Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League Final 2025
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is already feeling the pressure (Image: Getty)
The opening of Manchester United’s new stadium could be delayed until 2035, according to new documents. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS outlined Old Trafford’s regeneration project as one of their biggest goals following the partial acquisition of the club back in 2024.
It was revealed in March last year that INEOS would build a 100,000-seater new arena that could cost over £2billion rather than renovate Old Trafford. Ratcliffe joked that he couldn’t afford any delays, as he “might not be here in 10 years”, but the bad news for the billionaire is that it could take a decade to build.
That’s according to City AM, who claim that official documentation relating to the stadium suggests fans might not set foot inside the new stadium until 2035. The club are hoping for it to be built by 2035 so that the new-look Old Trafford can host the 2035 Women’s World Cup final, which is due to be held in the United Kingdom.
However, even if that deadline is met, there are still some significant hurdles to overcome. The biggest of which relates to funding, with suggestions that it could cost upwards of £2bn to complete.
Leading architects Foster + Partners were hired to produce the blueprints, and the 100,000-seater stadium would become the UK’s largest sporting venue, overtaking Wembley’s 90,000 capacity. Ratcliffe had hoped to secure public funding, but any subsidies will likely be allocated to aid the redevelopment of the surrounding areas.
Collette Roche, CEO of Manchester United’s New Stadium Development, said earlier this year: “Being able to build so close to Old Trafford allows us to preserve the heritage, traditions and rituals that are so important to our fans. We are committed to building a world-class stadium with our supporters, not just for them, with atmosphere, affordability and accessibility at the heart of our thinking.
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“This is a generational opportunity that is fully aligned with both local and national growth ambitions. Securing the right land for our new home has been absolutely critical, and the land we’ve acquired gives us the stage to deliver a truly world-class stadium that honours our past and is ready for our future.”
Meanwhile, Ratcliffe added: “We spent a lot of time looking at the pros and cons of refurbishing the existing stadium, which has obviously got all the history of building a new stadium. And you know, it wasn't the easiest of decisions in a way, because, you know, the history of Manchester United is so important.
“But, ultimately, I suppose where we finished up was that we've got a ground at Old Trafford today, which is a bit piecemeal, isn't it? You know stadiums which were built or stands that were built at different times: they don't fit together very well. The roof leaks. It hasn't got the finest infrastructure.
“The players can't arrive underground and all that type of stuff. It's right next to the railway, which compresses the fans when they arrive, so we can't get people into the ground that easily and out of the ground.”
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