Manchester United’s wait for a new stadium is over, with the club officially announcing plans for a new arena on Tuesday morning.
Manchester United’s new 100,000-seater stadium will be the centre-piece of the Old Trafford regeneration. Led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his task force, this will be the new home of Manchester United, hoping to be completed in the next five years.
The stadium, and wider regeneration project, is said to have the potential to deliver an additional £7.3bn per year to the UK economy which brings large-scale social and economic benefits to the community and wider region.
A lot would argue, that the former definitely needed a revamp.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Whilst there are certainly financial positives to the new area for the Red Devils, fans can’t help but question the design of the ‘new Old Trafford‘, as many are initially calling it.
Some Manchester United fans dislike the new stadium design
United fans made their views clear on the design on various forms of social media. Many, initially, are not fond.
‘Here’s your Samsung Arena where you can have a three-course meal in the concourse and listen to a live band outside. Knowing we’ll likely never see a Premier League lifted in Old Trafford again is a truly heartbreaking realisation. Sad day for the club.’ one writes.
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‘Looks like a circus tent’ was the reaction of so many.
‘I didn’t want to move away from Old Trafford but understood the argument for a new stadium, but that design is f—— dreadful. Looks like a circus big top. I hate it,’ another put.
Another adds: ‘It’ll be sad to see Old Trafford go. Wembley as an example has never been the same since that was rebuilt. But hopefully, we get the players who can build some history in the new stadium.’
Some Manchester United fans happy with the stadium
Some fans, including Gary Neville who loves the arena design, on the contrary, see the benefits.
One fan states: ‘I love the inside of the new stadium. I also like how it’s built to maintain the atmosphere and bring the fans closer to the pitch.
‘I quite like the three masts, it gives off the head of the trident feel, that’s on the badge. Looks like a proper piece of Mancunian architecture, too.
‘It’s never going to ‘feel right’ at this moment, but with 100,000 fans, the area redeveloped around it, the biggest stadium in the country built for 2030, I’m happy with it.’
Another adds: ‘It looks fantastic, just too many people who can’t let go of the past and want to spend an extra half billion to redevelop the current s——- for the sake of sentimentality.’
One final put: ‘What’s the big deal? I love it!’
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Manchester United’s new stadium: The right choice?
It’s always going to divide opinion when something drenched in history is set to be tarnished. Ratcliffe is ruffling feathers at United, that’s for sure.
As many United fans have already pointed out, there are going to be positives and negatives to the new stadium being built.
The initial designs, are merely designs. They never fully reflect on the final thing. All will likely become clear when work starts, but for now, this is what United supporters have to envision their new home.
One thing is for certain, change is afoot at Old Trafford, whether fans like it or not.