"End of an era" as Meadowbank Sports Centre closes

Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium closes its doors for the final time today after a run of almost 50 years.

The flagship venue will shut for good on Sunday, marking the "end of an era'' in the city.

The stadium was built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games and has been used as a multi-purpose sports facility over the decades.

The building will now be decommissioned to make way for a new "state-of-the-art'' sports centre, expected to be up and running by 2020.

Councillor Ian Campbell, vice convener of culture and communities at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: "It is the end of an era for Meadowbank and the start of a major redevelopment to support physical activity, health and wellbeing in Edinburgh.

"The old Meadowbank has been at the heart of sport in Edinburgh for almost half a century.

"It has been used by millions over the decades and I am sure that many people from all around the world who have passed through its doors will treasure memories of great sporting moments created within its walls.

"I am delighted, however, that we can now look forward to bringing ours plans to life to create a new sporting great to be used by people in Edinburgh and beyond for generations to come.''

June Peebles, chief executive of Edinburgh Leisure, said: "The new venue will undoubtedly pick up where the old Meadowbank left off; it will provide countless opportunities for generations to come to participate in physical activity and sport. New sporting memories will be created."