Man Utd have confirmed plans to build a new 100,000-seater stadium next to Old Trafford. Sky Sports looks at some of the key questions surrounding the announcement…
What becomes of the current Old Trafford stadium?
The new stadium will be built next to the current ground, although it is unclear what will happen to Old Trafford.
Club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has previously stressed he wants to keep the ‘essence’ of the famous ground, saying: “Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport.
“By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience only footsteps from our historic home.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Take a look at the first pictures of Manchester United’s proposed new 100,000 seater stadium
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol explains how Manchester United are planning to fund their new stadium, how long it will take and how realistic the timeframe is
When will it be completed?
In a promotional video for the new stadium, architect Lord Norman Foster says the stadium will take five years to build.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports football journalist Ron Walker explains everything we know so far in two minutes about Man Utd’s new stadium plans, including where it will be, what it will look like and when it could open
However, no start date for any regeneration or building works has been given. That timeframe is also not accounting for any possible building delays.
Ratcliffe said that a ‘modular build’ would allow the stadium to be built more quickly, but said that any timeline would depend on “how quickly the government get going with their regeneration programme”.
“I think they want to get going quite quickly, because they want to see progress in this parliament,” the United chief said.
“Normally, if you were building a 100,000-seater stadium from the ground up, in an area that needs to be regenerated, it’s a 10-year project. But if we get going with the government then I think it’s a five-year project, not a 10-year project.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Man Utd stadium architect Lord Norman Foster gives an insight into plans for the new stadium and why it may only take five years to build
Will Man Utd have to play elsewhere for a period of time?
Sky Sports News’ Melissa Reddy reports that Manchester United will continue to play at Old Trafford while the new stadium is being built.
However, if these plans were to change, there has been precedent in recent years for teams playing in a different stadium.
Tottenham Hotspur played at Wembley for almost three years between 2016 and 2019 as their new ground was being built. Previously, Fulham also played at Loftus Road while Craven Cottage was being refurbished.
Geographically, Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium is the closest ground to Old Trafford. There are also options further afield, with two Premier League grounds in nearby Liverpool, including Anfield and Everton’s new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.
Key facts: The second largest football stadium in Europe
It will be the become the tallest building in Manchester, with the tallest mast at 200m in height. Currently, the Beetham Tower is the tallest at 169m. The Wembley arch, by comparison, reaches a height of 135m. It will be the second largest football stadium in Europe – second to the Nou Camp in Barcelona The new Stretford End will have a capacity of 23,500, over twice the size of Tottenham’s South Stand. 15.5 per cent of the seats in the new stadium will be hospitality
The club claim the new stadium will be visible from the Peak District, Cheshire and the outskirts of Liverpool.
What’s wrong with Old Trafford?
The falling standards of United’s ground have been well-documented, the latest example coming in the wake of their home defeat to Arsenal in May 2024, where areas of the stadium flooded following a thunderstorm, with water also falling through the roof.
Other videos of run-down parts of the ground have circulated online in recent years and even though it is the largest club stadium in England, it was not selected to be one of the host venues for Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland.
“It’s a beautiful stadium, Old Trafford – but I’m not a fan of the roof because I think it comes in too low,” said United We Stand editor Andy Mitten.
“Old Trafford shouldn’t be getting smaller, it should be getting bigger.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The Old Trafford waterfall was on show again as the heavens opened after Manchester United’s match against Arsenal in 2024
The last time the club undertook major works on Old Trafford was in May 2006, when 8,000 seats were added to the north-west and north-east quadrants of the stadium.
That work was approved before the Glazer family took control of the club in June 2005, meaning no work has been done to renovate Old Trafford since United’s majority shareholders took over 19 years ago.
Will capacity be reduced at Old Trafford while work goes on?
Old Trafford can hold 74,000 spectators, and it is understood that under current building plans, there would be no need to reduce the capacity of the current ground.
What will new stadium be called?
There has been no confirmation on any potential name for the new stadium, although it has been referred to as ‘New Trafford Stadium’ in a factsheet from the architects, Foster and Partners.
Datawrapper This content is provided by Datawrapper, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Datawrapper cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Datawrapper cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Datawrapper cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
However, it is possible that a new ground will come with naming rights, such as Arsenal did when they moved to the Emirates in 2006.
When discussing this possibility, Man Utd CEO Omar Berrarda told Sky Sports News: “We’re looking at all the options. It’s still very early days. We do see this as a very attractive investment opportunity.”
What is the cost?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
After reports emerged last year, Melissa Reddy explained who will fund Manchester United’s 100,000-seater stadium and what the plans are for the local area
United believe the new stadium will cost £2bn.
But Manchester United have debts of more than £1bn – the club have a financial debt of £731m and a transfer debt of £391m.
So how will it be funded?
Sky Sports News’ chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
“The stadium is going to cost at least £2bn. I think it will cost more than that. Where is that money going to come from? It is going to come from banks. Manchester United are going to have to borrow money to build the stadium.
“I think lots of banks will be happy to lend the money to build this stadium because banks will think we can make money out of this deal because fans will go to the new ground, they will spend money and that money will go through the club and we’ll make money from interest payments.
“So in the short term, banks will pay for the new stadium. But of course, in the long term, who pays for everything in football? Fans. They will pay to go to the new stadium. They will pay for tickets, which have gone up in price. They will pay for food and drink and entertainment and all of the new outlets that are going to be built around the stadium.
“So the short answer is banks will pay for it to be built. In the long term, fans will pay for it.”
Manchester Mayor: No public money
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham explains that Manchester United’s new stadium is a huge opportunity for the city, saying it could be ‘greater than London 2012’ but insists the club are ‘solely responsible’ for funding their new home.
Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham has insisted that Manchester United will be “solely responsible” for funding their new home.
Speaking to Sky Sports News a day after the plans were confirmed, Burnham said: “The firm principle on which we will be progressing is that there will be no public money for this stadium. Manchester United will be solely responsible for the building of their new home.
“Where we might be able to help is in relocating the freight (train) terminals that are behind the existing Old Trafford and taking those to new growth projects elsewhere in the North West, so if there is public money to be spent, it’s most likely to be off this site and creating new growth projects elsewhere.”
On wider concerns about the stadium’s funding, Burnham added: “I’m hoping support will rise. I’m making it unequivocally clear: there will be no public money for the stadium.”
