Sir Jim Ratcliffe makes U-turn on demolishing Old Trafford to build new Man Utd stadium
Manchester United are yet to decide on the plans for Old Trafford, with a redevelopment of the existing structure or a brand new stadium still both options under consideration
by Felix Keith · The MirrorManchester United have delayed the decision on the future of Old Trafford as Sir Jim Ratcliffe wavers over demolishing the iconic stadium.
United co-owner Ratcliffe had been in favour of knocking down Old Trafford to build a modern £2billion, 100,000-seater stadium on the same site. The club is in desperate need of a new home, with the current version of Old Trafford in a state of disrepair, with the holes in the roof becoming a stick with which to beat the Glazer family.
Everything has pointed towards United opting to build a brand new stadium, with architects Populous – the company behind the hugely successful Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – tasked with the design. An official decision had been expected before the end of 2024, but United have now pushed the brakes.
The club have been busy consulting the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, which includes Lord Sebastian Coe, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and former United captain Gary Neville, while also asking the opinion of supporters. The Telegraph now reports that they have concluded the best course of action is to push back the decision until next summer, with a report from the task force due by the end of the year.
The main reason behind the delay is the need to secure additional land around Old Trafford to deliver the “bold and brave” vision the Regeneration Task Force wants. Nextdoor land, which is currently occupied by a rail freight terminal, would be needed if the club are to embark upon an ambitious 100-acre regeneration project.
United are seeking greater clarity over their options, which could include relocating the freight terminal, before they make the final call. Burnham and Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram are hoping to strike a deal with Freightliner to move the freight depot to St Helens, which would free up space for the Old Trafford redevelopment.
And while the club would have to source its own funding for the work, they could benefit from public money for related transport and infrastructure costs. They are therefore holding fire until the Mayor’s budget in March in the hope some cash would be ring fenced for their project.
A brand new stadium still appears the most likely outcome – and it is one that is supported by fans. A recent survey sent to 500,000 United supporters showed 52 per cent liked that idea, while 31 per cent would prefer a redeveloped Old Trafford.
Petrochemicals billionaire Ratcliffe has taken inspiration from the £4bn, 70,000-capacity SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which has a ‘Hollywood Park’ area, a 6,000-seat concert venue, apartments and hotels around it.
“The north-west of England has a greater concentration of major football clubs than anywhere else in the world, yet we don’t have a stadium on the scale of Wembley, the Nou Camp or Bernabeu,” he said in March. “We will not be able to change that on our own, which is why this task force is so important to help us seize this once-in-a-century opportunity.”
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