It only took a year for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos to decide that Manchester United will be moving home.
After calling Old Trafford home for over 100 years, Manchester United revealed photos of a new stadium which will have a capacity of 100,000 seats.
The stadium project is set to cost £2bn, and United confirmed that the stadium should be complete by 2030 if everything goes according to plan.
That is a big if,** however, as Ineos need to source £2bn in funding to get the ball rolling. The plan is for work to begin on United’s stadium this year.
United fans were split by the stadium design and its bold features, with the three trident spires and the water-collecting canopy sparking plenty of conversation.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Everton stadium designer sends Ineos warning
Even before the plans were unveiled, Ratcliffe was warned that United’s stadium plans are too ambitious, especially with a deadline of 2030.
There are also some understandable concerns from fans such as where the Trinity Statue will be located, what will happen to the Munich clock, and what Ineos plan to do with other culturally important landmarks.
Ratcliffe insists that United have taken a ‘football first’ approach to the stadium plans. Stadium designer Dan Meis – who worked on Everton’s new stadium and also drew up plans for the Glazers previously – wants to make sure that is the case.
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As per iNews, Meis said this about other United’s stadium plans: “Here’s what I hope. I hope that other clubs who are thinking of new buildings will take heart at what we’ve done here.
“Which is not to try and do some giant, over-the-top thing which could be anywhere in the world but we’re going to put it in the middle of Manchester.
“This building was about Liverpool, about Merseyside, about the brick of the buildings and that was really important to us. I think English football, if they all become big, shiny objects, we will lose something that is unique to English football and we tried to respect that very much because of Goodison.
“So I’m hoping this will open the door to other clubs down the road.”
Speaking about United’s stadium plans in particular, he added: “There’s obviously a lot of ambition there.
“I’m a huge fan of Norman Foster, he’s been a hero of mine forever and I wish them well but I guess [Bramley-Moore Dock] shows what I think about English football and English football stadiums more than anything.”
Ineos could still change Man United stadium plans
United fans know what to expect from the new 100,000-seater stadium after seeing concept photos earlier this month, but the design could still change.
Ratcliffe confirmed that there was a ‘last-minute’ change to the stadium design which involved the three trident towers.
Archtitect Norman Foster had actually finalised a design that didn’t include the three masts – so there is room for flexibility if Ineos have a change of heart.
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A report from The Athletic also suggested that Ineos could lower the stadium’s capacity from 100,000 to around 90,000 if they are unable to source the full funding for the project.
With work not yet underway, there is still a lot that can change.