A New Era at Old Trafford? A 100,000-Seater Arena, Tourist Destination, and Economic Powerhouse

Manchester United Unveils Plans for "World's Greatest" Soccer Stadium

Manchester United has unveiled ambitious plans to build a new 100,000-seater stadium, aiming to create the "world's greatest" soccer arena. The proposed stadium, costing around £2 billion ($2.6 billion), would be built next to Old Trafford, surpassing Wembley Stadium as the biggest in the UK.

The new stadium, designed by renowned architect Norman Foster, boasts three giant tentpoles visible from 40 kilometers away. These support a surrounding covered area, described as "arguably the largest public space in the world."

Construction could begin as early as this year, with completion targeted for the 2030-31 season. The club estimates it would take around 12 months to disassemble Old Trafford once the new stadium is completed.

Part owner Jim Ratcliffe, one of Britain's richest people, envisions the new venue as a major tourist attraction, similar to the Eiffel Tower. "We have 1 billion people around the world who follow Manchester United. They will all want to visit this stadium," he said.

The new stadium is part of a wider project to regenerate the surrounding Old Trafford area, estimated to be worth £7.3 billion ($9.4 billion) to the UK economy. The government has already voiced its support for the project.

United's chief executive, Omar Berrada, stated, "Our long-term objective as a club is to have the world's best football team playing in the world's best stadium."

The announcement comes amidst fan protests against the club's ownership, cost cuts, ticket price increases, and ongoing struggles on the field. However, the club remains focused on returning to the summit of European soccer.

"We don't want to inhibit our ability to invest in the team, for us to continue being competitive while we are building a new stadium," said Berrada. "Our number one goal is to get our teams winning and to get the men's team competing for all the titles consistently. We are not going to deviate from that.