Featured image credit: Rob Ridley
Manchester United has said a decision on the “direction of travel” regarding a redeveloped or new-build stadium is expected in the summer of 2025 following the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force’s final meeting of the year.
The Task Force was formed in March to oversee options for the regeneration of the Old Trafford area of Greater Manchester, with the development of a “world-class” football stadium at the heart of the project.
Lord Sebastian Coe, who chaired the organising committee for the London 2012 Olympics and now serves as president of World Athletics, is chair of the Task Force and following yesterday’s (Tuesday’s) meeting said an options report has been discussed with the club, Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Coe added: “This (meeting) marked the conclusion of months of feasibility work to explore ways in which the development of a world-class football stadium can catalyse regeneration of the area around Old Trafford, delivering huge social and economic benefits for the local community, and the wider region.
“This has been a multi-stakeholder process that has collected views from over 50,000 fans, plus residents, community members and businesses. Today we discussed the outcome of this work in the form of an options report with Manchester United, Trafford Borough Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority to help inform their decision-making process.
“At every stage we have challenged all involved to recognise the opportunity that sport presents as a powerful driver for transformational urban regeneration and that is reflected in the report. Manchester United will now work together with local authorities to review the findings and agree a path forward in the months ahead.”
The Manchester Evening News said United’s CEO, Omar Berrada, and COO, Collette Roche, will now present a report back to the Premier League club’s ownership group, adding that the project is “complex” and requires additional feasibility work before a fully informed decision can be made.
A majority of United fans would prefer a new stadium to be built at Old Trafford rather than see the existing stadium redeveloped, according to an extensive survey carried out by the club last month.
United revealed the initial findings from the first phase of fan consultation on the future of Old Trafford after gathering the thoughts of more than 50,000 supporters, including season ticket-holders, members and executive club members.
In September, United offered a first glimpse of what a rebuilt Old Trafford could look like after an economic report found that the club’s plans to regenerate the stadium district could deliver an additional £7.3bn (€8.83bn/$9.27bn) per year to the UK’s economy.
United released the initial findings of a report that had been commissioned to explore the benefits of a 100,000-seat stadium as part of a regenerated Trafford Park.
Oxford Economics, an independent global advisory firm, carried out a preliminary economic impact assessment of the proposals. Initial estimates suggest that the project would create 92,000 new jobs and more than 17,000 new homes, while driving an additional 1.8 million visitors per year.
United has not yet confirmed its plans for Old Trafford but the club is understood to have set its sights on building a new 100,000-capacity stadium next to the current ground instead of redeveloping the venue.
Earlier in the month, United announced that the Foster + Partners architecture studio will lead the planning concerning its future home by developing a masterplan for the Old Trafford Stadium District.
The club said that Foster + Partners’ initial remit will cover the club-owned land that surrounds the existing stadium. United stressed that the stadium itself will not form part of this exercise, with its design to begin once the club has decided on the development options.
United co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has previously set out his vision for a 100,000-capacity stadium that would rival the revamped Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid and the Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona.
In an interview with the United We Stand fanzine this month, Ratcliffe said: “If we can build a 100,000-capacity stadium then we will fill it.”
Share this