Excelsior Stadium facts for kids
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New Broomfield
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 Excelsior Stadium
Location in North Lanarkshire
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| Location | Airdrie |
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| Coordinates | 55°51′35″N 3°57′35″W / 55.85972°N 3.95972°W |
| Capacity | 10,101 (all seated) |
| Field size | 115 × 75 yds |
| Surface | 3G artificial pitch |
| Opened | 1998 |
| Tenants | |
| Airdrieonians F.C. (1878) (1998–2002) Airdrieonians F.C. (2002–present) Queen's Park F.C. (2013–2014) Glasgow City F.C. (2014–2017) Motherwell F.C. Women (2020–2021) Glasgow University F.C. (2020–present) Celtic F.C. Women (2021–2024) Celtic F.C. B (2021–present) |
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The Excelsior Stadium is a football stadium in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is also known as The Albert Bartlett Stadium due to sponsorship. This stadium is the home ground for Airdrieonians, a team in the Scottish Professional Football League.
Since 2021, other teams have also used the Excelsior Stadium. These include Celtic's women's team and their B team. Glasgow University F.C. also plays its home matches here. The stadium has seats for everyone and features a special 3G artificial pitch. It is sometimes called New Broomfield, a nod to Airdrieonians' old stadium.
The stadium first opened in 1998. It was built for the original Airdrieonians F.C.. They were returning to Airdrie after leaving their previous home, Broomfield Park, four years earlier. The name "Excelsior" comes from the club's first name, Excelsior F.C., back in 1878. Over the years, the stadium has had different sponsor names, like The Shyberry Excelsior Stadium and The Penny Cars Stadium.
Many other teams have played at Excelsior Stadium. Glasgow City's women's team used it as their main home from 2014 to 2017. Motherwell's women's team played here during the 2020–21 season. Queen's Park also used the stadium temporarily from 2013 to 2014. Even teams like Queen of the South and Motherwell have played European games here. The stadium has also hosted the final of the Scottish Challenge Cup three times.
Stadium History
After the original Airdrieonians sold their old stadium, Broomfield Park, in 1994, they needed a new home. Football rules at the time said top teams needed stadiums with at least 10,000 seats. The club wanted to meet these rules.
Building the Excelsior Stadium was finished in 1998. Airdrieonians played there until the club faced big money problems and closed down in 2002. The cost of the new stadium and fewer fans made things difficult.
When the original Airdrieonians club closed, there was a spot open in the Scottish League. A new club, Airdrie United, was formed. They took over Clydebank and moved to Airdrie, making Excelsior Stadium their home. This club later changed its name back to 'Airdrieonians'.
The stadium has 10,101 seats. Besides Airdrieonians' games, it has hosted Scottish Challenge Cup finals in 1999 and 2005. It has also seen games for the Scotland under-21 team and charity events.
In 2003, Falkirk wanted to share the stadium for a season. Their old stadium didn't meet the rules for the top league. However, this idea was not approved. In 2008, Queen of the South played a European game here. Motherwell also used the stadium for their European qualifying matches in 2009.
Queen's Park used Excelsior Stadium as their temporary home in 2013-2014. This was because their usual stadium, Hampden Park, was being changed for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
In women's football, Glasgow City played here from 2014 to 2017. Motherwell's women's team used it in the 2020–21 season. Since 2020, Glasgow University F.C. has also played at the stadium. From 2021, Celtic F.C.'s women's team and B team have made Excelsior Stadium their home.
In 2016, East Kilbride played a big Scottish Cup match against Celtic here. Their own stadium was too small for the large crowd. A huge 7,767 fans came to watch that game.
In 2017, the stadium was updated to host a concert by the famous singer Elton John.
Stadium Records
The most people ever to attend a game at Excelsior Stadium was 9,612. This was for the 2005 Scottish Challenge Cup Final between Hamilton Academical and St Mirren in 2005.
For an Airdrieonians match, the highest confirmed attendance was 9,044. This was for a game against Rangers in 2013. However, an early game in 1998 against Celtic was reported to have had 10,000 fans.
Stadium Facilities
The stadium has special boxes where you can watch the match. It also has rooms for meetings and parties, plus a public bar in the main stand. There are special facilities for disabled visitors in different stands.
A Sports Injury Clinic helps athletes from the main stand. A fitness center called Crossfit also operates from the North Stand.
In 2010, nine small five-a-side football pitches were added next to the stadium for the community to use. The car parks were also redone, and new fences were put up around the stadium area.
At the end of the 2009–10 season, a new 3G artificial pitch was installed. This new surface was ready for games by August 2010. The first competitive game on the new pitch was between Airdrie and Ayr United.
See also
In Spanish: Excelsior Stadium para niños
- Stadium relocations in Scottish football
