Football finance expert Kieran Maguire believes that Glasgow Rangers could easily increase their capacity at Ibrox by 9,000 seats and still sell out the ground.

The Lowdown: Gers plan for extra seating

The stadium currently holds just under 51,000, but there is room to add more seating capacity.

Speaking to the Louden Tavern Podcast, Gers vice-chairman John Bennett has revealed that it is a mid-term goal of the 55-time Scottish champions to add more seats.

The Latest: Maguire thinks there could be room for 60,000 at Ibrox

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire has suggested there could viably be room to have a 60,000 capacity at Ibrox. He said:

"With the Steven Gerrard factor and the fact they are competing in Europe, why can’t they be looking at something around 60,000?

"There are three clubs in London that have that capacity, so why can we not have two in Glasgow?

"Both Rangers and Celtic have fanbases that go beyond the borders of Glasgow itself. People are hugely invested in both clubs in the city but also all around Scotland as well. 

"There are about 600,000 people in Glasgow but that doesn’t stop Liverpool and Everton both getting huge crowds. The same goes for both Manchester clubs."

The Verdict: Why not?

As it stands, Ibrox is the 51st biggest stadium in Europe in terms of capacity (stadiumguide.com). 50,000+ is nothing to be sniffed at, but when you consider the Gers have already sold 44,000 season tickets for 2021/22 (rangers.co.uk) even when it is not yet clear when fans will be allowed to fully return to grounds following the global pandemic, there definitely seems room for growth.

Maguire is also correct to allude to "the Steven Gerrard" factor after the manager led them to not only end their 10-year wait for a Premiership title, but to do so unbeaten and with 102 points on the board.

A capacity of 60,000 would put them in and around Celtic Park, which can currently host 60,500. The Gers will want to match their fierce rivals in every aspect - a bigger stadium will give them plenty more possibility to do just that.

In other news, this man has been urged to stay at Rangers despite exit rumours.