Ambitious plans for the new Aberdeen Football Club stadium were unveiled yesterday at a public exhibition at Pittodrie.
The single-tier development at Kingsford will offer a new community campus, football academy and stadium on the site.
The club’s plans for the 25-hectare site near Westhill includes three professional training pitches, two community 3-G pitches, a community pavilion, gymnasium and an AFC heritage museum.
Among those visiting the exhibition was James Buckett, 31, from Aberdeen, who said it was “the best thing for Aberdeen Football Club and the best thing to have happened to the city in a long time.
“I think Westhill is the most practical place for it to go.”
The 20,000-capacity stadium will have a parking capacity for 1,600 cars but is not being welcomed by all locals.
A community group set-up to oppose the development has raised more than £2,500 in order to get professional help to aid their case against the stadium being built near Westhill.
Clare Davidson, a spokeswoman for the group ‘No Kingsford Stadium’, said: “At a recent public meeting, hundreds of residents turned out to voice their anger at the stadium proposals, which are in direct contravention of Aberdeen city planning guidance.”
One concerned resident at the exhibition said: “I don’t see why it has to be in Westhill. It should be kept in Aberdeen City, not in Aberdeenshire.
“It is galling to hear fans talking about coming en-masse to Westhill to park before a match.
“They should make the parking at the stadium free to show some goodwill.”
George Yule, Executive Vice Chairman of AFC said: “Our vision for the future is one which can be shared among our fans, the team and backroom staff, our partners and sponsors and among the wider community in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
“For the first time, we will be able to bring together our off the pitch and on the pitch operations, including our training facilities, allowing us to deliver a real step-change in experience for our players and our fans, as well as for the wider community.
“This will also support a step-change for the Club in terms of operational and business performance.”
