Finishing line in sight as Edinburgh Meadowbank announces opening date

The City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh Leisure have announced that the new Meadowbank Sports Centre will open to the public on Tuesday 19th July.

The new £47m project Meadowbank is a state-of-the-art community sports facility built on the site of the original Meadowbank, which closed in December 2017. The centre will support physical activity, sport, health, and wellbeing in Edinburgh for generations to come, whilst also recognising the legacy and heritage of the old Meadowbank.  

The new venue supports accessible participation and has improved indoor facilities with two multi-sport games halls with seating, fitness studios and gym with triple the number of exercise stations and three larger fitness studios.

City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cammy Day said: “I’m delighted that we can now confirm when the doors for this fantastic new venue will open to the public. Meadowbank, I believe is one of the county’s top community sports centres, and features some of the most state-of-the-art fitness facilities in Britain. I very much look forward to seeing it bustling with sporting activity through the wide range of Edinburgh Leisure facilities and classes.

“Participation and accessibility are at the heart of the Centre and the huge physical, mental and social benefits Meadowbank will bring to generations of local people simply can’t be overestimated. Bright welcoming spaces are flooded with natural light, providing welcoming and versatile halls, where a real variety of sports and activities will take place. Meadowbank has been an important part of Scotland’s sporting history for many years and I’m sure the new Centre will build on this legacy.”

Commenting on the announcement, Edinburgh Leisure’s Chief Executive, June Peebles, said: “I’m delighted that the finishing line is in sight, and we are finally able to announce the opening of this new flagship venue. It’s been a long time coming but I promise you it will have been worth the wait.

“The forthcoming weeks before we open will see Donald Goldsmith, the manager at Meadowbank, and his team getting the venue cleaned, prepped and ready for our public opening, including an extensive staff training programme to ensure that when the public walk through our doors for the first time that they get the best Edinburgh Leisure welcome we are renowned for.

“The new Meadowbank will pick up where the old Meadowbank left off, providing countless opportunities for generations to come to participate in an extensive range of activities. New memories will be created, and we can’t wait to welcome the people of Edinburgh and beyond, into the new venue. This multi-million-pound investment will provide countless opportunities for Edinburgh citizens to be active and will undoubtedly contribute to the wellbeing of our City.”

The new Meadowbank has much to offer the local community and communities throughout Edinburgh and includes the following facilities:

• An outdoor eight-lane athletics track with a 499-seat stand and outdoor throwing and jumps area
• 60m six-lane indoor athletics track and jumps space
• Two multi-sport halls with fixed and moveable spectator seating
• A hall for trampolining and dance
• Two fitness studios, which include world-renowned Les Mills programme of classes, smart tech bars and weights
• A gym with Life Fitness equipment, dumbbells up to 50kg, Watt bikes, SkiErg, row and Cybex SPARC machines
• A Cycle Studio with Life Fitness IC7 bikes and ICG myride and Les Mills RPM classes
• Two squash courts
• A combat studio for martial arts
• A boxing gym
• Two 3G (synthetic) pitches, including one with a 499-seat stand
• A hospitality Suite and event-hosting facilities
• Cafe and meeting rooms

More detailed plans about opening times and how to buy memberships will be announced on Edinburgh Leisure’s website and social media in the coming weeks.

History of Meadowbank

Meadowbank has been the home of elite sport in the Scottish capital since the 1930s. The previous Meadowbank Sports Centre was built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games and was used by various clubs and sporting celebrities. It hosted two Commonwealth Games in 1970 and 1986.

It has also hosted some large-scale music events over the years, including T on the Fringe, an annual music festival. Muse, My Chemical Romance, Snow Patrol, Radiohead, Pixies, Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, Kaiser Chiefs, and Razorlight, all played the venue between 2005 and 2007.

The closure of the venue on 3 December 2017 marked the end of an era and the start of a new one as the building was decommissioned to make way for a new sports centre for people in Edinburgh and beyond to enjoy for decades to come.

-ENDS-

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