​Manchester United has revealed additional details about its proposed new stadium on Thursday, including the exact location of the 100,000-seat arena. The club stated that the new stadium would sit approximately 350 meters to the northwest of Old Trafford, its current home. The plan forms part of a broader stadium district, and United believes the entire project would bring substantial benefits to the area, including the creation of 48,000 local jobs, 15,000 new homes, and the potential to generate about 7.3 billion pounds ($9.8 billion) each year for the UK economy.
“Together with our partners, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a destination that creates lasting benefits for supporters, local communities and the wider region for decades to come,” said Collette Roche, CEO of United’s new stadium development. “We are committed to building a world-class stadium with our supporters, not simply for them.”
Jim Ratcliffe, a part-owner of United, has championed the goal of delivering the “world’s greatest” soccer stadium. When the plans were first unveiled last year, estimates suggested the project would cost around 2 billion pounds ($2.6 billion) to construct, with a target to surpass Wembley as the largest stadium in the United Kingdom and to be ready for the 2030-31 season.
The initial concept drawings for the stadium included a design featuring three spires, though the final configuration has yet to be determined. Wembley currently holds the title as the largest stadium in the UK, with a capacity of 90,000, and serves as the venue for England’s national teams. Old Trafford is the country’s largest venue dedicated to soccer, with a capacity just above 74,000, but it is considered dated compared with modern rivals such as the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, which regularly hosts NFL games. Old Trafford has been United’s home since 1910, after being damaged during World War II.