My reply take two.
For me, this Stadium is supposedly going to bring a prospective economic gold rush to the City.
If it is that great a thing for the City, then why don't the great and the good come together and pay for it. I'm totally aware it won't make money, hence my concern about the Council paying for it.
I get that a City or a Town needs good infrastructure to attract and retain businesses, but for me anyway, Aberdeen Football Club Ltd, need this stadium much, much more than our City does.
A Hospital, a School and Roads are all good examples of where public money should be spent to bring growth to an area, but not quite sure a fitba stadium fits into to this.
We have had Woody stumping up a large amount for a hospital car park. We had the Donalds put £15 million into AFC to wipe out our debt, that was nothing to do with them. I am quite sure that between all the real monied folk in this City, we can surely come up with a way of financing this Stadium, which would remain an Asset for the club for the next 100 years or so. Even get the fans involved in some way. I am sure a few would like to be part of something like this.
We were told 15 years ago, by the very same great and the good of this City, that Union Terrace Gardens would have to be concreted over, to keep the City economically viable, or some other mealy mouthed pish. It didn't happen and what the Council did with it has just won an architectural award for it. It is a jewel in our City Centre and I hope that this new foodie place, where the New Market was, brings a much needed boost to Union Street, along with the other improvements being done.
I want to see our City succeed, I want to see more positive changes like Union Terrace Gardens as opposed to the not so good Marischal Square, that was an opportunity lost for the City. Could have made a lovely Civic Square type of area with the old Town House complementing Marischal College. I would have knocked down the St Nicholas Centre too if given a chance. I'm certainly not averse to change.
When they wheel out people like Martin Gilbert, just like they did with the UTG debacle from years back, it just stinks of the rich folk looking their noses down at the poor relations.
I not the most articulated in getting my point of view across, but the whole thing just stinks and our local press seem to be agenda driven, just like they were with both UTG and Marischal Square and of course Trumps golf course in Balmedie. That was a new low amongst the many lows our esteemed Dundonian press.