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

There seems to be less track etc in that second photo? 

 

Designed with retractable seating so it is actually a proper multi-use stadium

 

Had the muppets in charge of the London Olympics not originally planned to dismantle half the stadium to make a permanent smaller athletics venue they could have asked for a similar thing.

 

They could of course have done the running track/ retractable sears thing at Wembley too and not bothered with a new olympic stadium at all. I Predict this new olympic venue will go the same way as the 'White city stadium' within the next 20 years

Designed with retractable seating so it is actually a proper multi-use stadium

 

Had the muppets in charge of the London Olympics not originally planned to dismantle half the stadium to make a permanent smaller athletics venue they could have asked for a similar thing.

 

They could of course have done the running track/ retractable sears thing at Wembley too and not bothered with a new olympic stadium at all. I Predict this new olympic venue will go the same way as the 'White city stadium' within the next 20 years

 

 

The fit?

 

I guess that proves your point! Never heard of it.

 

The fit?

 

I guess that proves your point! Never heard of it.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_City_Stadium#Possible_new_stadium

Back to the topic in hand

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13238977.stm

 

Aberdeen's move to a new stadium moved a step closer after the redevelopment of their present Pittodrie site was given outline planning permission.

 

It is set to be transformed into a residential complex, with the Dons looking to move to a modern arena.

 

Dons chief executive Duncan Fraser welcomed this week's decision by Aberdeen City Council.

 

"It's another positive step in the process of the move to a new stadium," he told Aberdeen's club website.

 

"And I would like to thank everyone involved, both internally and our external partners, in helping us reach this stage.

 

"However, while it is another important piece of the jigsaw in place, there still remains a great deal of work to be done in what is a massive undertaking for this club."

 

In February, the council approved Aberdeen's plan for the new £40m, 21,000-capacity stadium at Loirston Loch in the south of Aberdeen, although it is still to be scrutinised by Scottish ministers.

Yawn!

 

Talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk!

 

BUILD IT!

Barr named as preferred contractor for new Dons stadium at Loirston

 

By Ryan Crighton

 

Published: 18/08/2011

 

The company behind the redevelopment of Celtic Park in Glasgow and one of the venues for the 2012 Olympics has been brought in to build Aberdeen FC’s new stadium – and work could begin within six months.

 

Barr Construction has been named as the preferred contractor to turn land at Loirston Loch into a 21,000-seat arena as the Dons prepare to leave Pittodrie.

 

Since creating Celtic’s 60,000 capacity ground at Parkhead in Glasgow, Barr has built Southampton FC’s St Mary’s Stadium, a new stand at Hibernian’s Easter Road in Edinburgh and St Mirren’s new home at Paisley.

 

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2398661

 

This is where wiggy's fantastic work over the last 10 years sourcing the investment for this project come to fruition...

 

 

 

So, this company seems to specialise in creating new stadia in the area where an old stand/stadium was. Interesting how celtic and hibs can do this but we cant.

 

 

Have the club ever said how this wonderful new stadium is to be funded?

So, this company seems to specialise in creating new stadia in the area where an old stand/stadium was. Interesting how celtic and hibs can do this but we cant.

 

2 out of 4 of the projects mentioned were in the area an old stadium/stand was, how do you take from that that they specialise in it? Celtic moved to Hampden for a year, we don't have an option like that.

 

Despite all the rumours and tales of AFC declining to buy the land round about, it was Aberdeen Council who refused permission for the development of the Merkland Stand. Why would AFC buy up the surrounding land if they knew they wouldnt be allowed to develop the stadium?

 

 

Have the club ever said how this wonderful new stadium is to be funded?

 

Not specifically. Milne seems to mention every year that they are working on obtaining the investment so we'll no doubt hear all about it over the next 6 months 

 

In Milne we trust 

The company behind the redevelopment of Celtic Park in Glasgow

 

As long as it doesn't resemble that shit hole in anyway.

Aberdeen have four months remaining to get the £7.4million funding in place if they are to meet their objective of leaving Pittodrie at the end of next season.

 

Chairman Stewart Milne and his board of directors have managed to find funding for four fifths of the estimated £37million required to build the new stadium at Loirston Loch but concedes the hardest part of the funding attempts lie ahead.

I don't know much about property owning but am I right in thinking that once the stadium is built we won't own it? But we'll have a mortgage secured against it that we will have to repay? The debt against the new stadium (according to the AGM) will be "the same or less" than there is now. But we won't own the ground it's secured against? Why in the blue fucking hell would we effectively give up our only asset for fuck all?  We'll have the same amount of debt but won't own any assets.

It just keeps on getting worse doesn't it?

 

I'm certain we were sold the new stadium on the grounds that it would clear out debt.  Now we're being told we'll still have the same amount of debt but own less.

 

What's the fucking point in that?! 

And so the noose tightens 

My understanding of it is that selling Pittodrie will clear out our current debts.  The mortgage taken out on the stadium will be at the same level or less than the current debt.  The crucial point in this being that the mortgage repayments will be manageable in comparison to the current debt, which we seem to be struggling to pay off the interest of let alone denting the actual debt.

 

Looks to me to be a much better situation, not sure why people are worried about the club having a mortgage on the stadium?

 

Another thing to moan about maybe?

And so the noose tightens 

 

My understanding of it is that selling Pittodrie will clear out our current debts. 

 

Not anymore it looks like with the increase in debt and the reduction in the price per acre. We have 13.7 acres and the very best prices for Aberdeen a few years ago was £1.1m per acre.

My understanding of it is that selling Pittodrie will clear out our current debts.  The mortgage taken out on the stadium will be at the same level or less than the current debt.  The crucial point in this being that the mortgage repayments will be manageable in comparison to the current debt, which we seem to be struggling to pay off the interest of let alone denting the actual debt.

 

Looks to me to be a much better situation, not sure why people are worried about the club having a mortgage on the stadium?

 

Another thing to moan about maybe?

 

 

FFS sake! 

 

We won't own the asset that our debt is secured against. If we had this (apparently more manageable) mortgage to repay but we actually owned the stadium we're paying it for after it was paid then I'd be all for it. (Or at least more for it than I am now).

 

Struggling to see why you're struggling to see why we're "moaning". 

 

FFS sake! 

 

We won't own the asset that our debt is secured against. If we had this (apparently more manageable) mortgage to repay but we actually owned the stadium we're paying it for after it was paid then I'd be all for it. (Or at least more for it than I am now).

 

Struggling to see why you're struggling to see why we're "moaning". 

 

Am I missing something? Where has it been said that we wont own the new stadium?

Not anymore it looks like with the increase in debt and the reduction in the price per acre. We have 13.7 acres and the very best prices for Aberdeen a few years ago was £1.1m per acre.

 

1.1m per acre is one thing

 

Price for 13.7 acres with outline planning consent for x number of houses is another

 

FFS sake! 

 

We won't own the asset that our debt is secured against. If we had this (apparently more manageable) mortgage to repay but we actually owned the stadium we're paying it for after it was paid then I'd be all for it. (Or at least more for it than I am now).

 

Struggling to see why you're struggling to see why we're "moaning". 

 

I'm not sure I follow. Our debt will be our mortgage which will be secured against the stadium just as our current debt is secured against the stadium.  If we can't keep up repayments then or now then the bank can take the stadium.  What is changing?

I'm not sure I follow. Our debt will be our mortgage which will be secured against the stadium just as our current debt is secured against the stadium.  If we can't keep up repayments then or now then the bank can take the stadium.  What is changing?

 

That's my take on it too, same basic situation but hopefully with the ability to tailor the mortgage term so that the payments are affordable.

 

All this not owning the new stadium talk is pish, it's just the same as buying a home and having a mortgage on it. Nothing to panic over at all.

1.1m per acre is one thing

 

Price for 13.7 acres with outline planning consent for x number of houses is another

 

Another good point and the very reason the club went to the trouble of gaining planning consent prior to putting the stadium up for sale.

 

Mizer

 

All this not owning the new stadium talk is pish, it's just the same as buying a home and having a mortgage on it. Nothing to panic over at all.

 

 

I'm sure I read somewhere very recently that AFC football club wouldn't own the stadium? Hence my outrage at exchanging one debt for another but then not having any assets.

 

I'm sure I read somewhere very recently that AFC football club wouldn't own the stadium? Hence my outrage at exchanging one debt for another but then not having any assets.

 

Who did they suggest would?