to make their home in the 6,600 capacity Scotstoun, and that scaling down and consolidation – together with the genius of Gregor Townsend – helped to pull the club up among the elite in the league.
“This is a hugely positive step for Edinburgh Rugby and we are delighted at the opportunity to play our home matches at Myreside,” says Edinburgh managing director Jonny Petrie.
“This is about building a strong future for the club at a home ground in the city that better suits our needs and improves the matchday experience for fans and players alike.”
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Never mind Monday morning how do you stay awake during the game ?
Is it only on Sky?
Why thumbs down??? Just wondering if BBC or C4 etc are carrying the game?
It’s on BBC2 from 11pm
Thanks Catriona.
Don’t mind them. I only found out 2 years ago it was on bbc. Always assumed that it was only on Sky. A fair assumption too I think :-)
Or you could take Monday off!
How am I suppose to do mocks next week with 6nations and the super bowl on.????????
If your in Limerick Showtime Cinema is showing it for 15e and I think you get a beer, hotdog and popcorn for that and can bring your own beer too :)
Get a pair of Homer Simpson jury duty glasses for work. Can have a lovely nap then
Haha!!
I’m San Francisco-born, and don’t give a rat’s hiney about the business of American football. It’s a business. The teams and players care not one heartbeat about the fans, except as sources of revenue.
It was such a joy to attend the Munster hurling finals and watch a real sport being played by real sportsmen and to see real fans instead of drunken lunatics assaulting each other while watching steroid-crazed egomaniacs. A sporting epiphany it was.
What sport isn’t there to make money?
It’s ok not to like something, you don’t have to watch it. At the same time, keep your stupid opinions to yourself. That way you can hide your idiocy.
Gaelic Football & Hurling Billie. Playing for the pride of your home county ( with rare exceptions) & in most cases taking financial loss for the honour of doing it. I love professional sports especially rugby & AFL but there is something really special about Gaelic Games.
Thanks for the strategy tips, Billie. Don’t know what I did without you all my life.
Think you’ve gotten it all wrong, the whole purpose of the comments section here is for ppl to voice their opinions. Keep your “keep your stupid opinions to yourself” to yourself @BillieHetfield.
If you limit yourself to add breaks for social media thats about 90% of the game :-)
and the Americans say soccer is boring…
It’s not boring, your brain is just too small to understand what’s going on.
I won’t force you to watch, I promise.
I understand what is going on and it is very very boring. Enjoy staying up all night to watch that tripe. Worst sport ever invented in my opinion.
I swapped work on Monday for next saturday so I have a nice lie in and I just can not wait any longer bring on the Super Bowl !!!!
Just record it on sky plus keep clear of result and watch after work job done. Lets be fair not many people are gonna be running around work roaring and shouting bout the game so chances are great you’ll miss result.
never works!
Can’t wait.
I bet 49ers for the Super Bowl in October.
LOL!
- Bags under the eyes: check!
- The caffeine overdose: check!
- Wearing odd shoes: … … check :(
Sleep in the afternoon is what has gotten me through the playoffs to watch the Saturday games live. Set the alarm for before the game. Wake up, and OD on coffee until the shakes set in and you can feel your heart squelching on every beat.
Or…you could tape it and watch it the next day at a reasonable hour
Risky strategy. Twitter can be a bollocks for this.
Next day off work is the best plan I think.
true but unless its on during the day its rather pointless. After 2am just go to bed you make bad decisions after 2am :D
@john have you been watching how I met your mother
Yes yes I have it what happens when you only got basic UPC
You record it on the UPC box and watch it when you get home from work.