Arena Community Stadium

 

A community stadium development (Arena) for AberdeenCity could be built near Loirston Loch, Cove.

 

Reports published today reveal partners investigating the possibility of creating a stadium and associated facilities in Aberdeen have made significant progress.

 

The Arena Project Team formed jointly by Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeen Football Club will present an Outline Business Case for a stadium and ask Councillors to promote Loirston as the preferred site for development.

 

Members will also be asked to give the green light for further development work on the Arena project and back in principle a joint venture as a means of delivery.

 

If built, the Arena would become home to Aberdeen Football Club, a proposed venture partner as well as lead tenant. Officers recommend a 22,000-seat stadium, potentially rising to 30,000 seats, depending on the availability of financial support from the Scottish Government.

 

Officers say sports and leisure developments, such as a community stadium, can play a major role in the successful future of both the city and region.

 

In her report to next week's Council meeting, Head of Planning and Infrastructure, Margaret Bochel, writes: "Development of the Arena Community Stadium will ensure that Aberdeen is acknowledged as a competitive, dynamic and vibrant place to live and work.

 

"The stadium could provide the opportunity to deliver objectives in the Regeneration Strategy, such as developing priority social, economic and environmental projects.

 

"Such a facility would be a major addition to the infrastructure of the city, helping increase participation in sport and encouraging a healthy lifestyle across all sectors of the community."

 

The report will go before Council on December 19.

 

Aberdeen FC's social, economic and cultural role

 

The benefits Aberdeen enjoys as a result of being home to a top division professional football club cannot be underestimated.

 

An economic impact analysis completed in 2006 determined that Aberdeen FC contributes at least £6 million per year to the local economy. The club also supports a total of 350 full time equivalent jobs.

 

Meanwhile, the Dons' community programme is recognised as the best in Scotland - having won the Community Club of the year award every year it has been judged.

 

Shell, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils, The Scottish Football Association, Grampian Fire and Rescue Service, npower, Macdonalds and the Food Standards Agency all support the programme, demonstrating an existing successful partnership between the club, business and the public sector.

 

Pittodrie Stadium

 

Redevelopment of Pittodrie Stadium to meet future needs is not viable.

 

The pitch width and run off areas currently do not meet UEFA standards and the pitch fails to comply with International Rugby Board specifications, meaning it cannot host regular full internationals.

 

As the ground is landlocked, with the exception of the Richard Donald Stand, the best way these issues could be accommodated at the present stadium is to redevelop the Main and South stands to a smaller footprint. These stands, along with the Merkland Road end, are all in relatively poor condition and will require to be completely redeveloped over the next 5?8 years.

 

Taking all of the above into account, there would be a substantial reduction in the stadium's capacity and a major impact on corporate facilities and accommodation, reducing the club's capacity to generate revenue.

 

As the city has no alternative stadium available to Aberdeen Football Club, redevelopment would either take a number of years or require the club to play matches at a remote location - most likely Dundee or Inverness.

 

No European matches could be played within the City during this period of redevelopment and would have to be played in Central Scotland.

 

Eventually, Pittodrie would be left with a capacity of around 15,000, achieved at a cost of around £15million to the club.

 

This would preclude Aberdeen and the region from any involvement in hosting major European and international matches and the city would rule itself out of participating in the hosting of competitions such as the Rugby World Cup or the European Football Championship.

 

A redeveloped Pittodrie would also be unable to accommodate community facilities that would be a significant part of any new stadium.

 

Community Stadium model

 

A community stadium is a partnership-funded initiative that integrates sports and community facilities into a single high quality venue.

 

It should be the home to as many sports clubs and organisations as possible and provide a sport focus for the region whilst maximising the use of accommodation under stands.

 

In Aberdeen, it is suggested that any community stadium could be combined with a football academy for the North East of Scotland and complement the Regional Community Sports facility currently under development at Linksfield.

 

The case for a community stadium in Aberdeen

 

Reports due before members note that the effects of new stadia - and, in particular, community stadia - in British cities have been universally positive, providing major economic and social regeneration opportunities.

 

As with many of these projects, the Arena in Aberdeen is proposed to be much more than a sporting facility. If built, it would raise the city's profile in the eyes of potential investors; link to regeneration strategies in terms of employment, health and fitness, and enhance commercial activity.

 

The Arena also has the potential to deliver high quality architecture, adding to the cultural richness of AberdeenCity and Shire.

 

Officers say design should be of the highest quality - providing a lasting legacy for the citizens of Aberdeen and a development the city can take pride in.

 

In short, the aspiration is to create a facility that is much more than simply a football stadium and can be developed as an educational, training, social, recreational, employment and community hub in use seven days a week for the benefit of the region.

 

The venue would play a major part in further establishing the City and Shire on the national and international map.

 

The results of a City Voice questionnaire revealed overwhelming public support for a community stadium in Aberdeen. Nearly three quarters of those asked were in favour of the project.

 

Delivery

 

The current proposal has been developed in partnership with Aberdeen Football Club, which has provided 50% of all funding. It is envisaged that a joint venture between the club and Council would deliver the Arena, via a stadium management company.

 

The Arena would be home to the Dons, who would act as lead tenant. The development would also provide the opportunity for approximately 150,000 sq ft (14,000 sq m) of floor space for rent, which could include office, retail, hotel, sports, leisure and community facilities.

 

The capitalised rental from these uses would contribute to the overall cost of construction.

 

Capacity

 

The capacity of any new stadium should be sufficient to meet market demand and also allow for future growth.It is also essential that any new stadium be capable of expansion or conversion to host international events.

 

With this in mind, the outline business case has been developed on the principle of a capacity of 22,000 - in line with the present capacity at Pittodrie.

 

However, it is also recommended that the Scottish Government be approached to determine the likelihood of Scotland hosting international competition in the future.

 

If, for example, Scotland were to launch a bid to host the 2016 European Championships, it is likely that a minimum capacity of 30,000 would be required to allow Aberdeen to participate.

 

As neither the City Council or Aberdeen FC could justify the cost associated with providing 8,000 additional seats; it is suggested partners approach the Scottish Government to determine whether there is a real ambition to host such events and discuss the likelihood of contributions to fund the additional infrastructure.

 

Costs

 

The Outline Business case suggests the project could cost in the region of £53 million at today's prices - with suggested Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeen Football Club contributions at £8 million each.

 

The remaining funding could be realised through stadium revenues, development and planning gain.

 

It must be stressed, however, that these figures are indicative only. Further detailed feasibility is required to ascertain the total level of investment required to deliver the Arena, including assessment of other users and potential partners.

 

Site

 

The Arena Project Team originally looked at four potential locations - at King's Links, Bridge of Don, CalderPark and Loirston.

 

The Outline Business Case eliminates the Bridge of Don site due to existing commitment, site capacity and access issues.The CalderPark site is also eliminated due to existing power lines and pylons running along the south side of the site.

 

The sites at King's Links and Loirston remain as options, with officers recommending Loirston following a detailed comparison of planning issues, site assessment, access and deliverability.

 

Commenting on the above, AFC's Managing Director Duncan Fraser said, "There has been a huge amount of work undertaken behind the scenes by the partners in the Arena initiative in recent times, particularly in the last six months and it's a true example of a partnership working towards the greater good of the City & Shire.

 

"Now that a preferred site has been identified and a vehicle to deliver the project outlined and funding options, the hard work now begins.

 

"We look forward to working closely with the Council and other key stakeholders over the coming period, during which time there will undoubtedly be difficult decisions to make and massive challenges to be met. However the end goal here must surely be to overcome any difficulties we face and deliver a community stadium that will showcase the area as the most forward thinking in the country."

I'd hazard a guess that the scottish government will get their fingers burnt on a commenwealth games overspend which won't do our stadium plans any favours.

that doesn't matter as even without the Scottish Govt's interest the stadium would still go ahead according to all the stuff from the club and council.

 

Ideally I would love the stadium to stay down by the  beach but realistically there is no way that can happen given the cost of the land there and the terrible traffic problems.

 

This is one of the most positive things to come out of Pittodrie in years and I am truly shocked that they have apparently managed to piece together a very workable and well thought out plan, along with the council, that will ensure that afc is still here in 20yrs time.

 

Of course people will have reservations about an "out of town" stadium but we have little option and I think people are overblowing the potential downside to this.

 

Well done afc and well down ACC (fuck me never thought I'd say that)

Will be interesting to see how things go over the next few weeks.

Of course people will have reservations about an "out of town" stadium but we have little option and I think people are overblowing the potential downside to this.

 

I haven't read this thread but for what it's worth, here's my take on things:

 

I feel that the whole community stadium idea is a little bit short-sighted.  I'm all for making big decisions to solve problems, of which a £10m-plus-and-growing debt is a whopper.

 

However in selling our biggest (and arguably, only) asset to wipe out a debt without a medium-term strategy to generate capital to fund the purchase of more assets is not what I would call "visionary".  Scottish football, outwith the Old Firm, does not generate enough in terms of inward investment be that from transfer fees, advertising/sponsorship, TV revenue in order to create enough liquidity flowing round the Scottish football economy.  If the last 10 years have taught anyone in football anything at all, it is this.

 

Aberdeen FC will have to bank on becoming a selling club just to remain afloat and to do so they will need to produce a Scott Brown equivalent every couple of years to keep the bank from the door.  With no palpable asset to guarantee debt against, the fear factor will prevail unless we produce a successful team on the pitch every year.

 

As a Dons fan I hope that we do provide a successful team every year in order to prove me wrong here.  However it fills me with a fair bit of worry that what is being seen to be the great white hope for the future of Aberdeen FC could indeed be the very same thing that signals the beginning of the end of the club we see as the "third force".

 

I'm thinking of the medium-term prospects for our club here rather than where the stadium is geographically located cos I'll go anywhere to watch them, but I simply think the whole thing is a bad idea.

that doesn't matter as even without the Scottish Govt's interest the stadium would still go ahead according to all the stuff from the club and council.

 

Ideally I would love the stadium to stay down by the  beach but realistically there is no way that can happen given the cost of the land there and the terrible traffic problems.

 

This is one of the most positive things to come out of Pittodrie in years and I am truly shocked that they have apparently managed to piece together a very workable and well thought out plan, along with the council, that will ensure that afc is still here in 20yrs time.

 

Of course people will have reservations about an "out of town" stadium but we have little option and I think people are overblowing the potential downside to this.

 

Well done afc and well down ACC (fuck me never thought I'd say that)

Will be interesting to see how things go over the next few weeks.

 

But they have highlighted two possible sites for the stadium so why are you so keen on it not being down the beach?

 

If you're taking the stance that it's too expensive then I'd argue that it isn't going to make much difference.  The council don't need to buy the land, it's theirs and they're not going to sell one off instead of the other to the highest bidder to build houses on.

 

As for the traffic side of things; I can't remember sitting in a car for any longer than 1/2 an hour after a game at worst.  The Kings Links site could easily be accessed from the beach side away from residential areas and there's room on that road to become a dual carriageway.

 

I say we fight for it to be down the beach and at worst we've got a shiny new stadium out the road.

 

Why settle for second best? 

I'm more concerned on whether the council might insist on a running track than where it'll be.

I haven't read this thread but for what it's worth, here's my take on things:

 

I feel that the whole community stadium idea is a little bit short-sighted.  I'm all for making big decisions to solve problems, of which a £10m-plus-and-growing debt is a whopper.

 

However in selling our biggest (and arguably, only) asset to wipe out a debt without a medium-term strategy to generate capital to fund the purchase of more assets is not what I would call "visionary".  Scottish football, outwith the Old Firm, does not generate enough in terms of inward investment be that from transfer fees, advertising/sponsorship, TV revenue in order to create enough liquidity flowing round the Scottish football economy.  If the last 10 years have taught anyone in football anything at all, it is this.

 

Aberdeen FC will have to bank on becoming a selling club just to remain afloat and to do so they will need to produce a Scott Brown equivalent every couple of years to keep the bank from the door.  With no palpable asset to guarantee debt against, the fear factor will prevail unless we produce a successful team on the pitch every year.

 

As a Dons fan I hope that we do provide a successful team every year in order to prove me wrong here.  However it fills me with a fair bit of worry that what is being seen to be the great white hope for the future of Aberdeen FC could indeed be the very same thing that signals the beginning of the end of the club we see as the "third force".

 

I'm thinking of the medium-term prospects for our club here rather than where the stadium is geographically located cos I'll go anywhere to watch them, but I simply think the whole thing is a bad idea.

 

At the moment if you took away the extra costs of running a dilapidated stadium like Pittodrie and the interest on our debt then we would be breaking even at worst.  By selling Pittodrie for £20M while investing £8M into the new "Aberdeen Arena" we should clear a substantial portion of our debt.  Meanwhile as primary tenants we should make a fair whack from the new stadium.  Presumably if we have put that kind of money into the ground we shall own at least a proportion of the ground that can be used as an asset against any loan we have.  Ultimately the aim should be to operate at break even with no, or a minimal debt. 

 

Given the current financial situation (mess) we don't seem to have much of an option anyway.  In a few years time the bank will want £12M plus 5years worth of interest payments.  If we don't sell up then we are well and truly fucked...and that is short-term, never mind medium term

"We look forward to working closely with the Council and other key stakeholders over the coming period, during which time there will undoubtedly be difficult decisions to make and massive challenges to be met. However the end goal here must surely be to overcome any difficulties we face and deliver a community stadium that will showcase the area as the most forward thinking in the country."

 

 

Sorry Mr Fraser. The Dons may be forward thinking. But the City Council are more backwards than the characters of The League Of Gentlemen.

But they have highlighted two possible sites for the stadium so why are you so keen on it not being down the beach?

 

If you're taking the stance that it's too expensive then I'd argue that it isn't going to make much difference.  The council don't need to buy the land, it's theirs and they're not going to sell one off instead of the other to the highest bidder to build houses on.

 

As for the traffic side of things; I can't remember sitting in a car for any longer than 1/2 an hour after a game at worst.  The Kings Links site could easily be accessed from the beach side away from residential areas and there's room on that road to become a dual carriageway.

 

I say we fight for it to be down the beach and at worst we've got a shiny new stadium out the road.

 

Why settle for second best?   

 

How's the travel time to Cove from Dusseldorf anyway?

 

It's not a case of accepting second best. The beach area as a site does fuck all for current capacity and whatever you say parking is a nightmare on a match day. If the new stadium magically puts 5000 on the gate each week then it'll only be worse.

 

Cove is also just as likely to be more accessible for other parts of the city, what difference does it make going to Cove than Linksfield for these kids you expect to travel there on their own? Are you expecting all the street urchins to be walking there with kit on their back for using the facilities?

 

Mum drives them most places and of course Kincorth and Cove does have kids living there you know 

 

In a city that currently worships the the car, Cove is no problem at all.

 

Get it built and at the same time rewrite the constitution of the club, stating that debt is not allowed.

 

Vive la change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How's the travel time to Cove from Dusseldorf anyway?

 

It's not a case of accepting second best. The beach area as a site does fuck all for current capacity and whatever you say parking is a nightmare on a match day. If the new stadium magically puts 5000 on the gate each week then it'll only be worse.

 

Cove is also just as likely to be more accessible for other parts of the city, what difference does it make going to Cove than Linksfield for these kids you expect to travel there on their own? Are you expecting all the street urchins to be walking there with kit on their back for using the facilities?

 

Mum drives them most places and of course Kincorth and Cove does have kids living there you know 

 

In a city that currently worships the the car, Cove is no problem at all.

 

Get it built and at the same time rewrite the constitution of the club, stating that debt is not allowed.

 

Vive la change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What he said!

It's not a case of accepting second best. The beach area as a site does fuck all for current capacity and whatever you say parking is a nightmare on a match day. If the new stadium magically puts 5000 on the gate each week then it'll only be worse.

 

Parking is a nightmare.... at Pittodrie.

 

But we're talking about doing away with a golf course and the last time I looked you couldn't fit 18 holes inside a football stadium.

 

Build a big fuck off car park alongside the stadium - job done.

 

Woolies, MFI & Virgin Cinemas have all managed to do so down the beach so I'm guessing someone with the technical nous to build a stadium, might manage to steam roll a couple acres of tarmac.

After speaking to one of my family members last night who is working fairly intensively on this proposal at the council's end, i'm fairly excited about the development.

 

They've got shitloads in the pipeline for major developments up that end of town, and i think it'll be a really big thing for both the club and the city as a whole.

 

And i must admit that i'm surprised that there are people moaning about the fact it's a whole three miles from union street.

Parking is a nightmare.... at Pittodrie.

 

But we're talking about doing away with a golf course and the last time I looked you couldn't fit 18 holes inside a football stadium.

 

Build a big fuck off car park alongside the stadium - job done.

 

Woolies, MFI & Virgin Cinemas have all managed to do so down the beach so I'm guessing someone with the technical nous to build a stadium, might manage to steam roll a couple acres of tarmac.

 

 

I suspect a couple of acres of free parking is not the best use of that expensive real estate though.

Parking is a nightmare.... at Pittodrie.

 

But we're talking about doing away with a golf course and the last time I looked you couldn't fit 18 holes inside a football stadium.

 

No we're not, we'd be building on top of what is currently the driving range and a couple of holes of the golf course at the very most. The golf course will still be there, they'll just be shifting the demolished parts further north. There wouldn't be that much scope for extra parking. And for the hardened drinkers, it will also mean the loss of the Broadhill Bar.

I suspect a couple of acres of free parking is not the best use of that expensive real estate though.

 

So no parking at Cove then?

 

They could charge what they like for parking and if it puts people off driving (which it won't) then they'll profit from the public transport.  It's not like they'll be raking it in from golf fees as it is at the moment anyway.

 

There's plenty room down the beach to move the course further north.  You've got that great big bit of land which people currently use to fly kites for a start.

And for the hardened drinkers, it will also mean the loss of the Broadhill Bar.

 

FFS!! Oppose this proposal at all costs. 

 

 

Caps, what you worried about anway? you're never there.

Gutted that we'd be losing our favourite waterholes of the Bobbin, Broadhill and Pittodrie Bars. Even on non-matchdays if ye have to walk the length of King Street, the Bobbin and Pitt are ideally positioned for a half-way refresher or four.

 

But if they can get the transport sorted for this new place, such as a rail shuttle service (preferably free!!!) then it'd be awesome. Plus it would quite literally be a hop, skip and a jump fae the Station Hotel in Stoney!!!!

Gutted that we'd be losing our favourite waterholes of the Bobbin, Broadhill and Pittodrie Bars. Even on non-matchdays if ye have to walk the length of King Street, the Bobbin and Pitt are ideally positioned for a half-way refresher or four.

 

 

There will be new watering holes. 

good stadium desgns here:

 

http://www.wimp.com/stadium/

 

Obviously I'd expect UEFA to impose harsh penalties upon this club for allowing flares at their stadium! F'kn!

 

Caps, what you worried about anway? you're never there.

 

I just think removing the club from the public eye is a bad move and if they're wanting a community stadium then it should be placed slap bang in the middle of it.

 

I couldn't give a toss if it's down at the beach per se but I still think it should be in town somewhere.

 

There's just nothing that beats the buzz of a big game when you're walking through town, all heading in the same direction.  You can't see the stadium then you turn the corner and BANG! there it is.

 

That'll be lost if everyone is heading out of town, via various routes stuck in the back of a car.

NO chance of rail improvents - we gave up asking for electrification of the line... every year they cut back on the number of trains stopping at stoney and porty.  It's not the london olympics we're getting, or even the commonwealth games, don't expect any REAL infrastructure to arrive out of this. Yes, we might get a weatherspoons, a pizza hut and a new tesco... but no major road imrpovements and no new public transmport except possibly shuttle buses.  Expect it also to be used for a wealth of planning apllications for new housing to join up Aberdeen and porty (as is already happening) - would be interesting how much of that land stewart milne already has options on. By the final planning stage, they will have ditched a football academy, ditched the training grounds, ditched the facilities

 

Quite the ray of sunshine aren't we?

At the moment if you took away the extra costs of running a dilapidated stadium like Pittodrie and the interest on our debt then we would be breaking even at worst.  By selling Pittodrie for £20M while investing £8M into the new "Aberdeen Arena" we should clear a substantial portion of our debt.  Meanwhile as primary tenants we should make a fair whack from the new stadium.  Presumably if we have put that kind of money into the ground we shall own at least a proportion of the ground that can be used as an asset against any loan we have.  Ultimately the aim should be to operate at break even with no, or a minimal debt.   

 

Given the current financial situation (mess) we don't seem to have much of an option anyway.  In a few years time the bank will want £12M plus 5years worth of interest payments.  If we don't sell up then we are well and truly fucked...and that is short-term, never mind medium term

 

I'm not convinced.

 

Look at it this way - the land at Pittodrie is worth £20m, of which AFC would get all of it.  How much do we think the land at Loirston would be worth if it was to be held as an asset for the club?  Â£50m?  No chance, it'll be closer to £15m-£20m.   In other words if AFC put £8m into the £50m+ build cost, they'll be instantly writing off something like £5m as their "investment" as you call it will be more like £3m in real terms at the most.

 

Of course the debt will be wiped out, the interest payments and excessive running costs (don't be fooled, they wont be that much) will have gone, but the board will have to run a very tight ship.  And I'm just not convinced with where the last 15 years have left us.

Quite the ray of sunshine aren't we?

 

No he's not.

 

But either are the powers that be in Aberdeen.

 

Rail links, monorails, undergrounds, trams, hotels, shops, gyms, blah, blah, blah..... my arse.  I fully agree with Jager and his views that nothing other than a stadium will be built.

 

Don't think for one minute that the 'club' are choosing this site for the good of the club or the fans.  The directors will be choosing this in the name of the club but for their own reasons.

NO chance of rail improvents - we gave up asking for electrification of the line... every year they cut back on the number of trains stopping at stoney and porty.  It's not the london olympics we're getting, or even the commonwealth games, don't expect any REAL infrastructure to arrive out of this. Yes, we might get a weatherspoons, a pizza hut and a new tesco... but no major road imrpovements and no new public transmport except possibly shuttle buses.  Expect it also to be used for a wealth of planning apllications for new housing to join up Aberdeen and porty (as is already happening) - would be interesting how much of that land stewart milne already has options on. By the final planning stage, they will have ditched a football academy, ditched the training grounds, ditched the facilities

 

Are you Stoney from BNP-Chat?

He can't be. Not unless DT has a spellchecker that BNP doesn't!

Or a reason checker and built in argument maker.