Man Utd have confirmed how a new 100,000 seater Old Trafford will be financed after unveiling plans last year.
What the new Old Trafford could look like.(Image: Manchester United)
Manchester United have confirmed a new 100,000-seater Old Trafford will be financed privately, and “positive conversations” with potential investors and stakeholders are ongoing. Sir Jim Ratcliffe initially floated the idea of taxpayers partly funding the £2billion project.
When plans for a new stadium were announced, Ratcliffe said: “People in the north pay their taxes, and there is an argument you could think about a more ambitious project in the north which would be fitting for England, for the Champions League final or the FA Cup final.”
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, had stated that no public funding would be granted for the stadium itself, but the club had not gone on record to clarify how it would be funded.
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That changed at the latest fans’ forum when a United spokesperson said: “Our proposed new stadium will be financed privately, and we continue to have positive conversations with potential investors and all stakeholders.”
The update raises the possibility that United could reach record levels of debt to finance the new stadium project. In February, United announced their financial figures for the second quarter, and the numbers shockingly confirmed the club’s debt is close to reaching the £1.3bn mark.
In August, football finance blogger Swiss Ramble placed Everton and Tottenham above United in his debt league, but both of those clubs have borrowed to build new stadiums. United have calculated that a new Old Trafford would cost around £2bn, which could in theory push debt to around £3.3bn.
Ratcliffe forges political allies with a new 100,000-seater stadium in mind, but it remains to be seen whether his comments on immigration have weakened relationships in government.
During the fans’ forum, United were asked whether they were concerned about the possibility of a deteriorating relationship between the government at both local and national levels, and the impact this would have on the development of a new stadium.
The club responded: “Our strong relationships with local and national government have been built over many years. The Old Trafford Regeneration project has strong stakeholder support.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build not only the world’s best football, but also a transformational programme supporting national economic growth at scale.
“Delivery of 15,000 new homes, including affordable housing, creation of 48,000 local jobs and over 90,000 nationally, and a long-term economic contribution of £7 billion per year to the UK economy.”
United said the appointment of Collette Roche as ‘chief executive officer, new stadium development’ was an important next step. “She has been closely involved in the progress we’ve made so far on the pathway toward a new stadium, and her appointment formalises that work,” a spokesperson said.
“The new role gives Collette and the club a much sharper focus on what we need to deliver: the world’s best football stadium. It’s a clear signal of commitment, and an important step forward as we move from vision to delivery.”
Before United can push ahead with stadium plans, they must reach a deal to purchase the rail yard surrounding Old Trafford. The land is owned by Freightliner and talks over an agreement have stalled.
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2026-03-24 09:06:40
