Written by Tom Christison, title design by Cameron Tucker.
Dundee Football Club – the Dee, DFC, the Dark Blues – is one of the city's two football powerhouses, alongside their tangerine neighbours, Dundee United. For a relatively small city like Dundee to host two league football clubs is already impressive. With only 200 yards separating the two grounds, Dundee has long enjoyed its unique football rivalry up close and personal. But now, Dundee FC is set to leave its historic home and head towards the Kingsway, with plans for a state-of-the-art new stadium at Camperdown. Could this mean a bigger Dee?
The proposed stadium, Camperdown Stadium, would replace the ageing Den’s Park. The new stadium promises to breathe fresh life into Dundee's football scene. The rumours of Dundee FC moving to a new venue have been swirling since the early 2000s, and now finally in 2024, a CGI-fly through of the proposed stadium has been released giving fans a glimpse of the Dee’s new home.
The current capacity of Den’s Park, 11,775, will be increased to 12,500 at the new venue and it will include a safe standing zone, LED screens, a 250-capacity brew hall, conference rooms, a Dundee Direct store, and premium hospitality options. This isn’t just a stadium – it’s a fan’s dream come true, and it’s set to become a major draw for the city. But this is just the beginning. The stadium is the "crown jewel" of a larger entertainment campus planned around it. Alongside the stadium, the project includes a 1,000+ capacity events venue for concerts and festivals, a 120-room hotel with health and wellness facilities, and a new residential housing scheme. Throw in commercial and multi-use facilities, and you have a vision that’s more than just football—it’s about transforming Dundee’s entertainment landscape.
Den’s Park has been the home of Dundee Football Club since 1899. Its iconic Main Stand, featuring a chevron design created by legendary architect Archibald Leitch, has become a symbol of the club’s rich history. Fans, however, need not fear the loss of this unique feature—the new stadium will incorporate the chevron design, albeit with a modern twist.
For more than a century, the area around Den’s Park and its neighbour Tannadice Stadium (home of Dundee United) has been a hotspot for football in the city. It’s no secret that Den’s Park has seen better days. In the 2023/24 season, the stadium became a source of frustration when multiple matches had to be postponed due to pitch flooding. The problem? Victorian-era plumbing. Replacing the plumbing would mean destroying the pitch—an unthinkable option—so a move to a new ground has been in the works for years. The Camperdown development is the long-awaited solution to this problem.
The new location, while promising, does raise some concerns. Situated much further from the city centre than Den’s and Tannadice, it could pose transport issues for fans who once enjoyed easy access to matches. The stadium, to be built near Dundee Ice Arena, is not easily accessible, and current transport links to the area would need significant expansion. Fans have voiced concerns that the Camperdown site is too remote, with some arguing that the Eden Project (another major development coming to Dundee) would have been a better spot for the new grounds. At one point, as part of Scotland’s bid to host UEFA Euro 2008, there were plans to create a shared stadium for both Dundee clubs, but this idea was quickly vetoed by the teams. Despite this, some still argue that, given Dundee’s small size and the fact that the two clubs never play home games at the same time, sharing a stadium could be a practical and cost-effective solution.
For the city’s student population, the new stadium could be a game-changer. A venue that can bring big-name artists and events right to their doorstep could revitalise the city’s cultural scene. The new facilities will also create jobs and open-up work opportunities for students, from hospitality roles to event management positions. As students already contribute to Dundee’s vibrant nightlife, having a state-of-the-art venue for gigs and festivals could give the city even more appeal to young people. The idea isn’t without precedent. In 2023, Camperdown hosted the BBC’s Big Weekend, proving Dundee can attract major events and handle the logistics of hosting large crowds. The new stadium and surrounding campus could cement Dundee’s place as a regional hub for entertainment, expanding the city’s cultural and economic opportunities.
Regardless, the Camperdown project now looks like the Dee’s best shot at a brighter future. If planning permission and funding align, the new stadium will not only serve football fans but also offer a broader entertainment experience for the entire city. For Dundee’s students, this could mean a more dynamic city life, with increased access to concerts, festivals, and job opportunities right on their doorstep. While it may be years before the new stadium becomes reality, the need for an upgrade is undeniable. Time is running out for Den’s Park, and as the club looks towards its next chapter, the impact on Dundee itself—football and beyond—remains to be seen.
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