Rangers played their first match of the season at Ibrox on 21 September when they took on Dundee in the Scottish League Cup.
The club started the season playing their home matches at Hampden Park due to ongoing Ibrox redevelopment work but the project is now complete and the club can move back to their home.
Ibrox redevelopment: Latest updates
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Rangers confirm return to Ibrox after unexpected delay
Rangers have revealed that they are now ready to return to Ibrox after starting the season at Hampden Park. The club have been forced to play four games at the Scottish National Stadium due to a delay in materials arriving from Asia.
Despite the club being ready to move back home, the Copland Road Stand is still incomplete meaning that they will be playing in front of a reduced crowd for the time being. In as statement, the club said:
“Rangers Football Club today confirms our Premier Sports Cup tie with Dundee on Saturday, 21 September, will be played at Ibrox Stadium.
“Excluding the Copland Stand, where final concourse and seating works are ongoing, all areas of our home will be open for this match. Season ticket holders from the Copland Stand will be offered an exclusive window to purchase seating elsewhere.”
Club reveal redevelopment plans
Back in January 2024, Rangers unveiled their plans to develop the Copland Stand. At the centre of the plans were disabled supporters with the club adding new accessible viewing positions at the rear of the Copland Front.
The new area will mean that Ibrox has more wheelchair-accessible spaces than any other stadium in the Scottish Premiership.
There will also be 600 new seats added to the singing section at the front of the Copland Stand meaning that there will be a slight increase in the Ibrox Capacity from 50,817 to over 51,000.
Ibrox dressing room change
Ahead of their return to Ibrox, Rangers have also given fans a glimpse of another significant change that has been made. The club have put up a portrait of King Charles in the home dressing room, replacing the one of the late Queen Elizabeth.
🇬🇧 The Official Portrait of His Majesty King Charles III.
💙 Upholding the traditions of Ibrox Stadium. pic.twitter.com/wMV8PF60TK
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) September 19, 2024
Future Ibrox redevelopment plans
Rangers currently have a season ticket waiting list of more than 10,000 fans and also have a season ticket renewal rate of 99% meaning that there is certainly the demand for a bigger stadium. While a move away from Ibrox is highly unlikely, a bigger expansion to the stadium is on the car.
In the summer of 2023, the then-CEO James Bisgrove revealed that the club were exploring options for a bigger expansion.
One option would be to add 1,300 seats to each corner of Ibrox and taking the big screens out. Alternatively, a plan to lower the pitch at Ibrox which would make space for 4,500 extra seats was also being considered.
Bisgrove left the club in the summer of 2024 and there has been no update on whether these plans are still being considered since his departure.