Manchester United's new £2billion stadium design featured a state-of-the-art canopy inspired by the club's trident emblem, but it may be scrapped as Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks to secured funding
20:08, 11 Mar 2026
An aerial view of a bustling cityscape at dusk, showcasing a prominent stadium illuminated with vibrant lights against a twilight sky, surrounded by an intricate network of roads and buildings.
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How the Butlins-style canopy could look on Manchester United's new stadium(Image: PA)
Sir Jim Ratcliffe may be forced to ditch plans to give Manchester United's new £2billion stadium a Butlins-style big-top roof as they continue to secure money for the project.
United could potentially slash as much as £200million from their budget by ditching the stadium canopy that sparked such heated debate when the club shared plans for a new ground 12 months ago. Nevertheless, there remains no formal verdict on the feature's fate at present.
The three-pronged structure was reportedly influenced by the Red Devil's trident featured on their club badge. A source close to the stadium project suggests the canopy would carry a £200million price tag, according to The Sun, despite the estimated overall expenditure being £2billion.
An aerial view of a futuristic urban landscape featuring a large, architecturally striking structure with a distinctive tent-like design, surrounded by a network of modern buildings and lush greenery, under a serene sky transitioning into dusk.
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View of Manchester United's planned Butlins-style canopy which could be scrapped(Image: PA)
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Speculation about plans to abandon the canopy stretches back to late September last year. The Athletic reported the club were already exploring alternative blueprints at that point.
They indicated that complications with acquiring the required land surrounding Old Trafford were behind the decision to commission fresh designs from architects Foster + Partners. Their coverage, six months following the initial images emerging, put the canopy's expense at between £300million and £400million.
The most recent statement from a United representative at a supporters' forum gathering in September referenced "the proposed new stadium – including a canopy". Those remarks were made in connection to the land they require for the development.
Manchester United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe at the announcement of plans to build a new stadium, last year.
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Manchester United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe at the announcement of plans to build a new stadium, last year.(Image: PA)
The club explained: "Whilst Manchester United owns a significant portion of land around Old Trafford, it is not all in a single, continuous block.
"To accommodate the scale of the proposed new stadium – including a canopy – and to avoid disruption to the existing stadium during construction, we are working to secure additional land.
"We've been engaged in constructive discussions with neighbouring landholders and are optimistic about reaching mutually agreeable terms in the coming months."
Lord Norman Foster, founder of Foster + Partners, described the canopy as "a vast umbrella" following the release of the images. He stated: "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."
Conceptual image of giving fans-eye view of what the new Manchester United stadium could look like
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Conceptual image of giving fans-eye view of what the new Manchester United stadium could look like(Image: PA)
Their head of studio, Nigel Dancey, also elucidated the design. He added: "Three towering masts hold up the stadium's canopy, embodying the club's trident emblem, and creating a distinctive presence on the skyline."
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The press statement reaffirmed: "The stadium features three soaring masts, which take inspiration from the Red Devil's trident emblem and reflect the verticality of Manchester's industrial skyline. The masts support a translucent canopy that envelopes the stadium, wrapping around the stands and shielding a generous public plaza from rainfall."
The plans for United's proposed new 100,000 all-seater stadium were unveiled exactly a year ago. An initial opening date was earmarked for sometime in 2030, but this could potentially be delayed even further as there is currently no funding secured for the project.