GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 20: A general view of Celtic fans during a Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Semi-Final match between St. Johnstone and Celtic at Hampden Park, on April 20, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Celtic fans could soon be getting the entire South Stand again when they visit Easter Road.
Over the last few seasons various adjustments have been made with Hibs following the trends to reduce away allocations.
It seems that the move has been driven by home fans angry at the backing that comes from a full South Stand.
Easter Road has a capacity of 20,421, the biggest in Scotland outside of Glasgow but very rarely filled by home fans.
Around 4,000 of those seats are in the South Stand but only Hearts are currently given the full stand.
Celtic visits are almost always live on television, with a noon or 12.30 kick off there are rarely more than 12-13,000 Hibs fans in attendance.
THE COST OF EMPTY SEATS FOR VISITS FROM CELTIC
Empty seats costing £35 a time is an expensive gesture, after posting losses of £5.8m for last season it seems that Hibs are taking a fresh look at away tickets.
BBC Scotland reports:
The club is also exploring ways to increase matchday income, including the potential to allocate more South Stand tickets to away supporters when Celtic and Rangers visit Easter Road.
Barnett insists no decision will be made without consulting Hibernian supporters.
Hibs estimate that unfilled seats in the South Stand could cost between £150,000 and £200,000 per year.
“We’ve been open about the balance between principle and revenue,” he said. “We’re working with fans to decide the best approach.
“We would always prefer to fill those seats with our own supporters, but we also have to consider the financial impact.”
Celtic are scheduled for a post-split visit to Easter Road with the date of that match still to be announced.
Up until 2018 the away allocation of tickets for Celtic fans was fairly steady and reliable.
Once Dave King reduced the Ibrox allocation from 7,000 to 800 that move started to be copied by clubs across Scotland.
Hearts seem to be the only club capable of filling their stadium with their own supporters.
St Mirren, Motherwell and Kilmarnock have all cut back on the allocations given to Celtic fans despite big gaps in the home areas at every match.
Last season Hibs had 7,000 fans at Celtic Park for a Scottish Cup tie, competition rules entitle away clubs to 20% of tickets.
The SPFL has no rule in place, instead they mention providing reasonable allocations which in effect amounts to nothing meaningful.
Hibs won’t be increasing the price of their Season Tickets for next season, Celtic have still to announce their plans for 26/27.
Ooohhh the hobo’s are skint….
Editor, I’m a wee bit “surprised and disappointed” to quote an arsehole ex-employee of Celtic PLC that you’ve written “…….to away supporters when Celtic and Sevco visit Easter Road.”
You’ll note I’ve corrected your error which, in just about any other case, I’d have ignored.
“The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth.” Lest we forget!
My apologies Joe, I see it was actually a report by someone and you’d just copied it for our information! Pedant Police put back in its box! 🙂
Offt – BBC Scotland will be in serious fu**in trouble now for sure…
They put Celtic before Sevco* in a potentially positive for Celtic article…
They’ll be up in arms on Wallow Wallow for sure about that for sure !
*(They didn’t say Sevco they said a deceased c.2012 thing – But I tell the truth and BBC Scotland tell lies – Pathological ones in this instance) !