Now *that's* what you call a planning application: Aberdeen Arena

**(((Fergus)))** · 15-08-2010 02:27 PM

21,000 capacity scheduled to open 2013.

Flythrough video here http://www.afc.co.uk/page/Home/0,,10284,00.html or pictures here:

***givescotlandfreedom*** · 15-08-2010 04:12 PM

This superground's been scheduled for years, albeit without this location. How are they planning to pay for it? Even with the sale of Pittodrie they'll fall well short and Milne doesn't seem to be putting a penny into them.

**marinello59** · 15-08-2010 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by givescotlandfreedom

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This superground's been scheduled for years, albeit without this location. How are they planning to pay for it? Even with the sale of Pittodrie they'll fall well short and Milne doesn't seem to be putting a penny into them.

Well Plan A was to call it a Community Stadium and get the council to pay.

Plan B is............erm............nope, I haven't heard a word. Nice plans in a 'here's what you could have won' kind of style though..

***givescotlandfreedom*** · 15-08-2010 04:21 PM

Kind of though that, I always thought the Dick Donald stand does that a bit. It's the one proper, big Ibrox-esque stand reminding them of what they might have achieved if the success hadn't run out :) I'm also clueless as to why they seem to think they HAVE to move from Pittodrie when the existing ground is the same size and the one they want to move into (in the middle of nowhere) and can't afford.

**bighairyfaeleith** · 15-08-2010 04:27 PM

TBf if they ever build it will be a great stadium. Still won't come close to tynie, but at least there trying

***StevieC*** · 15-08-2010 05:14 PM

Upon closer inspection ...

Middle of nowhere .. one road in .. one road out .. 2,000 car spaces maximum .. that'll be fun on match days.

**Shaggy** · 15-08-2010 05:37 PM

........... but it is mega. Very 21st century if it comes of for them. Good luck ti them.

More likely than a tyny rebuild, ............ If the Dons got this.. I wouldnt be surprised if the yams burn the auld stand down for the insurance money.

**(((Fergus)))** · 15-08-2010 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by givescotlandfreedom

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Kind of though that, I always thought the Dick Donald stand does that a bit. It's the one proper, big Ibrox-esque stand reminding them of what they might have achieved if the success hadn't run out :) I'm also clueless as to why they seem to think they HAVE to move from Pittodrie when the existing ground is the same size and the one they want to move into (in the middle of nowhere) and can't afford.

Apparently if they redevelop Pittodrie to current regulations it would take five years to do (with reduced crowds obviously), cost minimum 30 million and leave them with a capacity of 12,000. This would also leave them with a debt that they'd be unable to service never mind pay off.

Selling Pittodrie will, apparently, give them with enough capital after the land purchase to pay for at least part of the new stadium.

***StevieC*** · 15-08-2010 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by Fergus

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Selling Pittodrie will, apparently, give them with enough capital after the land purchase to pay for at least part of the new stadium.

This part ...

**~~MSK~~** · 15-08-2010 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by StevieC

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This part ...

**CB_NO3** · 15-08-2010 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by Fergus

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Apparently if they redevelop Pittodrie to current regulations it would take five years to do (with reduced crowds obviously), cost minimum 30 million and leave them with a capacity of 12,000. This would also leave them with a debt that they'd be unable to service never mind pay off.

Selling Pittodrie will, apparently, give them with enough capital after the land purchase to pay for at least part of the new stadium.

This could finish the Dons off. They will be lucky to get 6 or 7k out there. The Aberdeen fans dont want it, there will be no pubs or nothing.

**(((Fergus)))** · 15-08-2010 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by CB_NO3

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This could finish the Dons off. They will be lucky to get 6 or 7k out there. The Aberdeen fans dont want it, there will be no pubs or nothing.

Maybe they should build a massive pub there too.

Can't the club run a shuttle bus service on matchdays?

Redevelopment of Pittodrie seems to be a catch-22 situation so this is their only option. That's what the cub says anyway.

***judas*** · 15-08-2010 06:10 PM

Credit to Aberdeen for this kind and audacious plan, my only criticism would be that this airport terminal building is several miles from the runway. It would take some time for passengers to actually get from the plane into the airport itself.

If I were 'Aberdeen' and I wanted to make a gesture to the city, I would consider something else. Perhaps a visitor centre or further development of the dock/port.

***Part/Time Supporter*** · 15-08-2010 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by marinello59

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Well Plan A was to call it a Community Stadium and get the council to pay.

Plan B is............erm............nope, I haven't heard a word. Nice plans in a 'here's what you could have won' kind of style though..

Aberdeen council are even more skint than AFC

**(((Fergus)))** · 15-08-2010 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by judas

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Credit to Aberdeen for this kind and audacious plan, my only criticism would be that this airport terminal building is several miles from the runway. It would take some time for passengers to actually get from the plane into the airport itself.

If I were 'Aberdeen' and I wanted to make a gesture to the city, I would consider something else. Perhaps a visitor centre or further development of the dock/port.

It's for seaplanes landing on the loch

***Part/Time Supporter*** · 15-08-2010 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Fergus

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It's for seaplanes landing on the loch

I would associate seaplanes with, like, the Florida Everglades. Slight difference from Aberdeen.

**marinello59** · 15-08-2010 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Part/Time Supporter

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Aberdeen council are even more skint than AFC

You spotted the wee flaw then.

**marinello59** · 15-08-2010 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by Fergus

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It's for seaplanes landing on the loch

Wait until the fishermen and environmentalists start picking their plans to bridge the Loch apart. I do hope it doesn't drag on to long in the courts.

**~~MSK~~** · 15-08-2010 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by marinello59

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You spotted the wee flaw then.

Fancy buying some trams ..?...

**Prof. Shaggy** · 15-08-2010 06:18 PM

They did a fly-through thingy when they planned our new school. It looked great.
Then we moved in last summer....

**JE89** · 15-08-2010 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by Prof. ****gy

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They did a fly-through thingy when they planned our new school. It looked great.
Then we moved in last summer....

Aye that's because they don't show the wee neds chewin'gumming the tables and chairs though.

**Prof. Shaggy** · 15-08-2010 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by Jevitt

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Aye that's because they don't show the wee neds chewin'gumming the tables and chairs though.

That, and the fan in the recording studio

**JE89** · 15-08-2010 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by Prof. ****gy

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That, and the fan in the recording studio

Diamond buckles too tight?

**random sub** · 15-08-2010 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by ****gy

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........... but it is mega. Very 21st century if it comes of for them. Good luck ti them.

21st century....in that location?! More like some hideous 1980s throw back to the un sustainable years. Do they not know that we will not be driving cars by the middle/ end of the century?! What sense of place does the middle of nowhere have?

**sahib** · 15-08-2010 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by random sub

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21st century....in that location?! More like some hideous 1980s throw back to the un sustainable years. Do they not know that we will not be driving cars by the middle/ end of the century?! What sense of place does the middle of nowhere have?

If population keeps increasing it may well be in middle of a city by then.

***.Sean.*** · 15-08-2010 09:03 PM

Am I the only person who sees no real benefit whatsoever in Aberdeen leaving Pittodrie?

Granted, it's a *****hole. But the money they would receive from the sale of Pittodrie wouldn't pay for this new stadium and they're already in huge debt. And seemingly the Cooncil won't help fund it as they're skint too.

Those fickle Aberdonians are hard enough to please as it is and the vast majority of them seem totally against the proposed move. The stadium will have a similar capacity to Pittodrie and they seldom sell that out. It's unlikely they'll gain any extra fans with the move either.

So I see plenty of cons with this move, any pro's..........?

**(((Fergus)))** · 15-08-2010 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by .sean.

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Am I the only person who sees no real benefit whatsoever in Aberdeen leaving Pittodrie?

Granted, it's a *****hole. But the money they would receive from the sale of Pittodrie wouldn't pay for this new stadium and they're already in huge debt. And seemingly the Cooncil won't help fund it as they're skint too.

Those fickle Aberdonians are hard enough to please as it is and the vast majority of them seem totally against the proposed move. The stadium will have a similar capacity to Pittodrie and they seldom sell that out. It's unlikely they'll gain any extra fans with the move either.

So I see plenty of cons with this move, any pro's..........?

Isn't it to do with the fact that Pittodrie is falling down and to renovate the place would not be viable. The impression I got was that this was their only option.

***banchoryhibs*** · 15-08-2010 11:09 PM

As far as I understand it they are confident that the money is in place - source: MD of one of their larger match day sponsors. He did not say just where the cash is coming from and unless one of the two multi millionaires on the board is going to be very generous I have no idea.
They are £9m in debt just now and the sale of Pittodrie won't clear that plus give them the bones of the £30m needed for the new stadium.

I've yet to talk with any Dons fan who is enthusiastic about moving so far out of town.

I'll believe it when I see it.

**~~Skanko79~~** · 15-08-2010 11:12 PM

My brother in law was speaking to one of the guys who runs the Aberdeen sopporters association at the scotland game in sweden last week and he says he has heard donald trump has offered financial support to this.

**jgl07** · 16-08-2010 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by banchoryhibs

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As far as I understand it they are confident that the money is in place - source: MD of one of their larger match day sponsors. He did not say just where the cash is coming from and unless one of the two multi millionaires on the board is going to be very generous I have no idea.
They are £9m in debt just now and the sale of Pittodrie won't clear that plus give them the bones of the £30m needed for the new stadium.

I've yet to talk with any Dons fan who is enthusiastic about moving so far out of town.

I'll believe it when I see it.

There is not a hope of the thing stacking up financially.

The master plan was always to 'persuade' the local authority to build a new 'community stadium' so that the sale of the site at Pittordrie could be used to clear the debts. That may have worked had Scotland been awarded Euro 2012 and if the public sector was still awash with cash.

All local authorities in Scotland are strapped for cash and none more so than Aberdeen. They were even in financial trouble before the cuts started to hit.

I suspect that the application has gone in more in hope than expectation and I will be very surprised if anything comes of it.

Staying at Pittordrie beyond the medium term is not an option for Aberdeen. The site is hemmed in by roads so it could never be redeveloped in the way that has happened to Easter Road. The main stand is as bad safety certificate wise as that at Tynecastle.

Aberdeen may have to sit tight until local authority finances permit the construction of an community stadium.