Manchester United have revealed plans to replace Old Trafford with a new 100,000-seater stadium, with hopes to move in by the 2030-31 season. After considering both redeveloping their current ground and building a new one, the club announced they have chosen the second option.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe called the project the “start of an incredibly exciting journey” to create “the world’s greatest football stadium” as part of a broader regeneration of Old Trafford. Architects Foster + Partners presented concept images for the new stadium, which will be built using 160 pre-fabricated sections. This will reduce construction time to just five years.
When asked about the target for the stadium’s completion, Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada confirmed, “Yes,” referring to the 2030-31 season. The £2 billion project will include not only the new stadium but also fan zones and a megastore. Berrada assured that the club will not seek taxpayer funding but stressed that the stadium project is part of a larger regeneration plan for the area.
Berrada also stated that “all options are open” when it comes to financing the new stadium, including the possibility of stadium naming rights. While he acknowledged it was still early in the process, Berrada expressed confidence that the stadium, as a key element of the wider regeneration project, would present an attractive investment opportunity.
This announcement comes after Ratcliffe highlighted the financial challenges faced by the club, which has accumulated over £300 million in losses over the past five years. Berrada explained that the recent cost-cutting measures were necessary to address the unsustainable financial trajectory. “What you heard yesterday was about the need to do a course adjustment,” Berrada said. The new stadium plans mark a major shift as United work to secure their financial future and revitalize the surrounding area.