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[Johnny Mac]

Originally Posted by idol_wild

I don't understand how Pittodrie would cost much more, than, say, Easter Road or Tynecastle. Both of which have one ancient stand remaining. You're right, I don't think I am grasping this at all.

I really would turn my back on attending games, should AFC move to a new stadium. It's pathetic enough to have Pittodrie only half-full, let alone a 30,000 arena which would then be only a third-full. I doubt attendances would increase dramatically if we moved to a new stadium. That's not the reason people are staying away from Pittodrie...

Right.... let's go down your route. Initially, where do we get the £6-10 Million (minimum) to build a new main stand? Do you have any ideas? As i'm sure the club have looked into this.

Both Hibs and Hearts are in the process of getting plans finalised for their new main stands (these will be completed in due course). They have 3 new stands each already in place.

Note, hibs have loads of cash due to the sale of players and already have a great youth policy and a new training ground soon. We have neither.

Hearts have a madman in charge who has taken all their debt on board and is throwing money at them left right and center for players and stadium development etc. We do not have this either.

You'd turn your back on AFC because we move stadium? How narrow minded is that? The only way AFC will survive is by moving stadium. Otherwise we are tatties. Why are people so against progress and moving on? It's only a stadium.... Hasn't done Arsenal any harm.

Not to mention the fact the rugby club people need a stadium too, the amount of big gigs such a venue could attract etc blah blah blah. It can easily be made 2 tier so that the upper tier could be closed off for smaller games. It's a no brainer really.

Are you against Trumps golf course too?

God help Aberdeen.

[Jamie]

What do you reckon will happen to the Main Stand after any re-location, given its listed building status?

[RossP]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mac

God help Aberdeen.

... City and Shire.

[idol_wild]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mac

Right.... let's go down your route. Initially, where do we get the £6-10 Million (minimum) to build a new main stand? Do you have any ideas? As i'm sure the club have looked into this.

Both Hibs and Hearts are in the process of getting plans finalised for their new main stands (these will be completed in due course). They have 3 new stands each already in place.

Note, hibs have loads of cash due to the sale of players and already have a great youth policy and a new training ground soon. We have neither.

Hearts have a madman in charge who has taken all their debt on board and is throwing money at them left right and center for players and stadium development etc. We do not have this either.

You'd turn your back on AFC because we move stadium? How narrow minded is that? The only way AFC will survive is by moving stadium. Otherwise we are tatties. Why are people so against progress and moving on? It's only a stadium.... Hasn't done Arsenal any harm.

Not to mention the fact the rugby club people need a stadium too, the amount of big gigs such a venue could attract etc blah blah blah. It can easily be made 2 tier so that the upper tier could be closed off for smaller games. It's a no brainer really.

Are you against Trumps golf course too?

God help Aberdeen.

I know I'm sort of clutching at straws to an extent, but I think you're exaggerating by suggesting AFC won't survive unless it moves stadium.

And it's not just a stadium! The ground a club plays at is part of the make-up of that club. It's their home. It's where the club is based. It's part of the identity, history, and character of the club!

I would still be an AFC man, new stadium or not, but I can barely afford to attend games at Pittodrie at £21 a pop, let alone some shitty lego-land stadium that'll look like every other new stadium in the UK...and let's face it: ticket prices will shoot.

And the Arsenal comparison is a bit ridiculous, by the way. Two clubs on completely opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of top flight football in their respective countries.

I sort of see the point if I look at the bigger picture. I just really really don't want to move into a new stadium.

As for the Trump thing: I didn't care either way. I could see both sides of the argument and didn't invest enough time or thought into reaching my own conclusion, simply because I never thought it'd happen anyway.

I also don't think a new stadium for AFC will happen, for the record

[Johnny Mac]

Originally Posted by idol_wild

I know I'm sort of clutching at straws to an extent, but I think you're exaggerating by suggesting AFC won't survive unless it moves stadium.

It's not an exaggeration. Our debt is increasing millions per year. The only reason were are not in administration is because Stewart Milne has guaranteed the debt with the bank.

Originally Posted by idol_wild

And it's not just a stadium! The ground a club plays at is part of the make-up of that club. It's their home. It's where the club is based. It's part of the identity, history, and character of the club!

Yep, and moving 200 yeards across the road is not really going to change that. Pittodrie is a crumbling mess. It's falling to bits bar the dick donald stand. It's dated, has terrible facilities and terrible views from behind poles in the main and merkland stands. Believe me, i'd love to stay at Pittodrie as much as anyone, but it's simply not viable in the long term. The rose tinted glasses need to come off at some point.

Originally Posted by idol_wild

I would still be an AFC man, new stadium or not, but I can barely afford to attend games at Pittodrie at £21 a pop, let alone some shitty lego-land stadium that'll look like every other new stadium in the UK...and let's face it: ticket prices will shoot.

How do you know the stadium will look like every other? Have you seen the plans for it? I for one think the ideas they have produced in the past few years look great, it will be enclosed, all under one roof and have top facilities which will benefit the club and city and help attract better players. And I can't see them increasing ticket prices.... they want to attract people, not drive them away. The club aren't stupid in this respect.

Originally Posted by idol_wild

And the Arsenal comparison is a bit ridiculous, by the way. Two clubs on completely opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of top flight football in their respective countries.

No, it's a perfectly acceptable comparison. Their ground needed renovation. The fans were against moving away from their 'spiritual home'. But look at the investment, fantastic new stadium and facilities they have. That was more the point i was making. They were also inhibited by surrounding space of the stadium like we are which prevented expanding it.

Originally Posted by idol_wild

As for the Trump thing: I didn't care either way. I could see both sides of the argument and didn't invest enough time or thought into reaching my own conclusion, simply because I never thought it'd happen anyway.

Anyone who thinks the trump thing is a bad idea should be shot. In the face. Twice. Set on fire. And put out with a golf shoe.

Originally Posted by idol_wild

I also don't think a new stadium for AFC will happen, for the record

Well, that'll be goodnight from Aberdeen Football Club. Hello Administrators. Stewart Milne is the only thing keeping us afloat right now.

[idol_wild]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mac

Yep, and moving 200 yeards across the road is not really going to change that. Pittodrie is a crumbling mess. It's falling to bits bar the dick donald stand. It's dated, has terrible facilities and terrible views from behind poles in the main and merkland stands. Believe me, i'd love to stay at Pittodrie as much as anyone, but it's simply not viable in the long term. The rose tinted glasses need to come off at some point.

I don't mean where the ground is literally based. I mean Pittodrie. The ground. The stadium. How it looks. How it functions. It's what makes my club my club!

How do you know the stadium will look like every other? Have you seen the plans for it? I for one think the ideas they have produced in the past few years look great, it will be enclosed, all under one roof and have top facilities which will benefit the club and city and help attract better players. And I can't see them increasing ticket prices.... they want to attract people, not drive them away. The club aren't stupid in this respect.

I've seen some of the plans and it looks very much akin to grounds at Middlesborough, Leicester, Derby, Southampton, Coventry, etc. Horrible identi-kit stadiums with the corners filled in. The ticket prices will certainly not drop, that's for sure. But they can't get 12,000 into Pittodrie every week with the current pricing structure, so to get at least 20,000 every week, ticket prices would need to be almost halved. Which will never ever happen.

No, it's a perfectly acceptable comparison. Their ground needed renovation. The fans were against moving away from their 'spiritual home'. But look at the investment, fantastic new stadium and facilities they have. That was more the point i was making. They were also inhibited by surrounding space of the stadium like we are which prevented expanding it.

Come on, comrade. You're comparing one of the most successful English clubs of the last twenty years, with genuine Champions League ambitions, squad full of superstars, and a stadium that was choc-a-block every single home game...with Aberdeen Football Club. A club that, essentially, should have been playing second tier football in Scotland not so long ago, and frequently struggle to half-fill their home ground. They moved because they wanted to allow more fans in to see their home games. Aberdeen will never ever require a larger capacity. 30,000 is obscene.

Anyone who thinks the trump thing is a bad idea should be shot. In the face. Twice. Set on fire. And put out with a golf shoe.

There's a thread about this elsewhere, which I never took part in for a reason. I simply don't want to waste much thought on the matter. I am not swayed either way.

[Johnny Mac]

I'm done here. You're just really not getting what i'm trying to say are you? That's fair enough.

I'm telling you facts. It may not be what you want to hear, but there are many harsh realities about the state of AFC right now. If only Dick Donald and Chris Anderson hadn't passed on we wouldn't be in this mess now.

And i'm not comparing us to arsenal if you read what i was saying. I was comparing the need for a new stadium for both.... and the space restricitons for both. And the fact a new stadium would bring many benefits for AFC. And yes, the dons are shit. I know this, I've been going to Pittodrie for over 20 years.

I'm not wasting thought on it either. I know we will be moving sooner rather than later, or i'll have to support Buckie Thistle when I go visit my folks.

[chris h]

So far so good in the UEFA cup tonight... Atletico and Panathanaikos both leading 2-0.

If it stays this way the Dons have everything to play for in the last game.

Fingers crossed.

[Johnny Mac]

Woooooooooo hooooooooooooooo.

Gonna be a bounce at Todders on the 20th! Sellout surely?

Due a win in this group too.

COME ON THE DONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RossP]

I had a fiver on those 2 results, plus Roma, Inter and Everton to win tonight also

Some brief respite from my terrible flu like disease...