First it was Bellfield, then Loirston and, finally we thought, Kingsford. Finding a new home has been a long and arduous process for the Club. Having secured planning consent for Kingsford in 2018, the Club quickly built the new training facilities, while plans for the adjacent stadium were contingent on meeting planning conditions and securing funding. The global pandemic put the brakes on this.

Towards the end of 2019, recognising the urgent need to retain footfall in a city centre devastated by the withdrawl of major retail brands, the Council approached the Club to explore the potential of locating our new stadium at the beach. The aim is to place the stadium at the heart of the regeneration of the beachfront on land that was previously unavailable to us.

As part of the overall City Centre Masterplan, the regeneration of the beachfront will improve the connectivity between the city centre and the boulevard. A new stadium as a focal point would be the catalyst for the redevelopment of facilities to deliver a world-class community sports complex, revitalizing the beach area.

The Council’s public consultation on the City Centre Masterplan revealed that the top two priorities for the citizens of Aberdeen were improvements to Union Street and keeping the Club in the beach area.

Aberdeen FC has been working closely with Aberdeen City Council on the designs and outline business case for a new stadium and community sports complex, incorporating an ice rink and leisure centre.

With stunning views out to sea, the new stadium could be a beacon of sporting excellence, sustainability and community, attracting fans, citizens and visitors alike. Through collaboration and economies of scale, a new stadium and sports complex are affordable and deliverable for both the Council and the Club.

The outline business case will go before the Council in June. If you want to see this happen, this is what you need to do:

1. Make your views known to the Club (Complete our survey)
2. Make sure your Councillor knows your views
3. Make your views heard on social media using the #TeamABERDEEN
4. Make your views seen in the local press by writing to letters@ajl.co.uk  or ee.letters@ajl.co.uk