Celtic Park (Celtic v St Mirren)

For more pictures of Celtic Park see this post (v AZ),this one (v FC Utrecht) and this one (v Rangers).

Today I went to Celtic Park to see Celtic take on St Mirren. This was a short trip for me, 30 minutes on the bus from my house, then another 30 minutes to walk from Glasgow city centre to Celtic Park.

Initially St Mirren gave Celtic a good game until a Chris Innes own goal in the 39th minute. I had really hoped for a 0-0 half-time score but unfortunately it was not to be. Only three minutes later Samaras scored a second. Luckily Higdon scored one for the Saints just before the half-time whistle. However any hopes Saints had to gather something from this game were dashed by Scott McDonald's 61st-minute goal.

St Mirren goalie Paul Gallacher also saved a late Scott McDonald penalty. Innes had blatantly handled Barry Robson's corner and was shown a yellow card and then immediately a red one. Referee Steve Conroy had wrongly thought he already booked Innes earlier in the match. The St Mirren player had already left the pitch when the referee realised his mistake and the player was called back.

To be honest I had not noticed this incident. My seat was on the second row in the away section, tucked away in a corner between the Lisbon Lions Stand and the South Stand. I had a ticket with an 'unrestricted view' but it was by no means a great seat. Also after every goal stewards and policemen surrounded the pitch, completely blocking my view, with particular focus on the well-behaved St Mirren support. I am not sure it was the best method of crowd control I have ever seen. I had been looking forward to this game but I had a better time at Stirling Albion and Annan Athletic recently although I must admit today's result probably had something to do with it.

Approaching Celtic Park.

The Lisbon Lions Stand.


The Jock Stein Stand.

The South Stand after the final whistle.

The North Stand.

The Lisbon Lions Stand. Also a few people making sure you are not entering the pitch...

Saturday 28th November 2009
Scottish Premier League
Celtic 3 St Mirren 1
Celtic: Innes (og) 39, Samaras 42, McDonald 61.
St Mirren: Higdon 45.
Att: 41,000

Celtic Park (Celtic v St Mirren)

For more pictures of Celtic Park see this post (v AZ),this one (v FC Utrecht) and this one (v Rangers).

Today I went to Celtic Park to see Celtic take on St Mirren. This was a short trip for me, 30 minutes on the bus from my house, then another 30 minutes to walk from Glasgow city centre to Celtic Park.

Initially St Mirren gave Celtic a good game until a Chris Innes own goal in the 39th minute. I had really hoped for a 0-0 half-time score but unfortunately it was not to be. Only three minutes later Samaras scored a second. Luckily Higdon scored one for the Saints just before the half-time whistle. However any hopes Saints had to gather something from this game were dashed by Scott McDonald's 61st-minute goal.

St Mirren goalie Paul Gallacher also saved a late Scott McDonald penalty. Innes had blatantly handled Barry Robson's corner and was shown a yellow card and then immediately a red one. Referee Steve Conroy had wrongly thought he already booked Innes earlier in the match. The St Mirren player had already left the pitch when the referee realised his mistake and the player was called back.

To be honest I had not noticed this incident. My seat was on the second row in the away section, tucked away in a corner between the Lisbon Lions Stand and the South Stand. I had a ticket with an 'unrestricted view' but it was by no means a great seat. Also after every goal stewards and policemen surrounded the pitch, completely blocking my view, with particular focus on the well-behaved St Mirren support. I am not sure it was the best method of crowd control I have ever seen. I had been looking forward to this game but I had a better time at Stirling Albion and Annan Athletic recently although I must admit today's result probably had something to do with it.

Approaching Celtic Park.

The Lisbon Lions Stand.


The Jock Stein Stand.

The South Stand after the final whistle.

The North Stand.

The Lisbon Lions Stand. Also a few people making sure you are not entering the pitch...

Saturday 28th November 2009
Scottish Premier League
Celtic 3 St Mirren 1
Celtic: Innes (og) 39, Samaras 42, McDonald 61.
St Mirren: Higdon 45.
Att: 41,000

New Indiana University Fieldhouse

Concourse and Lower Bowl

Upper Bowl Seating

Arena Floor - Seating Removed

Hoosier Club Level

Main Entrance - Side Elevation

Arena Cross Section - Seating Elevation

I never really got Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana. It's certainly unique, and I'm all for that. However, I always thought those upper seats must be horrendous. The top row of Assembly Hall is 65 rows up from the court, certainly more than any other college basketball arena. Well, after doing some research, it turns out they are and the Indiana University might be looking to replace it in the long term.

So here is my design for a new fieldhouse at Indiana University. It would seat 17,100, vitually the same as Assembly Hall. It would have one main concourse to serve almost all the patrons, which would save some construction costs. The lower level would have about 7,500 seats, with 5,200 along the sidelines with chairbacks, and 2,300 on the ends as wooden bleachers for the students, just like Assembly Hall. There would also be 32 suites and 8 wheelchair platforms at the top of the lower bowl.

The upper bowl would have 8,500 seats, all chairbacks. It would be accessed with stairs up from the lower level for each tunnel. The upper level would go all the way around the arena, instead of just along the sidelines like at Assembly Hall. The top row of this new arena would be 45 rows from the court instead of 65.

There would also be a club area along the top of the arena, seating 350. It would have a bar area and tables and chairs for 150 where club patrons could met before, during, and after the game. It could also be used for meetings and social events.

The exterior facade of the arena would be made of red brick and limestone. The red brick would match the team colors, and the limestone would fit in well with the University, much of which is clad in Indiana limestone.

I hope you like it.

Madison Square Garden (Florida Panthers at New York Rangers)

No football this time! Last week my wife and I spent a few days in New York, our first visit to the States. Of course I wanted to see a few sports grounds as well. The Major League Soccer season had finished so I could not see the New York Red Bulls (formerly known as the MetroStars) in action. They are playing in New Jersey as well (in the Giants Stadium and from next year in the newly-built Red Bull Arena) which is not very easy to get to if you are staying in Manhattan for only a few days. NFL team New York Giants also played at home during this weekend but they also play in the Giants Stadium as you may have guessed. The baseball season had finished as well. This meant I could choose between the juicy NBA fixture NY Knicks v Boston Celtics or the NHL tie between NY Rangers and the Florida Panthers.

I preferred the NBA game but my wife is quite fond of ice hockey. Since both the Knicks and the Rangers play in Madison Square Garden I did not mind seeing the NHL game either. 'The Garden' is of course a legendary venue. The current arena opened in 1968. It holds 18,200 for hockey games and 19,763 for basketball matches. According to the ESPN site there was a capacity crowd but it was definitely not full. We had bought our tickets through SeatExchange.com which is the official way for season ticket holders to sell seats for games they will not attend. We had bought ours for only $43 each in September and there were still hundreds available when I checked a few days before the game. The absent season ticket holders may be an explanation for the inflated attendance figure.

It was my first ever ice hockey game and I thought it was quite entertaining. Unfortunately New York lost 3-2. They had taken the lead in the first period but Florida managed to get a 2-1 lead in the second period. In the third period the Panthers scored a third. Rangers could not turn the tide despite scoring a second goal late into the final period.

Approaching Madison Square Garden.

The stands before face-off.

It took a while for the stands to fill up.

The national anthem.

Action shot during the first period.

New York take the lead (1-0).

Litte Rangers during the intermission.

Rangers get back 3-2 after trailing 3-1.

After the game.

Myself after the game.

Saturday 21st November 2009
National Hockey League
New York Rangers 2 Florida Panthers 3
Att: 18,200

Madison Square Garden (Florida Panthers at New York Rangers)

No football this time! Last week my wife and I spent a few days in New York, our first visit to the States. Of course I wanted to see a few sports grounds as well. The Major League Soccer season had finished so I could not see the New York Red Bulls (formerly known as the MetroStars) in action. They are playing in New Jersey as well (in the Giants Stadium and from next year in the newly-built Red Bull Arena) which is not very easy to get to if you are staying in Manhattan for only a few days. NFL team New York Giants also played at home during this weekend but they also play in the Giants Stadium as you may have guessed. The baseball season had finished as well. This meant I could choose between the juicy NBA fixture NY Knicks v Boston Celtics or the NHL tie between NY Rangers and the Florida Panthers.

I preferred the NBA game but my wife is quite fond of ice hockey. Since both the Knicks and the Rangers play in Madison Square Garden I did not mind seeing the NHL game either. 'The Garden' is of course a legendary venue. The current arena opened in 1968. It holds 18,200 for hockey games and 19,763 for basketball matches. According to the ESPN site there was a capacity crowd but it was definitely not full. We had bought our tickets through SeatExchange.com which is the official way for season ticket holders to sell seats for games they will not attend. We had bought ours for only $43 each in September and there were still hundreds available when I checked a few days before the game. The absent season ticket holders may be an explanation for the inflated attendance figure.

It was my first ever ice hockey game and I thought it was quite entertaining. Unfortunately New York lost 3-2. They had taken the lead in the first period but Florida managed to get a 2-1 lead in the second period. In the third period the Panthers scored a third. Rangers could not turn the tide despite scoring a second goal late into the final period.

Approaching Madison Square Garden.

The stands before face-off.

It took a while for the stands to fill up.

The national anthem.

Action shot during the first period.

New York take the lead (1-0).

Litte Rangers during the intermission.

Rangers get back 3-2 after trailing 3-1.

After the game.

Myself after the game.

Saturday 21st November 2009
National Hockey League
New York Rangers 2 Florida Panthers 3
Att: 18,200

The 2009 Scottish Football Hall of Fame Inductees Dinner

No football ground this time, but still a football-related post. I was invited through my work to the Scottish Football Hall of Fame dinner at the Hilton in Glasgow. This annual dinner has been held since 2004. Every year a few legends are inducted to the Hall of Fame which is located at the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden. The induction of Maurice "Mo" Johnston had already been announced in the press. Other inductees were Steve Archibald, Bertie Auld, Jimmy Delaney, Alan Gilzean, Paul Lambert, Willie Maley, and David Meiklejohn. Graeme Souness had already been inducted in 2004 when he had other commitments but he accepted the induction tonight.

I do not usually go to events like this so I took my camera with me. It was a great night!

With Graeme Souness, the former manager of Rangers (and a few other clubs!).

With former referee Hugh Dallas.

The induction of Dundee and Tottenham Hotspur legend Alan Gilzean.

The induction of Mo Johnston. Johnston was the first high-profile catholic to be signed by Rangers. Since he was also a former Celtic player it was a very controversial signing made by Graeme Souness. Johnston is currently the manager of MLS side Toronto FC.

Former St Mirren and Celtic player Paul Lambert. The current Norwich City manager is also the last Scottish player who has lifted the European Cup (with Borussia Dortmund).

With Mo Johnston.

With SFA chief executive Gordon Smith, looking upbeat despite Scotland getting humped 3-0 in Wales the day before...


With Ian St. John and John from my work.

The 2009 Scottish Football Hall of Fame Inductees Dinner

No football ground this time, but still a football-related post. I was invited through my work to the Scottish Football Hall of Fame dinner at the Hilton in Glasgow. This annual dinner has been held since 2004. Every year a few legends are inducted to the Hall of Fame which is located at the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden. The induction of Maurice "Mo" Johnston had already been announced in the press. Other inductees were Steve Archibald, Bertie Auld, Jimmy Delaney, Alan Gilzean, Paul Lambert, Willie Maley, and David Meiklejohn. Graeme Souness had already been inducted in 2004 when he had other commitments but he accepted the induction tonight.

I do not usually go to events like this so I took my camera with me. It was a great night!

With Graeme Souness, the former manager of Rangers (and a few other clubs!).

With former referee Hugh Dallas.

The induction of Dundee and Tottenham Hotspur legend Alan Gilzean.

The induction of Mo Johnston. Johnston was the first high-profile catholic to be signed by Rangers. Since he was also a former Celtic player it was a very controversial signing made by Graeme Souness. Johnston is currently the manager of MLS side Toronto FC.

Former St Mirren and Celtic player Paul Lambert. The current Norwich City manager is also the last Scottish player who has lifted the European Cup (with Borussia Dortmund).

With Mo Johnston.

With SFA chief executive Gordon Smith, looking upbeat despite Scotland getting humped 3-0 in Wales the day before...


With Ian St. John and John from my work.