INEOS leaning toward building 100,000 seater stadium rather than redeveloping Old Trafford

The subject of what to do with Old Trafford was one of the major issues facing INEOS when they agreed their 25% stake in the club earlier this year.

The Glazer family have inexplicably let the famous old ground decay over the years and building a brand new stadium now looks the likely option rather than redeveloping something that might be beyond repair.

As reported by The Telegraph, the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force put together by INEOS are leaning toward a spanking new 100,000 seater home, to lead the club into a new era.

The Task Force is chaired by Lord Coe and includes former United captain Gary Neville and the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham who have held four key meeting since being created in March.

It’s felt a new stadium would be a “more transformative” by the group who have said to have made “great progress” in potential plans.

It’s proposed the new home would be built adjacent to the Theatre of Dreams in a bid to elevate the surrounding community which has also been ignored in recent times.

The brand new “stadium district” will allow for housing, leisure, business, education, driving investment and job opportunities to form part of the project to make the most of the “under-utilised” space United have ownership of.

The group have been sourcing inspiration from the new Bernabeu built in the Spanish capital as well as some of the leading stadia in the U.S.

United’s pre-season ticked on in the SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles at the weekend and Collette Roche, United’s chief operating officer, has already held a trio of meetings with the heads behind the impressive new venue.

Roche has also kept close to the Chicago Bear’s Burnham Park project which includes similar plans to United’s with regards to regenerating surrounding areas and the potential financial options to help fund the venture.

The reported cost of United’s new home is said to be around £2 billion and a wide variety of potential private funding sources are due to be looked at by the team. There could be opportunities for a public-private partnership to power the regeneration of the area.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has called the project a “once in a century” opportunity and has met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss government support around wider transport links to the area.

Sources at the club firmly believe the fan base will regularly fill a 100,000 seater ground and Burnham believes it could be the biggest regeneration project the north of England has ever seen.

The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell says United could continue to play at Old Trafford whilst the new stadium is being erected, something that is expected six years to fully complete.

Despite the costs of renovating Old Trafford initially looking significantly cheaper than a brand new ground, United would have to disturb the existing stands, resulting in loss of gate tickets throughout the process.

The club currently have over 50,000 season ticket holders and renovating the existing stadium could mean running into a scenario where they cannot be housed.

Whitwell says the task force are keen to keep as much of the heritage that comes with Old Trafford a possible, should they decide on the move.

The famous red bricks and industrial look of the ground is a nod to United’s history as well as the city of Manchester. A completely modern look isn’t said to be favoured with the traditions of the stadium expected to be incorporated.

Ratcliffe has set an end of year deadline for full plans of the proposal to be put in place.

Fans are divided in their feelings toward a new ground but there is no doubt INEOS are delivering on their promise of restoring United’s off-field facilities to the best in class across Europe.

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