Rangers are on the move from Ibrox this summer with Hampden Park a short jaunt across the city – but that doesn’t change the homesick feeling for the punters ahead of the new campaign.
Chairman John Bennett explained that the Light Blues are closing in on an agreement to move to the national stadium amid major delays to works on the Copland Road stand. The opening weeks of the Scottish Premiership campaign are set to be impacted, along with the Champions League qualification push by Philippe Clement’s men – while a potential home draw in the knockout stage of the Premier Sports Cup adding another home game to the packed early-season fixture card.
But while a venue has been found, that hasn’t stopped the questions flying around from the Ibrox diehards about several issues that could quickly emerge. The first ‘home’ game of the new campaign for Rangers is less than a month away against Motherwell on August 10.
And with the clock ticking on the new season fears are only escalating among the fan base. Record Sport takes a look at the questions that are still being asked as an SFA agreement inches closer.
Will season ticket holders be kept together?
Every football fan knows the feeling on being surrounded by friends and family on a matchday – with many purchasing season tickets to make sure those bonds remain year after year. It’s important to many Rangers fans – and many will be hoping they can be kept when they are shifted across to Hampden for the start of next season. While it’s another headache for the club it could be a vital step in taking the Ibrox atmosphere across the town.
How will it impact the European campaign?
While the Champions League qualifiers will be played at Hampden, a bigger problem could be set to emerge should the building work rumble into the group stage. UEFA rules state that for both Europe’s elite competition and the Europa League all group games must be played at the same stadium – unless the club are granted special dispensation.
Could the Ibrox cauldron on European nights be missing for ALL of the group stage games? It’s a nightmare scenario for both the players and the fans.
How will parking and fan bus travel work?
It’s not the most glamorous talking point but another problem for John Bennett and his team to consider during the big move. Parking at Hampden is notoriously tough for punters – whether it is when travelling for a game or a gig in Mount Florida. How will that work for the Ibrox diehards travelling across the city? In a similar vein, supporter buses travel from across Scotland to Govan for the Light Blues’ home games, will there be suitable parking arrangements made for that mode of transport?
What will the standard of the pitch be like?
It was initially thought Hampden would be out of commission as Rangers searched for an alternative venue. The turf at the national stadium was due to be ripped up and replaced following popstar P!nk’s two-night run at the end of last month. But those upgrades are set to be shelved after Hampden chiefs – so the question now lingers what will the pitch be like? Rangers would have like to be on their own patch with their own groundsman going into the new season but will now rely on the SFA team to get the pitch looking pristine.
What will the impact be on catering and hospitality?
Another under the radar topic, but Hampden boasts their own staff and suppliers in place for their own hospitality and catering on a matchday. An agreement could between the SFA and Rangers to move over staff from Ibrox, but it is another potential issue that Bennett and the board will be pondering as they iron out the final details.
Will the move affect the new signings?
Fans will have been desperate to see the likes of Jefte and Clinton Nsiala take their bow at Ibrox – but that will have to wait. It will be the the surroundings of Mount Florida that welcomes them – a much-different environment than will face them when they finally grace the turf in Govan. Could the change in surroundings impact on the adjustment period of the new faces?
Will it impact on the current crop of stars?
Rangers have plenty of experience at Hampden. Just last season they lifted the League Cup there – and rounded off the campaign at the national stadium with Scottish Cup defeat to Celtic.
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But those were one off games, will it impact on the pre-match rituals of James Tavernier and Co on a weekly basis? Most players have their own routines and being taken out of their regular surroundings can impact on performance levels.
Does this give an advantage to away teams?
No Scottish Premiership team relishes going to Ibrox – and they may feel they have a better chance of getting a result against Rangers a neutral venue. The Govan crowd have also given the players an major boost on European nights – and they will need to transfer that over to the national stadium with Philippe Clement attempting to navigate the qualifying rounds.
How long will Rangers be away from Ibrox?
It’s really the big one – how long is this going to last? Philippe Clement will be desperate to return to Ibrox, but as with any building work things are never straightforward and complications could arise when the materials are delivered to ramp up the work in the Copland Road stand. John Bennett has conceded he can’t offer a concrete timeline, so for fans it is simply a waiting game.