Manchester United’s current predicament might not be ideal, but if Ineos get their way, the future could be bright, with a new stadium at the centre of it all.
The club’s plans for a new stadium were unveiled earlier this year with an ambitious completion timeline of about five years under the leadership of Norman Foster.
The five-year timeline was a stretch, but the club have now revealed that the work going on in the background is bearing fruit.
They have shared the next steps in Man Utd’s stadium plans after ‘record’ levels of fan engagement.
A general view outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leeds United at Old Trafford on February 08, 2023
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Next step in Man Utd’s stadium plans
It has already been reported that Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants an ‘intimidating’ stadium design amid his desire for a venue that hosts 100k people.
There are a lot of administrative and logistical barriers to making it happen, which is why the club has partnered with the government to make the stadium a part of the wider regeneration project.
Clearly, when an undertaking of this magnitude happens, the fans need to be at the centre of it because they will be the ones ultimately driving revenue.
The club recently conducted a fan forum where they answered questions directly from the fans, one of them explaining the next steps in Man Utd’s stadium plans.
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United said: “The club will hold a series of focus groups at Old Trafford with Season Ticket holders, Official Members and hospitality purchasers.
“The sessions, which will take place during the week commencing 14 July, are an opportunity for fans to share feedback on potential features, amenities, seating, and pricing options. The insights gathered will inform the design and configuration of the new stadium.
“All Season Ticket holders, Official Members, and hospitality purchasers were sent a registration email. Spaces are limited, and we will invite randomly selected fans from each category on Monday, 7 July.
“All other known fans who are unable to participate in focus groups will have the chance to share their views in a survey, which is expected to follow in late July / early August.
“This new wave of discovery work builds on the initial research with fans in autumn 2024, during which more than 50,000 fans participated, a record engagement rate for club research.”
The new stadium is an Ineos legacy project
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has clearly been in a rush to make things happen with regards to a new stadium because he knows it’s his legacy project.
The team winning on the pitch will help, but if he can oversee a project of this size, he will be immortalised in the history of the club.
The dream scenario is that United’s new stadium welcomes a Premier League-winning team, but that is a pipe dream, as it stands.
In the meantime, it is a positive step that the fans have been made such a close part of the planning process because the stadium is made for them.