San Siro Stadium

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Hibs first played at the present site of Easter Road in 1893. The ground holds the record attendance for a Scottish match outside Glasgow, when 65,860 attended an Edinburgh derby on 2 January 1950. The size of the terracing was greatly reduced in the 1980s. After the publication of the Taylor Report, Hibs considered leaving Easter Road and moving to a different site (Straiton, near Loanhead, was mooted), but these plans were abandoned in 1994. Redevelopment of the stadium began in 1995 and was completed in 2010. The Easter Road pitch had a pronounced slope until it was removed in 2000.

In Their Own Story

The first match at Easter Road was played on 4 February 1893, a friendly against Clyde. A record attendance of 65,860 was set by an Edinburgh derby against Hearts played on 2 January 1950. This is also a record for any football match played in Edinburgh. Hibs became the first club in Scotland to install undersoil heating, in 1980. The Easter Road slope, which meant that the north end of the pitch was 6 feet lower than the south, was removed at the end of the 1999–00 season. The West Stand was built in 2001 to replace the ageing main stand, increasing capacity to 17,500. After further work, the East Stand was opened a month ahead of schedule in August 2010, increasing capacity to 20,421.

Reader's Guide

Easter Road is the home ground of Hibernian FC, located in the Leith area of Edinburgh. It has an all-seated capacity of 20,421, making it the fifth-largest football stadium in Scotland. The ground is known by Hibs fans as "The Holy Ground" or "The Leith San Siro". It has hosted international matches, Scottish League Cup semi-finals, and was briefly the home ground of the Edinburgh professional rugby union team. Key moments include the record attendance of 65,860 for an Edinburgh derby on 2 January 1950, and the removal of the pitch's pronounced slope in 2000. The stadium underwent major redevelopment from 1995 to 2010, including the construction of new stands and the installation of all-seating. In 2021, large video screens were installed, and in January 2024, Hibs announced rail seats would be put into the lower tier of the Famous Five stand for safe standing from the 2024–25 season. For visitors, the stadium offers a deep connection to Hibs' history, from its early days in 1893 to its modern redevelopment. It remains a vital part of Edinburgh's sporting landscape.

Did You Know?

• Easter Road holds the record attendance for a Scottish match outside Glasgow, with 65,860 for an Edinburgh derby on 2 January 1950.
• Hibs became the first club in Scotland to install undersoil heating, in 1980.
• The Easter Road pitch had a pronounced slope of 6 feet from north to south until it was removed at the end of the 1999–00 season.
• The stadium was briefly the home ground of the Edinburgh professional rugby union team.
• Large video screens were installed into the corners between the East Stand and the two end stands in 2021.