Manchester United are ramping up their plans to knock down Old Trafford and replace it with a new 100,000-seater stadium.
The Red Devils are pressing ahead with replacing their iconic, but ageing, home with plans set to be submitted by the end of 2024.
Man United plan to knock down Old Trafford to build a new 100,000-seat arenaGetty
Reports even claim work could start in early 2025 on the project that could cost in excess of £2billion.
Early images on what the stadium and surrounding areas could look like once the new arena is completed.
Fans are a little divided, however, particularly over one image.
“It looks like a dishwasher tablet,” one said.
Another added: “Why does it look like a boiled sweet.”
A third wrote: “Exciting times ahead for Manchester United! Can’t wait to see the new stadium come to life!”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has pushed for this stadium overhaul ever since Ineos completed their purchase of a minority stake in the club.
The issues with Old Trafford have been there for everyone to see, with any time it rains water cascades from multiple sections of the stadium.
The plans
All options have been considered including renovating Old Trafford or build an entirely new stadium adjacent to the current one.
Under one rumoured proposal, Old Trafford would be kept but renovated to make a smaller arena for the women’s and academy teams.
Man United released new images of their stadium plansMan Utd
However, this is believed to be too costly and plans are pressing ahead for a new 100,000-seat stadium. This would be the largest in the country.
Architects Foster + Partners, who designed Wembley, have been appointed for the project.
Lord Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman of Foster + Partners, said: “As a proud Mancunian, I am passionate about the chance to rebuild on Manchester’s great industrial heritage, creating a vibrant new mixed-use community, served by highly sustainable and improved transport links, providing homes and jobs for the local community, all catalysed by a world-class stadium for the world’s most famous football team – Manchester United.”
What has been said?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been the most vocal around the project and has emphasised what it can do for the club and the local area.
He went so far as to call it the ‘Wembley of the North’.
You have got this opportunity if you choose to, to build a completely new ground, because we have got enough space.
Man United plan to regenerate the area around Old TraffordMan Utd
“If you built a completely new ground it would absolutely be state-of-the-art, world class, 90,000 or maybe even 100,000 that then provides a platform for some of the big competitions in the north of England.
“Why do England always play in the south? Why is the FA Cup final always in the south? Why can’t the Champions League final be in the north occasionally?
“Football in the north is just as important as it is in the south, arguably more so, and the people in the north pay their taxes, so why do we have Wembley, Twickenham, Wimbledon etc in the south.
“What have we got in the north? There’s a strong argument to build a ‘Wembley of the north’.”
Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham said: “This could be the biggest regeneration scheme ever seen in this country.”
The timeline
Man United will submit plans by the end of 2024 and work could even start in early 2025.
However, this project may not be completed until 2030 at a cost of more than £2billion.
The project may not be completed until 2030Man Utd
Tottenham’s new stadium project took three years to complete, while Barcelona’s Nou Camp renovation started in 2023 and will not be fully completed until 2026.
The club consulted with around 30,000 fans as part of the project, with roughly a 50-50 split on staying or moving.
