City council chiefs have been urged not to let plans for a new Dons stadium at the beach fail – because it would announce to the world “Aberdeen cannot get its act together”.
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) has urged the authority’s leadership and football club high-ups to “get round a table urgently” on funding for the proposed ground.
It comes after the SNP and Lib Dem co-leaders ruled out public cash being used to build the £80 million arena.
Liberal Democrat Ian Yuill told us: “We are not in the business of putting council money into football stadiums.”
The local authority has pressed the Dons on how it will pay for the new ground “prematurely”, according to chairman Dave Cormack.
New Aberdeen FC stadium could be worth £20 million a year
Last month, the chamber predicted a 50-year, £1 billion boom if the net-zero stadium went ahead.
Aberdeen FC was all set to build a cheaper stadium on the city’s outskirts at Kingsford – until the local authority asked for them to look at being the “anchor” project in the beach revamp.
Only metres from Pittodrie, it would keep football fans in the city centre before and after games.
And since they were asked to stay, Mr Cormack has made it clear he would expect “a relatively small capital investment” from the council.
Beach stadium plans clash ‘in nobody’s interest’
This morning, chief executive Russell Borthwick branded our latest scoop as “disappointing” news.
“We have a one-off opportunity to make something incredible happen in the city,” he said.
“Letting it fail – just like Union Street pedestrianisation plans – will simply send out the message to the world once again that Aberdeen cannot get its act together.
“It is in nobody’s interest for that to happen.”
Mr Borthwick believes there is still a majority of councillors who support the seafront stadium proposals, which are linked in with the £150 million city centre and beach masterplan.
He added: “Whether the co-leaders are enthusiastic about the plans or not, we remain hopeful that progress can be made.”
But despite Mr Borthwick’s optimism, Mr Yuill and his SNP counterpart Alex Nicoll command a 24-person majority.
New Aberdeen FC stadium the ‘anchor’ in multi-million-pound beach regeneration
The council is currently applying for another £20 million to fund the pedestrianisation of some parts of the beach, as well as renewed sports and leisure facilities.
All together, AGCC’s independent study estimated the renewed beachfront would bring in an additional £20 million to the city’s economy every year.
It also showed how other football clubs had turned around their local surroundings with stadium redevelopment – with the backing of local authorities.
Aberdeen FC could yet build at Kingsford
Aberdeen FC could yet move to Kingsford, where they think building a stadium would cost millions less.
But they have warned a lot of the civic good they would be able to bring to the beach would be lost.
AFC Community Trust is eyeing a greater footprint at the beach ground, much more accessible to those in need of help by foot or using public transport.
Mr Borthwick added: “Everyone is clear about the squeeze on public finances, and it is reasonable that councillors would want to have clear sight of the financial contribution from the football club before proceeding.
“And while Mr Yuill’s personal view is that it is not appropriate for public money to be used in such a way, we are not going out on a limb here, we are simply following a successful model from elsewhere.”
Last week, around 170 city centre traders, business leaders and other stakeholders crammed into the Douglas Hotel ballroom to discuss the fate of the diminished Union Street.
There, the council was urged to deliver on promises on the Granite Mile and the beach, outlined in the “jigsaw of regeneration” masterplan.
Mr Borthwick warned businesses would only invest in Aberdeen to aid that rejuvenation “if they have clarity around what they are investing in”.
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