Yahoo Sports What a new government-backed Manchester United stadium could look like
Plans to renovate Old Trafford, the home ground of Manchester United, have received public support from Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Last week, the Government approved plans to revitalise the region surrounding Old Trafford, citing it as “a shining example” of its ambitions to foster economic growth.
At the end of the season, Manchester United will decide whether to build a new stadium with a capacity of 100,000, which they want to be “the Wembley of the North”, or renovate the current stadium to accommodate 87,000 people.
It is likely to take six years and cost more than £2billion to construct a new stadium on the nearby site.
According to the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, the initiative will help his city and other areas of the north-west.
He told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday: “This truly… it’s one of those rare projects that’s a win-win, the benefits will be felt far and wide.
“On the east of Manchester, if you look at what’s happened there – and the Commonwealth Games helped that with public money at the time – Manchester City have taken that and poured so much investment in themselves to improve the east of Manchester.
“Imagine that being balanced on the west of Manchester with another major football campus. This, without a shadow of a doubt, will be the global capital of football in the rest of the 21st century.”
In support of the club's intentions, Ms Reeves stated on Wednesday: “We are supporting key investment opportunities across the UK.
“The government is also backing Andy Burnham’s plans for the redevelopment of Old Trafford, which promises to create new housing and commercial development around a new stadium to drive regeneration and growth in the area.”
What could new Old Trafford look like?
The last time Old Trafford had a makeover was in 2005, which involved adding 7,900 new seats to the capacity by filling in the ground’s north-west and north-east corners.
It was revealed last February that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club's minority co-owner, intended to construct a stadium to be the “Wembley of the North”.
The following month, Ratcliffe put together a stadium “taskforce” consisting of Sara Todd, the leader of Trafford Council, Mr Burnham, and football pundit Gary Neville.
The “original conclusion” of the taskforce, according to The Athletic last year, was that United should construct a stadium with 100,000 seats next to the current Old Trafford location.
It has been reported that Ratcliffe would rather the team construct a new stadium from the ground up than rehabilitate Old Trafford, which has seen some decay in recent years.
If Manchester United decide to stay at Old Trafford after renovations the new capacity will be 87,000, more than the current 76,000 but significantly less than the 100,000-capacity new-build proposal, according to BBC Sport journalist Simon Stone.
As well as increasing capacity, the project has promised 5,000 new homes and 48,000 new jobs. But, as it’s still in early stages, no further details have been confirmed yet.
Why is the Government potentially backing the project?
Ms Reeves said on Wednesday the Government is “supporting key investment opportunities across the UK” and that its specifically backing Mr Burnham's plans for the redevelopment of Old Trafford as it “promises to create new housing and commercial development around a new stadium, to drive regeneration and growth in the area”.
She did not, however, elaborate on how the Government would support the plan.
