Politics writer Joseph Timan looks at Manchester's United's eye-catching plan for Old Trafford - and whether it could really happen
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Manchester United's plans for a new 100,000 seat stadium and wider generation of Old Trafford
(Image: Foster + Partners)
It was at the London offices of Mancunian architect Norman Foster that Manchester United unveiled their bold vision to the world.
A new 100,000-seater stadium next to the current one at Old Trafford and the wholesale regeneration of the area around it, including more than 17,000 homes. The club claims the project could create 92,000 jobs and add an extra £7.3bn per year to the UK economy.
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Flanked by Andy Burnham and other local leaders, the club then went to the French Riviera to sell its vision to international investors.
Sources close to the project say there was lots of interest in the plans at MIPIM, the annual global property summit in Cannes.
But one question keeps coming up - how can United, a club in £1bn of debt, afford to build 'the world's greatest football stadium'?
Manchester United estimate the cost of building the 'state-of-the-art' stadium and the associated club areas to be around £2bn.
United's vision for Old Trafford was unveiled this week
United's vision for Old Trafford was unveiled this week
(Image: PA)
The government has indicated its support for the scheme, but has ruled out putting taxpayers' money towards the stadium itself.
Instead, the club says public cash could help 'enable' the wider regeneration - which could in turn help finance the club's ambitions.
Meanwhile, Mr Burnham is lobbying the government to help free up land next to the current stadium by relocating a freight terminal elsewhere - a move which he says would require around £200m to £300m of funding but would bring big benefits to the North West.
There are lots of moving parts to this major project that could be truly transformational for the region. So, could it really happen?
What's the plan?
Plans for the new stadium at Old Trafford
The new stadium would hold 100,000 fans
(Image: PA)
The new 100,000-seat stadium promises to bring fans 'closer than ever' to the pitch, with a 'huge roar' cultivated by the acoustics.
Unveiling the plan this week, Lord Foster, whose architectural firm is behind the design, explained that the vast 'umbrella' around the stadium would harvest solar energy and rainwater while sheltering a new public plaza twice the size of London's Trafalgar Square.
The stadium would also have three masts, up to 200m tall symbolising the Red Devils' trident, visible from almost 40km away.
The design has garnered a mixed reaction from United's massive fanbase, with many comparing the new stadium to a 'circus tent'.
But the club hopes the 100,000-seater will be a 'global attraction', bringing in an extra 1.8m visitors to the revitalised area every year.
More than 17,000 new homes are also planned as part of the project which promises to create a 'mini city' around the new stadium.
United have grand plans for Old Trafford
United have grand plans for Old Trafford
Images shared by the club show a new linear park, an open cinema and a market around the site with a rebuilt railway station too.
Manchester United claims the project has the potential to create up to 92,000 new jobs - and not just during the construction phase.
It comes after Trafford and Salford councils set out their ambitions for the land south of Media City that they consider a 'growth area'.
Last year, the Wharfside masterplan proposed building up to 5,000 homes across 215 acres of land along the Manchester Ship Canal.
Those plans could now be supercharged with the club claiming there'd be space for an extra 12,000 homes under its new vision.
And from the club's point of view, developing the land it owns around the stadium could help finance some of the scheme.
Manchester United's plans for a new 100,000 seat stadium and wider generation of Old Trafford
The club released conceptual images of the new stadium and the wider area around it this week
(Image: Foster + Partners)
United already owns lots of land around the current football stadium including vast car parks that surround the 115-year-old site.
And with some support from the government, it could have even more land to play with by buying the freight terminal next door.
Greater Manchester's mayor has been lobbying the government to help relocate the freight terminal to IPL North in Merseyside.
Mr Burnham says this would mean fewer freight trains running through Manchester city centre, allowing for more passenger services.
And at a cost of £200m to £300m, he argues that this would be a much cheaper way of creating more rail capacity through the city centre, as the ill-fated plans for new platforms at Piccadilly station promised to do more than a decade ago before they were axed.
As well as benefiting Greater Manchester's railways, Mr Burnham argues that the relocation would boost growth in Merseyside too.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham is lobbying the government to help
(Image: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
It's not clear whether United's plans would be possible without moving at least some of the freight terminal - they have promised to keep the current stadium open while the new one is built, limiting how much space the club has to work with during construction.
The Manchester Evening News has been told that space for the new stadium would be 'tight' if the freight terminal stays in place.
That's why Mr Burnham says the upcoming spending review, where the government sets its budget for the years to come, is 'critical'.
He hopes that's when the government will set out its support for the scheme by funding the relocation of the freight terminal.
“We have a few hurdles to get over yet before we can nail it all down, for instance the plan for rail freight," he told the M.E.N., "but I am confident we can do it.
“The level of the club's ambition is clear. We believe from the work done that they can make it stack up."
Can the club afford it?
United's chief operating officer Collette Roche
United's chief operating officer Collette Roche
United have said that the cost of the new stadium and the associated club areas, such as fan zones and the megastore, is £2bn.
This is more than Tottenham Hotspur spent on their new stadium and more than Real Madrid spent on renovating the Bernabeu.
High inflation since those projects were completed - especially energy prices - have all been factored into the cost, the club says.
But it comes as the club reports losses of £300m over the last three years, with its total debt currently standing at around £1bn.
Several sources close to the project say the club is confident that it can find the money needed to make its vision a reality.
As a listed company, the club says it cannot talk about future financing - but some have questioned the credibility of the plan.
Manchester United's plans for a new 100,000 seat stadium and wider generation of Old Trafford
The club has not said how they'll fund the plans(Image: Foster + Partners)
When United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe first spoke about building a Wembley of the North, the multi-billionaire said that the government should put some money towards the new stadium - but this suggestion was quickly dismissed by local leaders, the M.E.N. understands.
The government could still help finance the wider regeneration by paying to move the freight terminal and funding transport links.
This in turn could generate income for the club which would have more land available to potentially sell off to developers to build on.
Building a new stadium, rather than renovating the currrent one, also creates opportunities for the club to generate revenue including through huge gigs at the 100,000-seater venue and other events in the public plaza which could become a '7-day-a-week' destination.
But there's one glaring problem - the new stadium will need to be built first before any of these opportunities will come to fruition.
It's not clear if Mr Ratcliffe will put money into the project up front and whether that will be enough to see the club through.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe pictured at Old Trafford alongside Omar Berrada
United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe(Image: PA)
And then there's the question of what role the Glazer family, who are still the majority shareholders at United, will play.
Whatever the financial plan is, it's not been publicly stated - if it exists at all. This has led many to ask the same question. Is it credible?
Henri Murison, chief executive of business group the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: "The regeneration of the wider area including Old Trafford is a huge opportunity. However, it would be more credible if there was a stated financial commitment.”
Asked about funding at MIPIM, United's chief operating officer Collette Roche said: "We feel we are going to have the money.
"There's lots of options, we're having lots of conversations, to be able to fund the stadium.
"My phone has been going crazy since yesterday and before with people who want to be part of this because they see the benefit.
"We believe very strongly that we'll find the funds to be able to pay for the stadium and also we understand that through working as a team with the local government, we'll be able to make sure that the surrounding area is something that we can all be proud of."
All or nothing?
Manchester United's plans for a new 100,000 seat stadium and wider generation of Old Trafford
United's vision could supercharge regeneration plans for the area
(Image: Foster + Partners)
The wider regeneration of Old Trafford does not require a new £2bn stadium to be built - but this could certainly create opportunities.
United worked with Trafford council on their Wharfside masterplan, but the 5,000 home scheme could still go ahead without the club.
However, the promise of an extra 12,000 homes on top of that seems impossible without the club offering its land for development.
United could of course revert back to the other option of refurbishing the existing stadium and then redevelop the land around it.
But sources close to the project have suggested that Mr Ratcliffe is only interested in putting his money behind a 'world class' option.
Trafford council leader Tom Ross says he is still 'very keen to progress' with the Wharfside plans, regardless of what United do.
Trafford council leader Tom Ross
Trafford council leader Tom Ross(Image: Trafford Council)
But the Labour councillor, who travelled to Cannes this week to help the club sell its vision, is 'confident' that United can do it.
"United is a global brand," he said. "Seeing the sheer amount of interest that there was at MIPIM this week, I'm sure the club has confidence from that.
"It's now up to them to decide how to make it happen."
Mr Burnham is now hoping to set up a Mayoral Development Corporation for the project, bringing all the partners behind it together.
It helped Stockport town centre's redevelopment get off the ground, he says - and its something other new stadiums didn't have.
As an Everton season ticket holder, the Greater Manchester mayor knows all about the challenges behind building new stadiums.
The current ground at Old Trafford
The current ground at Old Trafford
After a 20-year saga, the Toffees finally move into their new stadium at Bramley-Moore next season, much to Mr Burnham's delight.
Asked whether United fans now face their own 20-year saga, Mr Burnham points to several things working in the club's favour.
Among them, is the prospect of the Mayoral Development Corporation, which will require Parliamentary approval, to help get it going.
He also cites the vast swathes of land that United already owns around its existing stadium - much of which is prime for development.
But more than anything, he says that United's vision for Old Trafford benefits from everyone involved being aligned on the ambition - including, Mr Burnham says, the government.
He said: "I've never seen anything come together like this and hold out the possibility of such wide-ranging benefits.
"Given the stage of the city-region’s journey, it feels like the right ambition at the right time.
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"The pieces of the jigsaw have all fallen into place. That explains why the government have backed it."