Scottish Football Association
Personalised Partnership Planning
Then the Scottish FA needed to transform the match day transport experience for 51,000 supporters at Hampden Park, they turned to Travel Connect. We developed a multi-partner shuttle solution that improved supporter experience, eased local congestion and took the entire transport operation off the SFA's hands.
Our Role
Hampden Park sits in a densely populated area on the south side of Glasgow - and with 51,000 supporters converging on the stadium for World Cup qualifying home games, the logistical and community challenges were significant. Negative press and supporter frustration had prompted the SFA to act, and they needed a transport partner who could design and deliver a solution that worked for everyone: supporters travelling from across Scotland, local residents, and the wider Glasgow transport network.
Travel Connect was brought in to take full ownership of the transport operation. Our role went beyond simply providing vehicles - we were tasked with building a coordinated, multi-partner delivery plan that would genuinely improve the match day experience while minimising disruption to the surrounding community.
“The Scottish FA worked with Travel Connect to provide Scotland fans with free shuttle buses throughout our World Cup qualification campaign. The service was well organised, professional, and well thought through. As a result, Travel Connect have played a big part in improving the match day
experience for thousands of Scotland Supporters.”
Our Approach
We didn't just plan a shuttle service - we built a partnership to deliver it.
Working closely with ScotRail, SPT, Strathclyde Police and Glasgow City Council, we developed a comprehensive transport strategy that coordinated shuttle services from a central city hub directly to the stadium. Every element - from route planning and vehicle selection to Temporary Traffic Restriction orders and onsite coordination - was led and managed by our team, freeing the SFA to focus on the wider event delivery.
Vehicle selection was deliberate and considered, chosen specifically to minimise residential disruption and reduce congestion in the local area. Our transport planners, onsite coordinators and 24-hour control room worked in unison throughout each match day, ensuring supporters arrived safely and on time for kick-off, while keeping disruption to local residents to an absolute minimum.
Our Strengths
What this operation required above all else was the ability to coordinate across multiple organisations simultaneously - and that is where Travel Connect's experience and infrastructure proved decisive.
Our established relationships with key transport and public sector partners meant we could bring the right people to the table quickly and build a delivery plan that had buy-in from all stakeholders. Our planning team understood both the scale of the supporter movement and the sensitivity of the local environment, and designed a solution that balanced both effectively.
On match days, our onsite presence and 24-hour control room ensured the operation ran with precision - with any issues identified and resolved before they could affect the supporter or resident experience.
The Outcome
Travel Connect successfully delivered a professional, well-organised shuttle service across the SFA's World Cup qualifying campaign - transforming what had been a source of frustration into a genuine positive for thousands of Scotland supporters.
Disruption to local residents was significantly reduced, congestion was managed effectively, and supporters arrived at Hampden Park on time and in good spirits. The feedback from the SFA reflected the impact of the work - praising the professionalism, organisation and thought that went into every match day. It was a clear demonstration of what a well-planned, well-partnered transport operation can achieve.