Manchester United will make a decision on their plans for stadium developments by December, with the club ‘leaning towards’ a rebuild of Old Trafford.
It is understood a redevelopment of Old Trafford has not been ruled out, though the expectation is that plans will be formulated to build a new 100,000-capacity venue on their current site. The new ground could cost around £2bn, according to The Telegraph, and take six years to construct.
According to the report there has been ‘great progress’ in discussions between United’s new co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and The Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, which features Lord Coe, Gary Neville and the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.
United faced Arsenal in a pre-season friendly at the Cosm in Los Angeles at the weekend and the Red Devils are said to be ‘taking inspiration’ from the complex. The state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium headlines the £4.25bn complex that features an entertainment centre. There are hopes a huge regeneration of the club’s facilities could uplift the surrounding Old Trafford area.
“What left the biggest impression on me is how the stadium has been central to the rise of Inglewood,” former Manchester United forward Andy Cole said after attending the fixture with Arsenal.
“I have been coming to LA for years and that area of the city was never previously somewhere you would choose to go as a visitor.
“To see how it has become such a thriving neighbourhood, with the SoFi at the heart of it, is an inspirational example of inner-city regeneration.
“I don’t draw this comparison lightly but you can see a parallel with the opportunity back home in Manchester.
“A new or redeveloped stadium at Old Trafford could be the focal point for revitalisation of the surrounding area.
“Manchester United fans and everyone in the north of England deserves a truly world-class stadium, and SoFi set the standard to aim for. This is the kind of arena the best players in the world want to be playing in and fans want to be experiencing.”
