Following the shocking revelation, top industry experts have voiced their concerns about the logistics of several crucial elements, casting severe doubt on Manchester United’s intentions to build their new stadium, which is estimated to cost £2 billion.
As part of the revitalisation of south Manchester, the 13-time Premier League winners declared on Tuesday that they would prefer look for a new stadium with 100,000 seats than repair their current one, Old Trafford.
Known as one of the greatest stadiums in Premier League history, Old Trafford has been the club’s home since 1910. However, it will be replaced in five years with a new structure that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has stated will become a landmark attraction.
This is your future.
Your home.
Your United.#MUFC pic.twitter.com/cK7yVnOm1X— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 11, 2025
The three masts, which were inspired by the Red Devils trident on the iconic club emblem, are a noteworthy aspect of the structure, which was designed by Foster + Partners, the architecture team that has previously worked on the new Wembley Stadium and the Lusail Stadium.
However, given that the ambitious plans were announced only a day after Ratcliffe stated that Manchester United was on the verge of going bankrupt, industry experts have been quick to question how error-proof the team’s plan is, according to Mail Online.
In an interview with defender-turned-pundit Gary Neville, the 72-year-old maintained that additional spending cuts and a second round of staff layoffs were required to keep the team from “going bust” by Christmas 2025.
According to the previously stated article, insiders have maintained that the purpose of Tuesday’s formal unveiling of the proposals was to generate enthusiasm while the funding search is still ongoing. Among others, CEO Omar Berrada has addressed possible investors in Cannes.
Those with infrastructure expertise are leery of Ratcliffe and company’s £2 billion budget because it’s a total rebuild rather than just renovations, citing Real Madrid’s £1.5 billion renovation of the Santiago Bernabeu, one of the greatest stadiums in international football.
Below are the conceptual drawings created by Foster + Partners for Manchester United’s planned 100,000-seat stadium:
In other news, Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium in north London cost £1.1 billion. However, because the building was constructed before Covid, the cost of materials has skyrocketed, and better transport will further increase costs.
Putting money aside, the stadium’s distinctive tent-like canopy, which is said to be the mainstay of the glitzy plans, has also come under scrutiny due to its small footprint at the rear of the current Stretford End.
Because the Manchester Ship Canal makes it easier to move parts, architect Lord Norman Foster is certain that Manchester United’s groundbreaking stadium will be completed within the allotted five years.
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