Dundee release 'animated flythrough' of proposed new Camperdown Park stadium

Dundee FC have revealed further plans for their proposed new stadium, including an animated flythrough of the architect’s vision.

The Premiership club has previously shared its long-term intention to leave Dens Park for a new purpose-built facility at Camperdown Park, with the club’s hierarchy having advanced the plan over several years.

Dundee are currently awaiting planning permission in principle, with a decision set to be made by Dundee City Council this autumn. It’s the club’s hope that permission is granted to allow ‘spades in the ground’ at some point in 2025.

In the meantime, the animation has been released to allow fans to get a full picture of what is planned at the complex, which Dundee estimate will cost £95m.

Owners Tim Keyes and John Nelms recently purchased the 125-year-old Dens Park stadium and intend to sell that ground to help finance the new development.

The new video shows how the 12,500 capacity stadium is designed to be multi-purpose and would allow the club to raise revenue through concerts and other major events. The plans are to create a facility that can be in use, and raise money for the club, seven days a week and not just when Dundee are in action.

Managing director John Nelms said: “We hope the fans will be as excited as we were when we saw the animation of the new stadium. It was emotional seeing the work to this point brought to life using the latest technology that allows us to really imagine what it will be like making our way to a new state-of-the art stadium.

“In a way, it brings us a tantalising step closer to realising the dream and bringing the vision to life for our fans. As we’ve always said, we want the arena to be a crown jewel of the City of Dundee’s regeneration and it’s our intention to take our fans, the local community in general and all Scottish football fans on the journey with us.

“We continue our dialogue with the city’s planning department having submitted Planning Permission in Principle in February this year.

“With the planning application submitted by Dundee FC Community Trust to Dundee City Council for the proposed new Riverside Community Training Hub, we are now even more inspired to get to work on bringing the stadium to life as quickly as possible.”

The club also released a Q&A for supporters addressing some of the biggest questions and concerns around the proposals.

Stressing that Dens Park has “outlived its intended cycle” and that it wanted the new stadium to be a “crown jewel” for the city.

While the existing ground’s proximity to rival Dundee United’s Tannadice stadium is known globally, Dundee believe the “USP” of two grounds on the same street is bettered by the new plans, saying: “Dens Park is at the top of the street: Camperdown is at the top of the city”.

Citing the pandemic, global recession and cost of living crisis as factors that have caused delays to the project since it was initially announced in 2016, the club believe they are close to making significant progress now by gaining planning permission.

The statement read: “It is our expectation that the councillors make their planning decision shortly to allow us to ‘break ground’ as quickly as possible and we are encouraged by recent comments from the council that they
exist to help developers overcome obstacles.”

While the club didn’t say what they would do if planning permission was refused, they stated they “have
worked extensively to ensure we are as prepared as we can possibly be at this stage”.

The full project, including work around the site, is estimated to cost £95m and Dundee say that “a cost well in excess of seven figures” has already been spent on the plans and proposal.

However, the club are confident that Camperdown Park would be an investment in “the next 150 years of Dundee Football Club”.