Manchester United eyeing new £2bn stadium

Manchester United are considering a significant investment in its future with plans for a new, 100,000-seat stadium.

Club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has outlined a vision for a ‘Wembley of the north’ and has formed a taskforce, chaired by Lord Sebastian Coe, to explore the feasibility of a new stadium or redeveloping Old Trafford.

While renovation is an option, building a new stadium on land adjacent to Old Trafford is currently favoured due to the complexities and costs associated with refurbishing the historic ground. The project is estimated to cost over £2 billion.

Key challenges include the railway line behind the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand and the need to significantly reduce capacity during construction. Unlike Tottenham Hotspur, United have no obvious alternative stadium to use during building.

Financing the project is another hurdle. The club currently has a debt of £647.5 million, and while Ratcliffe has committed £237 million for stadium investment, additional funding sources are being explored. Government support, potentially in the form of improved transport links, is also being considered.

The club is studying successful stadium projects worldwide, including the Optus Stadium in Perth and Real Madrid’s renovated Bernabeu. However, the scale of the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, entirely privately funded by owner Stan Kroenke, is seen as a significant benchmark.

A final decision on the stadium project is expected by the end of 2024.