ONE of Glasgow's historic parks has been earmarked as the epicentre of the Commonwealth Games festivities, with the potential for as many as 80,000 people watching live events on big screens.

Branded Festival 2014, Glasgow Green, along with Kelvingrove in the west end, will be one of the key 'live sites' during the Games, showing the sporting action and cultural events on big screens.

It is understood organisers are looking at a capacity of between 40,000 and 80,000 for the Green event, with licensed hospitality tents dotted around the site.

However, the proposals have been met with some reservations from Police Scotland, which is in ongoing discussions with Glasgow City Council over the plans given the availability of alcohol, size of the crowds and other wider pressures from securing the Games.

Discussions have also taken place with firms around Kelvingrove Park regarding live site plans there. The park will see the tail end of one of the cycling races during the Games, as well as the medals ceremony for the bowls.

Council sources have dismissed concerns of daily fees to enter Kelvingrove Park during the Games.

The Herald also understands all pubs in Glasgow city centre will be granted an extension in their hours during the Games, running until 1am or 2am.

However, objections to the move, expected to be confirmed in late summer or early autumn, are expected from the health lobby.

At a hearing into the city's licensing board's policy for the next three years, Councillor Archie Graham, the council's head of 2014, asked for a relaxation of licensed hours to accommodate the live sites and mentioned earlier opening for licensed premises in and around Games venues.

A source said: "There is a proposal for a live site during the Games on Glasgow Green where there would be a big screen showing both sports and cultural events. The capacity would be up to 80,000 and there would be temporary bars selling alcohol.

"Police Scotland have some reservations because of the obvious potential for disorder. There is already a huge burden on police for the Games proper.

"However, senior officers appreciate Glasgow 2014 is a once-in-a-lifetime event and, as tricky as handling these extra fan events might be, they will have to grin and bear it. It's seen as vitally important the Games is for the whole city, not just visitors."

Another said: "We've hospitality tents every year at the World Pipe Band Championships without Armageddon, murder and mayhem. That's in many ways a local template."

Live sites are a relatively new initiative at multi-sports events, originating at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Similar events were held in Salt Lake City, Torino, Beijing, Vancouver and London 2012.

One of the most popular wonders of the Olympic Park was a double-sided television screen the height of three double decker buses which attracted 10,000 watching the action before or after their ticketed events.

Anyone with a ticket to that day's competition at the Olympic Park was able to access the area. A number of general Park tickets, allowing people to enter without tickets for sporting events, were also made available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Other live sites in London were staged at Hyde Park, Victoria Park, Trafalgar Square and Potters Fields Park. Mayor of London Boris Johnson said the sites were a vital part of his strategy to promote the city internationally.

A Glasgow 2014 spokeswoman said: "Festival 2014 will be a wide-ranging and diverse cultural celebration in Glasgow running alongside the sporting action.

"It will transform the city from July 19 to August 3 with an invigorating mix filling streets, spaces and stages. Development of the live zone sites is progressing well and locations will be announced later this autumn. Live sites will combine elements of the Glasgow 2014 cultural programme with opportunities for all to enjoy a vibrant and family-friendly experience of the city at Games time."

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: "We are still at the planning process regarding the Live Sites and nothing is confirmed at this stage."

A police spokesman said: "Police Scotland is well-used used to keeping people safe at large-scale events.

"We are engaged fully and positively with the local authority around the celebrations and events which are currently still in the planning stages."