The inaugural round of SPL matches took place on the weekend of 1–2 August 1998, with five clubs hosting the opening fixtures.
Following the Hillsborough Disaster in 1989, the Taylor Report recommended the abolition of standing terraces by the start of the 1994–95 season, to be replaced by all-seater stadiums.
[2] In addition to this, the SPL initially demanded that all its stadia should have a minimum capacity of 10,000 seats,[3][4] but later reduced that figure to 6,000.
[5] When Falkirk finished in a potential promotion position in 2000 and 2003, the SPL refused admission to membership because their Brockville Park did not have sufficient seating capacity.
Some clubs promoted from the First Division, such as Hamilton Academical and Ross County, undertook ground improvements to meet the SPL criteria before entering the league.