Independent survey shows Scottish football fans would prefer to move away from Hampden Park

• Worryingly low levels of satisfaction with Hampden matchday experience

• Scottish Football Supporters Association calls for fans to be included in decision on national stadium

A survey of 2,923 Scottish football fans has indicated only 15% wish to retain Hampden Park as the home of Scottish football.

Of the fans surveyed, 34% stated a move to Murrayfield in Edinburgh would be their favoured choice with 25% preferring to move games to existing club grounds around the country. The creation of a ‘new Hampden’ was the choice of 24% of those surveyed.

The results of the survey carried out by the Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA) also highlighted that 97% of Scottish football fans believe supporters should have an input into the decision.

Additional results include:

• Overall, 56% rate the overall experience of Hampden as bad or very bad

• 13% of supporters rate the Hampden experience as a positive one

• 82% described parking at Hampden as very bad or bad

• 80% described value at international matches as very bad or bad

The most favourable assessment from fans was the atmosphere created at cup games with 61% having a positive or neutral position.  60% had a positive or neutral position on the atmosphere at international games.

Other aspects of dissatisfaction with the Hampden experience include visibility within the ground, value for money at cup games, public transport and catering.

• 73% stated that visibility within the stadium is very bad or bad

• 64% believed that value at cup games is very bad or bad

• 64% think that public transport links are very bad or bad

• 57% state that the catering at Hampden is very bad or bad

SFSA chairman Simon Barrow said: “The results of the research is concerning especially following the 16,500 strong evaluation research last month that highlighted the fact that over 60% of fans felt they could lose interest in football.

“Clearly the status quo is not working, and with such widespread views on the question of the national stadium we believe that a full independent consultation should be conducted before any future decisions are made about Hampden Park. It is too big an issue for the SFA to consider alone.

“It is also clear that fans themselves must be involved as key stakeholders in this decision. Given the issues that have been highlighted by the research we would also be in favour of further work being done to explore the options to update and improve the current stadium.”