The unique look of Manchester United’s new 100,000-seater stadium is a result of a late design change.
Manchester United fans got their first look at a new 100,000-seater stadium on Tuesday when the club published eye-opening concept photos of the venue.
Gary Neville was blown away by the stadium, but supporters are less convinced. United fans are unsure about the stadium, with some of the bold feature designs splitting opinion.
United’s new stadium should be complete in 2030 if everything goes according to plan, but club chiefs and lead architect Norman Foster has made it clear that there is wriggle room – both with the design and the timeline.
One of the stadium’s many bold design features is the overhanging canopy which will collect rain water and solar energy. It is Omar Berrada’s favourite stadium feature, but reports claim the design was initially very different.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Sir Jim Ratcliffe approved trident in Man United stadium plans
Ratcliffe wants the stadium to be “intimidating”, and while that is still up for debate, it’s certainly impressive.
The first thing that catches attention is the canopy, which is held up by three masts, the tallest of which is 200 metres.
More United News
As explained by Foster, the inspiration behind the design is the devil’s trident which prominently features on the club’s badge.
However, a report from iNews suggests it was a feature only added late on.
They claim designers had finalised plans for a design without the three masts. However, Ratcliffe was in full support of a “last-minute” design change that saw the masts included.
Interestingly, it adds that the pitch of the new stadium will be 16 metres below ground.
A bright future for Manchester United and Ruben Amorim
After an underwhelming start at United, Ruben Amorim has continued to stay positive and he even spoke about a “light at the end of the tunnel” last week.
Ineos have just provided that light – a long-term project that offers new hope and a fresh chapter in Manchester United’s history.
Berrada wants Amorim as coach when the new stadium opens up, which is a huge show of support for the Portuguese coach and the club’s five-year plan.
READ MORE: The one Man United star who has a contract long enough to play at 100,000-seater stadium
Old Trafford had been run down by the Glazers, but the new stadium puts United back on the map. Neville raved about the new stadium, and how it can bring success back to the club.
It will certainly help the finances, which are currently looking incredibly bleak. United are running out of cash, but finance expert Adam Williams predicts the new stadium will generate an extra £230m for the club per year.