Though it won’t be completed for five years, the clubs co-owner – Sir James Ratcliffe – said he wants it to be the ‘world’s greatest football stadium’.
Manchester United Football Club, or The Red Devils, have recently announced plans to build a new stadium in Old Trafford – a location that has been the clubs home since 1910.
The project, which is estimated to cost around £2billion, has come following an extensive process around whether to develop their existing stadium or construct a new one.
United have claimed the programme, which will form a part of a wider regeneration of the Old Trafford area, could create 92,000 new jobs and will involve the construction of 17,000 new homes and attract an additional 1.8million visitors to the city annually.
Architects at Foster and Partners are designing the new stadium and they have said it will feature an umbrella design and a new public plaza that is ‘twice the size of Trafalgar Square’. What’s more, three masts described as ‘the trident’ will also feature in the buildings design – architects have remarked they will be 200 metres high and visible from 25 miles away.
As it stands, Sir James has said there isn’t a date established for when building work will begin, although Chancellor Rachel Reeves has already given Government consent for the project to take place.
Announcing the project, Sir James said: ‘[It] 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.
‘Just as important is the opportunity for a new stadium to be the catalyst for social and economic renewal of the Old Trafford area, creating jobs and investment, not just during the construction phase, but on a lasting basis when the stadium district is complete. The Government has identified infrastructure investment as a strategic priority, particularly in the north of England, and we are proud to be supporting that mission with this project of national, as well as local, significance.’
Omar Berrada, Chief Executive of Manchester United added: ‘Our long-term objective as a club is to have the world’s best football team playing in the world’s best stadium. We are grateful for the feasibility work done by the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force exploring options for the future of Old Trafford.
‘We have carefully considered its findings, together with the views of thousands of fans and local residents and concluded that a new stadium is the right way forward for Manchester United and our surrounding community. We will now embark on further consultation to ensure that fans and residents continue to be heard as we move towards final decisions.’
Photo by Nat Callaghan via UnSplash
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