How Manchester United's new stadium could look
How Manchester United's new stadium could look (Image: Manchester United)
Manchester United have announced their new plans for a whopping 100,000-seater stadium to replace Old Trafford.
The move will undoubtedly divide opinion among the fanbase who rightly consider Old Trafford to be the spiritual home of the Reds. To appease these concerns, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's vision will be built on land adjacent to the current stadium.
Throughout the process, which has included former United captain Gary Neville and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, the vision has been to create a 'Wembley of the North' that would help attract further investment to Manchester and bring some of the biggest matches in world football to the city. The inspiration behind the project has been the massive stadiums in America which play host to the NFL.
United's chief operating officer Collette Roche has taken several trips to Los Angeles to visit the massive Hollywood Park and SoFi Stadium which holds 70,000 for the NFL and 100,000 for special events such as concerts and boxing bouts. Chicago's The Burnham Park project is also seen as an inspiration to United with the link being not just to create a spectacular stadium but also an entertainment hub that maximises the club's revenue.
The controversial plans to leave Old Trafford have been backed by Sir Alex Ferguson who has urged the club to stride for 'the best in everything it does, on and off the pitch, and that includes the stadium we play in.' He added: "Old Trafford holds so many special memories for me personally, but we must be brave and seize this opportunity to build a new home, fit for the future, where new history can be made."
With this in mind, MEN Sport has taken a look at several competitors' stadiums to see how they will compare to the new 100,000-seater Old Trafford.
The Camp Nou is currently being renovated as the Catalan club looks to compete with rivals Real Madrid. Their old home held 99,354 supporters while their new home will have an increased capacity of 105,000.
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2. MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 09: General view inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 09, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 09: General view inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 09, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
3. Wembley
The Home of Football in England and the namesake of Ratcliffe's vision, Wembley has hosted Premier League games when Tottenham Hotspur's new ground was being built. It has a capacity of 90,000 underneath the arch.
(Image: Joe Toth/REX/Shutterstock)3 of 12
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