Aberdeen FC has put forward a headline commitment of £1million per year for a century in its “full and final offer” to Aberdeen City Council, as talks over a proposed community stadium reach a decisive point.
The club says the new beachfront stadium would act as a catalyst for wider regeneration and has pledged four key commitments: £100 million in new revenues for the Council, a £3.2billion economic boost, safeguarding and creating 1,100 jobs, and securing private-sector investment.
As the “lead tenant,” Aberdeen FC would take on responsibility for upkeep over a 99-year lease and “attract other tenants to generate further revenues.”
Chairman Dave Cormack and chief executive Alan Burrows will today meet council co-leaders Christian Allard and Ian Yuill in what Cormack calls “crunch time” for the project. He said: “This meeting is crunch time. The co-leaders cannot keep kicking the can down the road.”
Tensions have risen in recent weeks over political opposition to public-sector involvement, but Cormack argues the region needs bold action.
He told the Press & Journal: “Aberdeen stands on a precipice as uncertainty over our energy future grows. We must invest in capital projects which secure our prosperity.”
Cormack added that the outcome of today’s meeting has to be the council demonstrating a willingness to progress the project, adding: "Our offer is a win:win:win where the city and its citizens benefit, the council benefits and the club benefits.”
He also emphasised the need for political alignment to unlock wider funding: “With UK and/or Scottish Government funding and local authority capital borrowing, combined with investment from the private sector, including tens of millions in rent and rates from the club, there is no reason this project cannot be delivered for the benefit of the region’s long-term prosperity.”
Click here to read the full story in today's Press & Journal.