Loirston chosen for new stadium

Aberdeen FC set to move

EXCLUSIVE

By Charlie Allan

 

Published: 03/04/2009

 

THE Evening Express can today reveal the preferred location for Aberdeen’s new community stadium.

 

The £38 million community facility, which will become home to Aberdeen FC, will be at Loirston Loch in the south of the city.

 

It follows a year-long series of feasibility studies to decide if the site at Nigg would be the best location for the stadium.

 

The report on the recommendation of the Nigg site will now go out to consultation and will be referred to the council’s policy and strategy committee on April 28.

 

A number of other potential sites across the city, including one at King’s Links, were examined by Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeen FC and it was decided all of them were unsuitable.

 

Aberdeen FC managing director Duncan Fraser, who is also a member of the Arena Project Advisory and Monitoring Board created to advise of the best site and stadium design, said: “These recommendations have still to be approved and at the appropriate time, there will be a full consultation process with fans.

 

“Their feedback will be important.â€

 

For more on this story, and an exclusive image of the new arena, pick up today’s Evening Express or check back later

He's a few whiskys away from a late night rant calling council members "dumb" and promising to make Aberdeen "great again".

He goes on about that play park more often than his role model goes on about wind turbines. Hazlehead Park is always absolutely rammed after they did the big upgrade to the playpark and similar footfall for the beach playpark will be a massive increase in customers for the existing businesses in the area.

Would be interesting to know a bit more about this "low interest for capital investments". I've been involved in something similar recently, talking to same institutions providing these funds and the messaging has been quite clear that they are not allowed to undercut banks on interest rates. Might be different for public sector.

Still think the site in question has too many challenges anyway, I reckon you'll be looking at several million in additional groundworks over more in-land sites (disclaimer - not a geologist) and looks to be a bit of a squeeze without carving out part of the Broadhill.

If you can squeeze in the stadium there, there's a similar footprint between George Street and Skene Square if you can incentivise the businesses in the old buildings on Ann Street to relocate. Train track runs under where the "plaza" would be, opportunity for a stadium station, road to the west is planned to be dualled up to St Machar. Can re-use the red bricks from the mill in the facade (sustainability and heritage boxes ticked). A proper city centre stadium would be fucking ace. 4 steep stands, none of this bowl bollocks.

27 minutes ago, Slim said:

He's a few whiskys away from a late night rant calling council members "dumb" and promising to make Aberdeen "great again".

He goes on about that play park more often than his role model goes on about wind turbines. Hazlehead Park is always absolutely rammed after they did the big upgrade to the playpark and similar footfall for the beach playpark will be a massive increase in customers for the existing businesses in the area.

Would be interesting to know a bit more about this "low interest for capital investments". I've been involved in something similar recently, talking to same institutions providing these funds and the messaging has been quite clear that they are not allowed to undercut banks on interest rates. Might be different for public sector.

Still think the site in question has too many challenges anyway, I reckon you'll be looking at several million in additional groundworks over more in-land sites (disclaimer - not a geologist) and looks to be a bit of a squeeze without carving out part of the Broadhill.

If you can squeeze in the stadium there, there's a similar footprint between George Street and Skene Square if you can incentivise the businesses in the old buildings on Ann Street to relocate. Train track runs under where the "plaza" would be, opportunity for a stadium station, road to the west is planned to be dualled up to St Machar. Can re-use the red bricks from the mill in the facade (sustainability and heritage boxes ticked). A proper city centre stadium would be fucking ace. 4 steep stands, none of this bowl bollocks.

Get it built.

In terms of the loan, Cormack means that the council would fund the entire development (give or take) as they can access low interest loans, and the club would essentially pay them back via long term lease. It's very unlikely to happen.

2 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

In terms of the loan, Cormack means that the council would fund the entire development (give or take) as they can access low interest loans, and the club would essentially pay them back via long term lease. It's very unlikely to happen.

Yeah, I was more interested in validating that low interest loans are actually available. Organisations like SNIB, National Wealth Fund, etc are apparently not allowed to offer lower borrowing rates than commercial banks, at least to similar private sector projects of national importance in terms of job protection, energy transition, re-skilling, etc.

5 hours ago, Slim said:

Yeah, I was more interested in validating that low interest loans are actually available. Organisations like SNIB, National Wealth Fund, etc are apparently not allowed to offer lower borrowing rates than commercial banks, at least to similar private sector projects of national importance in terms of job protection, energy transition, re-skilling, etc.

Yep, I think the key to the offer being generously made by Cormack is that the loan will be entirely in the council's name, and they won't be loaning anything to the Dons, they will just be owning our stadium. 

Still never going to happen

8 hours ago, Slim said:

He's a few whiskys away from a late night rant calling council members "dumb" and promising to make Aberdeen "great again".

He goes on about that play park more often than his role model goes on about wind turbines. Hazlehead Park is always absolutely rammed after they did the big upgrade to the playpark and similar footfall for the beach playpark will be a massive increase in customers for the existing businesses in the area.

Would be interesting to know a bit more about this "low interest for capital investments". I've been involved in something similar recently, talking to same institutions providing these funds and the messaging has been quite clear that they are not allowed to undercut banks on interest rates. Might be different for public sector.

Still think the site in question has too many challenges anyway, I reckon you'll be looking at several million in additional groundworks over more in-land sites (disclaimer - not a geologist) and looks to be a bit of a squeeze without carving out part of the Broadhill.

If you can squeeze in the stadium there, there's a similar footprint between George Street and Skene Square if you can incentivise the businesses in the old buildings on Ann Street to relocate. Train track runs under where the "plaza" would be, opportunity for a stadium station, road to the west is planned to be dualled up to St Machar. Can re-use the red bricks from the mill in the facade (sustainability and heritage boxes ticked). A proper city centre stadium would be fucking ace. 4 steep stands, none of this bowl bollocks.

You proposed the same thing in August last year

https://www.donstalk.co.uk/topic/2019-new-stadium-thread/page/114/#findComment-259641

I was thinking the site at the old Shell building on Wellington Road, could be a decent site for it. No idea if it is big enough

I think Shell offerred it to the Council for development

Shell site now in hands of Scottish Enterprise, being marketed as part of the Energy Transition Zone. 

2 hours ago, Slim said:

Shell site now in hands of Scottish Enterprise, being marketed as part of the Energy Transition Zone. 

Let's transition energy to a football stadium then.

The main story on the Press and Journal site.

Final offer to the Council being made today and full of the sort of shyte you would expect from a man who has been brainwashed with the American way.

Will he get Trump involved if the council don't back his vision?

He is going to go into full meltdown mode if he doesn't get his way.

A new Stadium at the beach, really isn't going to help our economy much as it enters a period of rapid decline.

The type of jobs they would look to create un the development, would be low waged, unskilled retail/hospitality work.

It's a bit like the shyte about how much jobs the golf course at Balmedie would create and they never materialised either.

Yes we need a new stadium and I am fairly sure the Council want it too, but the whole politicising of it leaves a very sour taste in my mouth.

These talks should have happened about 20 years ago, when the Council were likely to have started looking at the initial beach development plans. They would have likely been able to get access the funding that very rich Dave Cormack and his Billionaire co owners would like access too.

As despite it bringing jobs and prosperity to Aberdeen, they aren't quite able to justify putting their own money into this.

Cormack has a direct line to god. Maybe he can help build it? 

30 minutes ago, Mason89 said:

Cormack has a direct line to god. Maybe he can help build it? 

He's 70 years old and he probably prefers his job at BBC Scotland.

Its going to bring £10 billion into the town over the next 1000 years

people will be flocking to Union St (for some as yet unknown reason)

Cormack Stadium by the beach  

yeah man

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yddkkl0wdo
 

Well that's nice, I guess.

 

I saw a comedy show at the Music Hall called W@nkernomics, which was all about modern business speak and the absurdity of it.

I'm sure some on here will be aware of the sort of terminology. Our 'True North' and 'Value Driven Purpose' amongst many types of shyte jargon we are subjected to on a daily basis that absolutely nobody knowing what it means.

You can tell comedy Dave buys into it all big time. Just reading his comments in the P&J after this mornings meeting. 🤣🤣

 

 

 

43 minutes ago, Panda said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yddkkl0wdo
 

Well that's nice, I guess.

 

Indeed, that sounds positive.  

A report for Aberdeen FC said the development could deliver a £3.2bn boost to the local economy 

jumped up another couple billion from last time !

what was it the first time   1 bn

 

21 minutes ago, tlg1903 said:

Indeed, that sounds positive.  

Oh I was being sarcastic.

I'll wait and see what comes of this before getting excited about anything.

2 minutes ago, Nordicus said:

A report for Aberdeen FC said the development could deliver a £3.2bn boost to the local economy 

jumped up another couple billion from last time !

what was it the first time   1 bn

 

£1bn was just the first six months. £3.2bn would be the first five years, with total expected returns in the zillions, or more.

15 minutes ago, Nordicus said:

A report for Aberdeen FC said the development could deliver a £3.2bn boost to the local economy 

jumped up another couple billion from last time !

what was it the first time   1 bn

 

I think it's the same folk doing the report, that provide the huns with the valuations of their best players. Remember Morelos  was around £25 Million and not long ago Butland was £30 million and plenty other examples.

 

 

 

You would think that Cormack would be willing to say how much would be needed to build the stadium

Surely if they want access to Government funding, then the taxpayers should get to know what they are looking for funding wise, as it's not exactly loose change down the back of the sofa figures required.

They will know values required to build this and it should be made public as with all details of exactly what they want. After all AFC are the ones wanting to politicize the debate. 

I do sympathize with Dave in one respect. Dealing with Christian Allard. The guy shouldn't be anywhere near leading a City Council.

 

Still never going to happen

40 minutes ago, Jupiter said:

Still never going to happen

It will happen at some point, through necessity if nothing else.

I'm quite happy for the club to build a new stadium, but it has to be in Aberdeen, preferably at the beach or at least somewhere that is workable for all transport needs.

I am also a little uneasy about public funds being used to build a stadium for what is a private company, owned by some VERY rich individuals.

I am 99% certain if Davie boy gets his wish and gets access to public money to build it, the Council will end up being shafted over it.

It's as inevitable as night following day.

 

 

4 hours ago, TheDonbytheDee said:

You would think that Cormack would be willing to say how much would be needed to build the stadium

To be fair to him, he has. His last estimate was £80m.

The club need to do a feasibility study to get an accurate cost of building at the beach, but the club's issue is they keep spending money on feasibility studies that then prove useless because the prospect of building the stadium soon goes.

Ie, they did one for Loirston, then the council decided they wanted a school on part of the land instead. Then they did one for Kingsford, only for the council to approach them about the beach. Now the council have been saying up until now they aren't putting any money in towards the stadium, so the club are asking why they should spent any money on the project.

2 hours ago, Jupiter said:

Still never going to happen

It might not, but something has to happen. Pittodrie won't stay standing forever.

* Upgrade Pittodrie (likely with a smaller capacity)

* Build at the beach

* Build at Kingsford

* Build elsewhere

One of those things will happen.

11 minutes ago, Panda said:

To be fair to him, he has. His last estimate was £80m.

The club need to do a feasibility study to get an accurate cost of building at the beach, but the club's issue is they keep spending money on feasibility studies that then prove useless because the prospect of building the stadium soon goes.

Ie, they did one for Loirston, then the council decided they wanted a school on part of the land instead. Then they did one for Kingsford, only for the council to approach them about the beach. Now the council have been saying up until now they aren't putting any money in towards the stadium, so the club are asking why they should spent any money on the project.

It might not, but something has to happen. Pittodrie won't stay standing forever.

* Upgrade Pittodrie (likely with a smaller capacity)

* Build at the beach

* Build at Kingsford

* Build elsewhere

One of those things will happen.

I'd imagine over £100 million all in, as these things always go over budget and likely, even if passed, it would take a few years to get it started and inflation will impact the cost.