Manchester United formally introduced plans to depart Outdated Trafford, their house for greater than 100 years, and transfer into a brand new stadium.
The proposal was once unveiled on Tuesday and has been subsidized by way of former supervisor Sir Alex Ferguson. The proposed 100,000-seat area would surpass Wembley as the largest in the UK.
It follows suggestions made by way of the Outdated Trafford Regeneration Activity pressure — arrange greater than a yr in the past — and a chain of fan consultations.
The opposite choice at the desk was once to redevelop the prevailing stadium, however the 20-time English champions have opted to transport to a brand new house. A supply has instructed ESPN that the membership won’t want to play a recreation clear of Outdated Trafford whilst the paintings is done.
“Nowadays marks the beginning of a shockingly thrilling adventure to the supply of what’s going to be the sector’s biggest soccer stadium, on the centre of a regenerated Outdated Trafford,” co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe mentioned on Tuesday.
“Our present stadium has served us brilliantly for the previous 115 years, however it has fallen in the back of the most productive arenas in global game.
Guy United shared pictures of what the brand new stadium may just seem like. Foster + Companions
“By means of development subsequent to the prevailing website, we can maintain the essence of Outdated Trafford, whilst making a in reality state of the art stadium that transforms the fan enjoy most effective footsteps from our historical house.”
Outdated Trafford, which has a capability of 76,000 after the ultimate growth in 2006, was once opened in 1910. United’s plan would see a brand new stadium constructed at the similar website in Manchester with a possible capability of 100,000, making it the largest stadium in the United Kingdom.
Assets instructed ESPN that plans to stay Outdated Trafford as a house for the ladies’s group and formative years groups have been explored however in the end knocked again.
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The brand new stadium is about to sit down inside of a much broader redevelopment of the realm, which might see the development of 17,000 new houses.
Ferguson, United’s longest-serving supervisor, mentioned the membership have been “courageous” in deciding to transport clear of Outdated Trafford.
“Manchester United must all the time attempt for the most productive in the entirety it does, off and on the pitch, and that comes with the stadium we play in,” Ferguson mentioned.
“Outdated Trafford holds such a lot of particular reminiscences for me in my view, however we should be courageous and take hold of this chance to construct a brand new house, have compatibility for the longer term, the place new historical past may also be made.”
A supply instructed ESPN that Guy United won’t must play clear of Outdated Trafford whilst the development paintings is done. Foster + Companions
The announcement got here days after 1000’s of United lovers marched in protest in opposition to the membership’s possession within the face of price cuts, price ticket value rises and ongoing failure at the box.
United are majority owned by way of the American Glazer circle of relatives, who additionally personal the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Upon making an investment, Ratcliffe vowed to go back the once-dominant membership again to the summit of Eu soccer after greater than a decade since they ultimate received the Premier League.
The brand new stadium is about to sit down inside of a much broader regeneration of the realm. Foster + Companions
However his first yr answerable for operations has been turbulent. United persisted their worst Premier League season ultimate yr and are on track to set a brand new low this time period, with the group lately languishing within the backside part of the standings.
United needs the venue to be a part of a much broader mission to regenerate the encompassing Outdated Trafford house, which it mentioned could be value £7.3 billion ($9.4bn) to the U.Okay. financial system. The U.Okay. executive has already voiced its strengthen for the mission, even supposing the specifics of ways it could be funded aren’t identified.
British architect Norman Foster has been appointed clothier.
The brand new stadium is deliberate to have a capability of 100,000. Foster + Companions
Wembley is lately the largest stadium within the U.Okay., with a capability of 90,000, and is house to England’s nationwide soccer group.
Twickenham, which is house to the nationwide rugby group, holds 82,500.
Outdated Trafford is the rustic’s largest devoted soccer stadium, however it’s dated compared to the likes of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, which steadily hosts NFL video games.
Knowledge from The Related Press was once used on this file.
