Commonwealth Games fans face tickets race at smallest ever athletics arena

ATHLETICS fans face a race to get tickets for major Glasgow 2026 events — at theCommonwealth Games’ smallest-ever venue.

The city’s Scotstoun Stadium, which is due to host track and field competitions, has room for only 9,708 spectators.

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That is more than four times fewer than the capacity at Hampden Park 10 years ago.

Scotstoun, currently home to the Glasgow Warriors rugby squad, has just 4,765 permanent seats although previously it has been extended to hold crowds of up to 10,000.

Games organisers have already revealed the 2026 sporting bash will be a scaled-down version.

Fewer than half of the 1.3million briefs sold when the sports extravaganza was last held in the city will be available this time around.

And one athletics follower admitted last night: “I loved every minute of the Glasgow event a decade ago but, after struggling to get tickets for gigs all summer, I can see this is going to be a nightmare.”

But Alex Salmond, who led the 2014 bid as First Minister, insisted the rebooted event will “rekindle badly needed pride and optimism”.

The former SNP supremo, now leader of the Alba Party, welcomed a superstar line-up, headed by the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt, to Scotland ten years ago.

And he told The Scottish Sun on Sunday: “No one should worry about our ability to host a successful games.

“There should be few concerns about it being in a smaller scale than ten years ago.

“If we could do it on a large scale a decade ago we can be equally successful with a smaller presentation.

“The biggest single legacy of 2014 was the amazing sporting and leisure facilities which have made Glasgow a must-go-to destination.

“This time around there should be even more concentration on young people and community development.”

It was announced on Tuesday that Scotland had come to the rescue after original hosts Victoria, Australia, pulled out over cost fears.

Games bosses here plan a scaled-back programme of ten sports with athletics set to be staged at the sports campus in the city’s west end.

Scotstoun also boasts racquet sportcourts plus a public gym and swimmingpool.

Its grass pitch has also been used for IRB World Sevens Rugby events.

In 2014, the installation of a running track around Hampden’s famous football pitch reduced its capacity from 52,000 to 44,000.

Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Stadium, which staged track and field events at the 1970 and 1986 Commonwealth Games, had space for 16,500 spectators.

Both grounds are dwarfed by previous host venues like Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia, and Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which can contain 100,000 fans.

Sports chiefs say an “anticipated 500,000 tickets” will be available in 2026, giving the region an estimated £150million boost to its economy.

Sales of briefs, sponsorship, broadcasting rights and related revenue streams are set to bring in at least £30million.

Last night Commonwealth Games Scotland chairman Ian Reid insisted: “We are confident of delivering a world-class event to packed crowds in Glasgow, with the world’s sporting stars providing inspirational moments for millions of spectators.”