New Stadium Latest??

[57vintage]

Still never going to happen

It’s not a distillery, min, it’s a fitba stadium.

Keep up.

[swaddon2]

The club are now looking to "modernise" Pittodrie, seeing as we canna move just now for some reason.

[TheDeeDon]

The club are now looking to "modernise" Pittodrie, seeing as we canna move just now for some reason.

The toilets will be getting a lick of paint. Maybe even a new toilet roll dispenser or two for the cubicles.

[Shetland Don]

Tricky devil, Johnny Capitalism.

We let it happen.

That?s the way it works.

Oil?s probably caused as much poverty in the city as it has wealth.

Maybe we should relocate to Mugsborough then!?

[blowupsheep]

The toilets will be getting a lick of paint. Maybe even a new toilet roll dispenser or two for the cubicles.

Where is the old "like" button when it is required

[Bojangles9]

There's yet another grand plan for a new stadium, apparently.

There's an article in the P&J about it, but I'm too lazy to read it.

Should anyone want to - although no point, no change.
Abdy wants it, naebody can afford it and the usual ACC internecine squabbling.

pressandjournal.co.uk

'Aberdeen should follow Old Trafford vision with ?300m football stadium mega-project at the beach'
By Alastair Gossip March 5 2025, 6:00 am March 5 2025, 6:00 am


Aberdeen FC bosses "remain committed" to being part of the city centre and beach regeneration project.


A new ?300 million 'mega-project' being compared to the planned redevelopment of Old Trafford has been unveiled for Aberdeen beach.

Labour councillors are today expected to lift the curtain on a plan to pump money into the stalling seafront regeneration, including a new stadium for Aberdeen FC and new public leisure facilities.

It would also take in work to revive George Street, if it were ever to come to fruition.

But they are in opposition in the Town House chamber, with party sources acknowledging they're destined to lose this vote.

They are hoping to keep the pledge alive as a way of kickstarting their election campaign for 2027, though.

Last night Aberdeen FC chiefs welcomed the ambition, hailing the promise as a way of attracting huge private investment in the beachfront facelift.


Aberdeen FC stadium talks no further forward


Talks between Aberdeen City Council and the football club have broken down over who should foot the multi-million-pound bill for detailed studies into a Pittodrie replacement.

Club bosses have reiterated time and again that it would be 'more than a football stadium', tied to community facilities and replacement leisure venues too.

On top of that, they predict a ?1 billion economic boost, that the development is forecast to provide the city over its 50-year lifespan.
Old Trafford regeneration a 'shining example' for Aberdeen to follow

Now Labour are looking to break the deadlock but only if they grasp control of the council in a couple of years time.

They're looking to the red side of Greater Manchester for a blueprint, where mayor Andy Burnham says a new or revamped Old Trafford would make the city a 'global capital of football'.

Manchester United could ultimately do up their historic home to fit in 87,000 supporters or build a new 100,000-capacity ground.

Though Manchester United would pay for whatever option is chosen, the project is tipped to receive public funding as the UK Government and Trafford Council have committed cash to regenerating the area around the stadium.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves championed the Old Trafford project as 'a shining example' of the government's plans to promote economic growth, though some of her National Wealth Fund could soon be rediverted to defence spending.



Aberdeen Labour: 'This will see beach masterplan become a reality'

And Aberdeen Labour leader M Tauqeer Malik told The P&J that's something he'd look to emulate.

He said: The ?300m to kick start regeneration around Pittodrie will be a clear public sector/private sector collaborative project that will see the beach masterplan become a reality.



Aberdeen FC chairman Dave Cormack has previously bemoaned a lack of financial support, saying that in America this would be celebrated with signs up declaring such construction projects as 'your taxpayer money at work'.

Earlier this week, Aberdeen Conservative group leader Richard Brooks urged the SNP and Lib Dems to find the ?4m needed to progress the work, but stopped short of making a ?300m pledge in his 'common sense' budget.

'We will work out how to fund Aberdeen FC's new stadium'

Later phases of the beach revamp were shelved last year, when the council's ?150m war chest was found to be about ?290m short of covering all the costs.

Aberdeen Labour group leader M Tauqeer Malik has pledged ?300m for a Pittodrie and George Street revamp - including a new stadium akin to the Old Trafford regeneration project in Greater Manchester.

Despite the 2025-26 financial year being the first Aberdeen City Council?s gross borrowing will breach ?2bn, Mr Malik is unable to confirm where the money would be coming from.

'We have to work out how we will fund it,' he said.

I am sure we will work it out with the UK Government and that we would get some support from its economic growth programme.

But we have to do something for the city, we have to move forward with a new project and new plan as the SNP has no vision for the city.

When we were in charge, we did it: Teca, Marischal Square, these kind of mega-projects are paying off now and this would be exactly the same.

We would work with Aberdeen FC on the new stadium and facilities at the beach.

Labour accused of plucking Pittodrie and George Street figure 'out of the air'

But the lack of certainty of the source of the cheque Aberdeen City Council can't cash for at least three years has led to claims it's all electioneering.


SNP finance convener Alex McLellan accused the opposition of 'plucking the figure out of the air'.

'I don't think it's serious or thought through,' he told us in the Town House press gallery, above the calm of the empty council chamber.

They've not actually told us which parts of that they would do, or what the costs would be, or what the economic benefit of what they propose to do would be.

We need to be really clear that this is just Labour Party trying to try to get their manifesto pledges for the next election in early.

We have been quite clear that we're delivering a transformational change in the city centre and, you know, we're actually delivering them.

These projects will be completed in the next 12 to 18 months, and we will be putting in place finance for the next phase of that, in Union Street East, as well.

But these things have to be properly financed and properly thought through.


Aberdeen FC: 'Stadium requires political will'

With little interest in political football, Aberdeen FC hasn't changed its position on the stalemate with the council.

The club has already sunk ?5m into plans for stadiums at three sites across the city, most recently on the western outskirts at Cormack Park at Kingsford.



Chief executive Alan Burrows told us last night: 'Delivering such a transformational project requires ambition but also the political will.

We will only commit to investing further if there are firm plans with widespread political support.'


Aberdeen FC 'remains committed' to beach stadium talks

But, he added: We remain committed to working with Aberdeen City Council on an integrated leisure complex and community stadium at the beach.

An independent economic impact study, commissioned jointly by the club and the council, revealed that a community stadium with associated leisure facilities would deliver more than ?1bn plus into the local economy over fifty years.

It would create and safe-guard jobs, as well as delivering a highly attractive destination at the beach that would serve our citizens and visitors to the city alike.

This report underlined our belief that an anchor project is needed to be the catalyst for wider regeneration.

To date, the plans for the beachfront have been scaled back and, without a centrepiece that stimulates economic activity, there is unlikely to be any return on the capital investment, only an increase in operational expenditure.

We therefore welcome Labour's stated ambition to invest capital funding that would, in turn, attract private investment along with the club's share of the stadium costs to deliver a major piece of infrastructure that would enable the city to attract and retain the companies and people it needs to be at the forefront of the energy transition.'

[KylishKourni]

I propose Red John to build the new stadium. Canna be that hard, just get in touch with the cooncil, get some bricks and get on with it.
I'm nae doing it cuz i'm too lazy but Red John is forward thinking and 1 of life's doer's.
Completion Date - Aug 2026 - crack on min.

[Jupiter]

Still never going to happen, if it was it would have been built already.

[RED_JOHN]

I propose Red John to build the new stadium. Canna be that hard, just get in touch with the cooncil, get some bricks and get on with it.
I'm nae doing it cuz i'm too lazy but Red John is forward thinking and 1 of life's doer's.
Completion Date - Aug 2026 - crack on min.

August 2026….plenty time!


You organise the materials and site then I will get it built. No need for drawings etc i will produce the best stadium in the world.
Heated seats, cup holders incorporated with plenty leg room just for starters. Add in top of the range food facilities, top class toilet facilities, in stadium entertainment and drinking areas, McDonald’s available in every stand for those who are easily pleased with these fast foods, a club store with a massive stock and huge selection of goods, huge tv screens for prematch and halftime entertainment, lifts and top of the range disabled fan areas so every fan feels welcome and comfortable.
Scotland will also have its first stadium to have a roof.
It’s only the tip of the iceberg of things I would build and put into the new arena.
The Granite Stadium would be the best in world football. Made in Aberdeen for the team of Aberdeen.

Give me a shout when the materials arrive….I will bring the workers.

[TheDeeDon]

Gnasher is offering up the land at Pittodrie in exchange for a new stadium being built at the beach.


Dave Cormack: We will give council our Pittodrie land to ensure new beach stadium gets built

Writing exclusively in The P&J, the Dons chairman is calling for "a new stadium for a new era".


Our beloved Granite City with its silver sands is on the verge of losing tens of thousands of jobs from oil and gas.

Despite being heralded by politicians as the renewable energy capital of the world, it is sleepwalking into an economic crisis on the scale of a Ravenscraig or Sheffield steel collapse.

That is unless significant infrastructure investment is made to retain and attract companies who will decide where they locate their businesses based on the attractiveness of a city for their employees and their families.

The scenes at the parade to celebrate our Scottish Cup win demonstrated the positive impact Aberdeen FC can have on our city region.

In one single day, the club brought tens of thousands of people into the city centre – regardless of bus gates and the LEZ!

The buzz was palpable – smiling faces everywhere and the welcome sound of ringing tills in cafes, bars, shops and restaurants…

Does Aberdeen FC success translate to city?

It’s often remarked upon that when our football team is doing well, so too is our city.

The incalculable, but very tangible, feel-good factor has been building in the last few seasons.

As the club improves on and off the pitch, there has been a significant increase in season ticket holders, enhanced fan engagement and match-day experiences resulting in several Pittodrie sell-outs.

This, in turn, has led to a positive knock-on effect for local businesses.

As we came back down to Earth after the euphoria of that historic win, we heard a clear call from all quarters, including supporters, politicians and business leaders, that we must capitalise on it with a new stadium for a new era.
Dave Cormack: Why now is the time to get serious about Aberdeen Beach stadium

When the council initially approached us about a new stadium at the beach, we were excited about the potential for it to be the catalyst for amazing community sports and leisure facilities, new events and economic benefits for the whole city region.

Without significant infrastructure investment in facilities that attract and retain people, Aberdeen will lose out on the tens of thousands of renewable energy jobs being created.

With the current job losses and decline in our oil and gas industry, our city is sleep-walking into a Ravenscraig or Sheffield type economic crisis.

The stated political aim is for Aberdeen to shift from Europe’s oil and gas capital to the renewable energy capital of the world.

But, let’s face it, right now Aberdeen wouldn’t even win that title in the UK. Areas like Teesside are well ahead of us in terms of infrastructure investment.

A number of oil service companies that are transitioning to renewable energy have told me that they are highly likely to move elsewhere.

Is it any wonder when our citizens have to travel to Dundee for the nearest leisure facility of any note?

Companies want to see what cities have to offer their employees and families.

Dave Cormack on Aberdeen Beach masterplan

Aberdeen has a phenomenal asset with its beachfront.

A playpark at the cost of ?55 million and the Broadhill revival are very welcome, but this type of public realm on its own doesn’t create jobs or revenues – instead they bring additional operational costs for the taxpayer in upkeep and maintenance.
Work under way on the park at the beachfront.

The vision for a new community stadium with a multi-sport and leisure complex was all about the catalytic impact of a centrepiece.

It would be the anchor economic driver that generates the jobs and revenues to deliver a return on the cost of regeneration.

An independent study, funded jointly by the club and the council, revealed the economic uplift from such a facility would be ?1 billion over 50 years.

But this vision has stalled and needs to progress if we want to create something special, not just for our club but for the whole city region and all its citizens.

This is why we must take a fresh approach.

So what next for Dave Cormack’s Aberdeen Beach stadium hopes?

We want to bring politicians of all parties, business leaders and other stakeholders together in a shared ambition for the city to deliver a community stadium along with best-in-class sports and leisure facilities that can be enjoyed by all, that will attract and retain people, creating jobs and prosperity.

I am increasingly frustrated about the myth that the club expects the council to fund a new stadium.

The club will pay its fair share.

This is not about the council picking up the whole tab for a new stadium for the club.

This is about the opportunity to use the club’s unique influence and ability to catalyse delivery of a community sports and leisure complex that can rival anything other cities can offer and more.

It’s about delivering a stadium and environment around it that has multiple uses, used every day of the week, not just for football matches every second weekend during the season.

It’s about the economies of scale that can be achieved by adjacent community sports and leisure facilities.

‘Aberdeen is searching for the next big attraction’

And it could also be about using the club’s state-of-the-art customer engagement systems and processes for ticketing and promoting major events to transform loss-making recreation and sports facilities such as the Beach Ballroom and those run by Sport Aberdeen.

Not to mention, augmenting the work of our community trust in successfully using football to deliver positive social outcomes, particularly among young people, in education, physical and mental wellbeing.

After the success of the Tall Ships, Aberdeen is searching for the next big attraction that will excite citizens and bring money into the city.

magine if the new stadium and facilities enabled the club to deliver something akin to the previous International Football Festival, but on steroids?

Our friends at Swedish club BK Hacken organise the world’s largest youth football tournament, the Gothia Cup, every year which attracts thousands of people to Gothenburg, significantly boosting tourism and local business.

There is no reason why we couldn’t successfully host a similar event, every year.
‘We could host Women’s World Cup matches’

With a new community stadium, we could host a myriad of international sporting events and outdoor concerts including matches for the 2035 Women’s World Cup.

The possibilities are endless; the return on investment exceptional.

To be clear, the club has been talking for years with both the current and previous city leaders about a community stadium that the club would lease for 99 years.

With the council able to borrow money for capital regeneration projects at interest rates as low as 1-1.5%, it makes complete economic sense to deliver this vision and get the anchor project under way.
‘We would contribute value of Pittodrie land’

As part of a 99-year lease, the club is prepared to contribute upfront the significant value of Pittodrie and the surrounding land, providing substantial income to the council, as well as the club paying for the stadium’s upkeep.

And this is on top of, at least, a ?1 billion economic uplift to the city.

There are countless examples, up and down the country, of investments like this, not least of which is the major redevelopment project around Old Trafford.
An Evening Express front page Dons story with the headline 'We should follow Old Trafford vision'.

With support from the UK Government and Trafford Council, Manchester United will create a world-class football destination and community district with plans to re*****ise Trafford Wharfside and create new homes and jobs.

This is true levelling up – using public funds to pump prime regeneration with significant return in terms of economic and social progress.

So, my plea is for everyone to get on board with the ambition and find the political will to make this happen for the benefit of Aberdeen and to provide future Aberdonians with a city to be proud of.

There’s no time to waste, let’s do this – together.

[TheDeeDon]

What "leisure facility of note" do we travel down to Dundee for??

I'm assuming the swimming park place beside the V&A Dundee??


The renewables energy never was never going to be an Aberdeen thing.

[57vintage]

There's not much I can disagree with in Cormack's narrative.

Anything's better than the Foggy Dump or Halfway to Paradise (Rd, Kemnay AB51).

The local Nats will have to ask Swinney how to respond.

[rico94]

I never thought that I would ever say this but I agree with the council on this one.

Aberdeen fc is a private company and if they want a new stadium built then they should be paying for it themselves.

[Jupiter]

Still never going to happen.

[Mason89]

What is the land value of Pittodrie?