It was presented as the centrepiece of the waterfront upgrade. As it turns out, realising this plan is not that simple, with finances being the main obstacle. The Aberdeen authorities stress that the project is still on the table, but only on the condition that the club funds its construction itself.

City authorities and the funding issue

Alex McLellan, Aberdeen City Council's head of finance, makes it clear that the local authority has no intention of funding the construction of the stadium, estimated to cost £80 million. In his view, any investment in the stadium should come from private funds, not the city's budget.

Residents are obviously interested in the matter, as they will be affected by the decision. Many of them would use the stadium, but in addition to such entertainment they choose crypto betting, so they can enjoy top games, fast payouts, and secure gaming.

To deliver the stadium, it would require private investment. It was certainly never the plan for the council to spent hundreds of millions of pounds on this and build a football stadium for Aberdeen FC McLellan says. His stance leaves no illusions: if Aberdeen FC wants a new stadium, the club must provide the funding itself.

© Aberdeen FC

I think that [the Dons stadium] is still on the table, and if the club were willing to come forward with private money for it then we could look at that adds McLellan. Key decisions on the future of the project are expected to be made at a town hall meeting in the coming week. With doubts mounting, the future of the new stadium and the whole waterfront regeneration is coming into question.

Role of stadium in regeneration of waterfront

The new stadium project was part of a wider vision for the transformation of Aberdeen's waterfront from the outset. As part of the second phase of regeneration, not only was a new stadium planned, but also the construction of a new promenade along the waterfront from Beach Boulevard. However, without guaranteed funding, further phases of the project may be put on hold.

© Aberdeen FC

Opposition councillors argue that the stadium is essential for the whole project to make sense. In 2022, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce estimated that a new stadium could add up to £20 million a year to the local economy. The club's chairman, Dave Cormack, also promised huge benefits for the community, taking inspiration from the examples of other football clubs around the world.