Manchester United Considering Plans To Build New 100,000 Seater Stadium
United’s preferred option is to build a new stadium on land adjacent to Old Trafford, with the plan to remain at Old Trafford and continue playing there while they build on adjacent land, which would see them avoid playing at a temporary venue.
The other option was to redevelop Old Trafford, although that would present logistical issues, including having to reduce attendances from 75,000 to around 40,000 while the work was carried out or play at an alternative stadia.
The Old Trafford Task Force, set up to assess the feasibility of both options, has seen officials visit stadiums all over the world on fact finding missions to gain intel on how to build the best sports arena in the UK. One of those stadiums included the 70,000 capacity So‑Fi in Los Angeles, arguably the market‑leading sports arena in the world, where United played Arsenal in a friendly on a leg of their American pre‑season tour.
According to reports the SoFi project inspired the Task Force. At an overall cost of around £4billion the stadia was funded by Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, with the ‘Hollywood Park’ area around the stadium boasting a 6,000 concert venue, apartments and hotels. United see SoFi as a blueprint for their own construction for a new Old Trafford and the subsequent regeneration of the surrounding area that such a huge stadium transformation would bring. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and his Ineos team that own their own pockets of land around the current stadium have a vision for Old Trafford which includes a major regeneration of the local area, in terms of amenities and job creation.
However, due to the Glazer’s ownership, including mismanagement and financial indiscretions leading to the recent demise of the club, Manchester United cannot afford to pay for the new stadium on their own.
Selling the naming rights is being considered, although United insist that fans will be consulted over that process. The club are looking at public private funding opportunities for the new stadium and wider regeneration of the area around Old Trafford, known as the Stadium District, on land owned by the club. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has already indicated that he would be open to conversations about government support for transport links. United appreciate the cost of rebuilding Old Trafford could rise above £2bn, as was the case with Real Madrid’s £2.4bn redevelopment of the Bernabeu, but the commercial benefits of a new stadium are huge compared to improving the existing one at a cost of around £1.1bn.
United have canvassed 30,000 fans over their preference, with the vote said to be around 50 50. Ratcliffe wants a decision by the end of the year but it’s understood that the Old Trafford taskforce, which has met four times so far under the leadership of Lord Coe, is focussing largely on building a new stadium. The club have appointed Populous, the designers behind the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, to draw up plans for a new or redevelopment of the existing Old Trafford.
