Manchester United announce shocking plans to demolish Old Trafford and build new stadium with Sebastian Coe as task force leader
Manchester United have announced their bold regeneration plans for Old Trafford.
A joint working group has been set up to explore options to regenerate the area, including the development of a world-class football stadium.
The 'Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force' is led by former chairman of the London 2012 Olympics organizing committee, Lord Sebastian Coe.
United Legend Gary Neville is also taking part, as are Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Trafford Council chief executive Sara Todd.
The plans were originally announced in February amid reports that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to build a 'Wembley of the North' at Old Trafford.
He has now offered more clarity, saying in a press release: “This can be a major regeneration project for an area of Greater Manchester that has played such a key role in British industrial history, but which today requires new investment to thrive.” again.
“Northwest England has a greater concentration of important
football clubs than anywhere else in the world, but we don't have a stadium the size of Wembley, the Camp Nou or the Bernabéu.
“We won't be able to change that on our own, which is why this task force is so important in helping us take advantage of this once-in-a-century opportunity.”
United will not move away from their historic home at Old Trafford, where they have played since 1910.
They have the option to remodel their existing stadium, and previous plans called for a Land with capacity for 90,000 people.or build a new one on club-owned land adjacent to the current site.
3
3
So far, Ratcliffe is leaning towards a new build to transform the experience for fans and the surrounding community, and United's board of directors are offering their support for this.
The club could fund a gradual redevelopment of Old Trafford, but a new stadium would require the support of financial partners, with costs previously estimated at between £1.5bn and £2bn.
United have surveyed 30,000 fans about the future of Old Trafford as part of their initial master planning process ahead of a strategic review.
The club also owns a large amount of land surrounding the stadium, which could be reused for housing, leisure, business and education, boosting investment and jobs and improving the environment.
