As Manchester United unveils its vision for a world-class stadium, we in Aberdeen should be asking ourselves: why not us?
Why haven’t we embraced our own transformative sporting project; one that revitalises our city, boosts our economy, and builds a lasting legacy for future generations?
The answer is we can – but only if we work together.
Manchester United’s plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium, close to the club’s historic Old Trafford home, have stunned the footballing world.
However, the plan is about more than just bricks and mortar. It’s about ambition. It’s about recognising that top-class infrastructure drives economic growth, attracts investment, supports positive social and health outcomes and enhances community spirit.
Crucially, it’s also about public sector support. The UK Government and local authorities are set to play a role in the redevelopment of the Old Trafford area, helping to unlock the investment needed to deliver a facility that benefits not just the club, but the entire city. In exactly the same way the Commonwealth Games stadium complex (now the Etihad) has transformed the fortunes of East Manchester.
Contrast that with Aberdeen. Here, despite Aberdeen FC putting forward a transformative plan for a beachfront stadium and community sports facilities – which could generate an estimated £1billion boost to the local economy – discussions with the local council have so far gone nowhere, partly due to political in-fighting.
Instead, the club has been left to battle on alone, despite a compelling economic case that shows the significant benefits a new stadium could bring to the city and having demonstrated this season that there is real appetite for top class football in the area with the highest average attendances seen for many a day.
Economic prize is game-changer for Aberdeen
Aberdeen FC’s proposed stadium isn’t just a football ground - it’s a catalyst for economic growth. The 2022 economic impact study makes that crystal clear: a new beachfront stadium would inject £1billion into the Aberdeen economy over the next 50 years and could be the centrepiece of the impressive Beach Masterplan.
It would create hundreds of jobs, generate millions in visitor spending, and help revitalise the city centre. Think about that for a moment. £1billion. This isn’t just about the Dons, it’s about Aberdeen’s future.
The numbers don’t lie. Every major city that has invested in high-quality sporting infrastructure has seen a return far beyond the pitch. Look at how Brentford’s Community stadium has transformed the local area and the club’s fortunes and how Tottenham’s new stadium has supercharged a depressed local economy.
There are many other examples of such partnerships across Europe with some of them highlighted in the Chamber’s 2022 report. These projects have turned football clubs into economic powerhouses. Aberdeen can do the same.
If there’s one thing that connects Aberdeen and Manchester United, it’s Sir Alex Ferguson. His legendary achievements at both clubs remind us what’s possible when ambition meets hard work. His 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup triumph with Aberdeen proved that a club from the North-east could take on the best and win.
We need that same mentality off the pitch. A new stadium, built in partnership between Aberdeen FC and the city, can be a symbol of ambition - a statement that we believe in our city and its future.
Public and private sector teaming up for the win
Manchester United’s vision for a new stadium involves a collaboration between private investment and public authorities. That’s the model Aberdeen must follow.
The public sector has a crucial role to play - not in simply helping to foot the bill, but in providing the conditions for success. That means streamlined planning, investment in supporting infrastructure, and a commitment to making the city an attractive place to live, do business and for tourists.
At the moment, Aberdeen City Council remains on the bench, hesitant to commit to the kind of partnership that could bring this vision to life. That needs to change.
The success of this project will depend on the city seeing the bigger picture and understanding that a modern stadium isn’t just a benefit for Aberdeen FC, but for the entire economy.
We can’t afford to keep kicking this can down the road. The club is ready, the business community is onside, and the economic case is clear. What we need now is leadership from city, and potentially national government, to help get this project across the goal line.
The final whistle
Aberdeen FC’s new stadium isn’t just about football. It’s about jobs. It’s about investment. It’s about giving our city the infrastructure it needs to compete and thrive in the decades ahead.
If we get this right, Aberdeen will reap the benefits for generations to come. If we fumble the opportunity, we risk being left behind.
We have the chance to be bold, to be ambitious, and to deliver a game-changing investment in our city’s future. But we can only do it if we work together - club, public sector, and business community - just like Manchester United is aiming to do. And many others have done before.
The ball is at our feet. Let’s not waste it.