Hive Stadium - Edinburgh
The Hive Stadium is another of those rugby grounds with a rather more famous big brother next door. Edinburgh Rugby share the Murrayfield complex, but unlike Cardiff Arms Park and the Principality Stadium, the two grounds aren't physically attached. Instead, the Hive sits across the road from the enormous home of Scottish international rugby.
It is a much smaller and more intimate proposition, holding around 7,800 spectators, and that is probably no bad thing for Edinburgh Rugby. Murrayfield is an impressive stadium, but it can feel rather cavernous when a relatively modest crowd is spread around it. At the Hive, the supporters are much closer to the pitch and the atmosphere can be considerably more concentrated.The stadium itself was originally known as the Myreside Stadium, before Edinburgh moved to Murrayfield's back pitch and the venue was redeveloped and renamed the Hive Stadium. It has a mixture of permanent seating and temporary structures, giving it more of a functional rugby-ground feel than a grand stadium.
And then there's Murrayfield.
It is almost impossible to ignore. Walk out of the Hive and there is Scotland's national stadium looming across the road. It gives the whole area a slightly strange feeling — Edinburgh Rugby have their own home, but their much bigger brother is sitting there reminding everyone that international rugby is only a few hundred yards away.
The location is actually pretty convenient. Edinburgh's tram network serves the Murrayfield area, with the Murrayfield Stadium stop providing a straightforward way of getting to the rugby complex. There are also buses along Corstorphine Road, while Haymarket station is within walking distance for those who don't mind a stroll.
The Hive doesn't have the history or grandeur of Murrayfield, but that isn't necessarily a criticism. It is designed for club rugby and, when Edinburgh have a decent crowd in, it works rather well.The big advantage is intimacy. You're close enough to the pitch to hear the players and coaches, and there's much less of the detached feeling that can occur in a 60,000-plus international stadium.
For visitors, there is also the amusing experience of being able to compare the two grounds almost side by side. Murrayfield is the grand old stage for Scotland; the Hive is the rather more modest club venue trying to make its own identity.
Admission
Edinburgh Rugby use fixture-specific pricing, with tickets generally cheaper than attending a Scotland international at Murrayfield. Prices vary according to the opponent and seating area, so it is worth checking the individual fixture when booking.
The Hive may never have the grandeur of Murrayfield, but it doesn't really need it.
It is Edinburgh Rugby's own little corner of the Murrayfield empire — a baby brother rather than a poor relation.
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