Rugby Park

Rugby Park

Rugby Park Location in East Ayrshire
Location	Rugby Road, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland
Coordinates	55°36′15.21″N 4°30′29.24″W / 55.6042250°N 4.5081222°W / 55.6042250; -4.5081222
Owner	Kilmarnock F.C.
Capacity	17,889
Field size	112 yd × 74 yd (102 m × 68 m)
Surface	Artificial – field turf
Construction
Opened	1 August 1899
Renovated	1946, 1961, 1994–95
Tenants
Kilmarnock F.C.	1899–present

Rugby Park is a football stadium situated in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock. It was first used in 1899 and is the home of Kilmarnock FC.

It underwent a major redevelopment in 1994–95, becoming an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 17,889. In addition to its main duty of hosting home matches for Kilmarnock it has been the venue for two Scottish international matches.

It can also be used for concerts, with Elton John playing to 15,000 in a first for the venue. In 2002, the club constructed Park Hotel, a 4-star complex next to the ground.

Kilmarnock first played football matches at the present Rugby Park site in 1899. Despite that, the venue is actually Kilmarnock’s fourth home ground. The Grange, Holm Quarry and Ward's Park all hosted matches, before the club moved to Rugby Park in 1877. This was not the present stadium, but one situated close by near South Hamilton Street. This ground was shared by cricket and rugby teams – sports which Kilmarnock had played previously – and the connection with rugby gave the ground its name. This name was taken with the club when they moved to their present stadium. The ground was inaugurated with a match against then-champions Celtic on 1 August, when Kilmarnock fought back from a 2–0 deficit to secure a draw. It was their first match in the top tier of Scottish football, having won the Second Division the previous season.

Originally, the ground was constructed with a running track around its edge, a pavilion and a stand along the west side. In 1935 a cover was added to part of the south terrace. During the Second World War, the army used the ground as an ammunition dump, as league matches were suspended. The pitch had to be reconstructed after the war and Italian prisoners of war helped rebuild and extend the north terrace. A roof was added to the east terrace in 1959, and the West Stand was renovated during the 1960–61 season. The following season a record 35,995 fans saw Kilmarnock lose 4–2 to Rangers in the Scottish Cup. However, the fans were to witness happier times as the team clinched the league championship in 1964–65. During the summer of 1968 the floodlight system was upgraded to accommodate live television broadcasts. The ensuing years saw little change at the ground.