Manchester United announce plans for new 100,000-seater stadium

Fabrizio Tabone
Mar 12
3 min read

Manchester United on Tuesday announced plans to build a new 100,000-seater stadium as part of the regeneration of the Old Trafford area.

Ever since INEOS bought a minority shareholding in the club, reports of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's desire to build a new stadium for United have dominated headlines, with the club consulting with stakeholders and fans about whether it would be best to refurbish the existing stadium or to have a new stadium. INEOS reportedly always sided more with the idea of having a completely new stadium.

This was confirmed on Tuesday, with United stating that it will be pursuing a new 100,000-seater stadium to be the centrepiece of the regeneration of the Old Trafford area which had become in a dilapidated state.

United affirmed that the project, including the wider regeneration project, could possibly deliver an additional £7.3 billion per year to the UK economy, as well as 92,000 new jobs, 17,000 new homes, and also attracting around 1.8 million more visitors on an annual basis.

The architecture group appointed to design the stadium, Foster + Partners, on Tuesday shared conceptual images and scaled models of what the project could look like. The stadium will feature a trident-like design, with three large and distinguishable towers rising from the venue.

Additionally, the stadium will also be contained by a large umbrella that will be able to harvest both energy and rainwater, while also sheltering a new public plaza that will contain a number of amenities.

Speaking during the announcement Ratcliffe sad: "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," he continued.

He added that it is also crucial for the stadium to serve as a "catalyst for social and economic renewal" of the Old Trafford area, particularly in terms of creating jobs and investment.

Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada stated that the club carefully considered its findings, as well as input from fans and local residents, identifying the construction of a new stadium as the ideal way forward for the club.

"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," he added.

Former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson remarked that United "should always strive for the best in everything it does," including its stadium. While Old Trafford is filled with memories, he said that United "must be brave and seize this opportunity" to build a new home, fit for the future, "where new history can be made."

On his part, Foster + Partners Founder and Executive Chairman Lord Norman Foster remarked that the Old Trafford regeneration project is "one of the most exciting projects in the world today," highlighting its regional and national significance. He explained that the outward-looking stadium will serve as the "beating heart" of the new sustainable district, which is "completely walkable, served by public transport, and endowed by nature."

While no specific completion date was announced, there are reports that the new stadium could be in use by the start of the 2030/31 season.