Excelsior Stadium

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Excelsior Stadium
New Broomfield

Location	Airdrie, Scotland
Coordinates	Coordinates: 55°51′35.09″N, 3°57′35.11″W
Opened	1998
Owner	North Lanarkshire Council
Operator	Airdrieonians Football Club
Surface	Grass
Former names	Shyberry Excelsior Stadium
Tenants	Airdrie United F.C. Celtic F.C. Reserves
Capacity	10,171 (all seated)
Field dimensions	115 × 75 yds

The Excelsior Stadium is the home of Airdrie United F.C. of the Scottish Football League Second Division and previously of Airdrieonians for whom it was originally built. The ground is named as such as a tribute to the fact that Airdrieonians began life as Excelsior Football Club in 1878.

When the stadium first opened it was officially titled Shyberry Excelsior Stadium ("Shyberry" being the company who sponsored the stadium when it first opened). Now, though, even the name Excelsior Stadium is rarely used by Airdrie United supporters as well as opposing fans and even the media as the stadium has instead come to be referred to as New Broomfield which is more palatable from an Airdrie perspective due to its association with the former home of Airdrieonians, Broomfield Park.

1 History
2 Records and facts
3 Facilities
4 Officials
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] History

Following the sale of Airdrieonians' home ground (Broomfield Park) to large supermarket chain Safeway in 1994, the club searched for several years for a suitable site, and planning permission for, a new home. The motive for the move was to build a stadium that would allow the club entry to Scottish Premier League (Clubs were required to have a stadium with a seating capacity of at least ten thousand). The building work on Excelsior Stadium was eventually completed in 1998, and Airdrieonians played here until the club went out of business due to heavy debts in May 2002. This left an opening in the Scottish League, which was filled by UniBond League side Gretna F.C.

To attain a position in the league, the Airdrie United F.C. owner, Jim Ballatyne, bought out the ailing Clydebank F.C., and changed their name and strip and relocated the side to Airdrie.

Ownership of the stadium lies with the local North Lanarkshire Council rather than the club itself. As of Thursday 19th October 2006, management of the stadium is under the control of a new company called "Airdrieonians Football Club", which is owned by the directors of Airdrie United F.C.

[edit] Records and facts

The record attendance at New Broomfield was that of the Challenge Cup Final between Hamilton Academical and St Mirren which took place on the 6th of November, 2005. 9,612 spectators attended the game, which St Mirren won 2-1.

Excelsior Stadium is the highest altitude stadium in Scotland, at 408 feet above sea level.

[edit] Facilities

View from Jack Dalziel Stand toward South Stand

The ground seats 10,171 and, as well as Airdrie United home games, has also played host to Scottish Challenge Cup finals, as well as Scotland Under-21 fixtures and Old Firm reserve matches.

In addition to the executive match-viewing boxes that look onto the pitch, the stadium boasts conference and banqueting facilities, with six separate spaces and The Mercedes Sports bar being situated within the Jack Dalziel Stand.

Disabled facilities are also provided in the North, East and South Stands.