Manchester United announced on Tuesday plans to build a new 100,000-capacity stadium, which co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has described as the “world’s greatest” football ground.
This decision follows an extensive consultation process to determine whether to redevelop their historic Old Trafford stadium or construct a new one nearby, in collaboration with the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force. The club has now confirmed its “intention to pursue a new 100,000-seater stadium as the centerpiece of the regeneration of the Old Trafford area.”
The new stadium is expected to be completed within five years.
Scaled models and conceptual designs for the new stadium and its surrounding district were unveiled on Tuesday at the London headquarters of architects Foster + Partners, who were appointed in September to design the stadium’s transformation.
“Today marks the beginning of an incredibly exciting journey toward delivering what will be the world’s greatest football stadium, at the heart of a regenerated Old Trafford,” said Ratcliffe. “Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport.”
By building next to the existing Old Trafford site, Ratcliffe explained that the club would “preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that will transform the fan experience, just footsteps from our historic home.”
The club estimates the stadium and surrounding regeneration project could generate an additional £7.3 billion ($9.4 billion) annually for the UK economy, including the potential creation of 92,000 new jobs.
The move has received support from former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who won 13 Premier League titles during his 26-year reign at the club. “Manchester United should always strive for the best in everything it does, on and off the pitch, and that includes the stadium we play in,” Ferguson said. “Old Trafford holds so many special memories for me, but we must be brave and seize this opportunity to build a new home, fit for the future, where new history can be made.”
Sebastian Coe, who chaired the task force, described Tuesday as “an important step forward in what I firmly believe will be the biggest and most exciting urban regeneration project in the UK since the 2012 London Olympics.”
United hopes to complete the stadium in five years, with some sections to be constructed off-site and transported along the Manchester Ship Canal. However, the start date for the project remains uncertain.
Regarding financing, chief executive Omar Berrada expressed confidence in securing the necessary funds: “It’s a very attractive investment opportunity, so we’re quite confident we’ll find a way to finance the stadium.”
AFP
