MANCHESTER UNITED will build a brand new 100,000-seater super stadium, the club have confirmed today.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s vision of a £2 BILLION ‘Wembley of the North’ will stand as the centrepiece of a wider regeneration of the Old Trafford area.
Manchester United have confirmed their decision to build a brand new 100,000-seater stadium
Old Trafford will be demolished and new ground will be built on adjacent land
The new ground promises to be the second largest football stadium in Europe, behind the Nou Camp
The government will help fund a redevelopment area around the stadium
The club have unveiled their plans
The legendary 115-year-old Theatre of Dreams has provided the backdrop to the biggest moments in English football history.
But a Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force – organised by minority owner Ratcliffe – has confirmed plans to demolish it and build a brand new home on adjacent land.
The Task Force found that staying at Old Trafford, standing since 1910, the capacity could only jump from 74,000 to 87,000.
Build a new stadium and not only do you get to 100,000, you unlock one of the biggest regeneration projects in Britain’s history.
United’s plans of building a new state-of-the-art arena – which would be the second largest football ground in Europe behind the revamped Nou Camp- received a major boost in January when the proposal received the backing of the government.
Under-fire co-owner Ratcliffe said: “Today marks the start of an
incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be the world’s greatest football stadium, at the centre of a regenerated Old Trafford.
“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 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.”
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The stadium, and wider regeneration project, has the potential to deliver an additional £7.3billion-per-year to the UK economy.
The complex will boast a major transport hub as well as dedicated premises for sports, educational, entertainment and business.
As well as the new stadium, the Trafford Park area will undergo redevelopment
The complex will boast a major communal hub
The government has identified infrastructure investment as a strategic priority
Other communal benefits include more than 17,000 new homes as well as driving an additional 1.8 million visitors annually.
And their plans to re-shape the area would create more than 92,000 job opportunities.
The architecture group appointed to design the best-in-class stadium district is called Foster + Partners.
The company is led by the award-winning architect Lord Norman Foster, a close pal of Ratcliffe’s who is currently overseeing the revamp of United’s Carrington training base.
The government has identified infrastructure investment as a strategic priority, particularly in the north of England.
The announcement comes a day after Ratcliffe’s bombshell interview with regeneration Task Force member Gary Neville.
While discussing the club’s current plight on the pitch, Sir Jim insisted that Man Utd will fund the stadium itself themselves.
He said: “We can build a stadium. We don’t need any government funding for that stadium, but it has to be the underpin for the regeneration.
“The only basis upon which we can build a new one is if it is part of this government regeneration scheme for south Manchester, because we can’t afford to regenerate southern Manchester, that’s too big a bill for the club.”
So United will deliver the stadium while the the Mayoral Development Corporation will support the wider regeneration of Trafford Park.
United have vowed to build the fan experience zone of the future
Ratcliffe believes United should have the best stadium in the world
Sir Alex Ferguson urged fans to be brave and accept Old Trafford’s fate while backing the decision.
Ferguson said: “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. Old Trafford holds so many special memories for me personally.
“But we must be brave and seize this opportunity to build a
new home, fit for the future, where new history can be made.”
And Lord Sebastian Coe compared said these plans are the most exiting urban regeneration project in the UK since London 2012.
Part of the feasibility study included a survey of more than 50,000 Man Utd season ticket-holders, members, and executive club members which found more than half favoured a new stadium.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, is one of the leading voices championing the regeneration project.
The Task Force consists of former United skipper Neville, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Trafford Council leader Sara Todd.
Mayor Burnham: “Manchester United could, and indeed should, have the best football stadium in the world.
“To me, that means a stadium that is true to the traditions of the club, affordable to all, with nobody priced out, and a stadium that sets new standards in the game globally.
“I believe this vision can be realised, and if so, the benefits for Greater Manchester, the North West and the country will be huge.”
A major new transport hub will be laid out here the new stadium
A brand new residential complex will be built, including flats and office spaces
United provided snap of what the flats will look like from the inside
The decision comes just two days after United fans held the largest protest since Ratcliffe was brought in last year.
More than 5,000 supporters gathered outside Old Trafford before United’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal, in protest against the club’s ownership.
Viral videos showed hundreds chanting: “Sell United and f*** off home” leading up to the iconic stadium.
Scores of flares were set off as fans dressed in black sang abusive songs towards co-chairman Joel Glazer and Ratcliffe, who has spent £1.3bn for a 28.94 per cent stake in the club.
The 1958 spokesperson Steve Crompton has claimed that the club is “dying” and is “facing financial Armageddon”.
Today’s decision comes a day after Ratcliffe revealed that the club have “no money left”.
Defending his controversial cost-cutting, Britain’s richest man claimed the club was on track to run out of money this year.
The Red Devils recently announced they had lost more than £300million over the past three years, highlighting their financial troubles.
United have made cost-cutting measures across the board since Ineos secured a minority stake last year, including cutting the workforce by 250 people last year.
United fans protested against the club’s ownership on Sunday
Ratcliffe has vowed to build the best stadium in the world Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
