Editing Easter Road

{{Short description|Football stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland}}
{{for multi|the street after which the stadium is named|Easter Road (street)|other uses|Easter Road (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name     = Easter Road Stadium
| nickname         = The Leith San Siro<ref name="Lugton199"/><br />The Holy Ground<ref name = "sparky"/>
| image            = Easter Road 2010.JPG
| image_size       = 250
| caption          =
| pushpin_map      = United Kingdom Edinburgh
| pushpin_mapsize  = 250
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Edinburgh
| pushpin_label_position = left
| coordinates      = {{coord|55|57|42|N|3|9|56|W|type:landmark_region:GB-EDH|display=inline,title}}
| location         = 12 Albion Place<br />Edinburgh<br />EH7 5QG<ref name = directions>{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/stadiumdirections |title=STADIUM DIRECTIONS |website=hibernianfc.co.uk |publisher=Hibernian FC |access-date=21 April 2020 |archive-date=20 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120015412/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/stadiumdirections |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| broke_ground     = 1892
| opened           = 1893
| renovated        = 2010
| architect        = [[Percy Johnson-Marshall]] (Famous Five and South Stands)<ref name = "Inglis451"/>
| owner            = [[Hibernian F.C.]]
| surface          = Hybrid
| tenants          = {{infobox stadium/tenantlist 
| tenant_clubs     = Hibernian F.C.<br />[[Edinburgh Rugby]]
| tenant_years     = 1893–present<br />1998–1999
}}
| record_attendance= 65,860 v [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]]<br /><small>2 January 1950</small>
| seating_capacity = {{SPFL-stadiums|hibernian}}<ref name = "20421 cap"/><ref name="capacity"/>
}}
'''Easter Road''' is a [[association football|football]] stadium located in the [[Leith]] area of [[Edinburgh]], Scotland, which is the home ground of [[Scottish Premiership]] club [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] (Hibs). The stadium currently has an all-seated capacity of {{SPFL-stadiums|hibernian}},<ref name = "20421 cap"/><ref name="capacity">{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/hibernian/ |title=Hibernian Football Club |website=spfl.co.uk |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |access-date=5 January 2014}}</ref> which makes it the fifth-largest [[List of football stadiums in Scotland|football stadium in Scotland]]. Easter Road is also known by Hibs fans as "The Holy Ground" or "The Leith [[San Siro]]".<ref name = "Lugton199"/><ref name = "sparky">{{cite web|url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20110924/sparky-in-the-hibernian_2262950_2461271|title=Sparky in The Hibernian|date=24 September 2011|access-date=29 October 2011|website=hibernianfc.co.uk|publisher=Hibernian F.C.|quote=Buzzing like a wasp and stinging like a diehard Hibee, [[Leigh Griffiths]] has brought a gust of invigorating fresh air to the team's attack since joining the club on loan. Having supported Hibernian from the stands as a boy and after playing for the team in green at junior level – before spells with [[Livingston F.C.|Livingston]] and [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] – Griffiths must have felt like he was coming home. But his transition from [[Leith Academy]] to the Leith San Siro has not been a smooth ride, although the [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland under-21]] striker says he is glad he got there in the end.|archive-date=17 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617105559/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20110924/sparky-in-the-hibernian_2262950_2461271|url-status=dead}}</ref> The venue has also been used to stage international matches, [[Scottish League Cup]] semi-finals and was briefly the home ground of the [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] professional [[rugby union]] team.

Hibs first played at the present site of Easter Road in 1893. The ground holds the record attendance for a Scottish match outside Glasgow, when 65,860 attended an [[Edinburgh derby]] on 2 January 1950.<ref name = "firm favourite"/> The size of the terracing was greatly reduced in the 1980s.  After the publication of the [[Taylor Report]], Hibs considered leaving Easter Road and moving to a different site (Straiton, near [[Loanhead]] was mooted), but these plans were abandoned in 1994. Redevelopment of the stadium began in 1995 and was completed in 2010. The Easter Road pitch had a pronounced slope until it was removed in 2000.<ref name = "slope removed">{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/scottish_premier/730435.stm |title=Hibs bid farewell to slope |publisher=BBC |website=[[BBC Sport]] |date=29 April 2000|access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref>

==History==
{{see also|History of Hibernian F.C.}}

===Early history (1893–1945)===
Hibernian played its first match on [[The Meadows (park)|the Meadows]], on 25 December 1875.<ref name = "Lugton26">{{harvnb|Lugton|1999|p=26}}</ref> The club first moved to the [[Easter Road, Edinburgh|Easter Road]] area in 1880,<ref name = "Inglis450"/> to a ground known as [[Hibernian Park]].<ref name = "Lugton46">{{harvnb|Lugton|1999|p=46}}</ref> This location had the advantage of being equidistant between their two main sources of support, the Irish immigrant communities in the port of [[Leith]] and the [[Old Town, Edinburgh|Old Town]] of Edinburgh.<ref name = "Lugton45">{{harvnb|Lugton|1999|p=45}}</ref> When Hibs suffered financial difficulties in the early 1890s, the lease on Hibernian Park expired and developers started building what would become Bothwell Street.<ref name = "Inglis450">{{harvnb|Inglis|1996|p=450}}</ref> The club was reformed in 1892 and a lease on a piece of land called Drum Park was secured.<ref name = "Lugton199">{{harvnb|Lugton|1999|p=199}}</ref> The site had restricted access from Easter Road, a pronounced slope and was in close proximity to Bank Park, the home of [[Leith Athletic F.C.|Leith Athletic]].<ref name = "Lugton199"/><ref name = "time up for slope">{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/time-up-for-slope-graced-by-the-best-with-easter-road-pitch-due-to-be-levelled-lawrie-reilly-recalls-when-hibs-loved-playing-down-the-hill-1.238564 |title=Time up for slope graced by the best With Easter Road pitch due to be levelled, Lawrie Reilly recalls when Hibs loved playing down the hill |first=Rob |last=Robertson |newspaper=The Herald |publisher=Herald & Times Group |date=26 April 2000 |access-date=1 January 2014}}</ref> There was a sense of continuity from the previous ground, however, and the supporters were keen to get started again.<ref name = "Lugton199"/> The first match at Easter Road was played on 4 February 1893, a friendly against [[Clyde F.C.|Clyde]].<ref name = "Lugton205">{{harvnb|Lugton|1999|p=205}}</ref>

[[File:Easter Road old.jpg|thumb|right|Easter Road in the 1950s.]]
Easter Road staged its first [[Scottish Football League|Scottish League]] match when Hibs joined the league in [[1893–94 in Scottish football|1893]].<ref name = "Lugton218">{{harvnb|Lugton|1999|p=218}}</ref> Hibs were only renting Easter Road, which Edinburgh city planners had designated for future development.<ref name = "Inglis340">{{harvnb|Inglis|1987|p=340}}</ref> This meant the club were unwilling to develop the ground and looked for alternatives.<ref name = "Inglis340"/> Hibs considered relocating to [[Aberdeen]] in 1902,<ref name = "Inglis450"/> a year before [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen FC]] was formed by a merger of three local clubs.<ref name = "time up for slope"/> In 1909, work began on a potential new ground in the [[Piershill]] area of Edinburgh, but the [[North British Railway]] company won a court order allowing them to build a railway line over the ground.<ref name = "Inglis450"/><ref name = "time up for slope"/> No line was ever built, but Hibs' interest in moving to the site was thwarted.<ref name = "Inglis450"/> The long-term future of Easter Road was only secured in 1922, when the club agreed a 25-year lease on the ground.<ref name = "Inglis450"/><ref name = "Inglis340"/> Two years later, three banks of terraces were raised, while a main stand seating 4,480 people was built on the west side of the ground.<ref name = "Inglis450"/> The redeveloped stadium had a capacity of 45,000.<ref name = "Inglis340"/> The pitch was also moved 40 yards to the east, providing space for the main stand.<ref name = "time up for slope"/> The slope was reduced to approximately 6 feet as part of this work.<ref name = "time up for slope"/>

===Post-war (1945&ndash;1991)===
Hibs enjoyed great success in the period immediately after the end of the [[Second World War]],<ref name = "Inglis450"/> winning three league championships between 1948 and 1952. The club's participation in the (inaugural) [[1955–56 European Cup]] meant that Easter Road became the first British ground to host European Cup football.<ref name="WSC">{{cite news|first=Alex|last=Anderson|title=Should Scotland follow the Scandinavian model?|url=http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/1164-july-2013/10080-should-scotland-follow-the-scandinavian-model|newspaper=[[When Saturday Comes]]|date=26 July 2013|access-date=23 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613161121/http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/1164-july-2013/10080-should-scotland-follow-the-scandinavian-model|archive-date=13 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> A record attendance of 65,860 was set by an Edinburgh derby against [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]] played on 2 January 1950.<ref name = "barca hearts record"/><ref name = "hearts home record"/><ref name = "march of progress">{{Cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/stand-and-watch-march-of-progress-at-hibs-1-1306378 |title=Stand and watch march of progress at Hibs |newspaper=[[Edinburgh Evening News]]|publisher=Johnston Press |date=19 August 2010 |last=Hardie |first=David |access-date=25 August 2010}}</ref> This is also a record for any football match played in Edinburgh.<ref name = "barca hearts record">{{Cite news|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport/Magical-Bara-to-cast-spell.3310893.jp |title=Magical Barça to cast spell before Hearts' record crowd |newspaper=[[The Scotsman]] |last=Halliday|first=Stephen|access-date=30 October 2011|date=28 July 2007|publisher=Johnston Press}}</ref><ref name = "hearts home record">{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6920204.stm |title=Hearts heading for a home record |publisher=BBC|website=[[BBC Sport]] |date=27 July 2007|access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> As the fans had been tightly packed on the terraces to achieve this record attendance, the size of the East Terrace was increased further.<ref name = "Inglis450"/> The club even drew up plans to expand the overall capacity to nearly 100,000.<ref name = "march of progress"/> This would have been done by raising each end terrace to the same height as the east side, but these plans were never realised.<ref name = "Inglis340"/>

Hibs were one of the first clubs to install corner [[floodlight]] pylons, rather than the roof-mounted lights used at [[Ibrox Stadium|Ibrox]].<ref name = "Inglis450"/> The Easter Road floodlights were installed by a local company, Miller & Stables, who would construct similar leaning gantries in many other Scottish grounds.<ref name = "Inglis450"/> They were first used for an Edinburgh derby played on 18 October 1954.<ref name = "Inglis450"/> A roof was put over the North Terrace in the early 1960s, but the ground was largely unchanged through the 1960s and 1970s.<ref name = "Inglis450"/> The capacity was reduced in 1975 to 30,000, due to the regulations of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act.<ref name = "Inglis340"/> Hibs became the first club in Scotland to install [[undersoil heating]], in 1980.<ref name = "Inglis450"/> Benches were installed in the North Terrace in 1982, but this was only because they were cheaper than replacing the terrace crush barriers.<ref name = "Inglis450"/><ref name = "Inglis340"/> Soon afterwards, Hibs chairman Kenny Waugh admitted that the stadium was a "mess".<ref name = "east stand timeline"/>

[[File:East Terrace.JPG|thumb|right|The East Stand, which was built in this form in 1985 and demolished in March 2010.]]
The height of the East Terrace was greatly reduced and a roof was erected in the mid-1980s.<ref name = "Inglis450"/><ref name = "east stand timeline">{{Cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/european/how_hibs_ground_easter_road_has_evolved_since_waugh_sent_in_bulldozers_in_1983_1_474241 |title=How Hibs ground Easter Road has evolved since Waugh sent in bulldozers in 1983 |newspaper=[[The Scotsman]] |publisher=Johnston Press|date=23 February 2010 |access-date=1 November 2011}}</ref> This work reduced the capacity to 27,000.<ref name = "east stand timeline"/> Hibs was taken over by a consortium led by David Duff in 1987.<ref name = "Inglis450"/> The new regime spent approximately £1 million on executive boxes and refurbishments, but their policy of diversifying the business into property and public houses crippled the club financially when there was an economic downturn in the late 1980s.<ref name = "Inglis450"/> Hearts chairman [[Wallace Mercer]] attempted a takeover of Hibs in June 1990, with the intention of merging the two major Edinburgh football clubs.<ref name = "Inglis450"/> The Hibs fans protested against this and Mercer was prevented from gaining the 75% shareholding that was needed to close Hibs.<ref name = "Inglis450"/>

===Redevelopment (1991&ndash;2010)===
Sir [[Tom Farmer]] took control of Hibs in 1991,<ref name = "farmer stake">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/3109551.stm |title=Hibs reveal Farmer stake|publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=30 July 2003}}</ref> but the club was still faced with the need to develop a stadium that would meet the requirements of the [[Taylor Report]].<ref name = "Inglis450"/> Hibs entered talks with [[Edinburgh District Council]] about sharing a new stadium with Hearts, but the proposed site of [[Ingliston]] was in the wrong part of the city for Hibs.<ref name = "Inglis450"/> The club was more interested in the possibility of playing at [[Meadowbank Stadium]], only a few hundred yards from Easter Road, but there were planning difficulties with adapting Meadowbank into a large football stadium.<ref name = "Inglis451"/> The reorganisation of the club after Farmer took control meant that there was no real pressure to move, as he also owned Easter Road.<ref name = "Inglis451"/> The Hibs board made an assessment, however, that the ground could not be renovated in a cost-effective fashion before the August 1994 deadline set by the Taylor Report.<ref name = "Inglis451">{{harvnb|Inglis|1996|p=451}}</ref> Hibs proposed in January 1992 to sell Easter Road and move to a site owned by Farmer in [[Straiton, Loanhead|Straiton]].<ref name = "hearts share">{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article1144477.ece|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110629141712/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article1144477.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2011|newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]]|date=22 June 2003|last=Buckland|first=Simon|access-date=15 March 2011|title=Sleeping with the enemy}}</ref> Hibs also invited Hearts to share this stadium, as their proposal for a site in Millerhill had been rejected by planners.<ref name = "Inglis451"/> Those plans were scaled down in 1993 when [[Lothian Regional Council]] refused to allow the rest of the Straiton site to be used for commercial development.<ref name = "Inglis451"/> The Hibs board continued to back the Straiton proposal and they insisted the installation of bucket seats in the uncovered South Terrace was merely to comply with the Taylor Report deadline.<ref name = "Inglis451"/> This measure also reduced the capacity of Easter Road to 13,500.<ref name = "Inglis451"/>

[[File:Easter Road - West Stand.jpg|thumb|right|The West Stand, constructed in 2001.]]
Later in 1994, however, the Straiton proposals were abandoned and Easter Road underwent major redevelopment in 1995.<ref name = "Inglis451"/><ref name = "hearts share"/> Stands behind each goal were built at a cost of £8 million, increasing the capacity to 16,531.<ref name = "firm favourite"/><ref name = "farmer stake"/><ref name = "Inglis452"/> The ground was made all seated by the installation of bucket seats in the East Terrace during 1995.<ref name = "firm favourite">{{Cite news|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Fans39-favourite-to-make-its.6094654.jp |publisher=Johnston Press|newspaper=[[The Scotsman]] |title=Fans' favourite to make its last stand as sun sets on the East |date=23 February 2010 |access-date=23 February 2010 |last=Leslie |first=Colin}}</ref><ref name = "east stand timeline"/> Views of the pitch from this stand were somewhat restricted by supporting pillars.<ref name = "firm favourite"/> The Easter Road slope, which meant that the north end of the pitch was 6 feet lower than the south, was removed at the end of the [[1999–2000 in Scottish football|1999–00]] season.<ref name = "time up for slope"/><ref name = "slope removed"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/european/hibs_dig_deep_to_put_easter_road_on_level_1_461951|title=Hibs dig deep to put Easter Road on level |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News|publisher=Johnston Press|date=10 May 2000|access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> The West Stand was built in 2001 to replace the ageing main stand,<ref name = "east stand timeline"/> increasing capacity to 17,500.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+Capacity+crowdto+welcome+Sauzee.-a078615673 |title=Capacity crowd to welcome Sauzee |newspaper=[[Daily Mirror]] |date=26 September 2001 |access-date=30 October 2011 }}</ref>

Despite this development work, a move to a shared stadium in Straiton was again proposed in 2003.<ref name = "2003 groundshare">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/2993214.stm |title=Capital groundshare plan |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=16 June 2003 |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> Hibs hoped that selling the Easter Road site would allow them to clear their debts and reduce costs.<ref name = "2003 groundshare"/> Club director [[Rod Petrie]] commented that any decision would be based on financial grounds and after consultation with the fanbase, as the club were not being forced to move.<ref name = "hearts share"/> Farmer expressed support for further redeveloping Easter Road, if it could be part of a viable business plan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/3122940.stm |title=Farmer backs Easter Road |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=19 September 2003 |access-date=15 March 2011}}</ref> During the consultation, Farmer said that his main priority was ensuring the club's survival and denied that any deal had been concluded.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/european/hibs_survival_is_my_desire_1_893074 |title=Hibs' survival is my desire |newspaper=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Press |date=19 September 2003 |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> The consultation found that the fans were largely opposed to the Straiton proposal, which the club eventually abandoned.<ref name = "straiton dead">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9999933.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610195418/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9999933.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 June 2014|first=Natasha|last=Woods|title=Straiton dead end unites the Hibs family|publisher=Herald & Times Group|newspaper=[[Sunday Herald]]|date=2 November 2003|access-date=3 April 2012}}</ref> To remove part of the debt, the club sold some land to the east of the stadium that had previously been used for car parking.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/cash-from-hibs-land-sale-will-not-be-handed-to-williamson-1.137692 |title=Cash from Hibs' land sale will not be handed to Williamson |first=Rob |last=Robertson |newspaper=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |publisher=Herald & Times Group |date=2 December 2002 |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/european/hibernian_lose_163_1_9m_but_car_park_sale_cuts_debt_to_163_10m_1_556711 |title=Hibernian lose £1.9m but car park sale cuts debt to £10m |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=Johnston Press |date=1 October 2004 |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> Selling players, including [[Steven Whittaker]], [[Scott Brown (footballer, born June 1985)|Scott Brown]], [[Kevin Thomson]] and [[Steven Fletcher (footballer)|Steven Fletcher]], also funded these debts and further work.<ref name = "mark of progress"/>

The club first obtained [[planning permission]] to replace the East Stand in 1999, and this was renewed in 2005.<ref name = "firm favourite"/> Hibs started a consultation with supporters on its redevelopment in 2007.<ref name = "firm favourite"/> The development was put on hold until sufficient cash resources were obtained to finance the project.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/7615752.stm |title=Hibs accounts delay stand plans |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=14 September 2008}}</ref> The consultation process found that a single tier stand would be most popular with the fans.<ref name = "east stand timeline"/> Petrie announced at the 2009 [[annual general meeting]] that the club would enter negotiations with contractors to establish the cost of rebuilding the stand.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/hibernian/2009/10/08/hibernian-to-reconsider-east-stand-plans-for-easter-road-86908-21731456/ |title=Hibernian to reconsider East Stand plans for Easter Road |newspaper=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |date=8 October 2009}}</ref> After these negotiations were concluded, Hibs announced in February 2010 that work would immediately begin on a new East Stand, increasing capacity to {{SPFL-stadiums|hibernian}}.<ref name = "20421 cap">{{cite news |url=http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Easter-Road-set-for-biggest.6609194.jp |title=Easter Road set for biggest crowd in 17 years as Hibs take on Hearts|last=Hardie |first=David |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=Johnston Press|date=2 November 2010 |access-date=2 November 2010}}</ref> Demolition of the old stand began in early March,<ref name = "stv">{{Cite news |url=http://news.stv.tv/scotland/east-central/161150-mixed-emotions-at-easter-road-as-hibs-east-terrace-is-torn-down/ |title=Mixed emotions at Easter Road, as Hibs' East Terrace is torn down |publisher=[[STV (TV network)|STV]] |website=news.stv.tv |date=3 March 2010 |access-date=5 March 2010 |archive-date=29 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229141330/http://news.stv.tv/scotland/east-central/161150-mixed-emotions-at-easter-road-as-hibs-east-terrace-is-torn-down/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the stand was opened a month ahead of schedule in August 2010.<ref name = "march of progress"/><ref name = "mark of progress">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/aug/22/hibernian-football-sport|title=Historic marker for Hibernian after 20 years of prudent progress|newspaper=[[The Observer]]|first=Ewan|last=Murray|date=22 August 2010|access-date=31 October 2011}}</ref><ref name = "season opener">{{Cite news|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/Hibs-East-Stand-to-be.6466354.jp |title=Hibs' East Stand to be open for season opener |last=Hardie |first=David |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=Johnston Press |date=10 August 2010 |access-date=10 August 2010}}</ref>

===Recent developments (since 2020)===
Large video screens were installed into the corners between the East Stand and the two end stands in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/home-comfort-as-locked-out-hibs-get-opportunity-to-watch-rangers-clash-live-on-easter-road-big-screens-3396397 |title=Home comfort as locked out Hibs get opportunity to watch Rangers clash live on Easter Road big screens |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |first=Moira |last=Gordon |date=25 September 2021 |access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref> Hibs announced in January 2024 that rail seats would be put into the lower tier of the Famous Five stand, with a view to introducing [[safe standing]] from the 2024&ndash;25 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/hibs-announce-exciting-stadium-change-for-202425-4493721 |title=Hibs announce exciting stadium change for 2024/25 |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |date=26 January 2024 |accessdate=26 January 2024 |first=Susanna |last=Sealy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68103804 |title=Hibernian to introduce safe standing section at Easter Road Stadium |website=BBC Sport |date=26 January 2024 |accessdate=26 January 2024}}</ref>

==Structure and facilities==

[[File:EasterRoadStadium Edinburgh NewEastStand.jpg|thumb|right|The new East Stand, opened in August 2010.]]
Easter Road is an all-seated stadium, split into four geographic sections, known as the [[Famous Five (football)|Famous Five]] (formerly North),<ref name = "east stand timeline"/> East, South and West stands. The Famous Five and South stands are the oldest part of the present stadium, built in 1995.<ref name = "Inglis451"/> Each stand has two tiers, a cantilevered roof and a capacity of nearly 4,000.<ref name = "Inglis452"/> To keep within the boundaries of the site, the upper deck of each stand angles toward the centre.<ref name = "Inglis452"/> When the stands were built, the Famous Five Stand was above pitch level and the South Stand was below, but this was corrected when the natural slope was removed.<ref name = "Inglis452">{{harvnb|Inglis|1996|p=452}}</ref> Each stand also stretched beyond the east touchline, which was corrected by widening the [[Association football pitch|pitch]] when the East Stand was rebuilt.<ref name = "Inglis452"/> Between the two tiers of the Famous Five Stand there are function suites and lounges.<ref name = "east stand timeline"/><ref name = "Inglis452"/> Before the stands were rebuilt in the 1990s, the north and south ends of Easter Road were known as the Cowshed and Dunbar End respectively.<ref name = "east stand timeline"/> The southern end was called the Dunbar End because there was a [[lemonade]] factory named Dunbar's located behind it.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/i-ll-see-you-at-the-dunbar-s-end-sandra-1-1344864 |title=I'll see you at the Dunbar's end, Sandra |newspaper=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Press |date=17 October 2007 |access-date=1 January 2014}}</ref>

The West Stand, which initially had a capacity of 6,500, was built in 2001.<ref name = "east stand timeline"/><ref name = "bulldozers"/> A reception area, club offices, media centre, banqueting suites, hospitality area and changing rooms are located in the West Stand.<ref name = "east stand timeline"/><ref name = "bulldozers">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/1119456.stm |title=Bulldozers arrive at Easter Road |date= 16 January 2001 |access-date=30 October 2011 |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref> The capacity of the West Stand was reduced slightly when the new East Stand was constructed in 2010, as the pitch was widened during this development.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/new_stadium_rapidly_taking_shape_as_hibs_ensure_constructioni_kept_to_schedule_1_1237498 |title=New stadium rapidly taking shape as Hibs ensure construction is kept to schedule |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=Johnston Press |date=13 May 2010 |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> The East Stand, which is the newest part of the stadium, was built in 2010.<ref name = "season opener"/><ref name="expansion">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/8528014.stm |title=Hibernian hail Easter Road stadium expansion |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=22 February 2010 |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> It is the only stand that is not split into two tiers and has a capacity of 6,400.<ref name = "20421 cap"/> The decision to build the East Stand as a single tier was taken to maintain the character of the old terrace, which had been a simple viewing area without many facilities.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/one_tier_stand_to_take_easter_road_to_21_000_1_1280019 |title=One-tier stand to take Easter Road to 21,000 |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=Johnston Press |date=22 November 2008 |access-date=30 October 2010}}</ref>

==Other uses==
===Other football matches===
[[File:Easter road from arthur's seat.JPG|thumb|right|The exterior of Easter Road]]
[[Kirkcaldy]] club [[Raith Rovers F.C.|Raith Rovers]] used Easter Road as a home venue once, for the home leg of a [[UEFA Cup]] tie against [[Bayern Munich]] in 1995.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/bayern-ruin-all-raiths-dreams-1578257.html |title=Bayern ruin all Raith's dreams |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |last=McKinney |first=David |date=18 October 1995 |access-date=25 August 2010}}</ref> The match was moved from Rovers' normal home ground of [[Stark's Park]] due to Easter Road's greater capacity.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/dancing-in-streets-of-raith-again-1603632.html |title=Dancing in streets of Raith again |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=30 September 1995 |access-date=25 August 2010 |last=Shaw |first=Phil}}</ref> Easter Road has sometimes played host to [[Scottish League Cup]] semi-final matches, such as in the [[1996–97 Scottish League Cup|1996]], [[1998–99 Scottish League Cup|1998]], [[2003–04 Scottish League Cup|2004]], [[2004–05 Scottish League Cup|2005]], [[2005–06 Scottish League Cup|2006]], [[2012–13 Scottish League Cup|2013]] and [[2013–14 Scottish League Cup|2014]] competitions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/6315447.stm |title=Office semi-divided |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=30 January 2007 |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/european/cup_semi_for_easter_road_1_896848 |title=Cup semi for Easter Road |newspaper=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Press |date=10 December 2003 |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="butcher moans">{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/butcher_bemoans_easter_road_semi_1_562569 |title=Butcher bemoans Easter Road semi |newspaper=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Press |date=19 November 2004 |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/semi_final_now_pay_at_gate_after_crowd_fears_1_689564 |title=Semi-final now pay-at-gate after crowd fears |newspaper=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Press |date=24 January 2006|access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20257232 |title=Scottish Communities League Cup: St Mirren face Celtic in semi |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |access-date=10 November 2012 |date=8 November 2012}}</ref> Team [[manager (football)|managers]] [[Terry Butcher]] and [[Gus MacPherson]] objected to playing semi-finals at Easter Road, on the grounds that their players should have the chance to play at [[Hampden Park]], or that playing against [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]] in Edinburgh gives them a form of [[home field advantage|home advantage]].<ref name="butcher moans"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/8353419.stm |title=Fir Park and Hampden host semis |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC|date=10 November 2009 |access-date=30 January 2011}}</ref> The [[2014 Scottish Challenge Cup Final]] between Raith Rovers and [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] was hosted at Easter Road.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/246316-ramsdens-cup-final-between-raith-rovers-and-rangers-set-for-easter-road/|title=Ramsdens Cup Final between Raith Rovers and Rangers set for Easter Road|website=sport.stv.tv |publisher=STV |date=30 October 2013 |access-date=30 October 2013}}</ref>

[[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] have played seven full international matches at Easter Road. These have been [[friendly match]]es against less attractive opposition where a relatively small crowd was expected, and it has therefore been unnecessary to play the match at Hampden Park. The [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland under-21]] team has also sometimes played matches at Easter Road, such as when Scotland played [[Iceland national under-21 football team|Iceland]] in the [[2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification play-offs]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/hibernianfc/Hibs39-reward-for-rebuilding-job.6534372.jp |title=Hibs' reward for rebuilding job is to stage Scotland U-21 play-off |newspaper=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Press |last=Pattullo |first=Alan |date=15 October 2010 |access-date=15 October 2010}}</ref> The most recent full international played at the stadium was a [[friendly match]] between Scotland and [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada]] in March 2017. One full international was played at Easter Road that did not involve Scotland, a friendly match between [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] and [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]] that was played in advance of the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]].<ref name = "ghana korea">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/05/worldcup2006.sport126 |title=Essien entertains for Ghana |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=5 June 2006 |access-date=1 November 2011 |last=Grahame |first=Ewing}}</ref>

[[Scotland women's national football team|Scotland women]] played their first match at Easter Road in August 2019, a [[UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying|Euro 2021 qualifying]] match against [[Cyprus women's national football team|Cyprus]].<ref name = Cyprus/>

====Full internationals====
{{See also|Scotland national football team home stadium}}
=====Men's=====
Between 1988 and 2017, eight full men's international football matches have been played at Easter Road.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Men's international matches played at Easter Road
!scope=col|Date
!scope=col|Team #1
!scope=col|Result
!scope=col|Team #2
!scope=col|Competition
!scope=col|Attendance
!scope=col|Ref.
|-
|scope=row|22 April 1998
|align=right|{{fb-rt|SCO}}
|1–1
|{{fb|FIN}}
|[[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|14,315
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Striker worries for Scots |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world_cup_98/results_and_reports/86132.stm |date=3 May 1998 |access-date=5 February 2024 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
|-
|scope=row|15 October 2002
|align=right|{{fb-rt|SCO}}
|3–1
|{{fb|CAN}}
|Friendly
|16,207
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scots continue winning form |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/scotland/2324867.stm |date=15 October 2002 |access-date=5 February 2024 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
|-
|scope=row|30 May 2004
|align=right|{{fb-rt|SCO}}
|4–1
|{{fb|TRI}}
|Friendly
|16,187
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scotland 4-1 Trinidad |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/scotland/3760581.stm |date=30 May 2004 |access-date=5 February 2024 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
|-
|scope=row|17 November 2004
|align=right|{{fb-rt|SCO}}
|1–4
|{{fb|SWE}}
|Friendly
|15,071
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scotland 1-4 Sweden |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4012725.stm |date=17 November 2004 |access-date=5 February 2024 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
|-
|scope=row|4 June 2006
|align=right|{{fb-rt|KOR}}
|1–3
|{{fb|GHA}}
|Friendly
|7,600
|<ref name = "ghana korea"/>
|-
|scope=row|15 August 2012
|align=right|{{fb-rt|SCO}}
|3–1
|{{fb|AUS}}
|Friendly
|11,110
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scotland 3-1 Australia |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19243564 |date=15 August 2012 |access-date=5 February 2024 |publisher=BBC |first=Clive |last=Lindsay}}</ref>
|-
|scope=row|5 June 2015
|align=right|{{fb-rt|SCO}}
|1–0
|{{fb|QAT}}
|Friendly
|14,270
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scotland 1-0 Qatar |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32926060 |date=5 June 2015 |access-date=5 February 2024 |publisher=BBC |first=Alasdair |last=Lamont}}</ref>
|-
|scope=row|22 March 2017
|align=right|{{fb-rt|SCO}}
|1–1
|{{fb|CAN}}
|Friendly
|9,158
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scotland 1-1 Canada |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39275702 |date=22 March 2017 |access-date=5 February 2024 |publisher=BBC |first=Brian |last=McLauchlin}}</ref>
|}

=====Women's=====
Easter Road hosted its first of two women's international matches in August 2019.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Women's international matches played at Easter Road
!scope=col|Date
!scope=col|Team #1
!scope=col|Result
!scope=col|Team #2
!scope=col|Competition
!scope=col|Attendance
!scope=col|Ref.
|-
|scope=row|30 August 2019
|align=right|{{fbw-rt|SCO}}
|8–0
|{{fbw|CYP}}
|[[UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying]]
|6,206
|<ref name = Cyprus>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49473010 |title=Scotland Women 8-0 Cyprus Women |publisher=BBC |date=30 August 2019 |access-date=30 August 2019}}</ref>
|-
|scope=row|1 December 2020
|align=right|{{fbw-rt|SCO}}
|0–1
|{{fbw|FIN}}
|UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying
|189
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/match/2027205/ |title=Scotland-Finland |publisher=UEFA |date=1 December 2020 |access-date=5 February 2024}}</ref>
|}

===Other sports===

Easter Road was briefly the home ground for [[Edinburgh Rugby]], a professional [[rugby union]] team, in the late 1990s.<ref name = "rugby">{{cite news|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/edinburghrugby/Gunners-eye-Easter-Road.2742748.jp |title=Gunners eye Easter Road |newspaper=[[Edinburgh Evening News]] |publisher=Johnston Press |date=16 January 2006 |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> [[Heineken Cup]] matches against [[Ebbw Vale RFC|Ebbw Vale]] and [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]] were played at the ground during the [[1998–99 Heineken Cup pool stage|1998–99]] season, with attendances of a few thousand.<ref name = "rugby"/><ref name = "frame"/> Edinburgh again expressed interest in using Easter Road in both 2004 and 2006, but this was opposed by Hibs manager [[Tony Mowbray]], who was concerned that playing rugby would damage the pitch.<ref name = "frame">{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/easter_road_put_in_the_frame_as_new_home_for_gunners_1_1022561 |title=Easter Road put in the frame as new home for Gunners |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=Johnston Press |date=3 November 2006 |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/easter_road_on_rugby_agenda_1_1184272 |title=Easter Road on rugby agenda |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=Johnston Press |date=7 July 2004 |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> The [[Scottish Rugby Union]] (SRU) included Easter Road in a bid for Edinburgh to host the [[Heineken Cup]] and [[European Challenge Cup]] finals in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |first=Graham |last=Bean |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/sru-easter-road-could-be-amlin-final-venue-1-2972682 |title=SRU: Easter Road could be Amlin final venue |newspaper=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Press |date=21 June 2013 |access-date=21 June 2013}}</ref> In June 2015, the SRU chief executive indicated that trial matches could be played at Easter Road with a view to Edinburgh Rugby moving there for a longer term.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/33039431 |title=Edinburgh Rugby keen on 'test games' at Easter Road |first=Tom |last=English |publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 June 2015 |access-date=7 June 2015}}</ref> It has since been announced that the team will move to [[Myreside]] from January 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36255369 |title=Edinburgh confirm move from Murrayfield to Myreside |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 March 2016 |access-date=28 May 2016}}</ref>

One of the hospitality suites within the stadium staged an [[amateur boxing]] show on 15 November 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/boxing/Boxing-bound-for-Easter-Rd.5763682.jp |title=Boxing bound for Easter Rd|newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=Johnston Press |date=24 October 2009 }}</ref>

===Uses other than sport===

[[Elton John]] performed Easter Road's first rock concert on 25 June 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/4190805.stm |title=Elton John set for Hibs & Killie|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=20 January 2005}}</ref> The international headquarters of the [[Homeless World Cup]] is based in the South Stand of the stadium.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/homelessness/Easter-Road-provides-a-home.5256875.jp|title=Easter Road provides a home for World Cup organisers|newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News|date=12 May 2009|publisher=Johnston Press|access-date=31 December 2010}}</ref>

==Transport==

[[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh Waverley]], the main railway station in Edinburgh, is approximately {{convert|1.5|mi|km|1}} from the stadium; the walk between the two sites takes approximately 20 minutes.<ref name = directions/><ref name = "sfgg">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410095612/http://www.footballgroundguide.com/scotland//hibernian.htm |archive-date=10 April 2016 |url=http://www.scottishgrounds.co.uk/hibernian.htm |access-date=17 March 2010 |title=Hibernian |publisher=Scottish Football Ground Guide}}</ref> An extension to the [[Edinburgh Trams]] system, which serves the stadium via the [[McDonald Road tram stop]] on [[Leith Walk]], began operating on 7 June 2023.<ref>{{cite news|title=This is where the new Edinburgh tram stops will be under the Newhaven expansion |first=Conor |last=Matchett |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/this-is-where-the-new-edinburgh-tram-stops-will-be-under-the-newhaven-expansion-1-5021635|newspaper=The Scotsman |date=10 October 2019|access-date=26 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.stv.tv/east-central/edinburgh-tram-extension-between-leith-and-newhaven-to-carry-first-passengers-from-june-7 |title=Edinburgh tram extension to carry first passengers from June |website=STV News |date=25 May 2023 |accessdate=25 May 2023 |first=Calum |last=Loudon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-65825816 |title=Edinburgh tram extension carries first passengers |website=BBC News |date=7 June 2023 |accessdate=8 June 2023}}</ref> There was a [[Easter Road Park Halt railway station|railway halt]] immediately beside the ground, part of the [[Edinburgh, Leith and Newhaven Railway]], which was opened in 1950 and closed in 1967.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbrstudygroup.co.uk/Station%20list.pdf|title=North British Railway List of Stations|publisher=North British Railway Study Group|year=2009|access-date=31 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415013111/http://www.nbrstudygroup.co.uk/Station%20list.pdf|archive-date=15 April 2012}}</ref> 

Easter Road is served by several [[Lothian Buses]] routes.<ref name = "lb">{{cite web|url=https://lothianbuses.co.uk/assets/files/Network_Map_170423_WEB.pdf |publisher=[[Lothian Buses]] |access-date=1 May 2017 |title=Route Map}}</ref> Services 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 22, 25 and 49 run down [[Leith Walk]]; services 1 and 35 run down [[Easter Road, Edinburgh|Easter Road]] itself; services 4, 5, 15, 19, 26, 34 and 44 run along London Road and routes 34 and 49 serve Lochend Road.<ref name = "lb"/> Several of these routes were affected by the tram construction works.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2020/02/network-changes-announced-for-next-stage-of-trams-to-newhaven-project/ |title=Network changes announced for next stage of Trams to Newhaven project |publisher=Lothian Buses |date=17 February 2020 |access-date=26 February 2020}}</ref> East Coast Buses routes X5, X7, X24/124, 104 and 113 also serve the area.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eastcoastbuses.co.uk/new-routes/ |title=Map |publisher=Eas Coast Buses |access-date=22 April 2018 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Visitors to the ground travelling by car can park in the surrounding streets.<ref name = "sfgg"/>

==See also==
*[[List of stadiums in the United Kingdom by capacity]]
*[[Lists of stadiums]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

; Sources
*{{cite book| first = Simon  | last = Inglis  | title = Football Grounds of Britain  | year = 1987 | publisher = Collins Willow  | isbn = 0-00-218249-1 }}
*{{cite book| first = Simon  | last = Inglis  | title = Football Grounds of Britain  | year = 1996 | publisher = Collins Willow  | isbn = 0-00-218426-5 }}
*{{cite book| first = Alan   | last = Lugton  | title = The Making of Hibernian 1    | year = 1999 | publisher = John Donald Publishers Ltd | isbn=0-85976-509-1}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://maps.google.com/maphp?hl=en&tab=wl&q=Easter%20Road,%20City%20of%20Edinburgh,%20UK (Google Maps)]

{{Hibernian F.C.}}
{{Football venues in Scotland}}
{{Buildings and Structures in Edinburgh}}
{{Culture and leisure facilities in Edinburgh}}
{{Football in Edinburgh}}

[[Category:Hibernian F.C.]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Football venues in Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Leith]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1893]]
[[Category:Rugby union stadiums in Scotland]]
[[Category:1893 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Scottish Premier League venues]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League venues]]
[[Category:Scottish Professional Football League venues]]
[[Category:Scotland national football team venues]]