Saturday, 5 March 2011

New stadium can help Aberdeen shine more brightly

Aberdeen's new stadium could be the catalyst to lift the Dons into a new era of football success.

The artists' drawings for the new 21,000 capacity arena, which will glow red at night, look stunning and iconic.

Such a setting for football should prove attractive to would-be signings and will hopefully generate much bigger crowds for the club.

I have some great memories of Pittodrie and can recall travelling up on the school mini-bus from Dundee for the European Championship qualifier versus Belgium on 10 November 1971.

That night, in a packed crowd of 36.500, we shoehorned our way into a heaving Beach End, which was bouncing like the Kop in its heyday.

A 1-0 win for Scotland with a John O'Hare goal capped a great night and left a lasting impression on me as a young schoolboy, of a ground with a terrific atmosphere.

Dons fans have magnificent memories of the stadium in the glory years under Sir Alex Ferguson, when Europe's finest were regularly dismissed by a magnificent Aberdeen side.

And veteran Dons fans will recall the glory years of the fifties, when the record attendance of more than 45.000 watched a game versus Hearts.


But, built over a century ago, the old stadium (pictured) has run its race.


Memories are all well and good, but the world moves on and Aberdeen FC can take a huge leap forward with a new top-flight arena.


Building from scratch, the club will not be constricted like others have been.


The Dons won't be caught with the compromises that come with redeveloping a ground.


The stadium will shine like a beacon as the entry point to the city for those travelling from the south and should inspire fans and players alike.


It'll also, hopefully, be a good deal warmer than Pittodrie.


I have to admit as a Dundonian to being very envious of what Dons fans are going to enjoy.


Aberdeen as a club are showing a forward thinking vision that leaves both Dundee clubs in their wake.


Very shortly, with this terrific new stadium, Aberdeen may once again be leaving everyone in their wake on the field.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jimspence/2011/02/new_stadium_can_help_aberdeen.html

Michael Owen Just Fontaine Duncan Edwards Dino Zoff

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