... how much the borers paid for their ground? Did they pay anything at all...?

If I remember rightly the official cost was around 30 million, however I don't think that it is officially known where the money actually came from. I knew a guy briefly (although not very well) called Dave Roberts who commentated on Boro for Century in that sort of period and he said he could never disclose how boro managed to afford the stadium which leads you to think there was some secret funding and not all Gibsons money.

Maybe Teeside Development were involved and wasn't Cellnet one of the first stadium sponsors?

The new ground was originally called "The Cellnet Riverside Stadium" so I guess Cellnet put a fair chunk of money up

can we get a new Garlands stadium on the marina then