Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium: 29 great photos showing the changing face of Meadowbank over the years

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Published 16th Sep 2023, 04:45 GMT

The changing face of Edinburgh’s premier athletics stadium

We’ve taken a look back in our photo archive to see the changing face of Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Stadium over the years.

Edinburgh’s top athletics stadium has seen many top athletics events over the years including the Commonwealth Games in 1970 and 1986, as well non-athletics events like Edinburgh Rugby matches and football matches involving home sides Spartans, Edinburgh City and Meadowbank Thistle, having previously been a popular speedway track for many years.

Meadowbank Stadium started life as 'Old Meadowbank' in 1934 as a multi-purpose sports facility, mainly used as a football stadium by Leith Athletic between the 1930s and 1950s and as a motorcycle speedway track. The original stadium was demolished in the late 1960s to make way for the new Meadowbank Stadium which was built to host the 1970 Commonwealth Games. In the early months of 2019 the stadium was demolished and work begun on construction of its replacement, a much smaller more compact facility, which opened in 2022. Pictured above is a youth athletics meeting in 2004.

. Changing times

Meadowbank Stadium started life as 'Old Meadowbank' in 1934 as a multi-purpose sports facility, mainly used as a football stadium by Leith Athletic between the 1930s and 1950s and as a motorcycle speedway track. The original stadium was demolished in the late 1960s to make way for the new Meadowbank Stadium which was built to host the 1970 Commonwealth Games. In the early months of 2019 the stadium was demolished and work begun on construction of its replacement, a much smaller more compact facility, which opened in 2022. Pictured above is a youth athletics meeting in 2004. Photo: Rob McDougall

Unidentified long jumper during the Commonwealth Games at Meadowbank stadium Edinburgh in July 1970.

. Long jump

Unidentified long jumper during the Commonwealth Games at Meadowbank stadium Edinburgh in July 1970. Photo: Archives

Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne in the royal carriage at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at Meadowbank Stadium Edinburgh in July 1970.

. Royal approval

Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne in the royal carriage at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at Meadowbank Stadium Edinburgh in July 1970. Photo: Archives

Work to demolish Meadowbank Stadium taking place in 2018. That part of the large site is now occupied by new homes, with the stadium moving to the east of the site.

. End of an era

Work to demolish Meadowbank Stadium taking place in 2018. That part of the large site is now occupied by new homes, with the stadium moving to the east of the site. Photo: Photographer: Scott Louden

Old Meadowbank was a motorcycle speedway track that ran from 1948 to 1954 and 1960 to 1967. Geoffrey Thomas is pictured getting on his bike at Meadowbank, the then home of the Edinburgh Monarchs, in the 1960s.

. Geoffrey Thomas at Meadowbank - He gets on the bike

Old Meadowbank was a motorcycle speedway track that ran from 1948 to 1954 and 1960 to 1967. Geoffrey Thomas is pictured getting on his bike at Meadowbank, the then home of the Edinburgh Monarchs, in the 1960s. Photo: Archives

Duke of Kent opens The new Commonwealth Stadium / Meadowbank Stadium on the 2nd May 1970.

. A new dawn

Duke of Kent opens The new Commonwealth Stadium / Meadowbank Stadium on the 2nd May 1970. Photo: TSPL

Demolition of Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Stadium began in January 2019 to make way for a new £45 million facility. The demolition of the grandstand marked the start of turning the 50-year-old venue into a state-of-the-art sports centre.

. End of an era

Demolition of Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Stadium began in January 2019 to make way for a new £45 million facility. The demolition of the grandstand marked the start of turning the 50-year-old venue into a state-of-the-art sports centre. Photo: SWNS

The official flag is raised at the opening ceremony of the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games 1986, held at Meadowbank Stadium.

. Raising the flag

The official flag is raised at the opening ceremony of the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games 1986, held at Meadowbank Stadium. Photo: Denis Straughan

The current Meadowbank Stadium/Sports complex pictured on the day it was opened to the public in July, 2022.

. The latest chapter

The current Meadowbank Stadium/Sports complex pictured on the day it was opened to the public in July, 2022. Photo: LISA FERGUSON

The Army constructed this pedestrian bridge over London Road to Meadowbank Stadium before the Commonwealth Games of 1970.

. Bridge building

The Army constructed this pedestrian bridge over London Road to Meadowbank Stadium before the Commonwealth Games of 1970. Photo: Alex Brown

Professional rugby union club Edinburgh Gunners used the venue from 2002 until they moved to Murrayfield Stadium in 2004. Edinburgh are pictured in action at Meadowbank in 2012 taking on Connacht, Edinburgh's Graeme Burns holds onto the ball whilst being tackled.

. Rugby action

Professional rugby union club Edinburgh Gunners used the venue from 2002 until they moved to Murrayfield Stadium in 2004. Edinburgh are pictured in action at Meadowbank in 2012 taking on Connacht, Edinburgh's Graeme Burns holds onto the ball whilst being tackled. Photo: Malcolm Irving

The new tartan designed for the Commonwealth Games is shown off at Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh in 1970.

. Tartan

The new tartan designed for the Commonwealth Games is shown off at Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh in 1970. Photo: Ian Porteous

The iconic main stand viewed from London Road ahead of demolition in 2018.

. Demolition

The iconic main stand viewed from London Road ahead of demolition in 2018. Photo: Photographer: Scott Louden

Meadowbank Stadium started life as 'Old Meadowbank' in 1934 as a multi-purpose sports facility, mainly used as a football stadium by Leith Athletic between the 1930s and 1950s and as a motorcycle speedway track. The original stadium was demolished in the late 1960s to make way for the new Meadowbank Stadium which was built to host the 1970 Commonwealth Games. In the early months of 2019 the stadium was demolished and work begun on construction of its replacement, a much smaller more compact facility, which opened in 2022. Pictured above is a youth athletics meeting in 2004.

1. Changing times

Meadowbank Stadium started life as 'Old Meadowbank' in 1934 as a multi-purpose sports facility, mainly used as a football stadium by Leith Athletic between the 1930s and 1950s and as a motorcycle speedway track. The original stadium was demolished in the late 1960s to make way for the new Meadowbank Stadium which was built to host the 1970 Commonwealth Games. In the early months of 2019 the stadium was demolished and work begun on construction of its replacement, a much smaller more compact facility, which opened in 2022. Pictured above is a youth athletics meeting in 2004. Photo: Rob McDougall

Unidentified long jumper during the Commonwealth Games at Meadowbank stadium Edinburgh in July 1970.

2. Long jump

Unidentified long jumper during the Commonwealth Games at Meadowbank stadium Edinburgh in July 1970. Photo: Archives

Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne in the royal carriage at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at Meadowbank Stadium Edinburgh in July 1970.

3. Royal approval

Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne in the royal carriage at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at Meadowbank Stadium Edinburgh in July 1970. Photo: Archives

Work to demolish Meadowbank Stadium taking place in 2018. That part of the large site is now occupied by new homes, with the stadium moving to the east of the site.

4. End of an era

Work to demolish Meadowbank Stadium taking place in 2018. That part of the large site is now occupied by new homes, with the stadium moving to the east of the site. Photo: Photographer: Scott Louden

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