Caledonian Stadium facts for kids
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 Sarens PSG Stadium
Location in Inverness area
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| Former names | Tulloch Caledonian Stadium (2005–2019) Caledonian Stadium (1996–2005; 2019–2025) |
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| Location | Inverness, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 57°29′41″N 4°13′03″W / 57.49472°N 4.21750°W |
| Owner | Highland Council |
| Capacity | 7,750 |
| Record attendance | 7,753 (Football) 10,000+ (Concert) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1996 |
| Opened | 9 November 1996 |
| Expanded | 2004 |
| Tenants | |
| 1996–present | |
The Caledonian Stadium is a football ground in Inverness, Scotland. It is currently known as the Sarens PSG Stadium for sponsorship reasons. This stadium is home to the Inverness Caledonian Thistle football team. It sits near the Moray Firth, a beautiful sea inlet.
Contents
The Stadium's Story
How the Club and Stadium Began
In 1994, two local football clubs, Caledonian and Inverness Thistle, joined together. They formed a new team called Inverness Caledonian Thistle. For a short time, the new club played at an older ground. However, to join the Scottish Football League, they promised to build a new stadium.
The local council, Highland Council, approved a spot for the new stadium. It was near the A9 road and the Kessock Bridge. There were some worries about the stadium's bright lights affecting ships in the Moray Firth. Also, a new road was needed to help with traffic.
Building the New Home
The council eventually agreed to provide money for the stadium in December 1995. The new stadium opened its doors in November 1996. The first game there was a 1–1 draw between Caley Thistle and Albion Rovers.
The stadium cost £5.2 million to build. Money came from selling the old club grounds and grants from the council and the Football Trust. The local authority still owns the land. Inverness Caledonian Thistle has a long-term lease for 99 years.
Early International Matches
The Caledonian Stadium hosted its first international game in March 1997. Scotland's Under-16 team beat England's Under-16 team 5–1. In 1998, the stadium also hosted games for the 1998 UEFA European Under-16 Championship.
Later that year, the Scottish women's team played a match there. They drew 1–1 against the Czech Republic. This was part of their efforts to qualify for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Stadium Expansion and Changes
When Inverness CT was promoted to the Scottish Premier League (SPL) in 2004, they faced a challenge. Their stadium did not have enough seats to meet the league's rules. The stadium had 6,280 spots, but only 2,280 were seats.
To fix this, the club played some games at Pittodrie Stadium in Aberdeen. Meanwhile, the Caledonian Stadium was quickly updated. Two new stands were built in just 47 days. This made the stadium all-seater and increased its capacity to over 7,500.
The stadium was then called the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium for many years. This was because the Tulloch Construction Company helped pay for the upgrades. In February 2019, the stadium's name went back to "Caledonian Stadium." This happened after Tulloch gave the stadium to the club.
Recent Updates and Events
In 2007, a smaller stand called the West Stand was added. It can hold about 400 people. The most fans ever at a football game here was 7,753. This record was set on January 20, 2008, during a match against Rangers.
In 2018, the stadium got new barcode scanning turnstiles. These made it easier for fans to enter. The stadium also hosted the 2019 Scottish Challenge Cup Final. This was a big game between Ross County and Connah's Quay Nomads.
In February 2020, a World War II bomb was found near the stadium. The area was evacuated, but the bomb was safely removed. This allowed a Scottish Cup game to happen the next day.
In March 2025, there was talk about the club possibly moving to a smaller venue. This was to help the club's finances, as the current stadium is quite large for the number of fans attending Scottish League One games.
In August 2025, the stadium was renamed the SarensPSG Stadium. This was part of a new sponsorship deal with a Belgian construction company called Sarens. This deal will last until the 2027–28 season.
Big Games at the Stadium
The Caledonian Stadium has hosted several important international football matches. Here are some of them:
| Date | Tournament | Home | Score | Away |
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| 6 March 1997 | Friendly | Scotland U-16  |
5–1 |  England U-16 |
| 26 April 1998 | 1998 UEFA U-16 Euro Group Stage | Croatia U-17  |
2–0 |  Ukraine U-17 |
| 28 April 1998 | Russia U-17  |
0–0 | Croatia U-17 |
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| 30 April 1998 | Ukraine U-17 |
2–1 | Russia U-17 |
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| 3 May 1998 | 1998 UEFA U-16 Euro Quarter Final | Israel U-17  |
1–4 |  Portugal U-17 |
| 23 May 1998 | 1999 Women's World Cup qualifiers | Scotland Women |
1–1 |  Czech Republic Women |
| 15 March 2006 | Friendly | Scotland B |
2–3 |  Turkey B |
More Than Just Football
Rugby Matches
The stadium has also hosted rugby games. In March 2001, it saw a match between Caledonia Reds and Edinburgh Reivers. There were plans for another rugby match in September 2022, but it was cancelled.
Concerts and Entertainment
The Caledonian Stadium is also a popular place for concerts. Famous singers like Elton John performed there in 2007. Rod Stewart entertained thousands of fans in 2010 and again in 2016.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the stadium was used as a drive-in cinema. People could watch movies like Toy Story, Grease, Joker, and Braveheart from their cars. In July 2022, Andrea Bocelli and Duran Duran also held concerts at the stadium.
See also
In Spanish: Caledonian Stadium para niños
- Stadium relocations in Scottish football
