Aberdeen and council move towards stadium agreement

Aberdeen FC and Aberdeen City Council (ACC) have moved towards an agreement to build a new beachfront stadium.

The latest talks between the two sides have been described as "positive", following disagreements over whether the council should help fund the project.

The club's chief executive Alan Burrows told BBC Scotland News: "We have agreed to work towards a heads of terms that seeks to explore the delivery of a new stadium for Aberdeen."

Council co-leader Christian Allard said they would be "working hard on this in the new year".

A heads of terms in an initial non-binding legal agreement.

It is understood the football club wants the local authority to borrow the money to build the stadium and receive rent from the Dons.

Private sector investment would also be sought.

Aberdeen FC has long had plans to move from Pittodrie.

The council's previous political leaders proposed a shared community stadium as part of a beach masterplan.

But the current SNP and Lib Dem administration previously said they did not think public money should be used.

The latest talks were aimed at working on a way forward for both the football club and the council.

After the meeting Aberdeen FC chairman Dave Cormack told BBC Scotland News an agreement would be worked on over the coming months.

He said: "We had a very positive meeting.

"We have agreed to explore a heads of terms over the next few months and will comment appropriately at that time."

Mr Cormack added he believed the council and the club were "on the same page" and the agreement would be worked on in the first quarter of 2026.

"At the end of the day this is about Aberdeen and the future of Aberdeen and making it attractive to people to come and stay here and use the community stadium," he said.

A report for Aberdeen FC said the development could deliver a £3.2bn boost to the local economy.

Mr Allard said: "It is very important and positive to move and agree on a head of terms at one point if we can.

"I think it has been a very positive meeting."