Council leaders have scotched any hopes of public cash going towards a new Dons stadium at the beach.
Plans for the £80 million ground, predicted to bring Aberdeen a “billion-pound boost”, have been left facing an uncertain future after an explosive back-and-forth today.
Council co-leaders Ian Yuill and Alex Nicoll told the P&J club bosses would have to dig into their own pockets if they want to build the stadium.
The SNP and Liberal Democrat coalition which they lead commands a majority of 24 of the 45 councillors in Aberdeen, and the men told us they were speaking on the full group’s behalf.
Lib Dem leader Mr Yuill said: “We are not in the business of putting council money into football stadiums.”
Rebuff follows finances request
It comes after Aberdeen FC chairman Dave Cormack lifted the lid on “premature” council requests about how much money the Dons could put towards the new stadium.
In a message shared online today with supporters, Mr Cormack revealed the shock call for financial details.
The request hinted at a growing aversion to helping fund the scheme, which the local politicians have now confirmed.
The long road from Kingsford plans to new vision for seaside stadium
The Dons had been set to move to Kingsford when council leaders approached them about staying in the city almost two years ago.
At that time, the local authority indicated it would contribute some of the £150m cash for the city centre and beach masterplan towards the arena.
They wanted it to act as a “centrepiece” for the multi-million-pound seafront revamp.
And recent economic studies indicated such a complex, capable of hosting gigs and other sporting events, would inject £20m into the local economy every year of its 50-year lifespan.
But Mr Cormack has been clear in the past that its fate could depend on talks with the council.
In an appeal for capital last month, he said: “It really is going to come down to the new SNP and Liberal Democrat administration to make the decision on what this looks like going forward.”
New stadium a haggling point in crunch coalition talks
Much has changed since 2021, when the Labour and Conservative-led administration contacted the club while in charge of the authority.
Lib Dem group leader Ian Yuill, who became co-leader this May, has previously railed against any public cash being invested in a new Dons stadium.
It was an idea so unpopular back in February that it was booted out by 42 votes to just two.
Before the election, the group’s manifesto ruled out using public funds on the replacement for Pittodrie.
It’s understood the matter was a deal-breaker in coalition talks.
And the two sides ultimately came to a compromise that the council would “not use public funds except where collaborative working is mutually beneficial”.
Yuill blasts lack of information as he quashes Dons hopes
But this afternoon, Mr Yuill revealed his long-held crusade against parting with public cash had finally paid off.
When asked the current state of play, he told us: “We are not in the business of putting council money into a football stadium.”
‘Schools and roads must take priority’
Mr Yuill stressed that the stadium plans come at a time when the council is facing unprecedented financial challenges.
He added: “Our priority is investing very scarce public funds in facilities that will benefit people in Aberdeen, like schools, libraries, roads and sports facilities.
“These are the public facilities we have a legal duty to provide.
“The decision about taking forward the football stadium is for Aberdeen FC.”
SNP leader Alex Nicoll later told us that he and Mr Yuill were “singing from the same hymn sheet”.
He explained that the “partnership agreement” between the two parties was inked in a spirit of “give and take”.
And when pressed on his party’s pre-election manifesto pledge to “explore options for the new stadium” alongside Aberdeen FC, Mr Nicoll was quick to tell us that was not a commitment to help pay for the ground.
Despite the cash snub, he stressed that council leaders remain “amenable” to speaking with Dons directors about their aims.
Dave Cormack lifts lid on letter from the council
Their comments come weeks after Mr Nicoll appeared to distance himself from the issue by urging his colleagues not to attend talks on the Dons proposals.
And it was against this backdrop that the authority’s director of resources, Steve Whyte, wrote to Aberdeen FC last week asking if they had “full funding” in place for the stadium themselves.
Mr Cormack’s message, shared this afternoon, explains: “Last week the council asked the club to confirm if the full funding for a new net-zero stadium at the beach had been secured.
“We have informed the council we do not yet have the level of detail on construction, procurement, funding development, ownership and the ongoing operation of the proposed facilities to have meaningful conversations about funding.”
Mr Cormack adds that the Dons are in “preliminary discussions” about securing cash for the mammoth project.
Following a request from the Council to confirm its funding plans for a new net-zero community stadium at the beach, the Club has issued this response.
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) November 16, 2022
Dave Cormack insists club remains committed to council’s vision
The message also states that “since the council approached the club” about remaining in the city, the Dons have “willingly and enthusiastically” ploughed “considerable time and resources” into its potential design and operation.
It adds: “We are prepared to continue to invest time and resources to play our part.”
Chairman remains coy on amount of council cash expected
Citing an economic report released last month, Mr Cormack stressed that the arena would bring the city a £1bn boost over its 50-year lifespan.
And while not specifying any particular sum, he has made it clear he would expect a “relatively small capital investment” in return for such a “prize”.
Do you think the council should contribute towards the new stadium? Let us know in our comments section below
‘More than a football stadium’
Reacting to the rebuff, Mr Cormack has again stressed that the complex will be much more than a mere football stadium.
He said: “No-one is talking about a stand-alone football stadium.
“This project is about delivering an integrated, net-zero, community stadium linked to wider community and leisure facilities which is the catalyst for enabling the wider regeneration of the beachfront.
“It is much more than a home for the football club, which is only used every other week.”
The chairman would not be drawn on where this leaves the ambitious scheme, but still included the council in a list of possible benefactors.
He added: “It’s now about working together, with a defined outline business case, to secure funding from the club, from potential private funding partners, from the UK and Scottish Governments, as well as the council, to deliver this prize for the local economy, the city and its citizens.”
What could happen if beach plans fall apart?
Just last month, the chairman told us that he could yet proceed with the Kingsford relocation at a cheaper price.
But he said he would rather build closer to the club’s historic home due to the predicted economic boost to the city.
More than 1,100 people took part in a P&J poll on the plans – with almost 55% backing the use of public money to build the ground.
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