Manchester United have officially announced plans to leave Old Trafford and relocate to a new 100,000-capacity stadium.
Set to become the largest football venue in the UK, the state-of-the-art stadium will be built on the club-owned land next to Old Trafford. Renowned architect Lord Norman Foster has revealed that construction is expected to take five years.
Manchester United Officially Announce New Old Trafford Plans
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Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe stated that the goal is to build “an iconic football stadium.”
“By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience only footsteps from our historic home,” Ratcliffe continued.
Manchester United have called Old Trafford home for the past 115 years, with the stadium currently accommodating nearly 74,000 fans. The club is expected to remain at Old Trafford while construction of the new venue is underway.
The new stadium, dubbed ‘New Trafford’ in a briefing document, will showcase an innovative umbrella design. According to its architects, this structure will be capable of harnessing solar energy and collecting rainwater.
The structure will also have three masts, making it visible from a distance of 40km.
In an intriguing claim, United are convinced that, on a clear day, the new stadium will be visible from ‘the outskirts of Liverpool.
“This becomes a global destination,” Foster said. “This has to be one of the most exciting projects in the world today.”
United’s Ambitious New Stadium: A Symbol for the North of England
While unveiling their plans, Ratcliffe, who has spoken about constructing ‘a Wembley of the North,’ stressed the achievements of football clubs outside London as the driving force behind the club’s proposal.
“The north of England has won 10 Champions League medals, London has two. But London has Wembley, Twickenham, Wimbledon and the Olympic Village,” Ratcliffe said.
“The north of England deserves a stadium where England can play football, where we can hold the Champions League final, and one befitting of Manchester United’s stature.
“Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport.”
How Manchester United Will Fund the New Stadium
United, burdened with debts of over £1bn, have not yet confirmed the financing details for the new stadium.
“If the government really gets behind this scheme, we will build an iconic football stadium,” Ratcliffe said.
A spokesperson from the Prime Minister’s office replied: “The proposals involve significant investment and could generate 90,000 jobs and a significant boost to the economy.
“It’s only been announced today, so we are unsure as to the amount yet. I’m not aware of any government support that has been committed to the project.”
Ratcliffe mentioned earlier this week that Manchester United would have depleted their finances by Christmas without the recent cost-saving cuts he introduced.
United believe that the new stadium and the surrounding regeneration project could bring an annual £7.3bn boost to the UK economy, along with 92,000 jobs and over 17,000 homes.
