
Originally Posted by
57vintage
Today’s Pterodactyl & Jorrendous-storylining:
“ Aberdeen FC chairman Dave Cormack has admitted the Dons’ “dream” to build a new stadium at the beach is at risk of falling apart.
And the businessman has warned that plans to revive the city’s seafront won’t get off the ground without a football focal point.
Mr Cormack cautioned that the city centre “cannot afford” the loss of footfall it would face if the club builds at Kingsford instead.
In an exclusive statement to The Press and Journal, the Dons chief addressed lingering doubts about the Pittodrie replacement as councillors prepare to meet next week to discuss major beach regeneration plans.
The club will only be dissuaded from relocating to the outskirts of Aberdeen if the local authority helps to fund the £80 million seafront stadium.
That initially seemed likely. But Aberdeen City Council has had a change of heart since the May 2022 elections, when the SNP and Liberal Democrats ousted the former Tory and Labour leaders.
And in recent months, there have been dire warnings about how financially stretched the local authority is.
Mr Cormack spoke out as a raft of reports landed in the inboxes of elected members.
Talks are taking place on major changes to Union Street and progress on the reinvigorated Aberdeen Market is gathering pace.
Councillors will be asked to drive forward a £50m initial phase of work aimed at turning the beach into an attraction.
A coastal stadium has been listed by many Aberdonians as the part of the £440m revamp they are most excited about.
But the dossier makes just a few fleeting allusions to what is now referred to as a “potential stadium”.
One note simply described the long wished for 16,000-18,000-seater ground as “an option”.
It’s not known when the necessary business case for a stadium will be completed. Things can’t get going until that is in place.
And the Dons are seeking some assurance that the stalemate could soon be resolved.
Mr Cormack said: “Until there is a full business case and the political will to make it happen, a new stadium at the beach remains in doubt.
“The club is convinced that a beachfront stadium and associated community sports and leisure facilities would be transformational for the city.
“Successful regeneration projects require a centrepiece that drives socio-economic value.”
Last year, a report commissioned by the Dons and Aberdeen City Council predicted the new stadium would inject £1 billion into the local economy over the next 50 years. The chairman believes it’s an opportunity the city shouldn’t miss.
Mr Cormack said: “Crucially, it would keep the club in the city centre, which cannot afford to lose any further footfall.”
And the businessman insists that the knock-on benefits of a thriving beach and city centre will be vast.
He added: “Our energy industry and other businesses are struggling to attract people to come and work in Aberdeen.
“Becoming the renewable energy capital of the world is nothing but a pipedream unless there is significant capital investment in facilities and infrastructure that transform the city centre.”
Mr Cormack pledged: “For future generations of Aberdonians, we cannot let this renewable energy opportunity slip through our hands.
“We will continue to do our utmost to collaborate with the council when they revisit the business case for the next stage of the beach masterplan, which we hope will be before the end of the year.”
The seafront ground has been pencilled in for more than two years after local leaders approached club chiefs in early 2021 and eventually persuaded them of the benefits of remaining in the city.
The Dons backed the coastal option but warned a financial contribution would be needed to make it happen – and that has become the sticking point.
There was shock when, only months after being elected, the new SNP and Lib Dem leaders, Alex Nicoll and Ian Yuill, ruled out any public cash.
Christian Allard, who took over when Mr Nicoll stood down after a year, told us the “direction would remain the same” with him at the helm.
Councillors will discuss the future of the beach at a meeting on Wednesday.”