Manchester United have reportedly been studying alternative designs for their new Old Trafford stadium that could keep rival fans quiet. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team, co-owners of the Premier League club, are planning to build a £2 billion stadium, which is touted as "the greatest" in the world.
The club officially announced its plans to replace Old Trafford with a 100,000-seater arena, planned for completion by the 2030-31 season. It would surpass Wembley as the biggest stadium in the UK and become one of the very largest in world football.
Its size is a problem, though, and has sent the club back to the drawing board regarding its design, which garnered mixed reviews from fans. Some were happy with the umbrella vision of architect Sir Norman Foster, but other supporters mocked it as a 'circus'.
Man Utd New Stadium Plans Remove Canopy From Design
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Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic reports that issues with purchasing required land have led the club to explore alternatives regarding the design that was presented back in March. This includes removing Foster's "vast umbrella" because of the space it would take up with images showing pillars reaching far away from the stadium itself.
United have been in talks with Freightliner, who own most of the area on the west side of their current ground, Old Trafford. This area was proposed as "part of the new stadium footprint and some 17,000 homes". The Rail freight transport company are thought to be demanding around £400 million to sell the land, while the club had reportedly projected a price in the region of £50 million.
The canopy was the main takeaway from images released by Foster + Partners in March of the proposals for the Red Devils' new stadium. It was expected to cost between £300 million - £400 million in construction and placement.
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Whitwell noted that the umbrella-esque feature was just "mainly aesthetic" rather than covering people during bad weather. It was a bold take on re-imagining the Theatre of Dreams, and the three prongs in homage to the club crest were particularly praised by critics.
Images of plans, including the canopy, weren't always set in stone, and the Reds asserted that while they "remain excited by the vision set out by Foster + Partners", those pictures were "conceptual." The new designs are said to have a more traditional stadium appearance. However, Foster and Ratcliffe's initial thought was that the stadium would become a tourist attraction akin to London's Eiffel Tower.
Which Stadium Have Man Utd Studied For New Old Trafford?
jim ratcliffe man utd
Once images of the 'New' Old Trafford stadium were released, there were comparisons made with Morocco's Hassan II Stadium, which is another ground in the works ahead of the 2030 World Cup. This was mainly due to the tent-like structures and towering masts that had been included in both proposals.
United used trips to the United States in recent pre-seasons for inspiration, reportedly studying SoFi Stadium in Hollywood Park, Los Angeles, per The Telegraph. This is one of the stadiums that will host matches at next summer's 2026 World Cup and can expand to a capacity of 100,000 for special events.
It was thought to have cost £4.1 billion ($5.5 billion) to build, which is significantly more than the £2 billion that Ratcliffe and INEOS are willing to fork out for the new Theatre of Dreams. This also makes it the most expensive stadium in the world, hosting the LA Rams and the LA Chargers.
SoFi Stadium exterior at nightCredit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
If United's new designs are focused on SoFi, it could result in a more bowl-like aesthetic, but a sleek roof gives it a clean appeal. This could serve as a template for the club to work from, given the space issues that using a canopy has created.