Tekel Towers » The V+A

Tek · 13/9/2018 5:57 pm

Opens on Saturday at long last.

As an outsider looking in i think it seems a great thing for Dundee and Scotland.

As someone who is from a East Kilbride (a town where nothing ever happens and is starved of finances/renovation) i can only look on slightly envious of the re-generation of Dundee.

What i am failing to understand is reading Dundonians on my Twitter timeline rubbishing the V+A,train station, Slessor Gardens, basically anything new.

This to me only seems all positive for the city, bringing jobs, culture and hauling the city finally into the 21st century.

But as i say, i am just an outsider looking in.

So what are the thoughts of those on here of the V+A and the re-generation of the city in general?

Tek · 13/9/2018 10:18 pm

With so many day trippers into the city on a Saturday it might be worth Utd putting up a big billboard as you drive into Dundee from both main routes and maybe another down the Riverside.

Something simple just advertising our home match and giving ticket prices.

Maybe even a price reduction if you present your V+A ticket stub, a wee tie up with the V+A.

Might only pull in a handfull of tourists a season, but we should be looking at exploiting this influx of people into the city if we can.

David_Blunkett · 13/9/2018 11:10 pm

The whole waterfront development should be great for the city, the V&A is a real feather in the cap.

However, I'm not sold on the exterior design of the building, it's seems on the face off it too big and early pictures make it look like there's loads of dead space inside.

But you can't post that without being accused of having the Dundee Seethe or Scottish Cringe, you simply must embrace it and pull the head off it no matter what you think.

If I don't like something it's because I don't like it, fuck all to do with seethe or cringe.

That said I hope it's a rip roaring success.

And it would be good if all the fuckers moaning about the office block right in front of it would shut their moaning puses.

It's not a 2D building, you can see it on the eastbound, westbound and the northbound approach as you cross the bridge.

I hope we don't get a free kick in a dangerous position on Saturday, the same whinging bastards will complain when Morton line up their wall.

Tek · 13/9/2018 11:18 pm

David_Blunket wrote:
However, I'm not sold on the exterior design of the building, it's seems on the face off it too big and early pictures make it look like there's loads of dead space inside.

I take it you mean the interior?

I must confess for 80 million pounds i was a wee bit underwhelmed when they revealed some pics tonight for the first time. Maybe they are saving the best stuff for later though as it was just a wee teaser tonight, i hope so.

The exterior of the building does however look great (in pictures anyway).

japanarab · 13/9/2018 11:53 pm

Can only be a good thing surely? Like you TEK all I've heard is moaning about it and what a waste of money it is. On a side note, it was designed by the guy who designed the renewal of the train station in the town where I live.

SlatefordArab · 14/9/2018 7:52 am

I moved away from Dundee almost 11 years ago now, I am loving the transformation of the waterfront and the attention it is getting in the media. Of course the V&A will not solve the issues that the city has (which every other city in Scotland has btw), but we should embrace it! I really do not understand negative, moaning people who only see the bad things in life.

SlatefordArab · 14/9/2018 7:53 am

Tek wrote:
With so many day trippers into the city on a Saturday it might be worth Utd putting up a big billboard as you drive into Dundee from both main routes and maybe another down the Riverside.

Something simple just advertising our home match and giving ticket prices.

Maybe even a price reduction if you present your V+A ticket stub, a wee tie up with the V+A.

Might only pull in a handfull of tourists a season, but we should be looking at exploiting this influx of people into the city if we can.

Yep, great idea mate. I wish the marketing people at Tannadice would think of wee things like this.

ArabChris · 14/9/2018 5:38 pm

I happen to take a very positive view of the construction of the V+A as I can see that it will bring plenty of positive benefits to the area. I also have been frustrated by a number of negative comments that I have seen about it and think that some people just want to look for negative aspects in things and not positives.

I will be hoping to get down to have a look at week on Tuesday as I have to get a train from Dundee to Stonehaven in the morning and will be back by early afternoon and it will be easy to fit a visit in after coming out the train station.

Last edited by ArabChris (14/9/2018 5:39 pm)

14/9/2018 7:55 pm

Looking forward to seeing the interior and the exhibitions in the flesh (eventually as now away on holiday).

Has transformative potential as long as the council and others don't sit on their laurels - recent talk of a new 6k capacity exhibition and conference centre is an encouraging sign (and much needed)

Just nice to see something positive associated with the city.

Beharder · 14/9/2018 8:54 pm

Agree with that gents. V&A can only be a good thing for the city. How good only time will tell but its needs to be promoted in a positive light.
The clowns who say the money would be better spent in the schemes can GTF. Many of the schemes are the way they are because of the jakeys who live there. No amount of money will civilise an alky druggy shitehouse.

japanarab · 14/9/2018 11:49 pm

Beharder wrote:
Agree with that gents. V&A can only be a good thing for the city. How good only time will tell but its needs to be promoted in a positive light.
The clowns who say the money would be better spent in the schemes can GTF. Many of the schemes are the way they are because of the jakeys who live there. No amount of money will civilise an alky druggy shitehouse.

Spot on. Fuck wasting more money on wasters. Was home two Christmases ago and the city centre was like a ghost town, hopefully the introduction of this and more will rejuvenate the town.

blackandtangerine · 15/9/2018 5:03 am

Beharder wrote:
Agree with that gents. V&A can only be a good thing for the city. How good only time will tell but its needs to be promoted in a positive light.
The clowns who say the money would be better spent in the schemes can GTF. Many of the schemes are the way they are because of the jakeys who live there. No amount of money will civilise an alky druggy shitehouse.

I love the v &a and the whole waterfront concept.
Some money spent on the city centre would be good. Or even make the business rates attractive for decent shops etc in reform street. That street could enhance the city even further.

Arabnophobia · 16/9/2018 10:54 pm

blackandtangerine wrote:
Beharder wrote:
Agree with that gents. V&A can only be a good thing for the city. How good only time will tell but its needs to be promoted in a positive light.
The clowns who say the money would be better spent in the schemes can GTF. Many of the schemes are the way they are because of the jakeys who live there. No amount of money will civilise an alky druggy shitehouse.
I love the v &a and the whole waterfront concept.
Some money spent on the city centre would be good. Or even make the business rates attractive for decent shops etc in reform street. That street could enhance the city even further.

My love for art is on a par with salt n' vinegar Discos. I don't eat crisps much though.

This is huge for the city. An attraction that will benefit the city in a shitload of ways. Some who say the money should have been spent on education, housing, homeless, drug addiction etc must realise the funding was never going to be raised or directed for these things as all who funded the V&A did so for a return. If the funding didn't go to Dundee and the V&A it would be directed to another art/historical/cultural developement in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh or elsewhere.
This wasn't a pot of £'s to be chucked out to who needs £'s maist. 500000 visitors per year will spend and brimg in mair than it cost and raise the proflie and image of the city better than anything in recent times.

18/9/2018 11:11 am

I think it's great for Dundee and actually got quite emotional over the weekend, thinking back to when the whole plan was hatched in the 90s (I think, feels like longer ago). I think they've done a great job with the launch and really enjoyed the BBC Scotland programme on Friday night.

It remains to be seen if we can realise the potential benefits of the V&A, but it's got off to a great start. Hopefully, the city centre will get a boost too. Walking up Reform Street makes me sad just now. The shops are either empty or charity shops. That street used to be buzzing. The Cowgate too is like a jakey zone. You need to keep your wits about you walking round there. It's a shame because the pedestrian areas around there and the McManus have been done really well IMO, and DFC Thomson moving back is a positive too.

blackandtangerine · 19/9/2018 7:28 am

Arabnophobia wrote:
blackandtangerine wrote:
Beharder wrote:
Agree with that gents. V&A can only be a good thing for the city. How good only time will tell but its needs to be promoted in a positive light.
The clowns who say the money would be better spent in the schemes can GTF. Many of the schemes are the way they are because of the jakeys who live there. No amount of money will civilise an alky druggy shitehouse.
I love the v &a and the whole waterfront concept.
Some money spent on the city centre would be good. Or even make the business rates attractive for decent shops etc in reform street. That street could enhance the city even further.

My love for art is on a par with salt n' vinegar Discos. I don't eat crisps much though.

This is huge for the city. An attraction that will benefit the city in a shitload of ways. Some who say the money should have been spent on education, housing, homeless, drug addiction etc must realise the funding was never going to be raised or directed for these things as all who funded the V&A did so for a return. If the funding didn't go to Dundee and the V&A it would be directed to another art/historical/cultural developement in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh or elsewhere.
This wasn't a pot of £'s to be chucked out to who needs £'s maist. 500000 visitors per year will spend and brimg in mair than it cost and raise the proflie and image of the city better than anything in recent times.

Agree 100%

Rick Dagless · 19/9/2018 10:53 pm

It's fantastic for the City and refreshing to see the City painted in a positive light.

The moaning has been ridiculous though especially about this office block across the road. Its always been in the plans and will only affect the view of folk standing having a fag outside trades.

Do agree about something needing done about shops in the city centre. But it's not as simple as cutting business rates since high streets all over the country have the same problem and its the rise of online shopping.