Football: Manchester United FC New Stadium
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
Manchester United FC have announced, on 11 March 2025, plans to build the biggest football stadium in the UK: a new £2 billion 100,000-seater ground close to Old Trafford, which has been their home since 1910.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of the Club, stated that he wanted to build the "world's greatest football stadium" to be completed in five years.
The leading British Architects, Lord Foster and Partners, who will design the new stadium, stated that the stadium would feature an umbrella design with a new public plaza that will be "twice the size of Trafalgar Square".
The design will feature three masts, described as "the trident", which will be 200 metres high and visible from 25 miles away.
With the Club currently £1 billion in debt, the question on everyone’s lips is how will they pay for such an ambitious and expensive project?
It will form part of plans for a wider regeneration of the Old Trafford area, and the UK Finance Minister, Rachel Reeves, has already given Government support to them.
According to Ratcliffe:
"Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be …. the most iconic football stadium in the world."
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
