Dundee FC fans have expressed mixed views on the club’s latest bid to build a new stadium – and move from their home of 123 years at Dens Park.
A site at Camperdown Park has been earmarked by club chiefs for a 15,000-seater stadium.
A fresh proposal of application notice has been lodged with the council – the first stage in the planning process for any major development.
Some supporters are sceptical – but others believe it would be the right move for the club.
Dens Park stadium ‘not in good condition’
Edward Lafferty, who was born on Provost Road – metres from the current stadium – and attended nearby Dens Road Primary School, is fully supportive of the move.
He told The Courier: “I think it’s overdue.
“The Dens Road stand is not in good condition and parking around here is really difficult, it’s chock-a-block on matchdays.
“My granddaughter is disabled and there aren’t really any disabled spaces near the stadium.
“Hopefully the new one at Camperdown Park would have spaces.
“I do think it would be a breath of fresh air. There’s other amenities near Camperdown such as a hotel and places to eat and drink, so it’s not like it’s in the middle of nowhere.”
The plans include a 100-bedroom hotel, crematorium, training pitch, and 210 homes.
News of the planning application came just a few weeks after the side were relegated, marking a quick return to the Championship.
Despite this, a steady flow of fans have been visiting the ticket office in recent days to pick up season tickets for 2022/23.
‘Great memories’ at 123-year-old Dens
Edward, 73, who fondly remembers the atmosphere at the Scottish League Championship winning match in 1962, was renewing five season tickets for his family.
He said: “My two grandsons and my granddaughter go to the games with me and they absolutely love it.
“They are all Dundee-daft. I’ve been going to the games since 1954 and I have some great memories at Dens.
“But it’s time for something new. Hopefully we bounce straight back up to the Premiership and this stadium goes ahead.”
Gary Cocker, who is the society director of supporters’ group Dee4Life, says he is keen to see the plan come to fruition, though he concedes there are aspects that need to be ironed out.
Support for ‘modern’ stadium
He said: “Personally, I’m supportive of it.
“Anyone who has been to Dens recently can see there’s lots of work that needs done, it’s not a modern stadium as such.
“I can certainly see the attraction of moving and creating a commercial space that operates seven days a week.
“However, the club hasn’t said where the team would play while this stadium is built.
“I think a lot of people would assume they would stay at Dens but that isn’t clear.
“There’s also a concern over the location. The ingress and egress to the site is a worry.
“You see what happens when there is an ice hockey match at Dundee Ice Arena, the traffic backs right up and causes lots of issues.”
Fans question need for big move
Another fan, Doug Thomson, 68, who has been going to the games since he was eight, has also renewed his season ticket but says he is “totally against” the stadium move.
“People want their stadium in the community,” he said.
“They like going to the pub and things before the game and there’s plenty of them around Dens.
“Parts of the stadium looks old but I sit in the North Stand and it’s comfortable.
“I don’t think there’s any need to move.”
New stadium would be ‘too big’
Many of the fans commenting online also disagree with the move.
One said: “I’d rather the money was spent improving the team, what’s the point of a 15,000 seater stadium when the average crowd is around 5,000?
“I also feel that buying back Dens Park and redeveloping would be a far better option than moving from our home of over 120 years.”
Another said: “Financial mistake. Share one stadium. Move into Dens, knock down and rebuild Tannadice, move into the new stadium, knock down Dens, use site for parking.
“Football stadium should be within the community of supporters, not miles away.”
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