Hive Stadium - Home of Edinburgh Rugby

Hive Stadium (officially Edinburgh Rugby Stadium) is the purpose-built modern home of Edinburgh Rugby, opened on 16 February 2021 at a construction cost of £5.7 million. Located at 42 Saughtonhall Avenue in west Edinburgh, the 7,800-capacity rugby-specific stadium sits adjacent to the much larger 67,144-capacity Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium (the national stadium of Scotland), on land that was formerly Murrayfield training pitches beside the Water of Leith. The stadium was designed by Holmes Miller and built by WH Malcolm. Capacity comprises 5,800 seated places and 2,000 safe-standing places across four covered grandstands, three standing terraces, plus a disabled viewing platform, dugout seating, hospitality suites and fan zones. The Main Stand runs along the north sideline, with additional stands and terracing on the east, west and south sides. The artificial turf playing surface delivers all-weather playability — essential in the Edinburgh climate. Naming rights were initially held by healthcare firm DAM Health (September 2021 - July 2023), then by Scottish Gas (the "Hive" name from July 2023 onwards under a wide-ranging Scottish Rugby partnership). The stadium is owned by the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and operated by Edinburgh Rugby. It also hosts Scotland Women fixtures.

For decades, Edinburgh Rugby had no permanent home of its own, sharing venues including Myreside Stadium (Watsonians RFC), Meadowbank Stadium, and the cavernous 67,144-capacity Murrayfield Stadium — which proved inappropriately large for the club's typical 4,000-7,000 attendances. In 2019, the SRU broke ground on a purpose-built professional home at the back of Murrayfield, with construction beginning in February 2020. Despite Covid-19 disruption, the stadium was completed on 16 February 2021 at a cost of £5.7 million. The first match was a friendly between Edinburgh and Gallagher Premiership side Newcastle Falcons in September 2021. The same month, naming rights for the stadium were awarded to DAM Health under a seven-figure deal, with the venue becoming the DAM Health Stadium. The stadium has since hosted both Edinburgh Rugby URC and EPRC Challenge Cup home fixtures, plus selected Scotland Women internationals. In July 2023, after the DAM Health partnership ended, naming rights transferred to Scottish Gas as part of a wide-ranging Scottish Rugby partnership that also saw the much larger Murrayfield Stadium renamed "Scottish Gas Murrayfield". The Hive Stadium name reflects Scottish Gas's Hive smart home product brand. For high-demand fixtures including the 1872 Cup derby against Glasgow Warriors and Champions Cup ties, Edinburgh Rugby occasionally returns to neighbouring Murrayfield to accommodate larger crowds.

Hive Stadium offers a uniquely intimate matchday experience among URC venues — purpose-built to feel close to the action despite its modest 7,800 capacity. The four-stand layout with three standing terraces puts supporters within touching distance of the pitch, generating a passionate atmosphere on big URC and European nights. The famous singing of "Flower of Scotland" before kick-off is one of the most evocative pre-match traditions in world rugby, and the fierce 1872 Cup rivalry with Glasgow Warriors provides the standout matchday on the calendar — Edinburgh Rugby occasionally returning to the neighbouring Scottish Gas Murrayfield for these fixtures when demand outstrips Hive's capacity. The compact modern design ensures every seat has a great view of the action, with the recently installed Fan Zone enhancing the pre-match supporter experience.

Hive Stadium does not currently offer a regularly scheduled public stadium tour programme. As a modern purpose-built professional rugby ground primarily focused on matchday and training operations for Edinburgh Rugby, the venue has limited tour availability. Bespoke group visits can be arranged via the Edinburgh Rugby commercial team for schools, corporate clients, and supporter groups by appointment — contact edinburghrugby.org or +44 131 346 5000 to enquire. Most visitors interested in a comprehensive stadium tour experience in Edinburgh opt for the much larger Scottish Gas Murrayfield tour next door, run by the Scottish Rugby Union, which covers Scotland's national rugby heritage from 1925 onwards including the famous 1925 Grand Slam, the 1990 Five Nations victory over England, and the celebrated 1875 Calcutta Cup match against England.

Hive Stadium does not feature a dedicated permanent museum. Edinburgh Rugby heritage displays are exhibited throughout the modern hospitality suites and concourses celebrating the club's history since 1872 — 154 years of professional and amateur rugby in the capital. For a comprehensive Scottish rugby heritage experience, visitors are directed to the BT Murrayfield (Scottish Gas Murrayfield) experience next door, where the Scottish Rugby Union maintains extensive heritage displays covering Scotland's national rugby story from the world's first international (Scotland v England, 1871) onwards.