Royal Highland Centre facts for kids
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Royal Highland Showground
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The Highland Hall in March 2009
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| Former names | Royal Highland Showground |
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| Location | Ingliston, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°56′27.59″N 3°22′26.44″W / 55.9409972°N 3.3740111°W |
| Owner | Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland |
| Capacity | 10,500 (Highland Hall) ~35,000 (South Arena) 5,250 (Lowland Hall) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1960 |
| Expanded | 1970s and 1980s |
The Royal Highland Centre is a large event space and exhibition centre located in Ingliston, just outside Edinburgh, Scotland. It's right next to Edinburgh Airport and a major road called the A8. This busy place was originally known as the Royal Highland Showground.
Contents
History of the Royal Highland Centre
The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) bought the land for the centre in 1958. They spent two years getting the site ready, building new roads and improving the electricity. The 300-acre site officially opened in 1960.
Growing Bigger: New Buildings and Spaces
During the 1970s and 1980s, the Royal Highland Centre grew even more. New buildings were added, including the Highland Hall and a special Countryside Area. These additions helped the centre host even larger and more varied events.
Music and Events at the Centre
Over the years, the Royal Highland Centre has been a popular spot for live music concerts. Many famous artists have performed here, including David Bowie, The Jacksons, Genesis, Queen, Oasis, and Iron Maiden.
In 1979, the centre hosted the Edinburgh Rock festival. This big event featured bands like Van Morrison, Talking Heads, and The Chieftains.
Rave Events in the 1990s
In the 1990s, the Royal Highland Centre became famous for hosting large dance events called "raves." A group called Rezerection organised monthly events here. Each summer, they held a huge event called "The Event," where up to 25,000 people would gather in many tents and arenas to dance.
What Happens at the Centre Today?
Today, the Royal Highland Centre (RHC) is a very busy place. It welcomes over 1 million visitors every year to a wide variety of events. The biggest event is the Royal Highland Show, which attracts more than 200,000 visitors each year.
Future Plans for the Royal Highland Centre
In 2006, there were plans to expand Edinburgh Airport. These plans suggested that the Royal Highland Centre's land might be needed for the airport by 2013. This meant the future of the centre was uncertain for a while.
Staying Put and Upgrading
By 2008, the airport expansion plans that threatened the centre were cancelled. This was great news for the Royal Highland Centre! Because of this, the RHASS decided to invest £75 million to upgrade and improve the site. Work on these improvements began right after the Royal Highland Show in 2010.
Recent Events and Popular Shows
In 2017, the popular pop group Little Mix performed the first concert in the centre's new outdoor South Arena. Since October 2019, the Royal Highland Centre has also been the home of Comic Con Scotland. This popular annual event attracts a large audience and many famous celebrity guests.
