Dundee FC have called Dens Park home since 1899, and as you may therefore 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 more minutes away, making them the closest pair of stadiums in the United Kingdom, you will have great m memories at Dens Park.
But, it is also a beloved part of Scottish football in general. Over the years, it has hosted 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.
A new Dundee stadium then was always likely to present itself at some point, and it looks like Camperdown will soon be the new home of Dundee FC.
Why do Dundee FC need a new stadium?
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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 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 both football matches and music concerts – providing the Dees with an additional income source they had no access to 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 being implemented at Camperdown.
Green initiative at Camperdown
As mentioned though, sustainability is the main focus of the new Dundee stadium, and the club have taken several steps to ensure their new ground is developed in line with both FIFA’s Green Goals initiative and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Not only will this have a positive impact on the local area of Dundee, but it will ensure that the ground stays in keeping with the latest regulations on the matter – opening up a wide range of potential possibilities in the future should the stadium ever be afforded the opportunity 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 that the club “Want the arena to be a crown jewel of the City of Dundee’s regeneration.”
Council decision on new Dundee stadium delayed
While the club received planning permission for the project in February 2024, the council had not yet given the project the final approval it needed for construction.
The project's application was expected to be heard at the start of August, however, it was removed from the agenda, meaning that the issue will now not be discussed again until November at the earliest.
An exact reason for this delay has not been made public, but with Dundee and the City Council still working together to ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible, it still appears to be a case of when, not if, the matter is resolved.
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 to be realistic. However, given the delay outlined above, it remains unclear whether the project's completion will be pushed back into 2026.