Manchester United today announced they had purchased a piece of land near Old Trafford key to their plans to build a new 100,000 seater stadium.
United outlined their vision for a new stadium in March last year and one of the main hurdles towards achieving their dream was the acquisition of a 25-acre site around 350 metres to the north-west of the current ground.
That has now been achieved, marking a major milestone in the stadium project and the regeneration of the wider area that includes 15,000 new homes, including affordable housing, creating 48,000 new jobs locally and over 90,000 nationally, and adding more than £7 billion a year to the UK economy.
Stadium chief hails ‘significant milestone’ for United
Collette Roche, the CEO of Manchester United’s New Stadium Development, told the club’s official website: “Today’s news highlights the progress we’re making towards a world-class new home for Manchester United and represents a significant milestone as we move into the next phase of development.
“Being able to build so close to Old Trafford allows us to preserve the heritage, traditions and rituals that are so important to our fans. We are committed to building a world-class stadium with our supporters, not just for them, with atmosphere, affordability and accessibility at the heart of our thinking.
“This is a generational opportunity that is fully aligned with both local and national growth ambitions. Securing the right land for our new home has been absolutely critical, and the land we’ve acquired gives us the stage to deliver a truly world-class stadium that honours our past and is ready for our future.”
United intend to build the biggest sporting arena in the UK and claim it will help to “create one of the most dynamic and globally significant sporting and entertainment destinations in the world.”
United’s current home Old Trafford ageing and in need of replacing
Since its inauguration in 1910, Old Trafford has been Manchester United’s home ground. However, growing concerns over its aging infrastructure have prompted the decision to build nearby.
Leading architectural firm Foster and Partners has been chosen to design the new stadium. The project will feature an innovative umbrella-style structure.
Lord Norman Foster, the firm’s executive chairman, described the vision when speaking last year. He said: “This has to be one of the most exciting projects in the world today. It all starts with the fans’ experience, bringing them closer than ever to the pitch and acoustically cultivating a huge roar.
“The stadium is contained by a vast umbrella, harvesting energy and rainwater, and sheltering a new public plaza that is twice the size of Trafalgar Square.”
