Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

All we know about Ratcliffe's plans to transform Man United stadium Old Trafford

talksport.com, 9 February 2024, 14:47
One of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's main aims is to turn Manchester United's home ground into a super stadium, and plans are being put in place.

All possibilities are being considered, including building a new ground and expanding Old Trafford.

Many Red Devils fans feel the 'Theatre of Dreams' is no longer up to standard.

And Ratcliffe has made it clear that one of his priorities is ensuring that wherever Man United call home, it's a stadium worthy of the club.

There is a lot of information out there, and here is all we know so far.

Old Trafford future: Potential new stadium

It seems almost inconceivable to imagine United playing anywhere other than Old Trafford.

Read more on Man United

Gabby Agbonlahor makes ultimate promise to Antony ahead of Man United's trip to Villa

Eriksen snubs Man United exit, Pochettino makes Chelsea demand, Potter offered return

However, the Daily Telegraph report that the Red Devils could build a new ground rather than redevelop their current home.

They claim Ratcliffe plans to build a 90,000-seater that would be the 'Wembley of the north'.

The Daily Mail report that any new ground would have extensive corporate facilities to maximise income on matchdays.

He doesn't want to relocate the club but supposedly feels supporters would support a new stadium if it was on the same ground, meaning Old Trafford would be knocked down.

Most read in Football

'It's ruining my life' - Blue card saga triggers stunning rant from talkSPORT caller

Shock Bellingham stat emerges ahead of Real Madrid's showdown with LaLiga title rivals

Forget Henderson and Phillips - stats show Luton star is the man for England at Euro 2024

Piers Morgan speaks for all Arsenal fans with two-word message for Jamie Carragher

This could be similar to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which incorporates part of the old White Hart Lane.

However, the club own 100 acres of land around Old Trafford; 43 of those are ripe for development, and 25 are unused, so there is a lot of scope for a new ground slightly away from where Old Trafford stands.

So should United decide that a move to a new ground would be best, they have plenty of land to use because some believe that redeveloping Old Trafford would just be a short-term fix.

Old Trafford future: Redevelop the current ground

Old Trafford has been United's home for 114 years, but it needs some love and care.

Fans of rival clubs now mock the state of United's home whenever they rock up to the away end.

It holds nearly 75,000 people but wasn't selected to be a host venue at Euro 2028 because nothing has changed since 2006.

The roof is infamously leaky and there is a lot of scope for improvement in many areas.

Ratcliffe has pledged an initial £237million to infrastructure, but they would need more than that to make the improvements that would be required at United.

If the club choose to revamp Old Trafford, they could look to expand the south stand or totally re-do the whole thing.

Old Trafford future: Where is the money coming from?

No matter what United decide to do, there are going to be some serious funds involved because it's such a big project.

Of course, simply expanding one stand and tidying up a few things would be the cheapest option, but others would cost millions.

Ratcliffe has already pledged a significant chunk but several reports claim he is looking to lobby the government for public funds to help United either build a new ground or redevelop Old Trafford.

The Daily Mail claim Ratcliffe has spoken to Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, and any approach made to Westminster would be part of the government's levelling up promises.

United could also look to get some tax breaks and relaxed planning regulations.

However, because this money would be used for just football and no other sport or community benefit, it's unclear if the government would grant any cash.

It's also unclear how taxpayers, who both support and don't support United, would feel about their taxes going towards a stadium for one of the richest clubs in the world.

Another way United could fund it is with their own cash and bank loans, while the Manchester United Supporters' Trust have offered to buy shares from the club.

This would raise capital for investment and give the fans a say in how the club operates.

Old Trafford future: What has been said?

Simon Jordan thinks Manchester United's plan to get public funds to help them build a new ground is wrong.

Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: "The stadium is going to cost £2billion.

"This is a domestic football club wanting to have government money when its got owners that have just trousered £1b - get lost!

"It's got nothing to do with getting government money. It's got nothing to do with levelling up.

Read More on talkSPORT

Inside the $2bn Super Bowl 'Death Star' with nightclub and seats players can't even afford

The Premier League's best midfielders ranked from incredible Rodri to Rice and Maddison

"This is a private enterprise, which is solely for the benefit of Manchester United and its shareholders.

"Why aren't the Glazers responsible for levelling up Manchester United?"

Top News

12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has insisted that the door is still open for Kyle Walker to continue at the Etihad should he not receive any enticing offers from elsewhere. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With a place in the KNVB Beker quarter-final on the line, PSV Eindhoven and SBV Excelsior will lock horns at the Philips Stadion in Tuesday's round-of-16 encounter. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh off the back of clinching their first piece of silverware this season, Benfica journey to the Estadio de Sao Luis to face SC Farense in the fifth round of the Taca de Portugal on Tuesday. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen will hope to continue applying pressure to first-placed Bayern Munich when they host Mainz 05 at BayArena on Tuesday in their 17th Bundesliga game of the season. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur attacker Dejan Kulusevski is supposedly being targeted by Napoli manager Antonio Conte as a possible replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Runaway league-leaders Celtic are set to travel to the Scot Foam Stadium at Dens Park to take on Dundee this Tuesday in the Scottish Premiership. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to advance to the Coupe de France round of 16 for the second time in four years, Bastia welcome Ligue 1 side Nice to Stade Armand-Cesari in Tuesday night's round of 32 contest. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Under pressure boss Nuri Sahin needs his Borussia Dortmund side to beat Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga on Tuesday when they travel to Holstein-Stadion. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly stolen a march on Real Madrid and Arsenal in the race to sign 18-year-old Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, who is valued at around £40m by the Dutch giants. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In one of three all-Ligue 1 clashes in the Coupe de France round of 32, Marseille welcome Lille to the Stade Velodrome on Tuesday, keen to extend their unbeaten start to 2025. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to continue their winning start to 2025 when they welcome Freiburg to Deutsche Bank Park on Tuesday in their 17th Bundesliga match of the campaign. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolfsburg are set to host Borussia Monchengladbach at Volkswagen Arena on Tuesday in their 17th Bundesliga fixture of the season. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In an all top-flight clash in the third round of the KNVB Beker, Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar will hope to progress by beating Ajax on Tuesday at AFAS Stadion. 12 January 2025 talksport.com Barcelona have made El Clasico history after securing an emphatic 5-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ten-man Barcelona reclaimed the Spanish Super Cup from Real Madrid on Sunday evening courtesy of a stunning 5-2 success over their bitter rivals in the final of the 2025 competition. 12 January 2025 talksport.com Oliver Glasner is optimistic Crystal Palace will not lose Trevoh Chalobah this month. 12 January 2025 talksport.com Raphinha was at the centre of the action during a dramatic Spanish Super Cup final. 12 January 2025 talksport.com This fantastic FA Cup tie turned into a tear-up and a shootout between the competition's two most successful sides. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Raul Jimenez will be aiming to continue his excellent campaign on Tuesday evening, when the striker's Fulham outfit head to West Ham United in the Premier League. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Danny Ings is expected to make just his second Premier League start of the campaign on Tuesday evening, when West Ham United continue their top-flight season at home to an in-form Fulham outfit. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim remained coy on whether Marcus Rashford has played his last game for the Red Devils following his latest high-profile snub. 12 January 2025 talksport.com Mikel Arteta refused to directly address a social media post from Manchester United following their win over Arsenal. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reaffirmed his love and trust in the attackers at his disposal following the Gunners' excruciating penalty-shootout loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Graham Potter's first taste of Premier League football as West Ham United manager will come on Tuesday evening, when Fulham make the trip to the London Stadium for an intriguing battle in England's top flight. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had no good news to share on the condition of Gabriel Jesus after the Brazil international was taken off on a stretcher with a knee injury in Sunday's FA Cup loss to Manchester United. 12 January 2025 talksport.com Kai Havertz's wife has condemned vile threats to the couple's unborn baby she received on social media after Arsenal's loss to Manchester United. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Watford will be aiming to recover from four straight defeats in all competitions when they continue their Championship campaign with a contest against Cardiff City in Wales on Tuesday night. 12 January 2025 talksport.com Plymouth Argyle have been rewarded for their FA Cup 'Cupset' with a home tie against Liverpool in the fourth round. 12 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have been handed a trip to Home Park to face Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup fourth round. 12 January 2025 talksport.com Altay Bayindir and Joshua Zirkzee went from villains to heroes as they inspired Manchester United to victory over Arsenal.