Cup semi details - do they make sense?

The Scottish Cup semi final details have been announced with venues and TV coverage included, even before we know who is playing on one of them!!

The SFA announced the arrangements for this season’s Scottish Cup semi finals with both games being played at Hampden and both live on TV.

The first game is Dundee United or Motherwell v Brechin City or St Johnstone on
Saturday 16 April 2011, with a 12.45pm kick off. This game will be shown live on the BBC Scotland.

For the life of me I can’t see the footballing reason for playing this one at Hampden, with the crowd likely to be less than 20000 rattling round a stadium that holds 50000.

I know the SFA need to use Hampden to make money from it, but why not play it at Easter Rd, or Tynecastle where the atmosphere would be fantastic, and probably help raise the game.

The second Semi-final between Aberdeen and Celtic the following date, with the same kick off time.

This one may make sense to be played at Hampden but again why not play this one at Ibrox and keep Hampden for the big occasion on the day of the Final.

We also need to hope they are priced sensibly to ensure there is some sort of crowd at the games, rather then the TV pictures showing great swathes of empty seats.