View source for Dens Park

{{Short description|Football stadium in Dundee, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox venue
|  stadium_name      = Dens Park
|  nickname          = Dens
|  image             = Dens Park Stadium in 2025.jpg
|  image_size        = 250px
|  caption           = Dens Park in 2025
| pushpin_map      = Scotland Dundee
| pushpin_mapsize  = 250
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Dundee
| pushpin_label_position = left
|coordinates       = {{coord|56|28|29|N|2|58|25|W|type:landmark_region:GB-DND|display=it}}
|  location          = Sandeman Street, [[Dundee]]
|  broke_ground      = 1899
|  opened            = 1899
|  renovated         = 1998–1999
|  surface           = [[Lawn|Grass pitch]]
|  construction_cost = 
|  architect         = James Paul Associates (1998–99)
|  former_names      = 
|  tenants           = {{infobox stadium/tenantlist
|  tenant_clubs      = [[Dundee F.C.]]
|  tenant_years      = 1899–present
}}
| seating_capacity  = {{SPFL-stadiums|dundee}}<ref name="capacity"/>
| record_attendance = 43,024 v [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]<br /><small>7 February 1953</small>
| dimensions        = 109 × 69 yards (100 × 64 metres)
}}
[[File:Map of Dens Park and Tannadice Park, Dundee, Scotland, October 2010.jpg|thumb|Map showing the proximity of Dens Park (left) and Dundee United FC's stadium [[Tannadice Park]] (right)]]
'''Dens Park''' is a [[association football|football]] [[stadium]] in [[Dundee]], Scotland, which is the home of {{Scottish football updater|Dundee}} club [[Dundee F.C.]] and has a capacity of {{SPFL-stadiums|dundee}}.<ref name="capacity">{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/dundee/ |title=Dundee Football Club|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |access-date=11 November 2013}}</ref> [[Tannadice Park]], the home of rivals [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]], is just 200 yards (183 metres) away.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roache |first=Ian |title=Startling claims over Dens Park ownership |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009/05/25/newsstory13192952t0.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605015643/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009/05/25/newsstory13192952t0.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 June 2011 |work=The Courier |location=Dundee |date=25 May 2009 |access-date=25 May 2009}}</ref>

==History==
Dundee moved to "Dens" from their first stadium at [[Carolina Port]] in 1899. Dens Park hosted three full international matches involving the [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland men's team]], in March 1904, March 1908, and December 1936. All three games were [[British Home Championship|Home Internationals]] against [[Wales men's national football team|Wales]].<ref name = scotland>{{cite web |url=https://londonhearts.com/scotland/misc/venues.html |title=Home Scotland Results by Venue, Date |website=londonhearts.com}}</ref> The record attendance at Dens Park is 43,024, which was set in 1953 when Dundee played host to [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] in the [[1952&ndash;53 Scottish Cup|Scottish Cup]].

[[File:Dens stand.jpg|thumb|View of the 'Bob Shankly Stand']]
Following Dundee's promotion to the newly-founded [[Scottish Premier League]] in [[1997&ndash;98 Scottish First Division|1998]], Dens Park had to be redeveloped to meet SPL seating capacity rules. Existing concrete terraces on the eastern and western ends of the ground were removed and two 3,000-seat stands were built in a record time of 82 days for the start of the [[1998&ndash;99 Scottish Premier League|1998–99]] season. The near-identical single-tier stands were named to honour [[Bobby Cox (footballer)|Bobby Cox]] and [[Bob Shankly]]; the former usually houses home supporters while the latter houses the away fans. A new club shop and ticket office were also built. Undersoil heating was installed in 2005. Dens Park was named best pitch in the [[Scottish Football League First Division|First Division]] in 2008.

Dens Park has also hosted [[Scottish League Cup]] finals, in [[1979 Scottish League Cup final (December)|1979&ndash;80]] and [[1980 Scottish League Cup final|1980&ndash;81]], and the [[Scottish Challenge Cup]] final in [[2007 Scottish Challenge Cup final|2007&ndash;08]]. Also in 2007, Dens Park (along with [[McDiarmid Park]] in [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]]) hosted [[2007 UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite qualification#Group 4|European Under-19 elite round]] qualifying games between [[Scotland national under-19 football team|Scotland]], [[Portugal national under-19 football team|Portugal]], [[Turkey national under-19 football team|Turkey]] and [[Georgia national under-19 football team|Georgia]].

[[File:Dundee v St. Johnstone.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Dundee F.C.]] playing [[St Johnstone F.C.]] at Dens Park during the [[2006–07 in Scottish football|2006–07]] season]]

The ground hosted its first [[Scotland women's national football team|Scotland women]] match in July 2023, a friendly against [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-16 |title=International football coming to the Kilmac Stadium |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/international-fixture/ |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Dundee Football Club - Official Website}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65929224  |title=Scotland women to face Northern Ireland at Dundee's Dens Park in July |website=BBC Sport |date=16 June 2023 
|accessdate=3 October 2023}}</ref>

In October 2023, Dundee announced that the stadium would be sponsored by insulation company Scot Foam, with the stadium being officially renamed to '''The Scot Foam Stadium at Dens Park'''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 October 2023 |title=The Scot Foam Stadium at Dens Park |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/scotfoam-stadium/ |access-date=6 October 2023 |website=Dundee FC}}</ref> This sponsorship ended in June 2025, when the stadium returned to the name Dens Park.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-04 |title=Dens Park |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/dens-park/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=Dundee Football Club - Official Website |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Potential development / relocation==
In 2002, plans were drawn up for a new stadium to be built in the city as part of Scotland's bid to host [[UEFA Euro 2008]]. This stadium would have been shared by Dundee and near-neighbours Dundee United, which would have required the two to leave their historic grounds at Dens Park and Tannadice Park respectively. The stadium was planned for construction on a new site at [[Caird Park Velodrome|Caird Park]] in the north-east of the city. Scotland was not successful in their bid, however, and so these plans were postponed, but could have been resurrected had Scotland launched a successful bid for another tournament in that period. Both clubs strongly oppose a ground-sharing agreement but were interested in a new arrangement that would have taken place if [[Ukraine]] and Poland had failed to meet [[UEFA]]'s expectations for hosting [[UEFA Euro 2012]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/7440929.stm |title=Minister and clubs back Euro bid |access-date=10 June 2008 |work=BBC Sport |date=7 June 2008 }}</ref>

In May 2009, it was reported that the stadium is owned by local businessman John Bennett. In October 2014, Dundee Supporter's Society announced they have put forward plans to then club chairman Bill Colvin which may allow the club to buy back the stadium from Bennett. They also expressed, this was not a plan to enable the Supporter's Society to own the Stadium but for the club themselves, they said they will "simply administer the scheme".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dee4life.com/news/47/chairmans-update-october.html|title=Chairmans Update October|last=mtc.|website=dee4life.com|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=28 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028012911/http://www.dee4life.com/news/47/chairmans-update-october.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2015, Colvin announced that negotiations were taking place to buy back the Stadium from current owner John Bennett and his company Sandeman Holdings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32240533|title=Dundee negotiate to buy back Dens Park stadium|date=9 April 2015|publisher=BBC |work=BBC Sport }}</ref> Dundee FC completed the purchase of the stadium from John Bennett in October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67000863 |title=Dundee closer to new home after completing Dens Park purchase |website=BBC Sport |date=3 October 2023 |accessdate=3 October 2023}}</ref>

In August 2016, club owners John Nelms and Tim Keyes were reported to have bought land in the [[Camperdown, Dundee|Camperdown]] area on the north-western periphery of the city, next to the [[Dundee Ice Arena]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/exclusive-dundee-leave-dens-1-2m-land-deal1/|title=Dee could be set for new home as duo buy £1.2m land |work=Evening Telegraph|publisher=DC Thomson }}</ref> It was then made clear in February 2017 that the plan for this land was to develop a new stadium for the club due to the increasing maintenance costs of Dens Park, although plans for a move were described by Nelms as being "early doors" in a video interview published on the club's website.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-fc/378762/dundee-fc-press-plans-leave-dens-park/|title=Dundee FC press on with plans to leave Dens Park |work=The Courier|publisher=DC Thomson }}</ref> Documents related to the proposed new stadium were submitted in August 2017, ahead of a formal planning application.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-40977364 |title=Dundee FC reveals latest plans for new stadium |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=18 August 2017 |access-date=18 August 2017}}</ref>

In June 2022, Dundee moved their day-to-day operations away from Dens Park and into [[Dundee and Angus College]]'s Gardyne Campus located in the south-east of the city with the intent to improve the sports facilities there,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dundee move player base to local college campus  |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61788783 |date=13 June 2022|access-date=14 June 2022}}</ref> although revised plans for the Camperdown stadium were released both around the same time and at the end of 2023.<ref>[https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/articles/dundee-fc-submits-revised-plans-for-new-stadium Dundee FC submits revised plans for new stadium], Scottish Construction Now, 30 May 2022</ref><ref>[https://www.urbanrealm.com/news/10205/Dundee_FC_makes_its_case_for_ring_road_move.html Dundee FC makes its case for ring road move], Urban Realm, 21 October 2022</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c1ry0zrgnrro Dundee release concept image of proposed stadium], BBC Sport, 22 December 2023</ref><ref>[https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/articles/holmes-miller-appointed-lead-architect-for-new-dundee-fc-stadium Holmes Miller appointed lead architect for new Dundee FC stadium], Scottish Construction Now, 22 December 2023</ref>

==Other uses==
===Greyhound racing===
[[File:Dundee greyhound racing track c.1995.png|thumb|Greyhound racing track, {{c.|1995}}]]
In 1932 Dundee FC agreed a lease with the Dundee Greyhound Racing Company Ltd for a period of ten years for a nominal capital of £25,000. The first night of [[Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom|greyhound racing]] took place on 9 November 1932<ref>{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Julia|title=Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File|page =414|year=1988|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=0-948955-15-5}}</ref> with grass having replaced the existing cinder running track and the main grandstand was fitted out with a glass front to allow patrons the ability to watch racing in all weathers. This new facility also contained a refreshment counter and a totalisator booth. A large totalisator board was erected on the Dens Road side of the ground.<ref>{{cite book|title=official Racecard|year=1932|publisher=Dundee Greyhound Racing Company Ltd}}</ref>

John Jolliffe a private trainer moved to Scotland in 1932 and took over as General and Racing Manager at Dens Park for a period of three years before moving onto the larger [[Holburn Stadium]] in [[Aberdeen]] in 1935. He introduced selling races at the track and the racing took place under [[National Greyhound Racing Club]] (NGRC) rules. Distances raced over were 260, 450, 460 and 650 yards. Greyhound racing ended at the end of
May 1936 due to the liabilities of the company resulting in a winding up order. In 1937 an attempt to start racing nearby at the [[East Craigie F.C.]] ground failed due to local protests.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dog racing at Dundee may stop|year=1936|newspaper=Daily Record and News}}</ref>

The second period of racing came over fifty years later in 1992 when [[Ron Dixon (businessman)|Ron Dixon]] arrived at the football club. The Canadian businessman owned a company called Dundee Leisure and was the new chairman of the football club. He secured planning permission for a greyhound track and new car parking facilities with further plans to build a new stand, a conference centre and an ice rink on site. The 400-metre circumference sand greyhound track was constructed and a Bramwich Hare was installed in addition to a Datatote totalisator system. Racing started on 21 October 1994 under the management of Eddie Ramsay<ref>{{cite news|title=Dundee: The gamble that's about to pay off, July 1993|year=1993|newspaper=Greyhound Star}}</ref> but Dixon's vision never materialised with the greyhound racing ending on 11 December 1996;<ref>{{cite book|last=Fry|first=Paul|title=The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook|pages =203|year=1995|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=186054-010-4}}</ref> the ground was soon redeveloped with its new stands positioned parallel to the football pitch, ending the curved design.

==See also==
*[[Scotland national football team home stadium]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Dundee F.C.}}
{{Football in Dundee}}
{{Football venues in Scotland}}
{{Scottish greyhound tracks}}

[[Category:Dundee F.C.]]
[[Category:Football venues in Dundee]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Dundee]]
[[Category:Scottish Premier League venues]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League venues]]
[[Category:Scottish Professional Football League venues]]
[[Category:Scotland national football team venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1899]]
[[Category:1899 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Defunct greyhound racing venues in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Greyhound racing in Scotland]]