Aberdeen will close the upper tier of the Richard Donald stand next season in a bid to improve the match day atmosphere at Pittodrie.
The stadium’s capacity for the 2020-21 season will be reduced to 15,500 – including an allocation of 1800 for away supporters.
The move was announced today by chairman Dave Cormack as he unveiled the club’s investment in fan engagement, which includes encouraging more fans to sign up to its membership scheme AberDNA.
“Through season tickets and AberDNA, they invest in the Club. We want them to feel even more affinity to the Club by making everyone a member,” said Cormack.
Aberdeen have previously closed the upper deck of the Richard Donald stand before – in the 2013/14 season – and have also been trialling the Red Shed, an initiative that involves unallocated seating in the Merkland Stand.
Cormack says the club wants to increase season tickets from 10,000 to 11,000 for 2020/21 and drive AberDNA membership to 8000.
Cormack said: “Football success is our number one priority. We are the fifth best supported team in Scotland in terms of attendances and season tickets with the third largest football budget.
“Season tickets deliver around £2m a year in income, with walk-ups and away fans contributing £1m, and AberDNA about £1m. In total, that’s almost half the football budget,” he added.
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