Manchester United to build ‘world’s greatest stadium’ rather than refurbish old one
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Manchester United's co-owner Jim Ratcliffe (left) talks to Manchester City Emirati chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak before the match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.
PHOTO: AFP
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LONDON – Manchester United plan to build a new £2 billion (S$3.44 billion) 100,000-seat stadium that will be the biggest in Britain, next to the existing Old Trafford, the club announced on March 11.
“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,” United’s co-owner Jim Ratcliffe said in a statement.
The British billionaire had been open about his desire for a new, state-of-the-art “Wembley of the north” since he became a minority owner in late 2023.
The club have been studying whether to redevelop the existing stadium, which has been the club’s home since 1910, or build a new one.
United appointed Foster + Partners in September to develop a masterplan for the area around Old Trafford as part of a regeneration project.
The club unveiled architectural designs for the new stadium, which will feature an umbrella design, at an event on March 11 in London.
“This has to be one of the most exciting projects in the world today,” Norman Foster, Foster + Partners’ executive chairman, said in a statement.
“It all starts with the fans’ experience, bringing them closer than ever to the pitch and acoustically cultivating a huge roar.
“The stadium is contained by a vast umbrella, harvesting energy and rainwater, and sheltering a new public plaza that is twice the size of Trafalgar Square.”
The stadium will be part of a wider regeneration of the Old Trafford area, with British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves recently giving government backing for the plans.
United say the project could create as many as 92,000 new jobs and will lead to the construction of 17,000 homes, and will be worth an additional £7.3 billion per year to the British economy.
Old Trafford has not had any major redevelopment since 2006 and criticism of the 74,000-seat stadium, England’s biggest club ground, has grown in recent years, with issues around its leaking roof and recent rodent sightings.
The news of the stadium came a day after Ratcliffe blasted some of his troubled club’s stars as “not good enough” and “probably overpaid”.
He named Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana, Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Antony as the chief causes of his frustration. Sancho and Antony are on loan at Chelsea and Real Betis respectively, after underachieving with United.
In reference to United still paying instalments of transfer fees for several players, Ratcliffe told the BBC in an interview on March 10: “We’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho.
“These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out. For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages.”
Asked if he was suggesting those players were not good enough for United, Ratcliffe added: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.”
After United finished eighth in the English Premier League last season and won the FA Cup, Ratcliffe and his United advisers opted to stick with manager Erik ten Hag.
The Dutchman was subsequently sacked in October and replaced by Ruben Amorim after United endured another wretched run. Ratcliffe has accepted the decision to keep ten Hag was a mistake.
He applied the same verdict to his decision to hire Dan Ashworth as sporting director, a role he left in December after just five months.
“I agree the Erik ten Tag and Dan Ashworth decisions were errors,” the 72-year-old said. “I think there were some mitigating circumstances, but ultimately they were errors. I accept that and I apologise for that.”
Despite United’s struggles since Amorim took charge, which sees them 14th in the Premier League, Ratcliffe insisted he would keep faith with the former Sporting Lisbon boss.
“If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job, to be honest,” he said.
“I think Ruben is an outstanding young manager. I really do. He’s an excellent manager and I think he will be there for a long time.”
The Briton made his incendiary comments on United’s moribund team just 24 hours after thousands of fans took part in a protest against the club’s ownership ahead of the 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford on March 9.
Angry chants were directed at the Glazers and Ratcliffe, whose controversial off-field decisions have included a mid-season ticket price hike, as well as 200 anticipated redundancies among staff, after 250 jobs were cut in 2024.
Ratcliffe claimed the unpleasant cost-cutting measures were “necessary” because the club would “run out of money at Christmas if we don’t do those things”.
Stressing his “only interest here is returning Manchester United back to greatness again”, Ratcliffe said Amorim would have money to spend in the close season to improve his squad.
United have not won the Premier League since 2013, the last season of Alex Ferguson’s legendary spell as manager. AFP, REUTERS
