Manchester United aims to develop a new stadium with a capacity of 100,000 to replace Old Trafford and plans to reveal their intentions by year-end.
The estimated £2 billion endeavor could be finished by 2030, surpassing Wembley to become the largest stadium in England and the second largest in Europe after Barcelona’s upgraded 105,000-capacity Nou Camp.
United still needs to finalize whether to reconstruct or renovate Old Trafford, but it’s been evident for a while that they align with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s vision of demolishing their home of 114 years to build a cutting-edge stadium on neighboring land.
The club cannot shoulder the financial burden alone, even with Ratcliffe and the Glazer family’s support. The option of selling naming rights is under consideration, yet United assures that fans will be engaged in that discussion.
They are exploring public-private financing options for the new stadium and broader redevelopment of the area surrounding Old Trafford, known as the Stadium District, which is owned by the club.
Man United want to build a brand new 100,000-capacity stadium to replace Old Trafford
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s vision is for Manchester United to bulldoze Old Trafford, which has been the Red Devils’ home for 114 years, and build a new state-of-the-art stadium on adjacent land
Man United must make a final decision on whether to rebuild or reform their historic stadium
United canvassed 30,000 fans over their preference, with the vote said to be around 50-50
New Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed his willingness to discuss potential government support for transport links relating to the stadium construction.
United understand that the cost of rebuilding Old Trafford could exceed £2 billion, similar to Real Madrid’s £2.4 billion redevelopment of the Bernabeu, but the commercial prospects of a new stadium significantly outweigh those of refurbishing the current one at around £1.1 billion.
This approach would enable the team to continue playing at Old Trafford while the new venue is being constructed nearby, reducing the impact on fans and allowing United to maintain revenue from 75,000 sold-out crowds.
The club has surveyed 30,000 fans regarding their preferences, revealing a near-even split in opinions. Ratcliffe desires a decision by year-end; however, reports indicate that the Old Trafford taskforce, led by Lord Coe and which has convened four times, is predominantly focused on constructing a new stadium.
Management acknowledges the necessity of preserving Old Trafford’s legacy as the largest club stadium in the nation for the foreseeable future. This move would overshadow the 90,000-capacity national stadium and could lead to what Ratcliffe refers to as the ‘Wembley of the North’.
The commercial benefits of a new stadium are massive compared to improving Old Trafford
It would eclipse Wembley (above) as the biggest stadium in the country and also make it the second largest in Europe behind Barcelona’s revamped 105,000-seater Nou Camp
Bruno Fernandes and Erik ten Hag celebrate winning United the FA Cup at Wembley in May
There is an understanding that the new design should embody the spirit of the existing stadium while honoring Manchester’s industrial history. In the fourth task force meeting last week, former United player Gary Neville was notably vocal about the intended appearance of the new Old Trafford.
These discussions emerged after United’s match against Arsenal at the impressive SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles during their summer US tour.
The £2.3 billion venue was financed by Arsenal and LA Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who invested an additional £2 billion to enhance the surrounding Hollywood Park area.
The stadium features a massive LED screen on its roof, visible to incoming flights at nearby LAX airport, earning it the nickname of the ‘biggest advertising opportunity in the world’.
This entire venture spanned six years from the initial discussions to the project’s completion in 2020, and United expect a similar timeline for making decisions regarding funding and planning permissions.
They have conducted several meetings with the group behind the SoFi development and visited Wembley and Tottenham’s new stadium. Chief operating officer Collette Roche also explored the Bernabeu earlier this year to gather insights on Real Madrid’s redevelopment endeavors.
Nonetheless, it is noted that United would prefer the new Old Trafford not to appear overly futuristic. They have enlisted Populous, the firm responsible for designing the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, to create plans for Old Trafford.
It remains a possibility that United may have to scale down the project and opt for redeveloping the existing stadium if financing proves insufficient, although this would be their last resort.
The club cannot afford to pay for the £2 billion project on their own, even with the backing of Ratcliffe and majority owners the Glazer family (Pictured: Avram Glazer at Wembley in May)
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has already indicated that he would be open to conversations about government support for transport links, should Man United build a brand new stadium
The construction might need to be executed in phases over an extended period, compounded by the ongoing challenge of reconstructing the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand adjacent to a railway line.
Redevelopment might significantly reduce capacity, potentially by up to 35,000, or may prohibit United from playing at Old Trafford entirely. In such a case, the club is not keen on sharing grounds with Manchester City, Liverpool, or Everton.
