Balmoral Stadium
{{Short description|Football stadium in Aberdeen, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Balmoral Stadium
| fullname =
| nickname = Calder Park
| image = Balmoral Stadium - home of Cove Rangers FC (geograph 6062102).jpg
| image_size = 250
| pushpin_map = Scotland Aberdeen
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Aberdeen
| pushpin_label_position = left
| location = Cove Bay, Aberdeen, Scotland
| coordinates = {{coord|57.113|N|2.097|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline}}
| broke_ground = 2015
| opened = July 2018
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner =
| operator =
| surface = Artificial 4G Turf
| construction_cost =
| record_attendance = 1,955 v Berwick Rangers 11 May 2019
| former_names =
| tenants = Cove Rangers F.C. (2018–present)
Aberdeen F.C. Women (2021–present)
| capacity = 2,602 (410 seated)
| seating_capacity = 370
| dimensions = 105 x 68 yards{{cite web |title=Club Information |url=http://www.coverangersfc.com/club-info/club-information/ |publisher=Cove Rangers |access-date=15 January 2019}}
}}
Balmoral Stadium is a football ground located in the Cove Bay area of Aberdeen, Scotland. Opened in 2018, it is the home ground of {{Scottish football updater|CoveRang}} club Cove Rangers. From 2021, it is being shared by Scottish Women's Premier League team Aberdeen.
History
Cove Rangers started planning to move from their old Allan Park ground in the mid-2000s, as this formed part of their unsuccessful pitch for Scottish Football League membership in 2008.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7476238.stm |title=Cove crave spot in Division Three |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=28 June 2008 |access-date=16 August 2015}} Initially, the move was tied in with the New Aberdeen Stadium proposals, as Calder Park would also have served as a training facility for Aberdeen FC.{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13070440.Aberdeen_will_fight_on_despite_council_opposition_to_stadium_plan/ |title=Aberdeen will fight on despite council opposition to stadium plan |work=The Herald |publisher=Herald & Times Group |date=24 August 2012 |access-date=16 August 2015}} Planning permission for this project was refused in August 2012, as Aberdeen City Council opted to examine other possibilities for development in the area.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-19342785 |title=New Aberdeen FC park 'killed off', says Stewart Milne |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=23 August 2012 |access-date=16 August 2015}}
Cove Rangers then decided to press ahead with a new stadium by themselves,{{cite web|url=http://news.stv.tv/north/208965-cove-rangers-set-to-complete-move-to-new-3m-stadium-by-2015/ |title=Cove Rangers set to complete move to new £3m stadium by 2015 |work=STV News |publisher=STV |first=Neil |last=Drysdale |date=9 January 2013 |access-date=16 August 2015}} as Allan Park did not meet Scottish Football Association licensing criteria.{{cite web |url=https://nonleaguescotland.org.uk/Historic/cove.html |title=Cove Rangers |work=Non League Scotland |access-date=6 May 2018}} Aberdeen City Council accepted the first stages of planning permission for Calder Park in November 2014.{{cite news |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/405454/highland-league-side-relocate-aberdeen/ |title=Cove Rangers get green light to move to new Aberdeen stadium |work=Press & Journal |publisher=Aberdeen Journals |first=Stephen |last=Walsh |date=18 November 2014 |access-date=16 August 2015}} The new stadium was originally planned to be ready for the start of the 2016–17 season. Cove Rangers left Allan Park in April 2015, having sold the ground to a housing developer. The club reached agreements to ground-share with four other clubs during the 2015–16 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.hflhub.co.uk/index.php/component/content/article?id=1419:cove-to-groundshare-with-four-clubs-next-season&Itemid=218 |title=Cove to groundshare with four clubs next season |first=Ross |last=McTavish |work=hflhub.co.uk |date=22 May 2015 |access-date=16 August 2015}}
The club submitted a planning application in March 2016. The plans included a stand with 312 seats, an "all-weather" 3G (artificial) pitch and 110 car parking spaces.{{cite web |url=http://www.originalfm.com/cove-rangers-lodge-plans-for-new-stadium/ |title=Cove Rangers lodge plans for new stadium |work=Original FM |date=4 March 2016 |access-date=4 May 2018}} A sponsorship deal with the Aberdeen-based Balmoral Group in December 2016 included naming rights for the Calder Park ground, which will be known as the Balmoral Stadium.{{cite news|last1=Allan|first1=Charlie|title=Cove boost as Balmoral Group put name to new stadium at Calder Park - Evening Express|url=https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/cove-boost-balmoral-group-put-name-new-stadium-calder-park/|access-date=27 July 2017|work=Evening Express|date=2 December 2016|location=Aberdeen}} Construction work was being undertaken in October 2017, with a target date for completion of February to March 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/sport/new-football-stadium-taking-shape-in-north-east1/ |title=New football stadium taking shape in North-east |first=Dale |last=Haslam |work=Evening Express |date=28 October 2017 |access-date=4 May 2018}} Cove continued to ground-share during the 2017–18 season, with their Scottish Cup tie against Falkirk{{cite web |url=http://www.falkirkfc.co.uk/all-roads-to-inverurie-for-scottish-cup-tie/ |title=COVE RANGERS – SUPPORTER INFO |publisher=Falkirk FC |access-date=6 May 2018}} and SPFL promotion playoff matches being played at Harlaw Park in Inverurie.{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/cowdenbeath-face-cove-in-play-off/ |title=Cowdenbeath face Cove in play-off |publisher=SPFL |date=2 May 2018 |access-date=6 May 2018}}
Balmoral Stadium was officially opened in July 2018, with a friendly match between Cove Rangers and Aberdeen which had to be abandoned after Cove player Jordon Brown suffered a serious injury.{{cite news |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/1521464/first-ever-match-at-new-balmoral-stadium-abandoned-after-cove-player-suffers-serious-injury/ |title=First ever match at new Balmoral Stadium abandoned after Cove player suffers serious injury |first=Chris |last=Jaffray |work=Press & Journal |date=16 July 2018 |access-date=17 July 2018}}
From the 2021–22 season, Scottish Women's Premier League team Aberdeen are also playing their home matches at the stadium.{{cite news |last1=Durent |first1=Jamie |title=Emma Hunter putting faith in continuity as Aberdeen Women prepare to start new season |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/aberdeen-fc/3369994/emma-hunter-putting-faith-in-continuity-as-aberdeen-women-prepare-to-start-new-season/ |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=Press and Journal |date=7 August 2021 |location=Aberdeen}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Football venues in Scotland}}
{{Football in Aberdeen|state=collapsed}}
Category:Sports venues in Aberdeen
Category:Highland Football League venues
Category:Sports venues completed in 2018
Category:Scottish Professional Football League venues