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.placeholder image
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.

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

Kevin Quinn
By Kevin Quinn

Reporter

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.

The new Meadowbank Stadium/Sports complex pictured on opening day in July, 2022.

17. Shiny new building

The new Meadowbank Stadium/Sports complex pictured on opening day in July, 2022. Photo: LISA FERGUSON

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Speedway at Meadowbank in the 1960s. Pushers and spectators wait around in the rain for the riders to appear.

18. Rainy day

Speedway at Meadowbank in the 1960s. Pushers and spectators wait around in the rain for the riders to appear. Photo: Archives

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The iconic giant electronic noticeboard kept viewers informed of the stages of the opening ceremony of the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games 1986.

19. Scoreboard

The iconic giant electronic noticeboard kept viewers informed of the stages of the opening ceremony of the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games 1986. Photo: Albert Jordan

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The new running track at Meadowbank, pictured on it's opening day in July 2022.

20. Trackside

The new running track at Meadowbank, pictured on it's opening day in July 2022. Photo: LISA FERGUSON

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