THE man behind a rescue deal for an SPFL club in financial struggle has thrown up some unique ideas for the future.
After buying them out of administration, the businessman has sat down to discuss his plans further.
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Dumbarton faced a 15-point sanction and eventual relegation in the last season and saw their first attempt at being saved fall through.
But Mario Lapointe, a Canadian entrepreneur, came in at the eleventh hour to help take the club forward.
Now, in an internal Q&A, he’s opened up on the possibility of hosting a music festival at The Rock to raise money in the off season.
He said: “I haven’t bought all the surrounding land, just the stadium footprint. I can expand stands within that space, and I’m in talks about allowing a small part of the land to make walkway bridge across. But no, I’m not building housing.
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“My vision is for the stadium to be active year-round, used daily by the men’s team, women’s team, youth teams, and for music, comedy, festivals.
“It should be a true community hub, not just a weekend venue.
“As a fan, I prefer natural grass — it’s how football should be played. But as a businessman aiming to get the team back on track, we need artificial turf.
“It’ll likely be installed by May 2026 to help fill the stadium and maximise use.
“It’d be good to have a festival right at the end of the season that will give money to the team. And that money will go covering wages between the end of the season and the start of the next.
“Because there’s a gap. There’s a gap of players that are still under contract. But there’s no Rock, there’s no football, there’s no revenue, there’s nothing.
“We have that gap, and I think the way to fill it up is with a music festival.”
The new owner said he’d looked in Spain, France, Italy, and Portugal before deciding to invest in the Sons, and now that he’s in one of his main focuses is increasing youth involvement.
He said: “Most fans have supported the club for decades, but we’re missing those aged 15 to 25.
“That’s why I’ve pushed initiatives like prepaid season tickets for under-16s, with support from both Scots and Canadians, we have around 47 in total now.
“The goal is to fill the stadium, balance the books, and, more importantly, build a younger fanbase to secure the club’s future.
“I see myself as just borrowing this team for a decade or two, then it’s someone else’s turn, someone more local. But for that to work, we need to start planting the seeds now.
“No disrespect to the big clubs like Rangers or Celtic, but if you miss a game there, no one really notices.
“Here, you become part of the heart of the club, we know your name, you might even volunteer.
“It’s a real community. Bring your kids and you’re not just making memories with them; you’re helping keep the club alive. It’s a deeper connection than just being a fan of a giant club.”
But he has a very clear warning for youths. He continued: “My message is simple: chant, drum, support however you like, but if you light a flare, you’re out.
“The reason is financial. Flares can lead to hefty fines, thousands of pounds that could go toward player wages instead.
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“Big clubs might absorb those costs, but we can’t. It hurts the community and the club.
“Please have the respect for the Crest. Please have the respect for the community. And come and cheer on your team.”
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