Breaking News - New Stadium and Training Facilities

[donsdaft]

I've got a sweet spot for them.
It's at the bottom of Merkland Road East.

[Mason89]

Did they mention anything about hiring an actual architect.
It look like 20 yrs down the road they are still as clueless on the build.

They hired & fired Gallus79. Not sure if anyone else has the gig

[redstarfk]

Gent stadium looks crap, why start the seating 10 feet above pitch level , wasted space & atmosphere probably.

I wonder about this naming rights, they can't get a decent shirt sponsor not likely to get any big name for anything else.

Only reason I can think of for the seats being above pitch level , is that the view of the pitch for the spectators from the front rows would be a bit less **** than the view from pitch level.

And what’s wrong with the current shirt sponsors ?

[PittodriePile]

I wonder if we can take on franchises like McDonalds and Costa. Those places are gold mines. Someone else would probably do it.

There has been approvals made to build a McDonalds and a Costa directly across the road from the new stadium and training facilities.

[Red Zone]

Did they mention anything about hiring an actual architect.
It look like 20 yrs down the road they are still as clueless on the build.

Yes they said there would be an architect that would be working on the new build (may already be on board they didn’t specify). In addition a separate architect firm would carry out a peer review on the work done by the first firm to identify any issues and any areas for improvement.

[redscot]

Thanks for the update Red Zone.

[redscot]

I've got a sweet spot for them.
It's at the bottom of Merkland Road East.

And that is spot on.

[redscot]

Don't shoot the messenger but here's what was said about the new stadium last night (by Cormack/Fraser/Wicks)

1. Consultation with fans over stadium design and facilities will begin later this year. Described as being a comprehensive exercise to look at things like safe standing etc
2. There will be a separate consultation with disabled fans to ensure their needs are met. Intention is to do more than just legal minimum re access etc
3. Headline figure for cost being used is £50M rather than the previous £40M (but see below).
4. Working with advisers who have been involved in other stadium new builds to find "sweet spot" for AFC with regard to what facilities to build versus income to be generated e.g. number of premium seats, corporate facilities. The example used was they would rather spend £50M to generate an extra £3M per annum than spend £40M to generate an extra £1M per annum
5. Quite a bit away from saying what they will do re funding. Process will be consultation followed by finalisation of stadium design (as a result of both fan consultation and "sweet spot" discussion) followed by finalisation of cost estimate and then will go to investors for funding.
6. Expect funding to be proved 70-80% from a share issue with both existing and new investors but also looking at possible fan share issue. Any debt taken on would only be on the basis of a rock solid plan on how the additional income would pay off the debt
7. Naming rights is crucial and will be a long-term commitment with the right brand. Would rather have no stadium name than the wrong name or short term name.
8. Recognised that traffic plan was crucial and are still looking at what other similar new stadiums have done. Advice from all others is that whatever plan is finalised, will change after 3 months going live and then again after 6 months as fans will figure out best ways to get there and best places to park etc, which will most likely be different to what they have said in any survey as they deal with actual reality of match day traffic
9. Don't underestimate planning restrictions placed on planning consent and the need to work through them as Westhill crowd will be closely scrutinising. Could cost up to £1.2M to satisfy.
10. Aiming for 22/23 season but would rather take longer to get it right so could be 23/24 or later
11. Ann Budge has told AFC Directors that Hertz new stand cost is approaching £20M and still counting as not yet complete - that is a basic 7,000 stand with no corporate facilities/boxes
12. Still visiting recent new builds to get ideas. Obviously impressed with Gent stadium and are in dialogue with them to incorporate some of their learning/ideas in our stadium
13. Emphasised a number of times that funding of stadium will be separate from playing budget as has already been the case with the training facilities

Anyone else that was there last night please add anything I have missed

Sounds like a total fudge...

[Aldo1983]

There has been approvals made to build a McDonalds and a Costa directly across the road from the new stadium and training facilities.

We are missing a trick if we aren't involved.

[Pacman1903]

I've got a sweet spot for them.
It's at the bottom of Merkland Road East.

You canna do it min. Do you not listen to the folk in the know that have repeatedly told you its not possible by using their mouths and no physical evidence

Get with it min