Manchester United are edging in direction of constructing a brand new stadium adjoining to Outdated Trafford at a value of round £2billion.
A stadium taskforce, created by minority proprietor Jim Ratcliffe and chaired by Sebastian Coe, has met 4 instances with the transient of figuring out whether or not the membership ought to redevelop the present stadium or transfer.
And whereas no definitive choice has been made – that can come by the top of the yr – a number of reviews this morning recommended the main focus has been on constructing a brand new 100,000-seater floor from scratch.
It will be erected subsequent to the present stadium, enabling United to proceed producing current income ranges relatively than having to shut sections whereas building work was carried out.
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A number of points referring to renovating Outdated Trafford, which has been the membership’s dwelling since 1910, embody a railway line that runs throughout the again of the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand.
Who pays for it?
Essentially the most contentious situation shall be how the brand new construct is funded.
Ratcliffe has stated beforehand he want to use taxpayers’ cash and construct a ‘Wembley of the North’ that may profit the broader space.
He instructed the BBC in February: “If it may be achieved (with taxpayers’ cash), it could clearly be my choice.
“I’d be very excited for the north of England. Trafford Park is the place the commercial revolution started. When you take a look at that area of Manchester in the present day – solely a mile from the centre – it’s drained and uncared for and components are fairly run down.
“There may be fairly an enormous argument, in my opinion, for regenerating that entire south facet of Manchester. The nucleus of it could be constructing a brand new world-class state-of-the-art stadium which may take England video games, the FA Cup last, Champions League finals. It may serve the north of England.”
Will United get the inexperienced gentle?
It’s extremely unlikely that Ratcliffe will get his want though new Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer has recommended public cash could possibly be used to enhance transport hyperlinks and infrastructure across the stadium web site.
United are believed to have checked out different main sports activities stadia all over the world for inspiration and knowledge, together with the revamped Santiago Bernabeu and Camp Nou, in addition to SoFi in Los Angeles, the place they misplaced 2-1 to Arsenal in a pre-season sport on Saturday night time.
SoFi took six years to construct, from conception to completion, and that’s the timeframe United are additionally working to.
