'No meaningful benefit' from £48m beachfront work without new Aberdeen FC stadium, it's claimed

The officials of the city have been advised to promote the retention of the Dons at Aberdeen beach in a proactive manner, but all of them seem to consent that the city must not finance a recent stadium.

It has been alleged that the expense of £48 million on two fresh parks located at Aberdeen seaside will not produce any significant gain for the community, unless a new Dons stadium is constructed along with it.

Preliminary groundwork has started on Beach Boulevard preceding the relocation of gas lines and other subterranean infrastructure to clear the path for the renovation.

Despite scheduling "routine discussions" between Aberdeen FC and Aberdeen City Council, officials have been advised to increase their efforts.

During most of 2023, the two groups seemed to be in a deadlock regarding the Dons' request for an unmentioned contribution from the city in support of the new Pittodrie facility.

The cost of the new Dons stadium was evaluated at £80 million in October 2022.

According to the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, the city economy is expected to receive an additional £20 million per year.

The head of the club, Dave Cormack, has pledged to provide a significant contribution to the community. He cited examples of football clubs from different parts of the world as motivation for his commitment.

It wasn't until 2023 was almost over that he finally had the chance to meet with important council members.

Aberdeen FC And Council Meet Regularly

During a gathering of the financial committee in Aberdeen on Wednesday, Craig Innes, who serves as the council's chief commercial officer, stated that he and the co-leaders had a discussion with the soccer team after their initial meeting in October.

I have also had a personal meeting with the soccer team.

The discussions I am having with the soccer club are continuing and we plan to rendezvous once more with the club's leader and two top officials very soon.

"It's likely that it will happen in the upcoming month."

Currently, the Labour party is encouraging leaders of the local authority who are members of the SNP and Lib Dems to take further measures to endorse the Aberdeen FC stadium proposal located on the beachfront.

The leader of the group, M Tauqeer Malik, stated that if the beach masterplan is missing this crucial element, any proposals it contains will not result in significant benefits for the community.

He subsequently included: "The recently built soccer arena is vital to the advancement of our urban precinct and waterfront development strategy."

We are not suggesting that the council foots the bill for the construction of the stadium.

Our suggestion is that we collaborate with the football club and business entities to make it happen.

At some point, it is likely that you will come to the same conclusion as us. We urge you to reconsider your current stance.

What's The Aberdeen FC Beach Stadium Fuss About?

It is uncertain what Mr Malik was specifically urging the SNP and Liberal Democrats to reconsider.

The management has decided to collaborate with Aberdeen FC to establish novel athletic amenities and a stadium located by the shore.

Martin Greig, a councillor from the Liberal Democrats, expressed confusion over the Labour party's emphasis on a single aspect of a larger and significant plan for the beachfront.

Labour seems to be in agreement with the administration there by stating that they are not advocating for the council to cover the expenses.

The SNP and Lib Dems came to an agreement that the new stadium would not be constructed using funds from taxpayers "unless both parties can benefit from working together collaboratively".

Aberdeen FC Considers Beachfront Stadium

Mr. Malik was informed by SNP finance convener Alex McLellan that the notion that anything is changing just because he disagrees with them is untrue. McLellan gave his official recommendations, and they were approved without any objections.

It's not unexpected that this collaboration is dedicated to collaborating with associates, which incorporates Aberdeen FC, to execute the beach project blueprint.

You're absolutely right that we shouldn't fund a soccer arena by the shore.

"If Aberdeen FC desires to have a football stadium, that is a plausible course of action."

Many drawings and papers from the council suggest that this is a likely option, and the joint leaders frequently hold meetings with the soccer team.

Aberdeen Council Urged To Plan Traffic Flow For Beach Stadium

According to Mr. McLellan, the initial stage of the beach project, which includes the events park and playpark on the Boulevard, will have a tremendously positive effect.

Additionally, there will be upgrades to the pathways and observation decks that will be constructed on Broadhill.

However, the briefing that Mr. Innes provided for councillors did not include any mention of a "football stadium," which left room for people to speculate.

Simon Watson, who is a member of the Labour party and also serves as a councillor, raised concerns about the lack of a clear timeline for updates regarding ongoing negotiations for the proposed Aberdeen FC coastal arena.

He mentioned that it might take more than a year to happen.

In the meantime, Rick Brooks, who will soon become the Conservative group leader, has expressed concern about transportation problems that may arise as a result of up to 20,000 people gathering at the beach every two weeks for football and ice hockey matches. He urges planners to consider these concerns carefully.

As the Beach Leisure Centre faces demolition from the approaching wrecking ball, the nearby Linx ice arena will be spared.

Mr. Brooks cautioned that any aspect of the beach plan needs to consider access, transportation, ease of accessibility, and a rise in traffic throughout Aberdeen.