The Excelsior Stadium is a football stadium in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is the home ground of Airdrieonians F.C. of the Scottish Professional Football League and Glasgow City F.C. of the Scottish Women's Premier League. It is an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 10,101.
The stadium was opened in 1998 by the original Airdrieonians F.C., who were returning to Airdrie four years after leaving their previous ground, Broomfield Park. The name of the stadium derives from Airdrieonians' original name, the club having been founded as Excelsior F.C. in 1878. Originally known as the Shyberry Excelsior Stadium for sponsorship reasons, the stadium is also sometimes unofficially referred to New Broomfield, after the former Airdrie ground. Following the liquidation of the original Airdrieonians in 2002, the Excelsior Stadium became home to the new Airdrie United F.C.; they subsequently revived the Airdrieonians name.
In addition to Airdrie, the Excelsior Stadium has hosted a number of other teams. Queen's Park temporarily shared the ground from 2013 to 2014. Glasgow City have played home games at the ground on a regular basis since 2014, and previous to that for matches in European competition. Both Queen of the South (in 2008) and Motherwell (in 2009) have used the ground for European fixtures. It has also hosted the final of the Scottish Challenge Cup twice.
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History
Following the sale of Airdrieonians' home ground (Broomfield Park) to large supermarket chain Safeway in 1994, the club searched for several years for a suitable site, and planning permission for, a new home. The motive for the move was to build a stadium that would allow the club entry to Scottish Premier League (clubs were required to have a stadium with a seating capacity of at least ten thousand). The building work on Excelsior Stadium was eventually completed in 1998, and Airdrieonians played here until the club went out of business due to heavy debts in May 2002. This left an opening in the Scottish League, which was filled by Northern Premier League side Gretna. To attain a position in the league, Jim Ballantyne bought out the ailing Clydebank, renamed the club Airdrie United, changed the strip and relocated the club to Airdrie. Airdrie United are now known as 'Airdrieonians', which is the same name as the club that was dissolved in 2002.
The ground seats 10,101 and, as well as hosting Airdrieonians first and youth team games, Motherwell Under 20s games and various local amateur sides, it has also played host to a Scottish Challenge Cup final, as well as Scotland under-21 fixtures and Old Firm reserve matches. The stadium has also hosted several charity events and will be a concert venue for singer Elton John in June 2017.
In 2003 Falkirk enquired about groundsharing at the stadium for a season, as their former home, Brockville did not meet SPL criteria. This was later rejected in a meeting between SPL chairmen, meaning Falkirk were denied a place in the SPL. In August 2008 it played host to Queen of the South's UEFA Cup 2nd qualifying round 1st leg against Nordsjælland. The stadium also hosted all of Motherwell's Europa League qualifying round ties in the 2009-10 season, against Llanelli, Flamurtari and Steaua Bucharest.
Since the original Airdrieonians FC went into liquidation, the ownership of the stadium has been in several hands. Currently the stadium is owned by a limited liability partnership called Excelsior Stadium LLP. The current stadium management company is called Excelsior Stadium Ltd. The Directors of Excelsior Stadium Limited incorporated a new company on 11 March 2011 called Broomfield Stadium Ltd. The owners work closely with Airdrieonians, with personnel involved in coaching youth players, along with various commercial and sponsorship initiatives.
Queen's Park used Excelsior Stadium as their regular home ground while Hampden Park was being converted for use as an athletics stadium in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
In June 2017 Elton John performed a concert at the stadium.
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Records and facts
The record attendance at New Broomfield was 9,612 for the 2005 Scottish Challenge Cup Final, played between Hamilton Academical and St Mirren on 6 November 2005. The highest attendance for an Airdrieonians match was 9,044 for a Scottish League One fixture against Rangers on 23 August 2013. Excelsior Stadium is the second highest stadium in Scottish league football, at 124 metres above sea level, 3 metres below the highest, Clyde's Broadwood Stadium.
Facilities
In addition to the executive match-viewing boxes that look onto the pitch, the stadium boasts conference and banqueting facilities, with six separate spaces and a public bar being situated within the main (Jack Dalziel) stand. Disabled facilities are also provided in the North, East and South stands. A Sports Injury Clinic operates from the main stand.
Nine five-a-side football pitches were installed for community use in early 2010, adjacent to the stadium on the South stand side and to the East stand side. The car parks were resurfaced, and new fencing and gates were erected around the perimeter of the stadium and land.
At the end of the 2009-10 season, a new 3G artificial surface was installed. Although due for completion prior to season 2010-11, in July Airdrie United played their opening Challenge Cup 1st Round game v Ayr United at Alloa Athletic's Recreation Park ground, as the work had been delayed due to heavy rain. The first competitive game played on the new surface was on 14 August 2010, as Airdrie entertained Ayr United.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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