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

For the record I will not miss pittodrie very much.

 

I will, but I'm sure there is a general acceptance amongst Dons fans that the time is to move on. Pittodrie is not an option and the club needs to move forwards together.

I will, but I'm sure there is a general acceptance amongst Dons fans that the time is to move on. Pittodrie is not an option and the club needs to move forwards together.

 

Is it not the case that it's not an option because the people in power don't want it to be.

Is it not the case that it's not an option because the people in power don't want it to be.

 

If you're talking with regards to the council, then yes, AFC, probably. But I think primarily we were/are constrained spatialy as there isn't much land available in and around Pittodrie for what needs to be realised. I think the council were also hesitant on closing down the streets surrounding the stadium. It's a shame, but it's the right decision to move.

If you're talking with regards to the council, then yes, AFC, probably. But I think primarily we were/are constrained spatialy as there isn't much land available in and around Pittodrie for what needs to be realised. I think the council were also hesitant on closing down the streets surrounding the stadium. It's a shame, but it's the right decision to move.

 

Says the spokesman for the society of architects 

Says the spokesman for the society of architects 

 

At the AGM they said it would cost the same to redevelop Pittodrie properly as it would to build a new stadium but with the added problems of not having the proceeds of the sale of Pittodrie and having to find somewhere to play while they knock down the old girl.

 

Starting with a blank canvas is much better in my opinion, it would have been ideal if we were able to do what Hibs did and upgrade a section at the time if we'd purchased the old timber yard and gasworks so we could have expanded out the Merkland and South Stands but that option is gone and there's not much else we could do with it now.

At the AGM they said it would cost the same to redevelop Pittodrie properly as it would to build a new stadium but with the added problems of not having the proceeds of the sale of Pittodrie and having to find somewhere to play while they knock down the old girl.

 

Starting with a blank canvas is much better in my opinion, it would have been ideal if we were able to do what Hibs did and upgrade a section at the time if we'd purchased the old timber yard and gasworks so we could have expanded out the Merkland and South Stands but that option is gone and there's not much else we could do with it now.

 

I meant to put that bit in too. As you say, blank canvas is the best option I think. Hopefully they manage to pull it off sooner rather than later. Onwards and upwards.

If you're talking with regards to the council, then yes, AFC, probably. But I think primarily we were/are constrained spatialy as there isn't much land available in and around Pittodrie for what needs to be realised. I think the council were also hesitant on closing down the streets surrounding the stadium. It's a shame, but it's the right decision to move.

 

So no other football club has ever rebuilt a stadium in situ?

Theres building in-situ when theres lots of space and then theres the reason most clubs move to a new stadium ie their stadium is completely surrounded by houses or businesses

 

Portsmouth had this grand plan to redevelop fratton park ensuring that the capacity never dropped below 20000 at any point. Then they added up the costs and looked at the logistics of doing so and said fuck that.

 

There is also that little issue that is so fucking irritatingly left out by so many people. Fully rebuilding pittodrie to current UEFA standards will result in a reduced capacity of between 10-15000.

 

we go from the 4th largest club stadium to potentially the 10th.

 

 

PS

 

Manc Don is not an architect yet so cannot speak for our society 

I wondered when you would comment on that Tom

the 4th largest club stadium

 

Still the 3rd largest by a fair margin.

Still the 3rd largest by a fair margin.

 

Easter road is over 20,000 now, still think we're 3rd but not by a fair margin

Pittodrie: 22,199

Easter RoadL: 20,421

 

About 8% bigger

 

 

Pittodrie: 22,199

Easter RoadL: 20,421

 

About 8% bigger

 

 

Mizer min, you're alive.

 

All is good. 

 

Mizer min, you're alive.

 

All is good. 

 

Cheers for the drink. 

Still the 3rd largest by a fair margin.

 

Not if you class hampden (queens park) as a club stadium

Cheers for the drink. 

 

No problem, despite what so many say, you're awrite. 

No problem, despite what so many say, you're awrite. 

 

Best backhanded compliment of 2010 

Theres building in-situ when theres lots of space and then theres the reason most clubs move to a new stadium ie their stadium is completely surrounded by houses or businesses

 

There is also that little issue that is so fucking irritatingly left out by so many people. Fully rebuilding pittodrie to current UEFA standards will result in a reduced capacity of between 10-15000.

 

we go from the 4th largest club stadium to potentially the 10th.

 

 

Maybe I'm not as aware of all the details as some are about the background to the Pittodrie relocation plan but I believe that West Brom, Newcastle and Man Utd extended their grounds on virtually the same footprint as the original stadium and the capacity was increased. There may be others. Although Leicester, Coventry and Derby moved to new grounds they weren't out in the sticks with non-existent transport links.

 

Am I alone in thinking it will be sad when Pittodrie goes. Seems that it is being written off too easily.

 

Has everyone forgotten about the fire in the early 70s. It was rebuilt then.

Again Man united, west brom and Newcastle all had lots of space.

However Man u and newcastle are now both stuck with their current capacities because of their surroundings. Man united cant agree with the railway companies so cant extend their main stand. They also have a canal to contend with

Newcastle cant get past the listed terrace behind their other stand so do actually have plans for a new stadium if demand for tickets really got out of hand (unlikely now)

Westbrom have a main road coming off the M6 behind one of their goals so will be hampered by that should they ever feel the need to extend that section.

Alot of things were built in the 1970s but they dont let you build exact copies today. if they did asbestos would still be a material of choice and fire safety or stadium crushes wouldnt be considered an issue. Please understand that building new stadiums or stands require new building regulations which were not a factor when most of pittodrie was built. Why do you think there is such a massive concourse behind the RDS but not behind the other stands?

 

we go from the 4th largest club stadium to potentially the 10th.

 

Who gives a fuck?

 

Has anybody ever derived pleasure from knowing that we have the 4th biggest club stadium in Scotland? I know I certainly haven't.

Alot of things were built in the 1970s but they dont let you build exact copies today. if they did asbestos would still be a material of choice and fire safety or stadium crushes wouldnt be considered an issue. Please understand that building new stadiums or stands require new building regulations which were not a factor when most of pittodrie was built.

 

Thanks for your explanation, although I still can't get to grips with a new stadium which to me seems to be sited in the middle of nowhere. Maybe I'm just stuck in the past

It's just up the hill from Torry, you could walk it!

It's just up the hill from Torry, you could walk it!

 

I can just see the masses climbing the Nigg Brae, on the extensive pedestrian walk ways.

Not if you class hampden (queens park) as a club stadium

Hmmmmm....  OK, let you off on that one (even though they only ever open the lower tier of the South Stand). 

 

I was pre-empting comments on the urban myth that Easter Rd is now bigger than Pittodrie.

 

Easter road is over 20,000 now, still think we're 3rd but not by a fair margin

I'd say that 1700 seats is a fair margin, but it's not that important at the end of the day - their average crowds are still bigger than ours.  I worked briefly on the design of Hibs new East Stand and at one point the design would have made it marginally bigger than Pittodrie and incorporating more executive boxes, but HFC decided to maintain a "Kop" style design generating atmosphere rather than a "two-tiered" one that generally doesn't.

 

With a bit more vision and ambition, AFC could stay at Pittodrie if the powers that be wanted it badly enough.  The opportunity to cash in on the land and drive down the debt is driving this and nothing else.