Aberdeen may not get internationals without new stadium - SFA

[ian1964 10,720]

Aberdeen risks losing out on international football if plans to build a new stadium at Kingsford are blocked, warns the Scottish FA.

Aberdeenshire Council renewed its objection to the Dons' £50m stadium and training facilities proposal last week.

A special council meeting is scheduled to rule on the plans on 29 January.

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan said the development would ensure that the city remains in the running for hosting Scotland matches.

"With the introduction of the Uefa Nations League replacing international friendlies, last year's match against Holland could be the last time Pittodrie, and therefore Aberdeen, will host a Scotland international, due to its well-documented constraints," he said.

"This further underlines the need for a new stadium to become a major national sporting asset and enhance the city's ability to host internationals and European football."

The SFA and Scottish Professional Football League had previously supported the club's stadium move and Regan also stressed that the club's current Pittodrie home falls short of meeting top level domestic and European criteria.

"Pittodrie can only ever achieve the silver level of the Scottish FA's licensing regime because of its field and dressing room dimensions, spectator areas, the provision for disabled fans and the media facilities," he explained.

"We are keen to see clubs across the country invest and develop their own facilities and, in Aberdeen's case, the new stadium will ensure that they can continue to be able to host top European fixtures locally in front of their own fans."

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster added: "It's difficult to overstate the positive impact this development will have on the region's sporting performance.

"Aberdeen is the dominant footballing force in the north east and its role in developing the next generation of talented Scottish footballers makes these elite training facilities essential.

"The proposed development would really complement the existing sporting facilities in Aberdeen and further strengthen the city's position as a Scottish sporting powerhouse."

Should the Dons remain at Pittodrie and be unable to host Uefa matches, Aberdeen could play such games in Glasgow or Edinburgh, while Dundee's proposed new ground may also be an option if it goes ahead.

Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne explained the club had twice attempted to move stadium over the past 18 years.

"Hopefully, it is third time lucky," he said. "We believe we've put forward a very, very strong case for Kingsford."

 

BBC

[MacK1950 2,357]

Lucky Aberdeen SFA bribing/blackmailing Aberdeen Council on their behalf.

If they had to play any EUFA game elsewhere I would hope they would not be welcome at Ibrox,unless they paid us minimum £1,000,000 per hire.

[Uilleam 5,919]

I am not sure thatthe ability to host International football matches is a Planning matter.

Good for the local economy, granted, but bad for traffic  generationand for local community. 

 

[26th of foot 6,054]

Pittodrie should not be considered for international matches. It's a SHITHOLE(literally).

 

Rusting and corroded seats bolted on to a decaying concrete terrace nearly forty years past. The worst sight lines in the Premiership/Championship. A Portaloo for six thousand visiting fans. A main stand that should have been condemned two decades past. A quarter of those seated have no cover, another quarter have inadequate cover. What authority gives Pittodrie a license? Oh, and why?

 

There are six big, BIG Dandy Dons on BBC Scotland, the Sports Editor at the Daily Record is a Don, the P and J employs only Dandies, ............................. and yet, no one talks about how big a shithole it is! 

[Rousseau 10,489]

Watch yourself: you can't say "sh*thole" nowadays...

[26th of foot 6,054]

22 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

Watch yourself: you can't say "sh*thole" nowadays...

You are correct.

 

I believe the derivation of Pittodrie is, 'shit heap'?

[Uilleam 5,919]

Whatever it is, it's full of arseholes.

[Gribz 826]

What stunned me last time I was there was the size of a the new 360m exhibition centre next to the airport - it got planning permission instantly and is going up like lego yet it wasnt necessary as there is already one. The council there cant even finish a bypass road.

 

If they had any common sense Aberdeen should now move 1 mile north and build a new stadium where the current exhibition centre is.

 

 

[Gonzo79 15,158]

4 hours ago, 26th of foot said:

You are correct.

 

I believe the derivation of Pittodrie is, 'shit heap'?

Sheep pen?

[RANGERRAB 3,613]

What are the constraints which make Pittodrie unsuitable for internationals ? Anyone know?