| Scottish Gaelic: Pàirc Rugbaidh | |
The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park "The Theatre of Pies"[1] | |
 Rugby Park (2021) | |
  Rugby Park Location in East Ayrshire | |
| Full name | Rugby Park |
|---|---|
| Location | Rugby Road, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland, KA1 2DP |
| Coordinates | 55°36′15″N 4°30′29″W / 55.60417°N 4.50806°W |
| Public transit |  Kilmarnock railway station  Kilmarnock bus terminal |
| Owner | Kilmarnock F.C. |
| Capacity | 15,003[2][3] |
| Record attendance | 35,995 v Rangers 10 March 1962 |
| Field size | 112 yd × 74 yd (102 m × 68 m) |
| Surface | Artificial – field turf |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1 August 1899 |
| Renovated | 1946, 1961, 1994–1995 |
| Architect | Archibald Leitch (1899)[4] |
| Tenants | |
| 1899–present | |
Rugby Park (Scottish Gaelic: Pàirc Rugbaidh), also known as The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park for sponsorship reasons,[5] is a football stadium which is the home of Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock F.C. and is situated in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock. With a capacity of 15,003, it is the 7th–largest football stadium in Scotland, and was first used in 1899, also having been used for concerts, rugby union and international football fixtures. The stadium underwent a major redevelopment in 1994–1995, becoming an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 18,128.[2][3] In 2002, the club constructed the Park Hotel, a 4-star hotel complex next to the ground.
During the 1994–95 season the stadium capacity was reduced to 18,128 as a result of the construction of three new stands - the Moffat Stand, the Chadwick Stand and the East Stand.[6] The renovated stadium opened on 6 August 1995, with a friendly match against Blackburn Rovers F.C.[6] Rugby Park has since further renovations, with an artificial pitch being installed in the summer of 2014, safe standing available from November 2019 and underground heating installed in 1999.[7] In August 2010, the West Stand was renamed the Frank Beattie Stand in honour of former player Frank Beattie who captained Kilmarnock to their Scottish League Championship victory in 1965.[8]
As well as football matches, Rugby Park has also hosted rugby matches, most recently between Scotland and Georgia in July 2016.[9] The venue has also hosted four international football matches for the Scotland national football team in 1894, 1910 and two most recently in 1997.[6]
- ^ "SPOOK-TACULAR HALLOWEEN WALK RETURNS TO RUGBY PARK". Kilmarnock F.C. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Kilmarnock Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
- ^ a b "Rugby Park". killiefc.com. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Which stadiums did Archibald Leitch design? Unique architect responsible for 30+ grounds in British football". www.footballgroundguide.com. Football Ground Guide. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ "Welcome to The BBSP Stadium, Rugby Park". 7 August 2020.
- ^ a b c "Rugby Park | killiefc.com". www.killiefc.com.
- ^ "Rugby Park | killiefc.com".
- ^ "Through the Years | Kilmarnock FC History and Heritage".
- ^ "Rugby Park confirmed as venue for Georgia Test". Scottish Rugby Union.