Tinaye Agere
MANCHESTER United wants to build a brand new 100 000-capacity stadium to replace Old Trafford and will announce their plans by the end of the year.
The £2 billion project could be completed by 2030, eclipsing Wembley as the biggest stadium in the country and making it the second largest in Europe behind Barcelona’s revamped 105 000-seater Nou Camp.
United must still make a final decision over whether to rebuild or redevelop Old Trafford, but it has been clear for some time that they share the vision of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to bulldoze their home of 114 years and create a new state-of-the-art stadium on adjacent land.
The club cannot afford to pay for it on their own, even with the backing of Ratcliffe and majority owners the Glazer family.
Selling the naming rights is being considered, although United insist that fans will be consulted over that process.
The club are looking at public-private funding opportunities for the new stadium and wider regeneration of the area around Old Trafford, known as the Stadium District, on land owned by the club – WIRES
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter