Aberdeen to reduce Pittodrie capacity by 4,000 in bid to boost atmosphere

Dons are exploring ways of boosting season ticket sales

A general view of Aberdeen's Pittodrie Stadium

Aberdeen will slash the capacity of Pittodrie to just over 15,000 next season – in a bid to improve the atmosphere on matchdays.

The north-east club are hopeful of increasing the number of season ticket holders from 10,000 to 11,000 as well as reaching 8,000 in the second year of the club’s membership initiative AberDNA.

Chairman Dave Cormack has been keen to revamp the matchday experience and was unsuccessful in lobbying for Aberdeen’s recent Premiership clash with Hibs to be held on Saturday evening.

The upper section of the Richard Donald Stand will be closed off and the unallocated seating in the Merkland Stand – dubbed the Red Shed – will continue after a successful trial period.

Pittodrie’s “operational capacity” will be reduced by around 4,000 but the club is hopeful that the measures will improve the atmosphere on matchdays.

In a club statement, Cormack promised that the income raised “is 100 per cent directed towards the success of the football team”, adding: “Football success is our number one priority.”

Despite the Dons’ recent performances – reaching cup finals and finishing in the top three – the club is only the fifth-best supported in terms of season tickets and attendances.

Cormack continued: “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.

"We are challenging ourselves to increase season tickets from 10,000 to 11,000 for 2020/21 and drive AberDNA membership to 8,000.”

Aberdeen are also offering around 45,000 pupils from an estimated 200 primary schools in the region the chance to join the club for free, entitling them to two free match tickets next season.

Cormack explained: “This is about nurturing the next generation of fans, inspiring and getting back the lost generation of younger fans and retaining our existing fans through exciting football and a better match‐day experience.

"Our fans are the heart of our club. 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."