Manchester United is building a new £2 billion, 100,000-seat stadium near Old Trafford, described as a “mixed-use miniature city of the future”.
Conceptual images of what the new stadium and surrounding area could look like have been unveiled by Foster + Partners, the architecture group behind the project.
Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, said in a statement: “Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be the world’s greatest football stadium, at the centre of a regenerated Old Trafford.”
He added, “Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport.
“By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience, only footsteps from our historic home.”
Omar Berrada, chief executive of Manchester United, added: “Our long-term objective as a club is to have the world’s best football team playing in the world’s best stadium.”
“Mixed-use miniature city of the future”
The stadium is the centrepiece of a regeneration of the Old Trafford area in Manchester. Both projects could deliver an additional £7.3bn annually to the UK economy.
This includes the potential creation of 92,000 new jobs, more than 17,000 new homes, and an additional 1.8 million visitors to the region annually.
Foster + Partners will build the stadium next to Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, which has been the football team’s home ground for 115 years.
Norman Foster, founder and executive chairman at Foster + Partners, said: “The stadium is contained by a vast umbrella, harvesting energy and rainwater, and sheltering a new public plaza that is twice the size of Trafalgar Square.
“The outward-looking stadium will be the beating heart of a new sustainable district, which is completely walkable, served by public transport, and endowed by nature.
“It is a mixed-use miniature city of the future – driving a new wave of growth and creating a global destination that Mancunians can be proud of.”
New stadium by Foster + Partners
Foster said the stadium will take five years to construct by using prefabricated elements and transporting them in 160 components via the Manchester Ship Canal
Once complete, the new stadium will surpass the UK’s current largest football stadium, Wembley Stadium, which can accommodate 90,000 guests.
Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said: “Manchester United should always strive for the best in everything it does, on and off the pitch, and that includes the stadium we play in.”
new manchester united stadium
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.”
Elsewhere, Manchester City is making progress on its £300 million Etihad Stadium expansion.
Images courtesy of Foster + Partners