Dundee FC have called Dens Park home since 1899, and as you may expect, the ground has become an integral part of not just the club but the entire city.
Whether you are a Dundee fan or a supporter of Dundee United, whose home ground, Tannadice Park, is just minutes away, you will appreciate the history and tradition of Dens Park.
But it is also a beloved part of Scottish football in general. Over the years, it has hosted the Scottish League Cup and Challenge Cup finals, as well as multiple matches for the Scotland Women's side.
However, Dens Park is now 125 years old – and the facilities at the ground reflect that. The time has come to change, and the club are keen to build a new home in Camperdown.
New Dundee stadium latest updates
November 2025 – Club release update statement
In the Autumn of 2025, the club finally released a positive update on the new stadium. It read:
“We are pleased to inform supporters that since our update last month on the Camperdown Stadium Project we have held a constructive, face-to-face meeting with the Chief Executive of Dundee City Council, Greg Colgan, and Executive Director of City Development, Robin Presswood.
“In addition, we have also held similarly constructive discussions with Police Scotland relating to the technical elements of the planning application, specifically in relation to our updated transport response, which we have uploaded to the council planning portal and await its publication.
:We are encouraged by these conversations and will continue to work with key stakeholders to achieve a positive outcome for Dundee Football Club, for our fans and for the future growth of our city.”
August 2025 – New plans submitted for transport issues
The main reason why the stadium plans have rumbled on for as long as they have is all to do with access concerns.
The local council don't believe that the roads around the stadium would be able to cope with the number of people using them on matchdays, so the club have been hard at work trying to figure out a solution.
They initially submitted plans for a new junction near the stadium, but these were rejected as the plans didn't meet national highway standards.
Now, fresh plans have been submitted for an access road directly from the A90 into the immediate vicinity of the new stadium.
The club must now wait for the council to discuss the proposals, but if they are approved, then construction should be able to start fairly swiftly.
April 2025 – Progress expected in May
The process has been going on for some time now, but Dundee are hoping for an update in May 2025. In April, Dundee City Council's planning committee meeting was cancelled, meaning the next possible date for Dundee FC to get approval for their new stadium is 19 May.
The ongoing delays are undoubtedly causing a lot of tension at board level, especially as the club's managing director, John Nelms, previously spoke about how he thought planning permission would be approved at the beginning of 2025.
It seems that issues relating to entry and exit points to the proposed are the only thing that could stop the plans from being approved. Transport Scotland said in April 2025 that they were still waiting for the developer to come up with an acceptable proposal, something that is frustrating Nelms. He said:
“We have one aspect that is still out there that needs to be heard before the city council can actually hear our proposal in full.
“Transport Scotland is a statutory consultee, so they have to report one way or the other how they feel about their aspect of the project. All of the other aspects of the project have been completed and agreed months ago.
“I am a very patient person. I have been here 12 and a half years, but my patience is not infinite, so it is getting to the point where I think the process needs to move on a little bit. It is very frustrating because we thought we would be built by now.”
The new stadium will replace Dundee FC's current ground, Scot Foam Stadium, with a new 12,500-seater one. While only a minor capacity increase, it provides the club with a modern base from which to move forward. Plans also include a neighbouring hotel.
Why do Dundee FC need a new stadium?
While Dens Park is beloved by everyone associated with the club, it is an old, fragile ground that does not provide Dundee FC with a stable future.
Revenue is becoming increasingly popular in the modern game, and it is for that reason, along with the obvious benefits, such as improving the matchday experience for supporters, that they have decided a relocation will be beneficial.
The Dees have received plenty of support from the footballing authorities, with the Scottish FA publicly stating that they support the plans, which they believe will “improve club infrastructure, the supporter experience and the image of the national game.”
Football Authorities outline support for Dundee Stadium project as planning permission is submitted to council!
– Scottish FA and SPFL back Camperdown development plans as latest milestone reached –
The Scottish football authorities have given Dundee FC their support for… pic.twitter.com/Ca7b0z0oPq
— Dundee Football Club (@DundeeFC) February 9, 2024
What will the new Dundee FC Camperdown stadium look like?
Given that the main goal of the stadium move is to preserve and ultimately improve the club's future, it should be no surprise to learn that sustainability is at the forefront of all design plans for the Camperdown Stadium.
It will be an all-electric, multi-use arena capable of hosting football matches and music concerts, providing the Dees with an additional income source they could not access at Dens Park.
While its capacity of 12,500 represents only a marginal increase, the ground's facilities will be far better, allowing for a much-improved matchday experience.
A safe-standing area, new high-resolution jumbo screens and a low-energy floodlight system are just some of the state-of-the-art facilities implemented at Camperdown.
Green initiative at Camperdown
As mentioned, though, sustainability is the main focus of the new Dundee stadium. The club has taken several steps to ensure that the new ground is developed under FIFA’s Green Goals initiative and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Not only will this positively impact the local area of Dundee, but it will ensure that the ground stays in keeping with the latest regulations on the matter. This opens up a wide range of potential possibilities in the future, should the stadium ever be allowed to host European or international games.
To achieve this, the stadium will feature:
- 100% recyclable seating
- Rainwater re-harvesting
- A biodiverse roof
- Net zero design
- A dedicated e-bus terminal, cycle hub and EV charging facilities
Dark blue may be the colour of Dundee FC, but for now, being ‘green' is the club's main focus.
New Dundee stadium fly-through video
To help bring the Camperdown project to life, the Dees released an excellent fly-through video of the new facility. The video details the journey between itself and Dens Park and showcases the seemingly endless list of brand-new features at the ground.
After the video was released, John Nelms, Director of Dark Blue Property Holdings, said it was a “Tantalising step closer to realising the dream and bringing the vision to life for our fans.”
Before explaining, the club “wants the arena to be a crown jewel of the City of Dundee’s regeneration.”
When will Dundee FC move to Camperdown?
John Nelms talks on the new concept image of the Camperdown Stadium Development campus.
Read the full statement here: https://t.co/IVVZikUsLq#thedee pic.twitter.com/QCTnI5r7QN
— Dundee Football Club (@DundeeFC) December 22, 2023
The club had previously stated its desire to complete the relocation before the end of 2025, which appeared realistic. However, given the delays outlined above, this is now impossible. A more realistic date will now be at some point during the 2027/28 season.
FGG says: The birth of a new icon
Dundee FC and Dundee United are two of the closest clubs to one another regarding stadium location. Now, in 2025 and beyond, it looks like, at least for Dundee FC, the time has come to move a little bit further away from their local neighbours.
What it means for Dundee FC is clearly a huge step forward. The new stadium gives Dundee FC a chance to move forward into the future, with a brand new stadium to take them into the next many decades.
What it means for the famous Dundee rivalry, though, is another kettle of fish. Could it spur Dundee Utd into a similar move in the near future? Only time will tell.