Tim Keyes and John Nelms, the owners of Dundee FC, have completed the purchase of the Scottish Premiership club’s Dens Park stadium through their Dark Blue Property Holdings (DBPH) company.
DBPH has purchased Sandeman Properties, which owns the stadium, from John Bennett, who bought Dens Park in 2009 in a deal that played a key role in keeping Dundee alive as the club experienced financial difficulties.
In a statement, Dundee thanked Bennett for his “goodwill and support” of the club throughout his ownership of Dens Park, which for sponsorship reasons had been known as Kilmac Stadium.
Dundee said the purchase of Dens Park marks a significant step forward in the process of the club moving away from the stadium to a new home near Camperdown Park. DBPH will be submitting its application for the new stadium before the end of the year.
Nelms told BBC Scotland that he hopes Dundee can move into a new stadium no later than the summer of 2025, adding that there are plans to host concerts at the venue.
Discussing the purchase of Dens Park, Nelms said: “It’s a big hoop to jump through and now we have the confidence we can do what we want to do and not worry about a big potentially negative financial hole that we would have to try to solve.”
Dundee, which has played at the 11,850-capacity Dens Park since it opened in 1899, revealed plans for a new stadium (pictured) in March 2022. The club is hoping to build a new 15,000-seat multi-purpose stadium, with project consultants having been appointed to engage with the city council.
The stadium complex near Camperdown Park would also include a conference venue with capacity for 850-plus people, a 120-bed hotel, and leisure and retail offerings.
In other news, Dundee has signed a new two-year naming rights deal for its current home with insulation installer Scot Foam.
The contract will see the stadium change its name to ‘The Scot Foam Stadium at Dens Park’ for the next two years.
Scot Foam managing director, Barry Masterton, said: “I’m delighted that Scot Foam has been given this opportunity to work with Dundee FC. Having been involved with the club previously it is great to be back and help support the team.”
