Man Utd is considering the construction of a new stadium instead of renovating Old Trafford. The proposed location for the new stadium is on land owned by the club, adjacent to Old Trafford, and it aims to benefit the local community. Reports suggest that a 100,000-seater stadium has been recommended, which would make it the largest in the UK.
Several meetings have taken place to discuss the feasibility of this project. The plan is to build the stadium on club-owned land near Old Trafford, with the goal of uplifting the community. While it is too early to say if this is the only path that Manchester United will pursue, it appears to be the preferred option for creating a new state-of-the-art facility that brings additional advantages to the surroundings.
The club currently owns a significant amount of land surrounding Old Trafford, which they believe is not being fully utilized and could be repurposed for various purposes such as housing, leisure, business, education, attracting investment and creating jobs, as well as enhancing the environment. Manchester United has been studying successful stadium regeneration projects in the world of sports, particularly those that have had a transformative impact on the community, like SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where they recently suffered a pre-season defeat against Arsenal.
The club conducted numerous meetings with the team responsible for that development, which is privately financed, leading up to their tour in order to gain insights from the project. Collette Roche, the chief operating officer of United, also visited the Bernabeu earlier this year to extract knowledge from Real Madrid’s approach. The Burnham Park Project of the Chicago Bears, where a new stadium will act as a catalyst for the revitalization of the surrounding area, is currently under examination.
United also dedicated time to engage with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley.
Financing is a crucial aspect for the task force, and they plan to explore a wide range of potential sources for private funding. There may be opportunities for a public-private partnership to drive the regeneration of the area.
Towards the end of the year, following a period of consultation with key stakeholders including fans and local residents, the task force will provide a comprehensive recommendation.
