For almost 120 years, Pittodrie stadium has been a feature of Aberdeen’s skyline.
And to look at it, you wouldn’t really think it has been standing there for almost 12 decades.
Of course, parts have been added and amended over time, but the truth is it’s old and there’s no getting away from it.
With the game and the way it’s viewed changing rapidly the current structure, and site, can not be adapted any further to meet modern standards.
And with increasing pressure on clubs to reduce carbon emissions and to do more for global warming… Bosses say Pittodrie has to go.
This is something the fans have been aware of for years now and, with plans in place to move out of the city and up to Kingsford, the future seemed set in stone.
But with a renewed effort to transform Aberdeen city centre, the potential emerged for the Dons to move just a stone’s throw away from the beloved stadium.
An option the club did not think would ever arise.
With weeks until the council votes on plans for a new stadium at the beach, our in-depth interview covers:
- The reasons Pittodrie must go
- Why club chiefs “need to know soon” if they can proceed with the seaside replacement
- How the Dons hope to “lead by example” with an eco-friendly stadium
Full council to consider beach masterplan at the end of month
This month a business case will go before Aberdeen City Council to determine whether or not they believe a new stadium should be built at the beach.
And bosses at the club are more determined than ever to work closely with the local authority to try to realise this vision.
Directors Rob Wicks and Zoe Oglivie meet me in the old boardroom of Pittodrie to discuss their hopes for the club’s future.
It’s been years since I have been in here and, looking around, it strikes me almost immediately how old the place really is.
“It’s 119 years old and we love it. To go as far as to say it’s not fit for purpose is maybe a bit strong, but we keep spending money on it year in and year out,” Rob tells me.
“Were we to be in the fortunate position of being able to qualify for the group stages of European football, there are a number of things we would have to significantly upgrade.
“Floodlights are one example of that because they are simply old and don’t meet UEFA standards.”
The club also needs to focus on making money, it is a business after all.
And the current constraints of Pittodrie mean they are not able to reach their full potential..
“We are constrained commercially because we have run out of space,” explains Zoe.
“We could do more in terms of corporate hospitality and entertainment and do more things on non-match days but we are totally constrained with the current site.”
Access to Pittodrie for disabled fans is also poor.
With around 170 regular disabled users, they are desperate for a place to congregate together before a match. That’s something that is just not possible at the moment.
Why not knock Pittodrie down and start again?
So Pittodrie, as it is, is just not viable. But why not rebuild?
“The site is essentially landlocked and we don’t have the space to reconfigure and do what we want to generate more revenue,” Zoe said.
“The other thing is, if we were to redevelop Pittodrie, where would we play?
“How much revenue would we potentially stand to lose while we have a new stadium being built?
“There are huge issues with that and, fundamentally, we need the sale of Pittodrie to help us fund the stadium.
“There isn’t a ground within 100 miles of this site that could cope with our demands.”
Rob explains Pittodrie would need to be completely demolished and built from the ground up to make it fit for purpose.
He said: “It’s not like it’s a newer stadium that’s going to get improvements like you have seen in Liverpool or Fulham, it’s so old it needs flattening and properly rebuilt.”
So with that in mind, a decision needs to be made sooner rather than later where the new home is to be. Will it be Kingsford or will it be the beach?
Fans ‘overwhelmingly in support’ of beach stadium development
Now while the directors remain discrete about their own personal preferences, fans appear to have their hearts set on the beach.
Zoe says: “What was attractive when the city council approached us about the plans at the beach was the scale of the ambition and the pace of delivery.
“We hope that pace continues under a new administration,” Zoe adds, referencing the ruling SNP group that has taken the reins of the authority since May’s elections.
“I think our fans have overwhelmingly told us – 92% of 6,500 fans polled – that they absolutely want the beach.
“We got tremendous support for Kingsford because people realised that we need a new stadium.
“But down at the beach, we would be close to our spiritual home.
“We as directors of the club have an absolute stake and an interest in what happens to our city centre.
“If we can be part of that regeneration of the city centre and the beachfront, and keep the footfall the club in the city to the benefit of businesses, then yes it’s where we’d want to be.”
AFC stadium a ‘big draw’ for the council
Rob believes the club acts as a “big drawing card” for the council.
He said: “In its own right the stadium is a major attraction and will draw people into the city centre on a match day.
“If it’s being used as more of a community facility it’s going to drive more non-match day traffic into the city centre as well.
“Mums will come in and drops their kids off, they will do their activity, and meanwhile the mum can pop into town.”
The Dons are ideally looking to be in their new home within the next five years.
And with it anticipated a new stadium will take around 18 months to build, allowing for time to sell Pittodrie and raise funds for the build, a decision really needs to be made in the coming months – not years.
Hopes a new administration will work ‘positively’ with the team
“It’s our understanding that the majority of politicians are in support of the city centre masterplan and the beach regeneration scheme and we would hope to continue to work positively with them,” Zoe said.
“We just hope that officers are given the direction to proceed with not just the beach regeneration, of which we are part, but to accelerate the city centre masterplan.
“We know Aberdeen badly needs it.
“We know that the politicians will have Aberdeen’s best interests at heart and will want what’s best for the city.
“But we have significant planning conditions to be met at Kingsford… So if this is not going to go ahead, we need to know soon.
“But there is certainly no indication this is not going to go ahead.”
The stadiums planned at either site will look very different.
For a start the one at Kingsford would be a stand-alone stadium in its own right.
The beach stadium is expected to be a much more integrated facility, accompanying a redeveloped Beach Ballroom (recently used to host a fan zone for 750 supporters).
Rob said: “The idea is again, through our footfall and through the appetite for things like fan zones, we are bringing new life into these facilities.
“The Beach Ballroom is a fantastic asset for the city.
“The other fundamental change we would see at the beach is the hospitality facilities and the opportunity to create something looking out to sea.”
And the pair talked excitedly about the potential of creating a restaurant on the top floors of the new stadium.
This would function on non-match days as a place for locals and visitors to come and eat high-quality food and would be used for corporate hospitality when the Dons are playing at home.
Hopes for beach stadium to be shining example of city’s net-zero ambitions
Another thing they hope to achieve from the beach stadium development is net-zero status.
Zoe said: “We are really committed and passionate about the stadium almost being that tangible demonstration of Aberdeen’s net-zero ambition.
“It’s making the stadium as sustainable as it possibly can be, whether it’s hydrogen-powered or solar or wind energy.
“The council has the same vision for the Beach Ballroom and the leisure facilities, whatever ends up going there will send the right message about the city.
“Lots of businesses in town are making that transition from fossil fuels, and with the size of our fanbase, we can really start to influence fan behaviour.”
Rob added: “We have 10,000 junior members who are going to be 15, let’s say, by the time we’re in the new stadium.
“If they come on a hydrogen bus or in an EV, and mum and dad are recharging at the stadium and they’re not drinking out a paper cup they’re refilling their water bottles, all of those little things really matter.
“There could be solar panels on the roof that power the floodlights for example – and this all starts to send the message.
“We have signed up to reduce carbon emissions by 2030 which is very difficult at Pittodrie, but we have some really good consultants on board that can help us on that journey.
“We’re in an enviable position that can help drive that behavioral change in our fans but we need to lead by example.”
Where to find that £75 million for beach stadium?
Aside from the council granting planning permission to allow this dream to become a reality, the club needs to raise about £75 million to build the ground.
Aberdeen FC hopes some of this cost could be taken up in grants or shared with the development of integrated leisure facilities, but a large financial challenge still remains.
Zoe said: “Before we could commit to developing there we would need to make sure we have the funding in place.
“If we start to see the green light being shone, we would need six months to go away and finalise that.
“Then we could go and start marketing the Pittodrie site.”
Conversation